About H&L Manufacturing
Since 1967 — a family-owned contract manufacturer rooted in quality, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Our Story
H&L Manufacturing got its start in Caledonia, Michigan in 1967 under the ownership of Larry and Lila Alkema.
In 2005, the Alkemas passed the torch to Steve Sawdy, who continued to grow the business. In 2011, H&L relocated from its 20,000 sq ft facility in Caledonia to the current 54,000 sq ft facility in Middleville, Michigan — nearly tripling their production space and enabling them to take on additional new business that simply wouldn't have fit in the old facility.
In 2017, Steve brought added expertise to the business to accelerate growth. Jeff Gillesse and Russ Richardson joined H&L as partners, bringing new strength in finance and lean manufacturing. The team has since driven a culture of continuous improvement — investing heavily in automation, vision systems, custom tooling, and employee development.
A Culture of Continuous Improvement
H&L has assembled a dedicated continuous improvement team that evaluates current technology, identifies areas of deficiency, and devises creative solutions. Rather than buying expensive off-the-shelf equipment, the team frequently engineers and fabricates custom machines in-house — achieving the same results at substantially lower cost.
The company invested significantly in enhancing design capability, including CNC milling equipment, upgraded CAD software, and additional training for technical staff.
“The tech guys were busy on the floor reacting to problems, but nobody was focused on solving them. We took them out of that situation, and now they are solving problems.”
One standout innovation was the addition of vision systems to improve quality. After analyzing quality complaints, the team found that roughly 45% of issues could be eliminated through error-proofing on the detection side. Vision cameras are installed directly over assembly fixtures, taking a snapshot of every part to verify correct location and orientation before it's released. The system ties directly into continuity testing — a part doesn't move until the vision system says it's OK.
“We're not implementing anything going forward without this technology, so we're all in,” Russ confirmed. Through these continuous improvement efforts, H&L has improved efficiency while growing sales — a testament to working smarter, not just harder.
Most recently, H&L has begun integrating artificial intelligence into its operations — partnering with tools like Claude to streamline RFQ processing, enhance sales workflows, and improve efficiency across the organization. It's the latest step in H&L's commitment to being forward-thinking pioneers in the contract manufacturing industry, always looking for the next edge that benefits both the company and its customers.
What Makes H&L Unique
“We don't create noise for our customers. We are an insurance policy for them — we have great quality systems and deliver great performance, so they don't really have to worry about us.”
H&L regularly invites customer teams to participate in kaizen events, showing stakeholders firsthand how processes are being improved to reduce their downside risk.
For the H&L team, it's about common-sense problem solving. “There might be an expensive machine you can buy to solve a problem, but is there something simple you can do to keep the cost low?” That practical, engineering-driven mindset runs through everything H&L does — from custom continuity testing blocks built in-house to purpose-built taping machines designed for long-term reliability.
Company Milestones
- 1967
Founded in Caledonia, MI by Larry and Lila Alkema.
- 2005
Steve Sawdy takes ownership and continues growing the business.
- 2011
Relocated from 20,000 sq ft facility in Caledonia to 54,000 sq ft facility in Middleville, MI.
- 2017
Jeff Gillesse and Russ Richardson join as partners, adding expertise in finance and lean manufacturing.
- 2018
Invested significantly in capital improvements — vision systems, Arburg overmolding machines, custom tooling, and facility upgrades including facility-wide air conditioning.
- Today
Full-service contract manufacturer with wire harness, overmolding, 3D printing, and assembly capabilities — serving automotive, marine, heavy equipment, and more.
Our Mission
“To provide a product and service that goes beyond our customer's expectation.”
Respect
We have as much consideration for the personal and professional worth and dignity of others as we do for ourselves.
Initiative
We are willing and empowered to proactively contribute to the success of the company, its customers, and other employees.
Accountability
We are responsible for our own actions and answerable to others.
Excellence
We give our personal best.
Integrity
We maintain high ethical and moral standards in speech and in personal and professional conduct.
Innovation
We seek out new possibilities in every area and embrace ground-breaking change that adds value.
Leadership
Steve Sawdy
Partner & PresidentTook ownership of H&L in 2005, continuing the family legacy and driving facility expansion and employee investment.
Russ Richardson
Partner & CEOJoined H&L in 2017, bringing deep expertise in lean manufacturing and leading continuous improvement and automation initiatives.
Jeff Gillesse
Partner & CFOJoined H&L in 2017, strengthening financial strategy and driving selective, profitable growth.
Partner With H&L
Let's discuss how we can support your manufacturing needs.