At A&S, our motto of “Always Superior” means that our quality and service is always superior to the competition—without compromise. That’s our advantage.

 

It all starts at the beginning. Instead of using common basic interior ply or luan, we use the far more durable ACX fir plywood for our cases. ACX exterior fir is our standard wood, with minimal voids for a much more durable case. We construct our cases so that there is a load-bearing wall, and we enforce this construction by split-riveting the corners onto the case for the strongest possible rivet bond. Split rivets are driven into place with 2500+ pounds of pressure so that they grip the other side of the wood—unlike pop rivets, which only attach the corners.

 

We manufacture cases that are compliant with ATA Spec 300 Category 1 specifications as well as most standards of the MIL-SPEC. /MIL-STD. so they are more capable to handle all of the wear and tear that comes with travel.

 

 

On all standard ATA cases, we laminate .040 fiberglass, ABS plastic or aluminum panels to ACX fir ply, secured in place by custom-extruded aluminum edging with machine-driven steel split rivets every 3" on center, along with heavy-duty recessed twist latches and spring-loaded handles. Other features include heavy 14-gauge steel ball corners, steel clamps and durable foam lining. We use a superior grade of foam, ELE, which is proven to have a longer life expectancy than the commonly used ESTER. In addition, our years of experience in industrial rentals and other markets has taught us that using a thicker 3/4" caster board makes our cases endure the rigors of the road better.

 

Our cases are designed and manufactured to order, and our goal is to make your concept a reality. You work directly with the sales engineer who will design your case either in person, over the phone, or via email so you get exactly what you want with no room for error. Between our experienced Sales & Design team and the thousands of templates on hand, we can make a case for anything you want. At A&S. we see the most complex project as an opportunity to deliver solutions to our customers. Our team’s deep product knowledge and experience helps you realize your vision so that we can provide you with the best case to suit your needs. Because the average experience level in our factory is over ten years in the business, you can be assured that A&S will deliver the Always Superior quality and consistency we promise.

 

A large number of custom options are available to address your specific needs, including table legs in the lid of a case, telescoping handles, dolly wheels, workman’s lamps, electrical outlets, and more. You tell us what you want, and we make it a reality.

 

 

 

We take pride in the Always Superior craftsmanship of each case, inside and out. The craftsmanship that goes into our custom drawers and workboxes, for example, is at a level envied but not matched by the competition. We use 1/2" ply to cover the face of the drawers to further fortify their construction. We also extend the laminated 1/2" plywood out to hide slides, which not only enhances the strength of the case but also enhances the visual appeal of the case. As further evidence of our commitment to quality, all of our drawers are installed with ACCO full-extension ball bearing slides for easier opening and closing.

 

 

We have a specialist on site who sews our plush linings into our cases for an incredibly polished look. We use a high-grade material that is fitted and darted to eliminate excess fabric, tailoring the interior of the case to exacting standards. We challenge anyone to compare our interiors to those of our competition. Again, A&S quality is Always Superior.

 

 

 

In 2005 we acquired the assets to Kriz-Kraft, a unique case design that allows our customers even more choices when selecting a case to fit their needs. Working exclusively with Stins, the owner, we learned his unique design and manufacturing processes for the Kriz-Kraft racks first-hand. Because A&S quality met his standards, he has trusted us to continue serving his clientele. Always innovating to meet our customers’ needs, we feel fortunate to be able to exclusively offer this line as another option to consider when selecting the best rack for you.

 

The basic construction of the Kriz-Kraft rack varies from our standard design in a few ways.

 

 

The Kriz-Kraft design is, undoubtedly, the strongest rack case in the industry. This strength comes from two factors: 1) a contiguous box providing the highest structural integrity achievable, and 2) all Kriz-Kraft racks are built using 1/2" ACX fir plywood and 1/2" European birch plywood. Once the box is constructed, the doors are then precision-cut in the front and rear panels and fitted with a proprietary door jam and U-channel to provide a meticulous fit without impairing the structural characteristics unique to this design. Additionally, this design encapsulates the foam that provides shock-absorbent characteristics in a manner that dramatically reduces its degradation over time by environmental and human causes. While the Kriz-Kraft case is stronger than the traditional rack case made of 1/2" ACX fir plywood, it is lighter, more maneuverable, and quicker to set up and take down at a jobsite or gig. The adjacent photo shows both our standard and Kriz-Kraft lines and illustrates their differences. Both designs are excellent, allowing us to provide you with even more options to suit your specific case needs.

 

 

The durability of A&S cases is best expressed by how well they hold up over time and how long customers use our cases. We often hear from customers that they have had an A&S case since 1976 and that although it has taken many beatings, it still protects their equipment and is in solid working condition. One of these cases is still in operation at the largest equipment rental house in the United States, Studio Instrument Rentals, better known as SIR.

 

The A&S advantage in producing Always Superior cases ensures that you will receive the best quality and service in the business, bar none.