AST

AST is a French manufacturer of bespoke roof-structure hardware and metal structures. Based in the Loire (42), the family business was created in 1995 by José Gomez-Velasco, a former professional in metallurgy, locksmithing and aeronautics, now retired. His son, holder of a DUT in Physical Measurements and a degree in mechanical design, joined the company in 2007. AST claims more than 25 years of experience in locksmithing and metalwork and works for both professionals and private individuals. The company combines a design office and a manufacturing workshop. The design office brings together three people with complementary skills (mechanic, carpenter, mechanical design) and uses specialized software such as Solidworks and TopSolid'Steel to produce costings, strength calculations and calculation notes from customers' drawings, DXF or DWG files. The workshop is equipped with a 130A plasma, a 4 kW laser, a digital press, a band saw, shears, a punching machine and MIG and TIG welding stations. AST designs and manufactures roof-structure hardware, as well as locksmithing and metalwork: staircases, doors, gates, railings, glazed screens and metal structures. It also makes armored enclosures for the banking sector. The parts are worked in steel, stainless steel and aluminium, with several finishes (raw, anti-rust, powder-coated, galvanized), and shipped throughout France. Its production is CE EN1090-2 class EXC2 certified for roof-structure hardware and metal structures.