Owned by Aaron Coudret, a saw doctor and timber machinist by trade who has nearly a decade of experience in the field, the firm will be ASL's South Island sharpening facility for both its own blades and for the printing industry in general.
KASS will offer a local pick-up and delivery service in Christchurch itself and a courier service to other South Island centres and will promote ASL's Immortal G3 and TCT range of guillotine blades, cutting sticks, slitters and perf wheels along with its own cutting sticks.
Aaron says he started KASS several years ago with some of the best equipment in the world including a German-manufactured "top of the range" grinding machine for sharpening blades. The machine provides a longer lasting cutting edge that gives a better finish on all guillotine models and blades in use in New Zealand, and the grinder is similar to the one used by ASL in Auckland.
The alliance with KASS almost completes the full range of services Silverdale-based ASL now offers the printing industry in the south, with two new sales and service reps appointed last year and a distribution facility opened for its stitching wire and bookbinding closures.
ASL director, Karen Andrews says sales of their stitching wire and wire book binding closures are doing well and especially since the opening of the distribution facility which has made it easier for printers and copy shops to get delivery when they need it rather than having to wait for supplies to be couriered down from Auckland.
"Often people don't know exactly how much wire they need until a job comes in and then they need it quickly. Having distribution centres in Christchurch and Wellington has facilitated this industry need and from our feedback, customers are very pleased to have a centre near them which helps with their deadlines," she says.
"All our products have been very well received in the South Island and we are especially pleased to now be offering a local sharpening services to printers and print finishers from Invercargill upwards."
ASL's product range includes round and flat stitching wire in a range of colours and wire bookbinding closures which are available in spools and pre-cut lengths, also in a range of colours – plus guillotine blades, trimmer and binding knives, cutting sticks, slitters, perf wheels and paper drills.
Meanwhile ASL's two South Island sales reps also report good feedback and they visit various finishers and printers around the South.
Kevin Wall services Christchurch and the West Coast printers and print finishers and says southern companies have been enthusiastic about the new technology ASL offers and they are particularly pleased with the level of service they are receiving.
"We'll be promoting all our products more widely this year and we anticipate a good reception."
Dave McKenzie who services the rest of the South Island says ASL is building on the momentum it has established in the lower North Island and Christchurch and expects to see its thrust into the south to produce good results as they focus on providing good customer service.
"People appreciate seeing the face of a company, especially someone who has been in the industry for some time and understands their needs."
ASL has just released a new catalogue of all its products which is available from its Silverdale offices ph 0800 42 5574 for a copy.
PICTURE CAPTION
Aaron Coudret outside the St Asaph Street KASS workshop.
