Alexander Kanaris of Shelby Township is the president and owner of Van der Graaf (VDG) Canada and US .

He’s also the genius behind the electrical motor that led VDG to become a multimillion-dollar company and the world’s leading manufacturer of drum motors for all types of belt conveyor applications.

“When you check your bag in at the airport and they put it on a belt that takes it away?” said Kanaris, whose company recently hosted a gala event celebrating 40 years of innovation.

That’s a VDG drum motor at work.

Everything from small conveyors moving mail, processed food, pop bottles and boxes to large industrial conveyors used by the world’s mining companies, moving tons of materials, lithium, coal, granite?

If you look on the side of the conveyor motor you’ll see the VDG logo.

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