Quality Without Compromise

Why are we prepared to compromise quality in the search for the cheapest price?

In reality, the cheapest price is not actually that!

Take for example, profile metal cladding. ‘Quality’ roll-formers sell a 0.7mm thick coated steel roof sheet, which has a substrate normally between 0.67mm and 0.69mm thick. There are products on the market, which are sold a nominally 0.7mm thick, purchased as 0.65mm thick, which is within the ‘tolerance band’ of 0.7mm, but is actually 0.59mm thick! That is 12% thinner than the ‘quality’ product it is compared to, but the price does not reflect that difference.

What appears to be a ‘competitive’ price, very rarely is in terms of value for money. The customer is being sold something at a far higher rate per tonne, and is compromising the product as a result. For example, load/span tables produced for 0.7mm thick roof sheets are not applicable to those at 0.59mm thick! There could be a serious Health & Safety risk caused by thin materials being used, assuming that the applied loads are catered for.

This trend applies to a number of products sold in the Construction Industry – spacer systems, flashings, steel and aluminium roof sheets, liner panels – the list is endless.

At Ash & Lacy, we maintain the Quality ethos, and will not compromise the product for the sake of cost. Our spacer system, AshGrid™ AG40, is a true 1.25mm thick, manufactured using high yield steel, with a 275gms/sq m galvanised coating. Similarly, the AshGrid™ brackets are true 1.6mm thick, with a 275gms/sq m galvanised coating. There are many similar products on the market that are not what they purport to be – thin steel, thin galvanised coating, and mild steel are all used to produce a ‘competitive’ price.

It is dangerous to take such risks, as failure of the product becomes a real danger. The true cost savings of the ‘reduced quality’ product are not passed on to the customer, the supplier’s margins are increased!

The term ‘if it appears too good to be true, it usually is’ applies here, and the customer must ensure that the supplier is providing a product to the specification set, whether that is by the client, or by the supplier’s own literature.

There are many examples of quality products being chosen over more ‘cost effective’ alternatives. Our supermarkets sell branded products and ‘value’ products alongside them. We have a choice! However, the difference here is that we are told what we’re getting!

Ray Harriman