Chances are, there is something that you use in your day-to-day life that can be traced back to Innovate Group, the holding company of both CTI Systems and Alotech in Goldston. For example, CTI Systems produces the machinery and technology that handles the circuit boards like the ones found in car key fobs.
That kind of technology is the focus of CTI Systems, which manufactures, sells, installs and services automated conveyer systems. Alotech, a contract manufacturer, has a wide range of services, including prototyping, machining and fabrication, and retrofitting and remaindered services. Together, the manufacturing capabilities of Alotech, and the innovation and technology of CTI Systems create a powerful synergy that led to the two brands operating under the same roof.
Their impressive range of service has not escaped the notice of state industry leaders. Late last year, Alotech won a North Carolina Manufacturing Leadership Award in the innovation category, for the solutions that their custom manufacturing services provide clients.
“It was very humbling, I always thought we had something special, but you don’t want to read your own press,” Tommy Kirk, Chief Operating Officer of Alotech and CTI Systems, said. “It is really tough to realize when you start out, how long the cycle is to really make an impact. It was a huge uplifting piece. When I brought the award back, I wanted everybody to take a picture with it and everybody got to hold it.”
Kirk recognizes that the success of the companies largely depends on the employees. So much so, that the companies use a diagnostic tool to create a unique approach that helps to connect with each employee, depending on their specific preferences and needs. This approach is used to instill two of the companies’ biggest values: accountability and a sense of urgency.
“The one we impress upon the most is accountability,” Kirk said. “Truly being accountable- doing what you said you were going to do, when you said you were going to do it, how you said you were going to do it. A sense of urgency is important because we are in a fast-paced world.”
Although the Innovate Group companies operate within relatively niche markets, it doesn’t affect their level of customer service. They are dedicated to both the relationship with their clients and the quality of what they promise.
“They’re always going to have the opportunity to choose somebody else,” Kirk said. “We just want to give them all the reasons to stay with us. It is a personal relationship with those people, it’s all about relationships.”
Kirk sees both of the Innovate Group companies being “fierce problem-solvers.” There’s no doubt that it’s true, given the wide range of industries the companies are involved in (telecommunications, aerospace, automotive, and medical to name a few) and vast client list.
As the Innovate Group companies prepare to celebrate big anniversaries, CTI Systems will celebrate 30 years later in 2020, while Alotech will follow suit in 2021, they have big plans for the future.
“We want to be a worldwide leader in our laser equipment,” Kirk said. “We want to really branch out of surface mount technology. Lasers will be a huge focus for us going forward, because it’s a huge market. So many people need it, and we can integrate it fairly quickly in any type of product.”
