____________________________________________________________________________________________ Ashwood Designs
on shared learning, whether that be on manufacturing scale, product development processes, or communicating with retail partners and customers. We can still both hold on to our DNA whilst supporting and opening doors for one another.”
While both businesses have a strong appreciation for traditional craftsmanship and the skills that underpin quality upholstery, Will highlights that there are clear opportunities to learn from one another. This includes embracing new technologies and processes that improve efficiency, consistency, and scale, without compromising the characteristics and strengths of either business.
“ Making a quality sofa is still and, to some extent, always will be heavily reliant on handcraft and time-honored skills. That doesn’ t mean, however, that we can’ t look at better, faster, and more efficient ways of doing things,” Will elaborates.“ In the last 12 months alone, we have invested in two new Lectra machines in our cutting room, with bespoke capabilities to support different tasks. We have also heavily invested in our wood mill to ensure that the foundation of a quality piece is built to last. Consistency and accuracy are never more important in upholstery than in the frame so, for both volume and our level of flexibility, we recently acquired new CNCs, a beam saw, and a Salvador cross-cut saw, along with a new extraction system and upgraded power to support.”
Driving innovation in Ashwood’ s product offering, these investments are providing the company with greater precision, consistency, and flexibility in the manufacturing process. This continued innovation is illustrated in Ashwood’ s new motion furniture range, which combines sophisticated mechanisms with the comfort, quality, and elegant design for which its sofas are known.
“ Motion furniture is a growing market, and I’ m proud to say that in terms of UK manufacturing, Ashwood is seen as a leader,”
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