Wing Enterprises
Wing Enterprises is a Springville, Utah company, and the largest manufacturer of American-made ladders.[1] The company produces the Little Giant Ladder System, a convertible aluminium ladder system. The founder of Wing Enterprises, Harold Ray Wing (aka Hal Wing), came across a prototype of the ladder in Germany in the 1970s. He patented the design in the United States and began manufacturing the ladder in his home and selling it at trade shows.
Private | |
Industry | Industrial goods |
Founded | 1970s |
Headquarters | Springville, Utah |
Key people | Harold R. Wing (Founder & CEO) H. Arthur Wing (President) Ryan Moss (CEO) |
Number of employees | 800 |
Website | littlegiantladders |
Features
The ladder itself is capable of being converted into several heights and configurations from a single ladder. Configurations include a straight or extension ladder, an A-frame ladder, a staircase ladder (an uneven A-frame for use on stairs), a 90° ladder, and both sides of a scaffolding trestle achieved through a triple locking hinge. Each of the ladder positions has three heights in one ladder. The ladder can achieve as many as 24 position/height permutations. The ladder folds to a smaller size for storage. The ladder also has "tip-n-glide" wheels to facilitate movement and positioning.
The Ladder features flared legs for increased stability. Locking, telescoping side rails allow the various height configurations. Trapezoidal rungs create a stable standing surface. They are attached using "double zig-zag" welds.
Models
Little Giants
Type I
- Industrial heavy duty 250 lbs rated
- Available in Model 17 and Model 22
Type IA
- Industrial extra heavy duty 300 lbs rated
- Available in Model 13, Model 17, Model 22 and Model 26
Type IAA
- Industrial special duty 375 lbs rated
- Available in Model 13, Model 17 and Model 22
Ultra Step
- Industrial extra heavy duty 300 lbs rated
- Available in both aluminium and fibreglass versions
- Adjustable from 5 to 8 feet as a single sided stepladder
- Can be used in the parallel (or 90 degree) position against a wall
Industrial Little Giants
SkyScraper
- Industrial extra heavy duty 300 lbs rated
- Available in Model 15 (adjustable 8 to 15 feet), Model 17 (adjustable 9 to 17 feet), and Model 21 (adjustable 11 to 21 feet)
Little Giant Fibreglass
- Industrial extra heavy duty 300 lbs rated
- Made from a special high-quality non-conductive resin
- Available in Model 17 and Model 22
Little Jumbo
Safety Step
- Available in two-step, three-step and four-step models
- Made from rugged, corrosion-resistant aluminium alloy
- Collapse to 5-inch storage depth
References
- Les Christie (February 15, 2006). "Little giant ladders stretch out". CNN Money.