ascman

What ascman does

ascman ltd is a UK-based private limited company, founded around 2000 and headquartered in Portlethen, Aberdeenshire, that has spent over 25 years supplying specialist IT solutions to roll-based, cores and flat sheet manufacturers. Its primary customers are paper, board and converting operations, tubes/cores/edgeboard makers, and polythene producers, with additional reach into adjacent verticals (SME food manufacturing, healthcare, and field service/repair-maintenance) via three sub-brands. The company is founder/Managing-Director-led by Phil Noble and operates a sales-led, consultant-driven go-to-market with no disclosed external funding.

The core product, 'ascman', is a modular, configurable Manufacturing Execution System (MES) built specifically for roll-based processes. It can run standalone or integrate with customers' existing ERP systems via a common model, and is composed of nine modules: Sales Office, Block Scheduling, Workcentre Scheduling, Production Control, Quality Control, Inventory Control, Logistics, Invoicing, and Efficiency. Technical differentiators include industry-specific order entry for dimensional/parameter items (e.g., papiNet/EDI, ATP/CTP), finite scheduling with deckling/trimming optimisation and 'what-if?' grade-transition analysis, real-time production capture via DCS interfaces to ABB and Measurex, bar-coded warehouse and consignment-stock handling, weighbridge-linked despatch, and UK excise duty/Intrastat documentation. Adjacent products are Tascworks (mobile field service management), PopStock (SME supply chain management with strength in food manufacturing), and Medi-tasc (positive patient identification using barcode/PDA workflows and Zebra wireless label printing).

Revenue is generated from one-time software licensing for the MES and related modules, supplemented by professional services covering Requirements Analysis, Business Design, Prototyping, Software Configuration, Training, and Implementation. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and engagements are quote-based, consistent with bespoke enterprise MES deployments. The customer mix is enterprise-led in the paper/board/cores/polythene verticals, with SME reach through PopStock; named logos, revenue splits, and headcount are not disclosed in the source material.

Name

ascman

Legal name

ascman ltd

Website

https://ascman.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ascman ltd is a UK-based private IT company providing a modular, ERP-integrated Manufacturing Execution System and adjacent software for paper, board, converting, tubes/cores, and polythene manufacturers, with sub-brand solutions in field service, SME supply chain, and healthcare.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

NAICS

Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian) (IMAHAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Manufacturing ERP (Discrete, Process, Batch) (HDAEAEAB), Application Maintenance & Support (AMS) (BPAEAFAC)

Keywords

• Manufacturing execution systems
• Paper and board MES
• ERP-integrated MES
• Field service software
• Supply chain management

Headquarters

HQ city

Portlethen

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing: ascman provides enterprise software solutions (MES) that can operate as a complete component or integrate with existing ERP systems. The modular application is configured to each client's exact requirements for deployment.
2. Consultancy and Implementation Services: Full range of services covering Requirements Analysis, Business Design, Prototyping, Software Configuration, Training, and Implementation including go-live support. Also offers project management and technical resources to assist clients bridge skills gaps or develop bespoke solutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

ascman sells a modular, configurable Manufacturing Execution System (MES) built from the ground up for roll-based, cores, and flat sheet industries, covering sales order processing, block scheduling, workcentre scheduling, production control, quality control, inventory control, logistics, invoicing, and costing. The solution can operate as a complete MES or integrate with a client's existing ERP system. Complementary offerings include Tascworks for field service management, PopStock for SME supply chain management, and Medi-tasc for hospital patient identification.

Product overview

ascman is a specialist IT solutions company offering Enterprise MES software for roll-based, cores, and flat sheet industries. The core product, ascman, is a modular application that integrates with existing ERP systems, providing unified Service, Manufacturing, and Logistics functionality. The product portfolio includes three additional solutions: Tascworks (field service management with mobile technology), PopStock (supply chain management for SME manufacturers), and Medi-tasc (patient identification for healthcare). The ascman core product offers nine configurable modules for the paper/board/converting industry: Sales Office, Block Scheduling, Workcentre Scheduling, Production Control, Quality Control, Inventory Control, Logistics, Invoicing, and Efficiency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tascworks: A solution for Field Service, Repair and Maintenance, including mobile technology for field workers.
• PopStock
• Medi-tasc

Products and services

• ascman MES Modular, configurable Enterprise Manufacturing Execution System (MES) for roll-based, cores, and flat sheet industries, providing unified Service, Manufacturing, and Logistics. Functions as a complete MES or as an MES layer integrated with existing ERP systems, covering sales order processing, block scheduling, workcentre scheduling, production control, quality control, inventory control, logistics, invoicing, and costing.
• Tascworks Field service management solution for repair and maintenance operations, featuring mobile workflows with handheld PDA, centralised back-office command, digital dashboards, job scheduling, and real-time operative tracking for trade and asset maintenance organisations.
• PopStock Supply chain management solution for SME manufacturers, enabling streamlined business processes with integrated information flow and decision support functions, with particular strength in the food manufacturing sector.
• Medi-tasc Positive Patient Identification solution for hospitals, using barcode scanning, cross-checking against CHI/CRN numbers, and wireless label printing to Zebra mobile printers to reduce patient identification errors and blood product misidentification.

Quantifiable outcome

• Improved effectiveness, efficiency and profitability of business operations
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Siemens: Siemens Opcenter Execution (formerly SIMATIC IT) is a process-manufacturing MES that competes head-on in paper, board and converting, with deep DCS integration similar to ascman's ABB/Measurex coupling.
• SAP: SAP S/4HANA Manufacturing for process industries offers MES-adjacent execution capabilities and is frequently the ERP that ascman integrates with; an enterprise-suite alternative for paper and converting customers.
• Rockwell Automation: FactoryTalk MES from Rockwell Automation serves discrete and process manufacturers; it competes with ascman's MES especially in converting and packaging operations that use Rockwell controls.
• ABB: ABB Ability MES and process automation are deeply embedded in paper mills and directly overlap with ascman's Production Control integration to ABB DCS, making ABB both a partner technology and a competing platform.
• Honeywell: Honeywell Forge MES and Experion target process manufacturers including paper and converting; broader portfolio but directly addresses ascman's installed base with similar modules for production, quality and scheduling.

Direct peers

• AVEVA: AVEVA (now part of Schneider Electric) provides process-industry MES and operations software with deep penetration in pulp & paper, directly competing with ascman's MES in the same roll-based and converting customers.
• Andritz: Andritz is a pulp/paper machinery OEM with a growing digital solutions portfolio; it competes with ascman for IT budget at paper and board manufacturers by offering integrated equipment-plus-software bundles.
• Voith: Voith supplies paper machines plus digital/MES offerings (e.g., OnCumulus) and is a natural competitor to ascman in paper and board mills, combining machinery expertise with the same kind of vertical MES ascman sells.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ascmanltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ascman-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ascman