_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Ashton & Moore
Performance and protection
Celebrating its centenary , Ashton & Moore continues to deliver cutting-edge solutions that stand the test of time
From electroplating and anodizing to conversion coating and passivation , Ashton & Moore ’ s comprehensive suite of core services is designed to protect , enhance , and perfect products with precision and excellence . Established in 1924 , the company is an independent selfcontract surface treatment house , working primarily in the aerospace and defense supply chain . “ We are typically contracted by Tier 1 , 2 and 3 suppliers ,” begins Dr Keith Tucker , Joint CEO . “ Components are free issued to us ; we apply the required coatings to a high aerospace standard and then return them . This year , we ’ re proud to be celebrating our centenary . Founded by Lesly Ashton and Chris Moore , the company was started to color metal components for the jewelry industry . It then went on to develop the process of bulk anodizing in the 1930s and help supply rivets for the new breed of aluminum skinned aircraft , such as the Hurricane and Spitfire . In the 1940s and 1950s , the company flourished , and moved more towards aerospace and defense , becoming a recognized leader in metal finishing .
“ In the 60s , following a project with Kodak that didn ’ t come to fruition , the company was bought out and owned by Wandsworth Electrical until 2005 when as Technical Director , myself , the then Works Manager and the Sales Director executed a management buyout ( MBO ), making Ashton & Moore once again an independent family-owned business . A few years later , we performed an ambitious fully self-funded move of our current 38,500 square-foot modern facility in Hockley , Birmingham , over an 18-month period . We have been at this site ever since and have grown to employ approximately 84 people . Some of our people have been with us for as long as 30 or 40 years . We ’ re about as close as you can get to a familyowned company these days . Since the MBO , we ’ ve grown the business by almost 500 percent and have become a world leader in the finishing and non-destructive testing of components in the aerospace and defense sectors , as well as other high-end engineering fields ,” Keith shares .
manufacturing-today . com 97