Making the switch to sustainable transport
We believe in sustainability and strive to be industry leaders in shaping a sustainable future, which is why we’re proud we’ve fully switched to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) in all our HGVs.
The trial started on two of our HGVs at our Joseph Ash Telford division in July 2025, and by the end of 2025, we successfully made the switch on all ~50 of our HGVs across our sites.
One year since the initial trial, our carbon emissions are now significantly lower thanks to the switch, as HVO produces up to 90% lower CO² than diesel.
We’re committed to sustainability and this change is just one of the many ways we are making our sites greener and more sustainable.
We’ve successfully completed a major electrical infrastructure upgrade at our Joseph Ash Chesterfield site.
The project involved the full replacement of our main incoming primary distribution panel and upgrading to a modern, fully metered Form 4 Type 2 panel. Doing this allows us to improve the resilience, safety, segregation, and long-term maintainability of this critical asset.
The stage finished off a 2-year total refurbishment of the primary and secondary distribution at the site.
It was a tightly planned shutdown, delivered over a single weekend and requiring two long days on site to minimise operational impact and ensure a safe, controlled changeover.
At Joseph Ash, we continue to invest in our assets, our sites, and our people — not just to keep things running, but to build facilities that engineers are proud to work on.
A big well done and thank you to Luntstone Electrical for the professionalism, flexibility, and quality of workmanship throughout. A great example of partnership working under pressure.
Joseph Ash Medway were busy in the run up to Christmas installing a brand new galvanizing bath in our plant.
Galvanizing baths, also known as kettles, need replacing after a few years to keep the bath in good condition as the thickness of the walls degrades over time. Changing our baths as necessary means we keep them in safe working condition and ensuring we deliver quality galvanizing for customers.
The new bath at Joseph Ash Medway has the same dimensions as the old one, with a dipping capacity of 6.5m long x 1.2m wide x 2.2m deep.
The project was successfully completed in time to ensure the plant could re-open as usual on Friday 2nd January.
If you have any hot dip galvanizing or powder coating requirements in the new year, contact us today.
“I am sure I am not alone in thinking that 2025 has passed unbelievably quickly. It is that time of year to share a few thoughts and more importantly a few thank you messages.
“2025 has been a positive year of progress for Joseph Ash Galvanizing. The determination and performance of our colleagues has been outstanding. I am most grateful to the combined effort of our partnerships with customers and suppliers to collectively build successful businesses. 2025 has again shown that working together we can deliver truly exceptional results.
“Some highlights for 2025 worth sharing:
- The Health and Safety of our colleagues is our priority and in 2025 we won the Hill and Smith UK “Group Safety Leadership Award”. This was a recognition, not only for our hard-working safety professionals, but for all our colleagues. Safety is everyone’s responsibility and there is always work to do!
- Joseph Ash Medway was awarded “Product Supplier of the Year” by the Steel Window Association. A great result and again recognition of a team effort.
- Pleasingly we have made a number of internal promotions in 2025 – including Team Leaders / Supervisors / Managers and General Managers. Succession planning and “growing our own” remains a key focus.
- We have seen new colleagues join, in some cases in new roles to deliver progress – welcome to you all. We have also seen people leaving, be that to pursue new opportunities, promotions or retirements. Good luck to you all and thank you for your contribution to Joseph Ash.
“The marketplace remains challenging, and the wider economic environment continues to test us all. We remain focussed on being an essential part of our customers’ process to provide corrosion protection on a short lead time. By doing this and working to improve, we will grow.
“Finally, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year – 2026!”
– Jason Anderson, Managing Director
Ever wondered where the name Joseph Ash Galvanizing came from? Almost 170 years ago, the company was established and named after its founder, Joseph Ash. Here, we cover the rich history of Joseph Ash, the founder of Joseph Ash Galvanizing.
Joseph Ash was born to Thomas Ash (1796-1866) on 30th June 1824 and was the second of Thomas’ four sons. The Ash family rose to wealth and social prominence when they moved from Burton-on-Trent to Birmingham. Thomas set up business as a grocer and chemist before stepping foot into zinc manufacturing circa 1840.
Although all of Thomas’ sons went into separate businesses, it was Joseph who took over the zinc manufacturing business, and who eventually went on to become the founder of Joseph Ash & Son – the company’s original trading name – in 1857. The company was established to provide hot dip galvanizing to customers, helping protect their steel against corrosion. Galvanizing was a relatively new invention at this time, with the first patent for galvanizing being developed by French engineer Stanislaus Tranquille Modeste Sorel in 1836.
Joseph had extensive philanthropic interests in Birmingham, including the Blue Coat School, the General Dispensary, the Blind Asylum, the Deaf Institution, and the Harborne Industrial School. He married his wife Mary Ann, daughter of Henry Genders of Walsall, on 4th July 1848. They would go on to have 11 children together, including four sons and seven daughters.
Joseph Ash died 1st August 1915, age 91. After his death, his sons would go on to develop their own businesses, with Thomas Henry Ash (1845-1917) and Alfred James Ash (1858-1925) taking over Ash & Lacy, a company set up by Joseph Ash and John Pierce Lacy in 1864. Alfred’s only son, Graham Baron Ash, would go on to refurbish Packwood House: a Tudor manor house now owned by the National Trust, visitable to this day.
Joseph Ash Ltd is still a thriving business over 165 years after its founding. With nine sites across the UK, we’re never to far to help protect your steel. Get in touch today to discuss your galvanizing, powder coating, and spin galvanizing requirements.
- Dedicated customer support team in each location
- Fast turnaround times
- UK-wide coverage with our own transport fleet offering collection and delivery
- AkzoNobel approved powder coating at Joseph Ash Medway
We’re proud to be the winners of the Hill & Smith Group Safety Leadership award.
The award was established to recognise businesses that show a commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of its employees, while upholding a consistent health and safety culture.
The process required to achieve the award was extensive, with evidence required to showcase our commitment to health and safety in many areas including leadership, cultural improvements, employee engagement, incident reductions programs, and positive interventions.
David Hull, Head of Health and Safety at Hill & Smith, commented:
“The award represents commitment, consistency and courage to challenge. Joseph Ash was able to demonstrate that safety was not just a policy but a core value.”
Well done to everyone involved!
Joseph Ash Medway were proud to win the Product Supplier of the Year category in the Steel Window Association Awards for our galvanizing and powder coating services.
The Steel Window Association (SWA) is a trade organisation which represents the great majority of UK steel window and door manufacturers, ranging in size from the smallest of craft-based companies through to large, multi-site companies.
The Product Supplier of the Year category was new for 2025, and we were nominated by Steel Window Association members based on our ability to provide high-quality goods and services that assist them in delivering award-winning projects.
Dan Lyons (Commercial Manager) and Sacha Aarons (External Sales & Account Manager) were delighted to accept the award on behalf of the company from judge John Ramshaw, Technical Editor of Architecture Today.
The Steel Window’s Association also presented Dan and Sacha with a year’s free membership for Joseph Ash Galvanizing.
Thank you to those who nominated us, and congratulations to the other category winners!
After over 30 years at Joseph Ash Galvanizing, Pauline Alcide, our Assistant Accountant, is leaving the company today to enjoy her well-deserved retirement.
Pauline started at Joseph Ash back when the company was called “Joseph Ash & Son”, and our Head Office was still in Birmingham.
Pauline has made a huge impact across the company during her time here, and she was surprised with farewell gifts sent from colleagues across all our galvanizing plants.
Describing her time at Joseph Ash, Pauline comments:
“I just want to say a big thank you to everyone for making my 31 years at Joseph Ash Ltd an amazing time well spent. I have seen many people come and go over these years while working here and I just want to thank each and every one of you for the love and support you have given me over the years which made my days much easier.”
Pauline will be missed by all across the Company, and we wish her all the best for the future!
We’re excited to share we’re increasing our production capacity at Joseph Ash Bilston.
Our Bilston site is home to the UK’s deepest galvanizing bath at 3.6 metres, able to provide a fully vertical dip for long steel such as cable management trays.
If you’ve got a regular galvanizing requirement, or a requirement for an upcoming project, contact us today to discuss.
Give us a call on 01902 353935 or email gregc@josephash.co.uk with the details of the enquiry and we can see how we can assist.
Widnes Galvanising Ltd, trading as Joseph Ash Widnes, has achieved the ISO 9001 accreditation for Quality Management Systems.
Widnes Galvanising joined the Joseph Ash Group of companies back in October 2022, so this achievement brings the site in line with the rest of the group. We now have the accreditation across all nine Joseph Ash Galvanizing and Premier Galvanizing sites.
About ISO 9001
ISO 9001 is a globally recognized standard for quality management, based on principles such as customer focus, leadership, risk management, continuous improvement and process efficiency. It helps organizations improve their performance, meet customer expectations and demonstrate their commitment to quality.
The accreditation shows the site’s dedication to quality management, ensuring customers receive only the best standard of galvanizing and customer service.
Well done to everyone at our Widnes site on achieving the accreditation!