While the larger print industry experiences uncertainty, saw and knife specialist ASL Industries has seen a period of growth in the past two years, consolidating its place in the market.
Nigel and Karen Andrews set up the company more than 20 years ago and they have recently expanded its Silverdale premises to cater for growth, rebranding with a new logo, new building, vehicle graphics and a new website.
Karen Andrews says that the company has some of the most technically advanced equipment in the Southern Hemisphere. It has upgraded its technology, purchasing five new grinders in the past four years. It imports all its guillotine, smaller trimming blades, cutting sticks and three-knife trimmers directly from Germany, including its own brand. She says, “Clients need quality blades and a good sharpening service where they don’t have to wait. We will keep staff back at night to fulfil urgent orders. Of course, saw doctoring is not the place for amateurs and people like the fact that, when they call us, they are speaking to the owners of the business."
Mark Goodman, bindery manager for Wellington-based Format Print, comments that ASL goes the extra mile as a customer-focused business. He says, “There have been numerous times where things have been left to the last minute and Karen and her team have done miracles for us. Nothing seems to be too much of a problem for them.”
Andrews adds that ASL can manufacture and sharpen almost every blade that is used in this country from very small through to the largest guillotine, being the Wohlenberg 150.
The company has supervised the training of at least six saw doctoring apprentices. She adds that it is important to put back into the industries they operate in just as it is important to invest in their staff. She says, “We have improved our training systems for staff and we have worked hard to retain them despite the economic climate and pay them accordingly. We believe it is important to recognise their skills and the importance of these skills to our business. If staff members feel appreciated, they do a better job.”
