With 2009 almost at a close, it is worth goimg over some of the developments we have made over the year.
From a whole company point of view (WB White Foundry and Architectural Street Furnishings), several things have happened. Whilst some parts of the engineering world have been a bit quiet, others have had decent years and because we manufacture such a wide range of products we've been able to roll with this a bit.
Firstly and most notably, we've tried to forge into the 21st Century, with three new websites (ASF, foundry, cast bollards)and several blogs. These have been a real eye opener to us - obviously, from a business point of view they all work well but they have also been really interesting as well. Introducing us to all sorts of people with interests in street furniture, history, urban design and the like. This is always good because, although we are a company we still have a real passion for what we do, and are incredibly proud of our casting pedigree as well as the fact that the modern world again sees cast iron as an environmentally friendly material. It also led me to write a short blog on TUMBLR about the history of street furniture.
Also in 2009 we have looked at updating ourselves accross the board and worked on our ISO 9001 accreditation. This meant further time and financial investments in I.T but we're very nearly there now so the ISO stamp will be on all our paperwork early in 2010.
From a product point of view we'vw done quite a lot this year. Firstly, we've put together a range of illuminated bollards and now have the ability to retro fit lighting components into many street furniture items. We have also (finally) put together a proper range of cycle shelters. canopies, walkways, in fact, we can now make shelters for pretty much any purpose.
The final, and most interesting thing this year has been the undertaking of the restoration of a Victorian Cast Iron Bridge Parapet. This work is ongoing and has been a real eye opener, working in the gap between heritage, local authority and private contractor is a pretty tough act but it feels like we're just abouth there with that now.
So, what for 2010?
Well, in the first instance more of the same. There are plans to create some more micro websites highlighting particular product types and /or manufacturing processes, as well as keeping on with these blogs.
If the afore mentioned bridge refurbishment goes well then there is just cause to look at offering this kind of work as a standard service and getting some marketing together to get this going.
The existing ASF website needs some work: a dedicated page for illuminated bollards and cycle shelters as well as a fair bit of housekeeping. There are a bunch of projects and bespoke jobs that need to be added next year to give the sites more volume and make them a bit more interesting for readers. There are also some other product areas to delve into - the modern world sees the requirement for anti-terrorist street furniture so that will be a major addition in the new year.
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
High Quality Street Furniture.
Architectural Street Furnishings is based in Brighouse, West Yorkshire.
Part of WB White Foundry, ASF can draw on many years of casting experience, allowing us ta make street furniture of all kinds in several different materials. Architectural Street Furnishings can manufacture products in Cast Iron, Steel, Stainless Steel, Aluminium, Granite and Timber.
We have our own pattern making and design teams allowing us incorporate logos, coats of arms and lettering as well as completing one off and bespoke jobs.
ASF's range of cast iron bollards includes many original patterns, some dating back many years, as well as many products that are more modern in appearance. The on-site pattern making team can also make entirely new patterns to our customers needs, or ammend existing patterns to add personal or specific design touches.
Stainless Steel is fast becoming one of the most popular materials for urban design. Modern, robust, stylish and with very low maintenance this material is perfect for many street furniture applications. ASF's Stainless Steel Bollards reflect the modern world we live in today. These bollards can be manufactured in many shapes and sizes and be made to co-ordinate with other items of street furniture.
ASF has a wide range of outdoor seating, ranging from traditional products in cast iron and timber through steel seating options to out stylish range of Stainless Steel Seating. Our bespoke manufacturing credentials allow us to make one off designs to order.
Due to our wide ranging manufacturing capabilities, we can complete stunning Post and Rail projects in a wide range of materials for many different uses. Whether the need is for knee rail, decorative panelling, quayside posts, or whether the product needs to compliment a scheme or be a striking statement, ASF can manufacture a system to suit.
ASF also manufacture a variety of other products including Litterbins, Tree Protection and Cycle Parking as well as having a stunning range of Granite Benches and Granite Bollards.
ASF can be contacted at:
Architectural Street Furnishings
Priory Road
Armytage Road
Brighouse
HD6 1PY
Tel: 01484 401414
Fax: 01484 721398
The ASF Tumblr Blog
This is a link to the new architectural street furnishings tumblr blog. This seems like quite a good blog site and certainly looks the business.
The blog has been opened with a short piece about cast iron bollards but I intend to add to this as time goes on.
Either click the link above or follow this address: http://www.asfstreetfurniture.tumblr.com/
The blog has been opened with a short piece about cast iron bollards but I intend to add to this as time goes on.
Either click the link above or follow this address: http://www.asfstreetfurniture.tumblr.com/
Thursday, 26 November 2009
Monday, 23 November 2009
ASF- Visit Our Foundry - WB White
ASF (Architectural Street Furnishings) and WBW (WB White Foundry) are sister companies.
It is getting more and more difficult nowadays to have cast iron street furniture manufactured here in the UK.
WB White Foundry and ASF encompass the traditional casting values to create both traditional and modern street furniture.
Using 100% recycled materials and manufacturing everything in the United Kingdom, ASF/WBW offer not just great quality but also products that are environmentally sustainable.
Feel free to visit the WB White Foundry Website at www.wbwhitefoundry.co.uk, or the ASF website at www.asfco.co.uk, or our dedicated cast iron bollards website at www.castironbollards.co.uk.
Contact ASF on 01484 401414
Contact WBW on 01484 715168
It is getting more and more difficult nowadays to have cast iron street furniture manufactured here in the UK.
WB White Foundry and ASF encompass the traditional casting values to create both traditional and modern street furniture.
Using 100% recycled materials and manufacturing everything in the United Kingdom, ASF/WBW offer not just great quality but also products that are environmentally sustainable.
Feel free to visit the WB White Foundry Website at www.wbwhitefoundry.co.uk, or the ASF website at www.asfco.co.uk, or our dedicated cast iron bollards website at www.castironbollards.co.uk.
Contact ASF on 01484 401414
Contact WBW on 01484 715168
Saturday, 25 April 2009
Cast Iron Is Modern
Ok, I know it sounds crazy, but it is true in many ways.
Cast Iron was a key technological step in our engineering past. For the first time ever it enabled people to build big, offering strength and flexibility never before seen. It was a key material in the development of steam transport and mechanised industrial developments.
On the face of it, cast iron is now old fashioned and dated, only found in old buildings and Victorian Parks and Urban Spaces.
This, however, is not totally true. Nowadays, cast iron is made from recycled materials and is 100% recyclable. Added to this, Cast Iron does not rust in the same way as steel. The oxidisation of cast iron is very very slow and can take 10's and even 100's of years to loose just a few millimetres. If the cast iron is painted and looked after then this is even slower.
At ASF, street furniture is manufactured in many materials but we are especially keen on cast iron. We have our own on site foundry and pattern shop. This allows us to make traditional street furniture and modern bespoke street furniture in cast iron. When we make, for example, a cast iron bollard, we fully expect it this recycled product to last up to 100 years, maybe even more.
For sustainability, envoironmental inmpact, responsibility and style, cast iron is again a cutting edge material.
Cast Iron was a key technological step in our engineering past. For the first time ever it enabled people to build big, offering strength and flexibility never before seen. It was a key material in the development of steam transport and mechanised industrial developments.
On the face of it, cast iron is now old fashioned and dated, only found in old buildings and Victorian Parks and Urban Spaces.
This, however, is not totally true. Nowadays, cast iron is made from recycled materials and is 100% recyclable. Added to this, Cast Iron does not rust in the same way as steel. The oxidisation of cast iron is very very slow and can take 10's and even 100's of years to loose just a few millimetres. If the cast iron is painted and looked after then this is even slower.
At ASF, street furniture is manufactured in many materials but we are especially keen on cast iron. We have our own on site foundry and pattern shop. This allows us to make traditional street furniture and modern bespoke street furniture in cast iron. When we make, for example, a cast iron bollard, we fully expect it this recycled product to last up to 100 years, maybe even more.
For sustainability, envoironmental inmpact, responsibility and style, cast iron is again a cutting edge material.
Monday, 16 February 2009
Thursday, 12 February 2009
Billy the Bollard
Once Upon a Time there was a bollard called Billy. Billy came from a traditional family of cast iron bollards. His mum and dad had both guarded Buckingham Palace and amazingly, the Queen had once leaned on his dad for a rest after a long day. Billy's dad was very very proud of this and loved to tell the story to all his Street Furniture friends.
All of Billy's cousins were also types of Street Furniture, and just like Billy, they were made from good old tough cast iron.
Billy was 14 years old and loved being a young bollard- he enjoyed playing football and particularly liked being the goalpost. His little brother was taller and thinner than Billy so he only ever got to be the corner flag.
Billy always wondered where he would work when he got older. He wanted to do a really important job like his mum and dad but knew that you did not often get the choice. Being a bollard could be a tough life, when all grown up you had to be strong and do as you were told. His Uncle Jimmy even had a dog do a wee on him once!
Billy was ready for all this though, he had been brought up well.
That was until that fateful day at school- The Street Furniture Comprehensive School. He first saw her in a corridor. She was a bollard just like Billy but she was beautiful. She was tall and perfectly straight from cap to root, she was shiny and Billy imagined that she would be smooth if he ever got to touch her. She was Stainless Steel.
Billy really wanted to say something to her but he knew they could never mix. Stainless Steel Bollards and Cast Iron Bollards were different- they could never be together. Billy knew that just brushing past her would make her rusty and if there's one thing street furniture hates it is rust.
All of Billy's cousins were also types of Street Furniture, and just like Billy, they were made from good old tough cast iron.
Billy was 14 years old and loved being a young bollard- he enjoyed playing football and particularly liked being the goalpost. His little brother was taller and thinner than Billy so he only ever got to be the corner flag.
Billy always wondered where he would work when he got older. He wanted to do a really important job like his mum and dad but knew that you did not often get the choice. Being a bollard could be a tough life, when all grown up you had to be strong and do as you were told. His Uncle Jimmy even had a dog do a wee on him once!
Billy was ready for all this though, he had been brought up well.
That was until that fateful day at school- The Street Furniture Comprehensive School. He first saw her in a corridor. She was a bollard just like Billy but she was beautiful. She was tall and perfectly straight from cap to root, she was shiny and Billy imagined that she would be smooth if he ever got to touch her. She was Stainless Steel.
Billy really wanted to say something to her but he knew they could never mix. Stainless Steel Bollards and Cast Iron Bollards were different- they could never be together. Billy knew that just brushing past her would make her rusty and if there's one thing street furniture hates it is rust.
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