Alliance Rubber Co. of Hot Springs Receives National Innovation Award

Alliance Rubber Co. has received the Manufacturing Extension Partnership’s (MEP) 2012 Excellence In Innovation Award.

The Hot Springs-based rubber band and rubber products company was profiled by Talk Business earlier this year.

The MEP award pays tribute to manufacturing innovation development and implementation.

“Alliance is a clear example to us of what it takes for a company to succeed in a globally competitive market”, says Dan Curtis, director of Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions (AMS). “There will always be someone willing to produce a product for a penny less. Alliance instead builds their business on being constantly innovative. They set an example for how manufacturing can succeed in America.”

Alliance competed with more than 75 nominees from around the country for the award, which will be presented during the Manufacturing Innovation 2012 Conference on May 8 in Orlando, Florida.

“Manufacturing is at the heart and soul of America and the talented people in our factories and workshops are the key to driving a strong economy,” said Bonnie Swayze, president of Alliance Rubber Company. “Our company and its workers have a different value proposition. We’re not always the cheapest in price per pound for our rubber bands, but we are most of the time the best value.”