Siloam Springs Community Guide

10 | 2023 Siloam Springs community guide Alternative Design produces quality, cost- effective, metal fabricated products in their state-of-the-art production facility in Siloam Springs. It all started 36 years ago, when two brothers who had a poultry farm in Siloam Springs put their heads together to come up with a better way to house their chickens. "Eddie Loyd and his brother, Bob, started the business in January of 1987," said Patti EIland, public relations manager for Alternative Design Manufacturing and Supply, Inc. "They had a poultry farm, and over the years they realized they were spending much of their time and money mending or replacing their poultry cages because of the deterioration of the metal. They decided there's got to be a better way." So, the brothers started to research the construction of cages and discovered that the ones used to catch lobsters in the ocean seemed to be particularly durable. They decided to try that kind of construction in the poultry business. The idea worked. While it cost a little more up front, in the long run they didn't have to replace the cages as often. "Word got out and people started to approach Eddie and Bob about building poultry cages for them," Patti continued. "Soon they decided to open up a poultry cage business and Alternative Design was born. At this juncture, Eddie took over Alternative Design and Bob took over the poultry farm." The next step in the evolution of the business was to design lab animal caging for things like healthcare research. Researchers in many locations had limited spaces in which to work, so the team came up with some new ways to help the customers with their specific needs using an alternative design. "We evolved the animal cages so we could put more cages in smaller areas," Patti said. "We developed the Modular Animal Caging System (MACS) that allowed the customer to tell us exactly how many cages they needed in what size area, and we would design it for them." From there, they branched into transport carts and the racks that held the cages that were stainless steel and able to be sterilized over and over again. In 2014, Alternative Design changed hands when Eddie and Georga Loyd sold the company to their son, Grant. The timing was unfortunate because federal funding of laboratory research was being drastically cut. "Many researchers just didn't have the money to put into their laboratories," Patti said. "It was a really tough time for us. Grant had to figure out how to take care of the Alternative Design family as well as their own family." Fortunately, that innovative, creative approach on which Alternative Design was founded came to the rescue. Since taking over as company president, Grant has diversified the business extensively and grown the business substantially. In recent years, the company has been a sought-after source for custom metal fabrication services for a number of local clients, including Simmons Foods, Crossland Construction, Dean's Casing Service, and Siloam Springs School District. The company has produced a variety of metal fabricated products for these customers including such diverse items as benches, bike racks, carts, shelving, fencing, flag holders for street light poles, gates, railing and signs. Alternative Design likes to say, "If you can dream it, we can build it." And they have walked the talk year after year. They are a prime example of the Siloam Springs business community at its best. "We love doing business here in Siloam Springs," Patti said. "Grant and Jesse are both graduates of Siloam Springs High School and now their daughter Logan is going to school here. The Loyd family has always had a strong connection to Siloam Springs." sponsor content alternative design: forging the future in metal How THose PanTHers GoT sTaTe-of-THe-arT sTadium fencinG One of the first big construction jobs Alternative Design was awarded was building the entryway into Siloam Springs High School's Panther Stadium and the handrailing that goes around the outside of the stadium where the seating is. The only problem was that the high school didn't have quite the budget to meet Alternative Design's price, so Grant Loyd asked if he could adjust the original design to meet the budget. He came up with an idea to replace the standard spindle fencing with sheet fencing that had a carved-out panther image on each panel, allowing light in while keeping the integrity and strength of the fence. The new solution saved money, plus provided a creative, artistic solution to the new athletic facility that made everyone happy.

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