Alpharel Inc of San Diego has reported glowing third quarter results, showing all’s well since its acquisition of UK-based document management company Trimco Group Plc in January 1996. Net profits were up 200% at $677,000 on turnover that rose 92% to $6.1m. As a major morale and team-boosting exercise, partly to counter fears of losing key staff to the competition, Alpharel shipped its entire UK contingent over to the US base for a week- long meet and greet event. So far, things are going to plan, and Alpharel-Trimco has yet to lose an employee. As the company has already won major contracts this year, newly appointed president and chief operating officer Jay Tanna is expecting the company to grow another 60% to 80% during the next 12 months and is desperate for skilled computer people in every area. He said Aplharel-Trimco is looking for about another 100 staff, but is finding it increasingly difficult to find the right people. Following launch of its Internet browser earlier this month, Tanna said the Internet and intranet will become a significant part of the company’s product portfolio. The release date for version 2 has been set for September this year. In the meantime, further acquisitions are not out of the question, he said, hinting that an announcement would be made within the next few weeks. The company has no representation in the Middle East at all, and it is weak in both France and Germany, but ‘If’ an acquisition were to be made, said Tanna, I would prefer it to be a European company if possible.
