International Accreditation Gives Seal Of Approval To British Manufacturer

A Kent firm is celebrating being the first business in Britain to achieve accreditation for the in-house powder-coating of aluminium balcony components.

Rochester-based AliDeck is a certified Made in Britain manufacturer of non-combustible aluminium decking, drainage, soffits, balustrades and fencing. Following a stringent accreditation process, the company has been awarded the Qualicoat certification, an internationally recognised standard confirming the high quality of finish to its products.

Richard Izzard, Managing Director of AliDeck, said: “This certification attests to our cutting edge process, giving our customers the confidence to know that from extrusion to delivery, our products are under our control and finished to our exacting, market-leading standards.

“We are delighted to receive this accreditation as it confirms that we really are unique in our field as a British manufacturer of aluminium balcony components.”

Qualicoat sets the standard for application of the powder that forms a protective barrier, prolonging the lifespan of architectural components and reducing the need for regular maintenance.

The accreditation process took just over six months to complete, including inspections by Zurich-based Qualicoat, several unexpected visits and drop-ins to collect and test product samples.

To achieve accreditation, AliDeck’s products had to undergo testing that included 1,000 hours of acetic acid salt spraying as well as pressure and impact testing – with the firm’s own additional testing tripling the minimum standards for salt spraying, often passing 3,000 hours with ease. Inspectors also reviewed storage, records and third-party test results to carry out a full audit of the powder coating process.

Richard added: “As we operate to a level above the required accreditation standard, we came to look forward to these unannounced visits as an opportunity to confirm our product really is made to the high standard we aim for.

“While other manufacturers may offer powder-coating, we are the only company to carry out this accredited process in-house: none of our activity is outsourced to other countries, meaning we maintain full control of the process.

“This also means we are less affected by external forces such as shipping costs or delivery delays so items are charged at the price we specify, and delivered on the date we promise.”

AliDeck is currently a finalist in the Most Innovative Supplier category in the Building Innovation Awards, and the Business Growth Category (South) in the Make UK Awards. It is based on the Medway City Estate and employs 70 people.

For more information about AliDeck, visit www.alideck.co.uk