Member Article

Fabweld steps up for CE marking first

Access cover and drainage specialist Fabweld Steel Products has announced it has launched of the UK’s first manhole ladder to meet European standards introduced to fight poor quality construction equipment.

Fabweld Steel Products is believed to be the first company in the UK making the CE marked ladders used to access manhole chambers following the introduction of new European regulations.

Managing director Richard Hilton said the company has invested in making sure its ladders were designed and fabricated to meet the exacting specifications required by the EU under the CE marking scheme.

He said: “We have supplied ladders for contractors, merchants and specifiers thousands of times in our 25 year history, and we have always ensured our product is of the highest quality.

“With the CE marking approval in place, we can now clearly demonstrate the quality as the ladders have met strict standards required by the EU. The simple fact is that supplying or installing a ladder in a manhole chamber which isn’t CE marked is illegal.

“Knowing the change in the law could also give us an opportunity for increased sales, we prepared our systems ahead of time. This investment means we can verify that the product complies with all the relevant essential requirements and we believe we’re the first company in the UK to be designing and producing CE marked manhole chamber ladders.

“We are seeing a corresponding uplift in orders by contractors and specifiers keen to stay the right side of EU legislation. CE marking guards against product misinformation but it also allows it to be placed legally on the market in any EU member state so we are also hoping to look at new export markets for the ladders.”

Although introduced in 1993, CE marking for manufacturers of construction products on the UK market was only introduced in the last year.

FSP has supplied a variety of utility companies and other organisations with access chamber ladders, including North West Water and the Highways Agency. In addition to the manufacture of ladders, the company also offers clients an on-site ladder installation service carried out by its certified fitters.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Fabweld Steel Products .