Demo

IFyou’re in the fabrication business, smile! COVID restrictions are easing up, interest rates are low, real estate sales are through the roof, and new home constructionisgoinggangbusters, all adding up to one thing: higher production rocking and rolling
out the door.
You may be thinking about how to reach much needed higher pro- duction goals, and might have already begun searching the Slippery Rock Gazette or talking the talk with a few manufacturers, ready to put more giddy-up into your system, and the decision is just a phone call away. But before making that call, there are con- cerns that need to be addressed, such as return on investment, du- rability and training. But maybe the biggest concern should be, “Am I purchasing from a com- pany known for standing behind their products and service, and for how long?”
It was with these concerns and more that we reached out to Sheri Pruitt, co-owner and op- erator of Alpha Countertops in Russellville, Arkansas. Alpha Countertops has been in busi- ness for 15 years with Sheri at the helm for the last six. She has a keen sense for eyeballing the present, while looking toward the future — a future of automation in the shop.
“My dad, Frank Parson, owns a countertop company in Springdale, Arkansas, about three hours away. It’s also where my husband, Lucas Moore, worked. Then, in 2006, Lucas and I de- cided we really wanted to start our own company. So my dad partnered with us and became a 50 percent co-owner, and we started Alpha Countertops.”
Peter J. Marcucci
Photos Courtesy Alpha Countertops
Unfortunately, in 2010 Lucas was diagnosed with Leukemia and passed away in April of 2014. It was this devastating turn of events that would eventually leave the brunt of running the company on Sheri’s shoulders, she continued. “At the time, I was undecided if I wanted to step up and be an operator of a company. Prior to Lucas’ passing, I just thought I would have a couple of kids and be a mom, and just help out in the background.”
With her dad and a few dedi- cated employees now running the company, Sheri took the time to think about her loss as well as tak- ing the big step. “It took me over a year to decide what I wanted to do, and that was to embrace it, learn it, and be the best that I can be running the company. That was in 2016.”
Better Ways on the Horizon
Fast forward to 2019. Up un- til this time, fabrication at Alpha Countertops had been quite slow, and meeting installation dates was sometimes quite uncer- tain. Better ways of doing things were needed, continued Sheri. “About one year prior, my dad had bought a BACA Robo Sawjet for his company, and he sug- gested I get in touch with them. So I called Nick at BACA, and he said, ‘Come to Michigan and look at the machine!’ So I went and took a couple of my employ- ees with me. We met with Nick, and he showed us what the Robo Sawjet could do.
“At the time, I really wasn’t committed to any brand. My main concern was that I purchase from
Alpha Countertops designed and installed this Leblon Quartzite kitchen for a Conway, AR retail customer.
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Alpha Countertops and the Quest for Shop Automation
auguST 2021 Volume 27-08
a company that I could trust and would take care of me. So, when we were researching brands, that’s just the feeling I got from BACA when I met with them. Nick, Lauren, Chuck (Russo, the owner of BACA) and everyone was super sweet and helpful, too, and said, ‘Anything we can do for you.’ I also based my decision on the positive feedback I got from others using the Robo Sawjet.”
The BACA Robo Sawjet is a two-table, combination saw and waterjet, capable of cutting and coring any slab material quickly and accurately.
After cutting components with the Robo Sawjet, such as an is- land countertops, they can then be edged by hand or by an addi- tional, more automated machine.
After purchasing the Robo Sawjet, Sheri continued to plan
for building the future of Alpha Countertops. “Just a few months ago, we purchased our first CNC, a BACA Edge XL (a combo router, edger and polisher). We love both of our BACA machines and have only had a couple of issues with the Robo Sawjet. Both issues were taken care of within 24 hours.
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Alpha Countertops in Russellville, Arkansas is looking to the future and expanding fabrication production with the help of a BACA Systems Robo Sawjet and a BACA Edge XL CNC machine.
In This Issue
Rugo Stone Receives Grande Pinnacle Award
2020 Migliore Award Goes to Barbara Cohen
A New Discovery Reveals World-Class Granite in Minnesota
BB Industries Supports and Celebrates Industry Partnerships
Industry news and issues, safety training, business advice from our monthly columns, and much more.