Lessons of Automation Part III
Since I am out of the country for a few weeks I am featuring some writing from Doug Alward, Applications Engineer from Wright Industries. I have prepared these excerpts from the introduction to Doug’s book ahead of time; as you read this I am in El Salvador.
Lessons of Automation -Doug Alward
Introduction
(continued from last week)
Take Alliance Automation Systems of Rochester, New York as a stereotypical example:
♦ 1947 – Started by principle Karl Fuchs and eight other minority partners as Alliance Tool Corporation
♦ 1954 – Added start-up Alliance Mold, also in Rochester, New York, which was later renamed as Alliance Precision Plastics
♦ 1964 –Alliance Carolina Tool & Mold started in Arden, North Carolina
♦ 1977 – Alliance had grown to 12 divisions in Rochester and the Tool & Mold facility in Arden. Total employment exceeds 1,200 people.
♦ 1979 – Alliance is sold to Gleason Works for approximately $45,000,000.
♦ 1986 – Gleason Works sells or closes all Alliance facilities less Alliance Systems which is sold to Cross & Trecker of Detroit, Michigan. The facility is renamed Alliance Automation Systems.
♦ 1990 – Alliance Automation Systems sold by Cross & Trecker to Ambac Corporation.
♦ 2002 – Alliance Automation Systems sold by Ambac to Meikle Automation of Kitchener, Ontario and renamed Meikle Automation Systems.
♦ 2010 – Meikle Automation Systems closes Rochester facility and files for bankruptcy.
This is the third of a four part series from the introduction of Doug Alward’s book, “Lessons in Automation”.
Hello from Playa El Tunco!
Electrical Engineer and business owner from the Nashville, Tennessee area. I also play music, Chess and Go.
Was a real shame to see it go, I started at Alliance in 1978 as a Electrician/Plumber, working 55 hrs per week, and attending night school for my NYS apprentiship. I got promoted to Controls Engineering after about 12 years. When Meikle purchased us in 2002, I became the Controls Engineering Supervisor. Stayed there right up till the close in 2010. It was like home to me, there was a lot of “family” there. I fully hoped to retire from there. The talent of people that worked there was unrivaled. I miss it a lot. Even though we became Meikle Automation, it was still Alliance to me and most everyone else who worked there. I loved installing equipment and having the customer shake my hand, thanking us for equipment that fully satified thier needs.