The Seven Steps: How to Specify a High Quality Fixed Aluminum Ladders in 2020
Ascend Fabrication manufactures high quality specialty aluminum products, including fixed aluminum ladders. We are located and manufacture everything in the United States. We assume any customer’s expectations are just as high as ours. In order to meet your high expectations, we’ve developed a list of steps. Here are 7 Steps to consider when looking for an aluminum ladder.
- Check out the supplier.
- Read over the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Request pricing from at least 2-3 suppliers.
- Analyze the component sizes.
- Request information on shipping and freight costs.
- Lock in delivery date that fulfills your project requirements. Next, hold the supplier to the agreed date.
- Only specify caged ladder designs that offer the highest quality components.
1. Check out the supplier.
Are you dealing with a product rep, an import product or the direct manufacturer? In today’s online searches, many of the ladder products promoted are “light duty” import products. Firstly, these items are shipped to the USA. Secondly, they are then packaged under an American supplier name. Thirdly, under design review, these products represent some of the poorest quality caged ladder products available. Ascend Fab fixed aluminum ladders utilize all USA materials. Our products are completely fabricated in Garfield AR. Ascend Fab ships throughout North America.
2. Read over the manufacturer’s specifications.
If a manufacturer can’t provide you with their specifications for review, remove them as a contender. For instance, any quality ladder manufacturer in the U.S. can supply you with their specifications. In addition, always request this information to prevent any “bait and switch” after the order is released. This is why we provide Ascend Fab specifications and these are available online: www.ascendfab.com.
3. Request pricing from at least 2-3 suppliers.
Fixed caged ladder suppliers fit into three profiles. Firstly, is high prices driving high margins. Secondly, type of supplier is light weight designs for higher margins. Thirdly, the profile is high quality with lower margins to be competitive with higher quality products. However, Ascend Fab aluminum ladders drives a high-quality design. Additionally, our competitive prices with higher quality products.
4. Analyze the component sizes.
The components in caged ladders includes several items. For example, the stringer size, rung size and thickness, cage bar thickness, hardware and attachment brackets are all provided. However, with changing regulations, can the ladder manufacturer provide you with design calculations? Additionally, can the manufacturer provide you with PE stamp from your state of destination? In conclusion, for quality suppliers, both of these items should be available at additional cost.
5. Request information on shipping and freight costs.
The ladder could be shipping loosely or in large component assemblies? Will it shrink-wrapped on a skid, crated or other? How is it protected from weather and damage during shipment? What freight carrier is preferred?
6. Lock in a delivery date that fulfills your project requirements. Next, hold the supplier to the agreed date.
Nothing is more common in today’s marketplace than suppliers that agree to any requested date. Next, the supplier ships the product based on their schedule. If the supplier can’t guarantee delivery when you need it, move on to another supplier.
7. Only specify caged ladder designs that offer the highest quality components.
Some of today’s name brands offer the lightest and poorest quality ladder designs available. With them it is all about volume and margin, not quality. In the field, poor quality ladder designs are a liability in performance and aesthetics. In contrast, high quality construction always stands out and is noticed. Ascend Fab commonly supplies fixed ladders for several industries. The most common are municipal applications, commercial buildings, DOT applications, government military bases and industrial applications of all types.
For more information about our company and its high quality products, Contact Us today.
