Ashland Engineering

In achieving hardware development goals, AHS employs QFD (Quality Function Development) to ensure that customer specifications are not only met but also exceeded...and that Ashland's products benefit customers in every way possible.

To integrate performance and elegance, AHS has deployed multiple computer-design stations employing the SolidWorks^TMCAD environment. This system enables AHS engineers to visually study a design's overall operation, ensuring "seamless" integration into the customer's window and door systems. Again, the end result is hardware that not only works as advertised, but offers the enhanced beauty and elegance that leads to increased window and door sales.

Form, Fit and Function
By harmonizing these three disciplines, Ashland consistently deliversquality products that address the important issues of ergonomics, aesthetics and overall performance.

Beyond part design, AHS also considers how products adapt to routing, punching, drilling, welding and assembly operations. Once again, AHS injects creativity into the process, while addressing issues such as accelerated manufacturing rates, reduced inventory requirements, improved welding processes, and simplified operation and adjustment. Ultimately, AHS builds a solid case for consumers to "trade up" to higher-quality and greater value.

Product Innovation through Imaginative Engineering
Ashland's growing list of patents proves that working "from the ground up" is the best way to eliminate new-product glitches; reduce development costs; and speed up development cycles. In every case, engineers work towards "whole solutions" that interact in a cost-effective fashion with the entire system for greater performance, extended life and added consumer appeal.

Sophisticated 3D and 2D modeling accelerates the development cycle by as much as 60%, while maintaining optimum design flexibility. Importantly, the CAD systems are linked directly with the tool shop and prototype services, making product development cycles more efficient. Multiple tooling packages, plus the full spectrum of engineering grade materials, complete the design process.

Flexibility Remains a Hallmark
United properly, the characteristics of plastic and metal complement overall hardware performance. Engineering-grade plastics in metal components have increased substantially, and are now used routinely to eliminate the need for lubricants; reduce weight at a lower cost; and deliver molded-in color for improved long-term appearance.

Integrating plastic and metal demands cross-functional training in blanking, plating, stamping, diecasting and injection molding. For AHS, the synergy of these technologies consistently leads to better-performing hardware.

Testing and Certification Performance
AHS's commitment to testing and certification is illustrated by the high-end product lines, which have been certified by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA).

Testing efforts, however, do not end with industry certifications. AHS goes the next step by expanding testing to include a structural test wall and cycle testers in order to observe hardware in "real world" conditions-from hurricane-force winds to large vacuum forces.

Though most effective during design and development, Ashland makes testing a continuous process that ends with the finished product. For the future, Ashland will continue to pioneer new technologies to test and perfect product designs.