AST play DTI hosts

Citation

(2000), "AST play DTI hosts", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 47 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2000.12847aab.008

AST play DTI hosts

Keywords AST, Surface engineering, Central Government, Benchmarking

Coventry-based Advanced Surface Treatments (AST) Ltd informs us that it has been selected as a host company for the UK's Department of Trade and Industry's Inside UK Enterprise initiative.

Under the scheme, AST, one of the UK's leading specialists in zinc alloy electro-plating, hosts visits from a range of related industries and passes on its own expertise in identifying and adopting best practices for competitive success.

David Stevens, managing director, said, "We aim to provide a world class service and were the first UK plating company specialising in zinc alloys to gain QS 9000 - the automobile industry's super quality standard. We are delighted to have been included in this important government initiative and fully support the drive towards a knowledge-driven economy."

The company, based on the Alpha Business Park in Coventry, is one of only two plating companies to be included in the scheme. It is thought to have the largest computerised rack and barrel plant for zinc-nickel in the UK as well as one of the only fully automatic computer-controlled plants for tin-zinc alloy in Europe.

As a member of the Surface Engineering Association (SEA), AST is also taking part in regular benchmarking programmes both in the UK and worldwide. AST is also an active member of the DTI sponsored SE2000 project on surface engineering which aims to assist the industry to meet the challenge by adopting best practice in management, methods and skills development in an increasingly competitive market.