Alternative Molding Concepts Changes Injection Molding Industry
Doug Larson started working in the injection molding industry as an operator on the graveyard shift to pay the rent. He found after a few years he really enjoyed manufacturing and made it his career.
When Doug first began thinking about starting his own business, he said, “I was trying to get up the nerve to start my own business when I called the landlord about leasing some space for the business. The landlord was very frank and said “are you going to rent the building or not”? There was a long, long pause and I made the ultimate response, “yes”. Then proceeded to pull my truck to the side of the road, and lost my lunch!
I worked full time at one job, my wife Karen answered the phone while I was at work, and we ran product in the evenings and weekends for our customers. We worked at it day by day then, all the while following up on leads and trying to grow sales.
Open For Business
Alternative Molding Concepts opened for business June 2006 and is located at 4764 W. Selway Ave. in Post Falls, (208) 777-7620 www.amconcepts-inc.com. The owners have over 75 years combined experience in manufacturing and the injection molding industry. They produce plastic components and assemblies for one of the largest fitness equipment manufacturers in the world. Currently, they have 12 employees and customers in the medical, health and fitness, agricultural. Soon they will be adding a client to the automotive market. Doug feels very few injection molding companies in the Pacific Northwest have experienced the demands for quality, responsiveness and customer service of an automotive industry client.
Leveraging technology is also their core strength. They plan to invest in technology wherever it makes sense to support their customers and improve quality. Because of their vast experience they can take products from a conceptual sketch on a napkin, or detailed and completely engineered CAD file of a complex plastic assembly. Their team of professionals will help bring each scenario to the same successful end result.
Giving Back
As a member of the community, Alternative Molding Concepts donates every year to the cancer foundation, military families, (they have a son in the Marines in Afghanistan right now) as well as an educational foundation.
Doug said, “We have been very fortunate to experience strong growth through the recession. Honestly, we could not have done it without the help and support of the Idaho Small Business Development Center and others. The Idaho SBDC has been a great resource for me as a business leader. I meet with my coach Bill Jhung on a regular basis and take a number of leadership and business classes every year. I think the most valuable part of the Idaho SBDC is to have someone ask the tough questions and hold me accountable. I think many times we get too involved in the small details of the day to day and fail to look at the big picture.”
