The Company...

  • Our Objectives
  • Our Qualifications
  • Our Capabilities
  • Our Stocking Policy
  • Our Transport Policy
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    ALC Objectives

    ALC operates a policy of:

    • Offering a customer-friendly dealing environment
    • Offering high quality products
    • Full product compliance with all current UK and European standards
    • Carrying high stock levels to give short lead times
    • Offering full design and technical support
    • Early adoption of new technologies to maintain product superiority
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    ALC Qualifications

    The company:
    ALC is fully compliant with the demands of quality assurance programmes, and is certified to BS EN ISO 9000:2000

    The company is audited in respect of standards compliance by Messrs LRQA. Their certification granted to ALC is ref: LRQ 4000 378

    Products:
    ALC products are fully qualified to current standards:
    BS EN 40
    BS 5649
    ALC columns carry the CE mark, confirming that they conform to all current European standards and directives. Verification of this compliance is certified by BASt Federal Highway Research Institute, Germany.

    Product design:
    Columns and brackets are designed using the following standards:
    BS EN 40-3-3:2003 Design & verification – verification by calculation
    BS EN 40-3-1:2000 Design & verification – specification for characteristic loads
    ENV 1999-2.4 Eurocode 1: Actions on structures – wind actions
    ENV 1999-1-1 Eurocode 9: Design of aluminium structures: part 1-1: general rules
    National application document PD 6547:2004

    Materials:
    International alloy designation EN 573 - 3
    Alloy used:       EN AW – 6063
    Temper:           T4 – T5/6
    Chemical symbols: EN AW – AlMgO, 7Si
    Bracketry is made from alloy 6063 or 6082 T5, and brushed to match the column finish.

    Welding:
    Undertaken in accordance with BS EN 288-4:1992
    Welding materials and consumables comply with BS 2901 part 4.

    Passive safety rating:
    Testing by vehicle crash, in accordance with BS EN 12767 shows that ALC columns offer high levels of passive safety to vehicle occupants. Testing so far shows our 10m column as rated 100LE3, which also gives rating for
    100LE1 & 2,
    70LE1, 2, &3,
    50LE1, 2, & 3

    Much more information concerning passive safety is available under material on this website.

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    ALC Capabilities

    Over a period of years, ALC has developed a wide range of manufacturing capabilities. This development has been driven by our strategy of offering superior products, absorbing new technologies, and finding the innovative solutions needed to satisfy the expanding demands of the market in standard range choice. Special project requirements are addressed by our capability in designing bespoke solutions.

    ALC in-house production includes:

    • 3-D visualisation to determine design style
    • Computer aided calculation to verify compliance with BS EN40
    • Specialist cutting, bending and welding techniques
    • Component machining for precision fit
    • Specialist machining techniques relevant to aluminium material
    • Specialist packing methods to ensure safety in transit
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    Stocking Policy

    At ALC we believe in building and maintaining high levels of customer service. Despite rapid sales growth over recent years, customer service continues at high levels. 

    A key part of our customer service package is in holding substantial stocks of various column types and base sizes, which enables us to operate short lead times. Even where a unique or specific detail is required, this can often be serviced using a stock column and specialist components. 

    Our average stockholding at any time is normally in the region of 3,000 columns. 

    The demands of BS EN 40 mean that very often a column type is specific to a customer, being designed to meet the needs of local use. Where we agree a design specific to a customer, and establish a clear guide to quantity demand, then we will stock the columns for that customer as part of the service package.  

    You can see a picture of our warehouse alongside.

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    ALC Transport Policy

    ALC columns are delivered by road transport. The light weight of aluminium often means that off-loading can be carried out without the need for mechanised handling equipment. 

    As for all UK column supplies, delivery is a chargeable cost, and this cost is a function of distance rather than quantity. Small volume deliveries can therefore be uneconomic for the customer. 

    To minimise the impact of delivery costs, we will “share” the transport costs across the consignments where we can use one truck for several orders. All transport is charged at cost or customers are welcome to arrange transport independently.

    All deliveries are made using dedicated transport companies, whose staff are familiar with the product, to ensure the best service possible.

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