Art Display Products - Picture Hanging Systems, Art Hanging Systems

Welcome! We would like to share a bit about our company and ourselves so you understand
our passion for this business and our wealth of knowledge in this market space.

About Us

The company has been active in the area of art and art display since 1964, and a manufacturer and distributor of hanging systems for more than two decades, having completed over 8,000 installations in North America.

The breadth of product lines, quality of solutions, and professional service enables the company to continue leadership in providing unique hardware support for art and object hanging to a vast variety of business categories and institutions including museums, art galleries, custom framing enterprises, universities, libraries, commercial office buildings, hospitality and health care markets.

After all, we honestly believe that when you call AS Hanging Systems you are choosing to do business with us, the people that collectively make AS Hanging Systems.

We believe you choose to do business with people and not a company.

History Time Line

1964

First contact with Hanging System.

In the sixties, founder Alain Moncade, opens his first gallery in Toulon, France. The adventure begins as he deploys the old type French Gallery Rods in the gallery. The years go by as he informs and trains the public of these products. Success settles in and remains to this day.

1976

The Mr. Moncade's enterprise expands. His skill as a businessman flourishes as he opens a second gallery, La Galerie du Théâtre in Geneva.

While promoting art in a competitive environment, he installs and uses a comprehensive hanging system throughout his gallery. Mr. Moncade, offers to his customers a large selection of artworks, sculptures, framing, art restoration and hanging systems.

1983

Alain Moncade passes the torch to an assistant director in Geneva and opens a new gallery in Montréal, Canada. Galerie de l'Isle opens at 1396 Sherbrooke St. West, facing the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts.

Mr. Moncade brings two decades of experience from his European galleries and with him also comes a rod based hanging system (the predecessor to the current Classic System) for this new North American gallery.

Mr. Moncade moving from Europe to North America

1985

Seeing the enthusiasm for hanging systems and requests from local gallery owners, Mr. Moncade negotiates an agreement with a French firm to import and resell a rod based hanging system (French Gallery Rod System) in Canada.

The gallery moves to 1451 Sherbrooke St. West.

1987

Galerie de l'Isle hanging system offerings continue to grow.
To better address the desires of a now expanding list of clients.

Mr. Moncade augments his hanging system offerings to include a selection of early cable based system components.

1990

By now, word of the hanging system products offered by Galerie de l'Isle has spread beyond Montreal and Quebec.

In order to better service the growing demand, Mr. Moncade begins Canadian production of early tracks and rods for what ultimately becomes the "Classic System".

1994

Galerie de l'Isle first website is open.
It consists of three pages: Homepage, Represented Artists, Hanging Systems.

1996

Product refinement takes hold. A track is needed to suit the North American market. The current version of Wall Track was developed and produced here in North America.

1997

Product development accelerates yet further. Classic System Wall Track color options expands to include Silver, Champagne, Gold, Back and White. That year also saw the introduction of the Ceiling Track

1998

The first of what ultimately becomes a broad collection of specialty hardware fittings is manufactured in Canada.

Specialty hanging hardware fittings is manufactured in Canada

1999

Walter Moncade, Alain's son, opens an advertising agency. One of his clients, Galerie de l'Isle, asks him to develop a web site that will better present the various hanging system solutions.

The first professionally developed website named "Art-System" goes public.

Hanging Art-System website goes public with online form ordering

2000

By now the hanging systems side of Galerie de l'Isle has grown to the point where a distribution center is needed. The first distribution/production facility is opened in a Montreal suburb.

This provides the opportunity to begin in-house production of Stainless Steel/Nylon Loop-End and Ball-End Cables.

In-house production of Stainless Steel/Nylon Loop-End and Ball-End Cables

2001

Galerie de l'Isle broadens its product line yet further by negotiating a joint relationship with a leading European firm very active in hanging system production.

Relationship with a leading European firm very active in hanging system production

2002

Walter Moncade integrates the company's order processing, CRM and inventory control into a solid e-commerce site. The company's hanging system offering is split off into this new web presence under the name "Arts-Supplies.net".

Also in that year, production of aluminum rods is moved to Montreal. Introduction of a wider selection of Cable System products is added to the product line and Click Rail is introduced to North America.

The company exhibits at its first trade show, a small custom framing oriented show in Toronto.

2003

The company designs and produces its first proprietary rod hook, Heavy Classic Hook, this hook fills a missing piece in the Classic System product line.

The company participates in its first tradeshow in America.

2004

Product Development accelerates in leaps and bounds. The Museum System product line is added. This system, which supports up to 600 pounds, fills the needs of museums and galleries showing works from the Great Masters. Proprietary products are introduced, such as Frame Stabilizers, for both cables and rods. Development continues on, the evolving product line is in need of a discreet and light weight cable hook. This results in the introduction of the Mini-Hook.

Offices on Sherbrooke Street are renovated and the hanging system operation now occupies the entire 2nd floor of the Galerie de l'Isle. The website undergoes further refinements to provide additional product information and timely order status.

The company participates in four tradeshows.

2005

A 3,500 sq.ft. warehouse is acquired in Montreal to better serve growing demand for the hanging system product lines. The website received other updates and enhancements and by now this is an ongoing effort.

A new cable design, J-End Cables, are manufactured. Heavy Classic Hook, version 2, is launched. Museum System is now manufactured in Canada.

The company participates in several tradeshows addressing the gallery, art, custom framing and interior décor markets.

2006

The company's hanging systems activity has now overrun the gallery business and is demanding its own independent space. What is known as Arts-Supplies.net moves from the Sherbrooke offices to a warehouse/production location. The new space expands to 5,000 sq. ft. and also integrates a showroom for local customers.

The product line expands further to include a new system that is now known as the Contempo^TM System and a wider selection of Cable System hooks.

The company's participation in trade events expands to include the Museum market.

Contempo<sup><small>TM</small></sup> System wall track on curved wall

2007

The company strengthens the executive team and brings in Dave Veilleux as Vice President, Business Development. "Arts-Supplies.net" name changes to "AS Hanging Systems" to better reflect its now evolving channels of distribution, which are not dominated by the Internet.

A new division is created, the "Wholesale Division", to specialize in supplying hanging systems in a packaged goods format for resale. The Wholesale Division is established in a warehouse in upstate New York, USA. The original Montreal based operation becomes known as the "Open Stock" Division.

The company's participation in trade events expands to include the American Institute of Architects. The company is invited to speak at Décor Expo in Atlanta.

2008

The product line explodes as the Tensioned Cable System and Pocket Display System are added to the line. Additionally, the company begins offering kitting solutions for specific applications. These include easels, bulletin boards, real estate listing presentation, restaurent menu display, school project presentation. The name of the Curved Wall System changes to Contempo^TM System to better reflect its broad applicability to most any wall and not just curved walls. The Wholesale Division warehouse doubles in size to respond to the reseller market.

Click Rail is selected to be included in the GREENlife^TM Pavilion during the NeoCon World Trade Fair at Chicago's Merchandise Mart.

A select group of architects, representing the readers of Architectural Record magazine, name AS Hanging Systems as a winner of an award for most memorable ad in the magazine.

Architectural Record magazine, name AS Hanging Systems as a winner of an award for most memorable ad in the magazine

The company's participation in trade events expands to include the contract furnishing market by exhibiting at NeoCon® Worlds Trade Fair.

AS Hanging System exhibiting at NeoCon® Worlds Trade Fair in Greenlife

Hanging Systems - General Overview

Hanging systems generally are purposed to hang art, or other wall objects, without damaging existing walls through the use of nails, or common art hangers. This is particularly true of "high value" walls that could be finished in Venetian plaster, artisan paint treatments, fine carpentry, wall coverings, etc.

An added benefit from their use is the extreme flexibility or freedom that comes with such an installation. Art suspended from a hanging system may be moved and rearranged, effortlessly, and without tools. This makes hanging system use very advantageous in public spaces where art is displayed. Art, or corporate communications, may be changed with the season or according to a campaign schedule. Here, versatility is the main benefit - all without damaging the wall finish. American consumers are just beginning to catch on to this valuable benefit as well and are beginning to request hanging systems for the residences. This has been the case in Europe for quite some time.

Several unique hanging systems, each designed to suit specific display situations, are available from AS Hanging Systems. All of these systems, with the exception of "Point-to-Point Systems", are composed of three major design elements:
- A track that is horizontally mounted on the wall or ceiling
- A thin cable or rod that hangs down from the track
- A hook that attaches to the cable/rod and suspends artwork for presentation

Suspended vs. Tensioned Solutions

Most hanging systems are "suspended" systems. This means the weight of the object is suspended from the upper track and the cable or rod is free to hang down with gravity.

The alternate type of hanging system is a "tensioned" system. In this type of installation the cable is also affixed at a lower point and the cable is held taught, or in tension, between the upper and lower points.

All AS Hanging Systems' products, which deploy cables (as opposed to rods), may be used in either a suspended or tensioned manner.

Security and Anti-Theft

Another attribute of some solutions is in providing security or theft resistance.

AS Hanging Systems' product lines offers several solutions for anti-theft display situations.

Hanging solutions providing security or theft resistance.

GREEN Products

The majority of product mass that ships from AS Hanging Systems during any given year is made of aluminum. This is the most recycled of all metals, which is good for Mother Earth. AS Hanging System's tracks are extruded of recycled aluminum and may be again recycled. Further, most AS Hanging Systems solutions, those based on tracks, are GREEN in another way. These assist the project into which they are incorporated, maintain a higher degree of sustainability.

By avoiding holes in walls of a building, particularly of a commercial space, the walls are likely to be repainted with less frequency. This is due to avoiding the redundant wall patching and subsequent painting cycles caused by common art hanging approaches, and the damage they inflict. Over the life of a commercial building project, a proper hanging system could help avoid dozens of re-paint cycles. This could save hundreds, or thousands, of gallons of paint in a single building.

Strength Capacity

AS Hanging Systems' various products may use either of Nylon cords, steel cables or aluminum rods to suspend art from tracks. Each approach has its benefits and trade-offs on strength vs. appearance (discreet attributes) vs. application specific functionality.

AS Hanging Systems solutions may suspend from as little as 2 lbs. to as much as 600 lbs. from a single attachment.

Hanging system suppporting 600 lbs from a single attachment

Open System Compatibility

AS Hanging Systems has documented and announced compatibility between two of its primary product lines (Classic and Cable Systems) with those of a leading manufacturer of architectural reveal and metal trim details, Fry Reglet.

Products - When and Why

Produce Line	Rods / Cables	Suspend	Tension	Open System
Classic System Ease of use, high ceilings, strength, security	RODS	X		X
Cable System Varsatile, discreet compared to Classic System	CABLES	X	X	X
Click Rail System Extremely discreet, chamelion like	CABLES	X	X	X
Contempo™ System Edgy design, works with curved walls	BOTH	X	X	X
Museum System Ultra high strength	RODS	X		X
Point-to-Point System Architectural appearance	CABLES		X	X
Pocket Display System Ease of use, no frames	CABLES		X	X
Footprintless™ Easel Wall mounted easel functionality	CABLES		X
Boardless™ Bulletin Board Bulletin board is always neat and orderly	CABLES		X

Our Production Departments

AS Hanging Systems selects its suppliers based very exacting and extremely high specifications. Everything from raw material to sub-assemblies, are purchased against tightly defined criteria yet this is but the first step to ensuring predictable and reliable product quality.

Upon receipt, all incoming raw material is further measured or failure tested against predetermined specifications. Each component or raw material is inspected against its own criteria. This further allows AS Hanging Systems to design quality into each component that we ship.

Lastly, AS Hanging Systems processes, manufactures and assembles finished goods in a production department utilizing calibrated pneumatic presses and other contemporary state-of-the-art equipment. These tools and machinery are inspected on a predetermined schedule to ensure production parameters are matched and maintained. This diligence to quality ensures the product we send to you will meet and exceed both appearance and performance specifications.

Our Management System and Inventory

Our integrated management system (both Internet/Intranet) allows each staff member, be it from sales, production or shipping, to have access to relevant information in real-time. This system along with our automated sales reporting system integrates with our inventory management planning function.

We in turn use these data to maintain generous inventory levels, levels sufficient to maintain a 99% "ship from stock" status.

Order preparation from Montreal location

Packaging and Shipping

AS Hanging Systems has paid the same, by now expected, attention to detail in picking, packaging and shipping. We package against predetermined techniques, which have been tested in many "trans shipment" trials. Each order is packaged according to strict standards guaranteeing delivery in perfect condition.

To better serve you, we have established two distribution centers: Montréal, QC, Canada and Plattsburgh, NY, USA.

Your Interface to Us / Our Website

Constantly updated by our in-house team, our website is not only your access point to us and where you can learn more about our products, but it is also a comprehensive eCommerce site allowing you to place an order with just a few clicks and ensures the quick and secure management of your order. More importantly, to both you and us, it is an integral part of our work platform. This means that it feeds into the above mentioned management systems and nearly ensures the accuracy of your order.

Each order completed on our website immediately appears on the computer screens of our Operations team. Your order is verified to ensure product compatibility; once payment is approved, a confirmation email is sent to you.

Your order is picked and packed within 24 hours. After packaging, our management system electronically sends the shipping information to our freight partner. Once the order is picked up from our warehouse, you receive an email with a tracking number that allows you to track your parcel. You are always informed. This is a level of customer care that is not yet common with even very large companies.

As a client, you will have a password protected account that can be accessed from our website. There you will be able to view your past orders.

Additional Information

We hope you enjoyed this peek into our company, our processes and our background. We look forward to servicing your needs for Wall Art Hanging Systems. For more information please visit our homepage or call us toll free at 866-935-6949.

AS Hanging Systems is member of
American Association of Museum (AAM)
Profesionnal Picture Framers Association (PPFA)
Photo Marketing Association (PMA)
Digital Imagine Marketing Association (DIMA)
Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)
Better Business Bureau (BBB)

AS Hanging Systems main contacts
Walter Moncade - walter@moncade.com - President, Managing Director
Dave Veilleux - dave@ashanging.com - VP, Business Developement
Laurent Venturi - laurent@ashanging.com - Sales Manager
Mylène Oullette - mylene@ashanging.com - Sales Representative