Alpha.com - News Releases

Mitra Innovations S.A. Becomes Alpha Technologies S.A.

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wavre, Belgium- January 16, 2012 -- Effective January 1, 2012, Belgium-based power solutions manufacturer Mitra Innovations S.A. has changed its name to Alpha Technologies S.A. Mitra, one of Europe’s pioneering innovators in power conversion technologies, joined The Alpha Group in 2010. The change of name signals the next step in the integration of the Company within the world wide Alliance. It brings significant benefits for the various stakeholders.

Fred Kaiser, Chairman of The Alpha Group, said: “We have been very pleased with Mitra’s progress and fit since the acquisition. Becoming part of The Group has opened up new channels and markets for Mitra’s quality products and also provided Mitra’s customers with unbridled access to The Alpha Group’s extensive product portfolio. By adopting the Alpha branding we are making it easier for the market to recognize and do business with our Alpha family.”

“We are very happy with the further integration of Alpha Technologies SA into The Alpha Group,” comments Sandy Anderson, Mitra’s CEO. “For our customers, the change of name underlines the Alpha Group’s commitment to provide our products and services globally over the long term.”

“Today we are privileged to supply products to and service a large portfolio of international customers. Our change of name emphasises that they are trading with a member of The Alpha Group, a global alliance of companies recognised for their leadership in technology and customer service. It reinforces the understanding that those customers have access to the entire portfolio of products and services of The Group through a single point of contact and gives them increased confidence in the support and strength of their supplier.”

The Alpha Group The Alpha Group represents a global alliance of independent companies that share a common philosophy, to create world-class powering solutions for communication, commercial, industrial and renewable energy markets. Members of the Alpha Group include Alpha Technologies Inc., Alpha Technologies Ltd., Alpha Technologies S.A., AlphaTec Ltd., Altair Advanced Industries Inc., Alpha Energy, OutBack Technologies, Alpha Industrial Power and Alpha Technical Services.

Mitra Innovations is a pioneer in the field of power technology. The company designs, develops and manufactures highly reliable standard and custom power conversion solutions, remote monitoring modules and highly reliable integrated power conversion systems.

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For more information, please contact:
Dave Boroevich
Vice President of Marketing
Alpha Technologies Ltd.
604-422-4489
david.boroevich@alpha.ca

Emmanuel Orban
Director of Marketing
Alpha Technologies SA
eorban@alphatechnologies.be
Tel: +32 10 438501

Alpha Introduces Enhanced Security and Protection Devices

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 21, 2011 -- Alpha Technologies, Inc., a worldwide power solutions provider, helps enhance network reliability with its broad range of surge protection devices and power system security solutions.

Millions of Alpha Power Systems are deployed around the world and are vital to the integrity and reliability of the networks they serve. These power installations represent a significant capital investment by operators and thus should be protected accordingly. The expansion of Alpha’s security solutions serves to help secure and protect critical hardware from theft, vandalism and other demanding environmental conditions.

AlphaSecure solutions recently expanded to include both the Internal Battery Security Device and the Internal XM2 Security Wrap. They consist of a metal framework designed to secure both the power supply and battery directly to the enclosure, while still allowing access by service personnel for maintenance purposes. These devices complement the existing security solutions offered by Alpha including the Enclosure Tamper Switch, the External Enclosure Security Bar, and the Alpha Padlock.

The most direct form of protection operators can provide their network powering equipment is surge protection. The reliability of a power system will inevitably be tested by lightning strikes, downed power lines or other utility anomalies that can cause high voltage spikes. Alpha offers a vast range of surge protection devices ranging from the minimum recommended basic protection to more sophisticated high-level protection. The LA-P-SM Series is the most recent addition to Alpha’s surge protection family.

In addition to protecting batteries from theft and voltage spikes, operators can improve the reliability and minimize the cost of operating their network through the reduction of unnecessary and costly battery replacement. As battery life is typically affected most by temperature, number of discharge cycles and precise control of battery charge voltage, battery balancing is paramount to any power system. Adding AlphaGuard Battery Balancing to a power system helps ensure the longevity and health of batteries by managing the charge current to avoid under or over-charging batteries.

Successful implementation of battery charge management enables cable operators to lower their operating costs by reducing the frequency of costly battery preventative maintenance truck rolls. AlphaGuard is available as a stand-alone product, or comes fully embedded in the new Alpha XM3-HP power supply.

“We recognize our customers’ networks are operating in diverse and demanding environments around the world, but they all have two things in common: rising energy costs and increased demand for reliability,” said Jim Heidenreich of Alpha Technologies. “The addition of these enhanced outside plant powering products, in conjunction with the introduction of the XM3-HP shows a serious effort to improve efficiency gains and reduce operating costs.”

Alpha Technologies Inc. develops power conversion, protection and standby products for telecommunications and broadband cable industries, including custom, application-specific power solutions. In addition to product development, Alpha Technologies provides a comprehensive range of installation and maintenance services to support its global customer base. Alpha Technologies is a member of The Alpha Group of companies.

The Alpha Group represents a global alliance of independent companies that share a common philosophy – create world-class powering solutions for communication, commercial, industrial and renewable energy markets.

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For more information, please contact:
Kathleen Kubis
Marketing Communications
kkubis@alpha.com
# 360.392.2263

Alpha Redefines Power Density With New 4000 Amp DC Power Plant

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 14, 2011 -- Alpha Technologies, global power solutions provider, has expanded its broad line of Critical Facility Power Products to include a 4000 Amp DC Power Plant. Ideal for today’s complex Critical Facilities, this new system comes complete with 4000 amp distribution bay, system controller and Cordex HP 12 kW (250A) Modular Switched Mode Rectifier. The system may be expanded to 10,000 amps to support large facility powering needs and provides an ideal solution for cable operators faced with increased power needs and limited space availability.

“Alpha’s 4000 Amp system allows operators to double their power capacity within the same footprint of their existing Critical Facilities powering equipment,” said Greg Zediker, Director of Sales for NA Cable for Alpha.

The new Cordex HP Rectifier series, offered in a 1.2KW, 4.0KW and 12.0KW, offers near 95% efficiency equating to greater OPEX savings potential and reduced environmental impact. The Cordex 4.0kW is a backwards-compatible solution with the successful Cordex CXRF 48-3.6kW platform, providing significant advancements in efficiency, performance and cost savings.

The new Cordex HP series rectifiers demonstrates Alpha’s commitment to designing smarter and greener power electronics for the future. Alpha products continue to set the standard for performance and reliability while reducing total cost of ownership and impact on the environment.

Alpha’s Critical Facilities Power offering also includes the AMPS80 HP, a high performance AC/DC inverter system with 94% efficiency and high power density. The AMPS80 HP features hot swappable 2.5kVA/ 2.0kW inverter modules and optional 1.8kW rectifier modules. This system offers maximum flexibility with the option to scale up or down depending on current and future power demands.

In addition to a five-shelf battery rack complete with AlphaCell HR and BT batteries, Alpha will also exhibit its battery capabilities with the MS Endur. Alpha’s 20-year batteries provide improved performance, longer runtimes and extended service life. The space-saving design provides the greatest amount of power with a small footprint.

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For more information, please contact:
Kathleen Kubis
Marketing Communications
kkubis@alpha.com
# 360.392.2263

Alpha Technologies Expands Its Power Services

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 2, 2011 -- Alpha Technologies, Inc. announces a significant expansion of its Power Services offering, including the installation, construction and preventative maintenance of critical network power equipment.

With a national network of contractors, project managers and technicians, Alpha’s Installation Services program provides turn-key solutions for both Outside Plant and Critical Facility applications. Alpha combines small, medium and large-scale projects with the necessary installation resources to provide structure engineering, right-of-way and easement procurement, site preparation, equipment installation and initial system turn-up and testing.

Alpha also provides comprehensive Preventative Maintenance and Critical Plant Hardening Services. With proven expertise in powering equipment, Alpha’s Preventative Maintenance programs can help ensure optimum system reliability and equipment life by performing routine scheduled maintenance, testing of local and remote alarm operations and analyzing local data.

Finally, Alpha’s Repair Depots are strategically positioned nationwide to provide repair and refurbishment of all Alpha and third-party equipment including cable power supplies, RF line gear, Headend equipment, UPS systems and test equipment. Alpha’s state-of-the-art repair and development laboratories also offer pick-up and drop-off services to assist with customer’s specific needs.

“Overall network reliability and reduced operating costs have become two of the most critical priorities for our customers,” commented John Hewitt, VP of North American Sales for Alpha Technologies. “These expanded services allow us to help our customers to focus on both.”

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For more information, please contact:
Kathleen Kubis
Marketing Communications
kkubis@alpha.com
# 360.392.2263

Alpha Technologies Launches New Indoor Wall-Mountable DC Power System

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Vancouver, BC. November 19, 2011 -- Leading power solutions provider Alpha Technologies Ltd. is launching its latest compact indoor power system.

Conceived as a reliable backup power solution for various telecom equipment, the CXPS-48-500-IWM was designed for optimum power density. The system comes pre-configured with the class leading CXCI system controller and two Cordex 650W rectifier modules, supporting a maximum load capacity of 500W with N+1 redundancy. It features:

Wall-mount capability provides flexible options for space constrained applications
Light weight for easy installation
Powder coated aluminum enclosure provides superior corrosion resistant properties
Cordex-based DC power system offers modularity and scalability in power up to 500W
Battery shelf can accommodate up to two 48Vdc strings of batteries for maximum run-times
Low maintenance and high efficiency design reduces overall cost of ownership for the user

“The new CXPS-48-500-IWM is an extremely efficient, passively cooled indoor enclosure with minimum moving parts; all of which reduce Op-Ex costs to the customer,” remarked Satheesh Hariharan, Product Manager – Outdoor Systems at Alpha. “Its compact and wall-mountable format makes it the ideal choice for space constrained applications.”

For full specifications, visit the product page here.

Alpha Technologies Ltd. is an established leader in the design, manufacture, service and installation of powering solutions for the Telecom, CATV, Traffic, Security, Medical, Industrial, and Renewable Energy industries. The Company offers a broad portfolio of high-quality, feature-rich solutions that can be customized to suit almost any application and environment, offering the highest performance and best value in the industry. With a focus on being your power solutions partner, Alpha builds on over 30 years of outdoor power manufacturing experience to develop solutions that solve customers’ unique powering challenges.

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For more information, please contact:
Paul Drabble
Marketing Manager
Alpha Technologies Ltd.
604-436-5900
marketing@alpha.com

Alpha Technologies Introduces Next-Generation Power Supply

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:00:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 15, 2011 -- Global power solutions provider, Alpha Technologies, Inc. has announced the introduction of its next-generation outside plant broadband power supply, the Alpha XM3-HP CableUPS, to address the ever-increasing power demands of today’s sophisticated communication networks.

The Alpha XM3-HP Power Supply combines the time-tested, robust reliability characteristics of Alpha’s power products with the internal intelligence required by today’s high-capacity, high-speed, interactive communication networks.

Significant technological advancements across the entire power technology platform are focused on improved efficiency, optimized performance and reduced operating costs. From ground-breaking transformer design improvements to the integration of the most intuitive and user-friendly interface device
ever offered, the XM3-HP Power Supply truly represents “next-generation” power technology.

“The XM3-HP’s advanced design sets a new standard in power technology and focuses on reducing operating costs and optimizing the powering component of the network,” commented Alpha President and COO, Drew Zogby. “Through advanced remote monitoring, network administrators can access detailed information including remaining battery life, in-depth utility performance reporting, and critical, forward-looking backup runtime capacities, all from a central network operation center.”

This next-generation power platform saves users operating costs in at least (3) specific areas: the Reduction of Utility Power Usage, the Reduction of Truck Rolls, and the Optimization of Battery Life & Performance.

Reduction of Utility Power Usage: Reduced utility power requirements are made possible through innovative transformer design and much tighter output window regulation. This efficiency translates into less utility power being consumed and direct savings in network operating expenses. Operators will save literally millions of dollars over the life of the equipment, and these savings become especially beneficial in systems with large numbers of power installations and/or in regions with high energy costs.

Reduction of Truck Rolls & Associated Preventative Maintenance Costs: Reducing the frequency of on-site service calls to individual power installations allows operators to further reduce overall operating expenses. The XM3-HP’s ability to remotely provide decision-making data with specific information on power system status allows for the reduction of expensive, on-site service calls and the ability to deploy company resources more efficiently.

Optimizing Battery Life & Performance: Optimizing battery life also has a dramatically positive effect on both reducing capital expenditures as well as reducing on-going operating costs. Advanced, 5-stage battery charging technology coupled with internal AlphaGuard Battery Balancing optimizes battery life expectancy. Real-time data capture of critical parameters, together with AlphaApps analytical reports, provide critical answers to predict service intervals and battery replacement schedules. Additionally, significant gains in inverter efficiencies translates directly into increased battery backup runtime rates, further improving network performance.

In addition to increased operating efficiency and greatly enhanced communication capabilities, the XM3-HP also provides – for the first time ever – critical predictability data, that allows users to significantly reduce both annual operating costs as well as lifetime capital expenditures.

“Forward-looking predictability empowers users to reduce and minimize truck rolls, optimize battery life and reduce utility power usage through right-sizing and load-matching individual power installations,” commented company officials. “In essence, it’s a yesterday-today-and-tomorrow view of the power component of the network.”

The Alpha XM3-HP is available in several models to support both domestic and international applications. The product’s design also includes many operational improvements. A shorter profile means the XM3-HP fits into legacy enclosures with limited vertical capacity, allowing operators to upgrade with the least possible cost. Another significant enhancement is the hot-swappable Inverter Module and Transponder Module, allowing service or upgrade of the power supply without taking the power supply off-line.

The Alpha XM3-HP CableUPS can be configured with an embedded DOCSIS transponder, fully integrated AlphaGuard battery balancing and an internal application card, allowing it to be tailored for optimal use.

Alpha also offers a full line of specialized Alpha ground and pole mount enclosures as well as the industry-leading AlphaCell battery offering, providing both protection and critical backup power to the network.

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For more information, please contact:
Kathleen Kubis
Marketing Communications
kkubis@alpha.com
# 360.392.2263

Alpha Energy Introduces Optimum Power Solutions at Solar Power International 2011

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Bellingham, Wash. (October 18, 2011) –Alpha Energy, a member of worldwide power systems provider, The Alpha Group, will display its new Optimum Power Solutions in Alpha Energy Booth No. 801 at this year’s Solar Power International Expo. Solar Power International 2011 (SPI ’11), the premier business-to-business global solar expo takes place October 17 through 20 at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, TX. Presented by the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), SPI ’11 is designed to serve and advance the solar energy industry.

These small, hybrid photovoltaic (PV) systems are designed for field applications such as transportation, security (including video surveillance), lighting, telecommunications, military, marine and emergency communications. Featuring modular enclosures and a wide selection of accessories, the new Alpha systems fit every budget and application. The web based system configuration tool for the new Tier 3 sizing methodology uses 30 years of historical weather data to size the systems based on location and load information. Systems are available in 12, 24 and 48 volt versions.

Alpha Energy will be offering three levels of system design:

Premium (5 year warranty): designed for critical loads that cannot tolerate any outages and must operate 24/7/365.
Standard (2 year warranty): supports loads that can tolerate occasional outages caused by unusual and extended periods of poor weather resulting in low insolation (low light levels resulting in low power from the PV array).
Economy (1 year warranty): used with non-essential loads that can tolerate periodic outages based on seasonal weather changes.

“Our Optimum Power Solutions feature stronger enclosures, powder coated finish, stainless steel hardware, integral solar array, long life batteries, preassembled electronics and over a dozen options and accessories including sun shades, mounting brackets, temperature control, custom backplanes, DC-ups and DC/DC converters,” said John Meyer, director of engineering and operations for Alpha Energy.

Alpha Energy is a full-service engineering and project development company for turnkey renewable energy technologies and photovoltaic systems for commercial, institutional and remote (off-grid) applications. Alpha Energy is a division of Alpha Technologies, a world leading Total Power Solutions provider for more than thirty five years. Alpha Energy is a member of The Alpha Group.

The Alpha Group represents a global alliance of independent companies that share a common philosophy - create world-class Total Power Solutions for communication, commercial, industrial and renewable energy markets.

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Press Contact:
John Grubb
VP of Marketing
Alpha Technologies Inc.
360-392-2331

jgrubb@alpha.com

Alpha Energy Shows Photovoltaic Power System at Solar Power International

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:00:00 GMT

BELLINGHAM, Wash. (October 18, 2011) –Alpha Energy, a member of worldwide power systems provider The Alpha Group, will display its Hybrid DC Powering System using the Solar Harvesting Technology System in Alpha Energy Booth No. 801 at this year’s Solar Power International Expo. Solar Power International 2011 (SPI ’11), the premier business-to-business global solar expo, takes place October 17 through 20 at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas. Presented by the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), SPI ’11 is designed to serve and advance the solar energy industry.

The new photovoltaic power system (PVPS) is a hybrid DC powering system that integrates solar power and advanced charge controller technology to improve overall network reliability, reduce operating energy expenses and increase system efficiency.

The PVPS by Alpha Energy is a universal DC solution operating independently of the local utility regulations and the various electrical service entrance voltage configurations found throughout the world. The PVPS solar harvesting technology uses the OutBack Power MPPT Charge Controllers with industry leading conversion efficiencies of 97 percent. In addition, the unique DC powering design improves system efficiency by at least 10 percent over traditional grid tie AC inverter system designs. The design achieves this increased efficiency by eliminating the losses associated with the conversion of DC from the solar panels to AC by the grid-tied inverter and then rectifying or converting AC back to DC to operate the loads.

This design eliminates electrical AC permits and associated electrical design costs, and greatly improves reliability by allowing for the use of solar power during daytime outages to augment and increase battery backup time in critical facilities.

Increases reliability of current DC power plant
Extends battery runtime
Reduces OpEx and CapEx
Lowers carbon footprint
Eligible for various federal, state and utility incentives, depending on location of installation

The PVPS is modular and scalable from 4.23 kW to 25.38 kW (see Figure 8). Each 4.23 kW subsystem uses a base panel configuration of Qty 18 x 235 W sharp high-efficiency panel arrays configured as 3 series x 6 parallel. These six panel arrays will feed low-voltage (less than) 150VDC to breakers in the FLEXware PV12 Combiner box to complete the 4.23 kW subsystem. Up to six of these low DC voltage subsystems can feed the PVPS allowing the system to scale from 4.23 kW to 25.38 kW. These low voltage 4.23 kW DC combiner outputs (one to six at 150VDC) are then fed to the individual 4.23 kW charge controllers integrated into the SPDB collocated with the 48 VDC Plant in the critical facility. The charge controller output is set slightly above the float voltage of the -48VDC rectifiers and tied to the DC plant distribution bay. All solar-generated DC power is set as "the primary" to the output and consumed by the load as the priority.

“With Alpha’s PVPS, solar harvested efficiency is 97 percent. It is designed to be scalable for budgets over time, and, by eliminating design and installation barriers, the PVPS is ready to deploy immediately in any site worldwide that uses a 48VDC power plant,” said John Meyer, director of engineering and operations for Alpha Energy.

Alpha Energy is a full-service engineering and project development company for turnkey renewable energy technologies and photovoltaic systems for commercial, institutional and remote (off-grid) applications. Alpha Energy is a division of Alpha Technologies, a world-leading Total Power Solutions provider for more than 35 years. Alpha Energy is a member of The Alpha Group.

The Alpha Group represents a global alliance of independent companies that share a common philosophy: create world-class Total Power Solutions for communication, commercial, industrial and renewable energy markets.

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Press Contact:
John Grubb
VP of Marketing
Alpha Technologies Inc.
360-392-2331

jgrubb@alpha.com

Alpha Energy to Display a Hybrid Power System at Solar Power International 2011

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Bellingham, Wash. (October 18, 2011) –Alpha Energy, a member of worldwide power systems provider, The Alpha Group, will display a Hybrid AC/DC Power System in Alpha Energy Booth No. 801 at this year’s Solar Power International Expo. Solar Power International 2011 (SPI ’11), the premier business-to-business global solar expo takes place October 17 through 20 at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, TX. Presented by the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), SPI ’11 is designed to serve and advance the solar energy industry.

Alpha’s Hybrid AC/DC Power System is ideal for off-grid remote mission critical applications for telecommunications providers, security, military and pipeline companies who require the benefits and security of multiple generating sources such as solar, wind, generator, grid or micro hydro in mission critical powering applications. These versatile Power Plants are highly configurable with diverse AC or DC input and output options. This means it is easy to custom-configure systems to include inverters, DC converters, breakers, alarms, batteries and solar controllers. Incorporating the innovative Cordex line of DC powering solutions, the system’s rectifiers, controllers and other components can be accessed by way of a robust computer interface that can be used locally or remotely.

"The Alpha Hybrid AC/DC Power System includes Cordex rectifiers. Additional rectifiers and inverters can be added if load requirements increase. Built-in data logging tracks 500 system events and 40 battery events. This makes the Hybrid Power System an ideal solution for remote applications,” said John Meyer, Director of Engineering and Operations for Alpha Energy.

Alpha Energy is a full-service engineering and project development company for turnkey renewable energy technologies and photovoltaic systems for commercial, institutional and remote (off-grid) applications. Alpha Energy is a division of Alpha Technologies, a world leading Total Power Solutions provider for more than thirty five years. Alpha Energy is a member of The Alpha Group.

The Alpha Group represents a global alliance of independent companies that share a common philosophy - create world-class Total Power Solutions for communication, commercial, industrial and renewable energy markets.

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Press Contact:
John Grubb
VP of Marketing
Alpha Technologies Inc.
360-392-2331

jgrubb@alpha.com

Alpha Energy to Display Modular Power System at Solar Power International 2011

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:00:00 GMT

Bellingham, Wash. (October 18, 2011) –Alpha Energy, a member of worldwide power systems provider The Alpha Group, will display its Modular Power System in Alpha Energy Booth No. 801 at this year’s Solar Power International Expo. Solar Power International 2011 (SPI ’11), the premier business-to-business global solar expo, takes place October 17 through 20 at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas. Presented by the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), SPI ’11 is designed to serve and advance the solar energy industry.

Alpha’s Modular Power System provides a flexible and effective energy storage solution for applications with small to mid-range power requirements. These systems are ideal for applications with poor or unreliable utility power and configurable for usage with photovoltaic or other on-site power generation options.

“The Alpha Modular Power System includes a rugged, seven-foot seismic relay rack, an 800 amp termination panel, and is custom configured with OutBack EnergyCell deep-cycle batteries and appropriate OutBack Power Inverter/Charger equipment,” said John Meyer, director of engineering and operations for Alpha Energy. “We can configure our systems to meet the powering requirements of almost any application and are excited to be able to solve a variety of powering requirements.”

Alpha Energy is a full-service engineering and project development company for turnkey renewable energy technologies and photovoltaic systems for commercial, institutional and remote (off-grid) applications. Alpha Energy is a division of Alpha Technologies, a world leading Total Power Solutions provider for more than 35 years. Alpha Energy is a member of The Alpha Group.

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Press Contact:
John Grubb
VP of Marketing
Alpha Technologies Inc.
360-392-2331

jgrubb@alpha.com