In a major reorganisation at their Harlow , Essex factory Ashton Industrial are relocating all staff based operations to replanned office suites at first floor level , freeing up the entire ground floor area being converted to additional machine manufacturing space .

Steve Ashton : “ Demand for our heavy duty professional arrissing machines and automatic arrissing and batching lines , many of which are for jumbo or near-jumbo glass sizes , means we can always use more production space . There are usually three lines in various stages of completion being worked on simultaneously as well as a whole raft of standalone , semi-automatic and

manually operated machines . The newly freed-up space will accommodate building of a large part of the latter , and of sub-assemblies and electrical control panels .”

High speed handling projects which include tilting , rotating , slot-racking , protective film laminators and mirror backing applicators are becoming increasingly popular . Three high performance jumbo tilting conveyors have recently been commissioned in Argentina .

Ashton is currently recruiting , more details on www . ashton-industrial . com

Can diamond arrissing belts really cost less than silicone carbide ? According to Ashton Industrial , the answer is a resounding yes . Using real feedback from UK and US customers using their UNIX™ heavy duty manual machines to arriss ( seam ) 3mm-6mm glass for tempering , one pair of diamond belts 3350 x 100mm lasts on average around 10-12 weeks , double shift . Cost factor approx . £ 750 compared to one pair of SIC belts per shift - 20 belts per week at say £ 5 each means £ 1,200 over 12 weeks .

Steve Ashton is also keen to point out the superior edge quality which leads to fewer quench breaks , and that there is no loose grit from diamonds - surface scratching is virtually eliminated .

NEW from Ashton Industrial is a call-off order scheme to reduce diamond belt prices further still . Order your requirement for a year ’ s belts and Ashton will discount them by an extra 5 % over and above the best price-break rate and hold them in stock for you : You call them off as you need them and pay as you go .

Find our more by emailing sales @ ashton-industrial . com or calling 01279 624810