Pre-painted steel supply under one roof

Citation

(1999), "Pre-painted steel supply under one roof", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 46 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.1999.12846dad.012

Pre-painted steel supply under one roof

Pre-painted steel supply under one roof

Keywords: British Steel, Coatings, Construction industry

A single source supply of pre-painted steel to Ash & Lacy Building Products from British Steel Distribution is helping the West Bromwich-based roofing and cladding systems company to meet contrasting demands in three of its key product markets.

High volume flashings and gutterings for standard roofing applications and the more specialised needs of its rapidly growing bespoke fabrications and specialist guttering businesses rely on the immediate availability of a wide range of pre-painted steel in sheet form. For the company's specialist products, technical support and a testing facility are also important factors. All are provided through BSD's Colour Coated Products Centre at nearby Great Bridge which fulfils the dual role of on-the-spot stockist and gateway to the full technical capabilities of supplier of British Steel Strip Products and the additional research and testing facilities of British Steel's Laboratories.

By choosing the same supply route for different areas of its business, Ash & Lacy Building Products is able to offer contractors and specifiers a highly focused package of support based on reliability of material supply and technical back-up.

It believes that these strengths are essential to the pre-design processes in which it is now becoming regularly involved in project teams alongside designers and contractors.

For the BSD Colour Coated Products Centre there is a corresponding pay-off. Business with the Ash & Lacy company has grown apace - doubling year on year over the three years since the Building Products division was formed.

In the meantime, Ash & Lacy Building Products has confirmed its leading player status by the addition of its new Southern depot, scheduled for opening early in the year, to its existing depot at Glasgow and operational base at West Bromwich where a move to a larger local facility is also underway.

For Director, Dean Bridge, the arrangement with BSD is more than a refinement to procurement practice - it is key to the response levels now expected of suppliers to the construction industry (Plate 2).

Plate 2 Ash & Lacy building products director, Dean Bridge with a range of products fabricated from pre-coated steel supplied by British Steel Distribution

"Even with our own fleet of delivery vehicles, double shifts and a 24-hour service to our customers, we can only perform to the highest standard if our material supply is fully reliable. The availability of a full range of standard and non-standard colour coated steels is critical to our continued success. In this respect, British Steel Distribution and British Steel Strip Products supply chain is working very well; it enables us to hold very little in the way of stock and to call off supplies almost at a moment's notice. Because of the relationship we have developed with the local service centre, if we have any questions concerning formability, adhesion or other aspects of coating performance, we are also able to obtain a quick response from further down the line."

For further details contact: British Steel Distribution Publicity. Tel: +44 (0) 1902 484040; Fax: +44 (0) 1902 484049.