We recently had the pleasure of visiting Murdoch International in Milton Keynes to explore their latest products and innovations. Joining us were Mark Murdoch and Chris Gosling from Murdoch, who gave us a hands-on look at their impressive range of access solutions.
Hands-On with the Products
One of the highlights of the visit were the product demonstrations given to us my Chris. First up for a demonstration was the Hymer Protec Podium Stepladder, we gave them a climb and enabled the stabilising legs, they felt remarkably sturdy and well-built and with the addition of the closing gate you felt secure in the platform at all times.
Chris also demonstrated the Fibreglass Protect 360 GRP Platform Step Ladder, showcasing its robustness and durability, this product has since been added to our website and is very quickly becoming one of our better selling fibreglass platform step ladders. We even got a sneak peek at the
We even got a sneak peek at the GRP rope-operated double and triple extension ladders with articulated feet, seeing them in action, which was truly impressive. For the size of these ladders they were really simple to operate thanks to the pulley system.
Learning About the Buying Process
We discussed the Vertical Access Ladder buying process on our website and explored ways to make it more streamlined for our customers, we have added additional information to ensure our customers have everything they need to purchase comfortably online. We also went through the delivery logistics for the new Standard Hymer Galvanised ladders. Due to their size and weight, these ladders are now delivered on a pallet within 2–3 days, making installation much simpler.
It was great to see the ladder components up close and understand how gates and barriers work. This insight is invaluable when guiding our customers on how to install and use these systems safely. Murdoch shared some exciting updates about a new painting process for Zones 1 & 2 on their vertical ladders. This paint functions similarly to GRP. This could be particularly useful for our Marine and Water Treatment customers.
We also talked about edge protection installation, another service we now offer through our website, giving customers even more safety options.
Understanding EN14122 Changes
A significant part of our discussion was around the changes to the EN14122 standard for vertical ladders. These updates ensure that all fall risks at the top of a ladder are fully closed off. New features include safety gates, exit steps, deeper exits, as well as retractable base ladders and fire escape ladder options. This knowledge allows us to provide better guidance and safer solutions to our customers.
The new versions of these ladders can now also be purchased directly from our website. You can view all our new options on our collection pages designed specifically for EN14122 certified fixed vertical ladders.
What We Took Away
Visiting Murdoch International gave us a hands-on understanding of more of their products that we did not have online and further insight into new safety and installation standards, and ideas on improving our customer experience. Plus, the lunch of sandwiches and cakes made the visit all the more enjoyable!
Next Steps
We’re excited to implement some of these insights on our website and in our customer guidance, ensuring that every ladder and platform purchase is as straightforward and safe as possible. Supplier visits are essential to ensure the products we offer online are certified, high-quality, and reliable. They also provide an invaluable opportunity to share knowledge and insights with our suppliers, helping us improve our product range and deliver a better experience for our customers. These visits strengthen partnerships and ensure we can confidently recommend solutions that are safe, effective, and up to the latest industry standards.