This new service follows on from the privately-owned company opening a new distribution centre in Wellington this year to service customers in the lower North Island.
ASL started out 20 years ago as a company servicing a local saw mill in Silverdale just north of Auckland where it is based, and quickly expanded into a sharpening and associated product service for printers. Four years ago the company further extended its product range to include the Superloop stitching wire brand.
It distributes a number of products from the Immortal TT quality Tungsten Carbide guillotine blade used in some of the biggest printshops and binderies in New Zealand, to trimmer and binding knives, slitters, knife guards and cutting sticks.
Director, Karen Andrews says the Wellington operation has proved very successful because the stock is on hand for lower North Island customers cutting freight costs from Auckland.
“Often people don’t know how big the job they’re getting is going to be until it arrives, and previously they had to wait for the stock to come from Auckland. Now we can offer same-day service to our Wellington customers.”
The company has also extended it sales team by promoting Melissa Bezzina to a more active sales role. She will be calling on printers and copy shop owners in the greater Auckland area.
Karen says her appointment expands their nation-wide sales team at a time when demand for their products is growing.