What TB Davies does

TB Davies (Cardiff) Ltd is a UK-based, family-owned manufacturer and distributor of professional work-at-height access equipment, established in 1945 and operating from a three-and-a-half-acre site in Cardiff Bay with a wholly-owned Irish subsidiary (TB Davies (Dublin) Ltd). The company designs, manufactures and distributes ladders, step ladders, telescopic ladders (Xtend+Climb proprietary range), combination ladders, podium steps, scaffold towers (including the X-Tower one-person telescopic tower), loft ladders (LuxFold, FireFold, EnviroFold, Electric variants), bridging platforms (Bridge-Deck) and modular access systems (Meca-Modul), alongside a portfolio of safety accessories. Underlying technical content includes aerospace-grade 6061 aluminium telescopic systems tested to 4,000 cycles, fibreglass pultrudion ladders with patented audible ground-step alerts (GroundCue), SumoStance levelling outriggers, and EN131 / EN1004 / EN14975 / EN14122 certified product lines.

Revenue is generated through (i) direct e-commerce and inside-sales of proprietary TB Davies branded equipment, priced ex-VAT between roughly £85 and £2,438 per item; (ii) exclusive UK import and distribution of Little Giant Ladders (King Kombo, Velocity, Safety Cage, Hi-Viz Green fibreglass) under an OEM/whitelabel arrangement that confers brand-level distribution advantage; (iii) UK distribution of Tubesca-Comabi aluminium access products under a strategic partnership launched in 2018; and (iv) a PASMA-approved training academy delivering recurring-revenue courses (PASMA Towers for Users, Ladder Inspection, Work at Height) and a B2B inventory data feed for authorised distributors. Customer mix spans industrial/manufacturing buyers (e.g., Speyside Whiskey Distillery use case), hire industry fleets (Troy distributor network, 12+ years), the rail sector (fibreglass for electrical hazard environments) and telecom/CCTV installers (King Kombo). Growth is supported by 12+ year incumbency in key buying groups (Troy, NMBS), Achilles UVDB Silver Plus qualification for construction procurement, and a 2024 Cardiff manufacturing site expansion aimed at boosting production capacity and innovation. The firm also holds ISO 9001 registration, has held Investors in People accreditation since 2015 (Silver since 2018, retained 2022), and represents itself on the Ladder Association Council.

Name

TB Davies

Legal name

TB Davies (Cardiff) Ltd

Website

https://tbdavies.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TB Davies is a family-owned UK manufacturer and exclusive UK distributor of Little Giant Ladders, designing professional work-at-height access equipment — ladders, towers, podiums, bridging platforms and loft ladders — serving industrial, hire, rail and trade customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Work at Height Access Equipment

NAICS

Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing (33392), Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing (333924), Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing (3331)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569)

akta.pro primary industry

Cranes, Hoists & Overhead Material Handling (Industrial) (IMAHABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lifting Attachments & Material Handling Accessories (Fork Attachments, Slings, Rigging) (IMAHABAJ), Loading/Unloading & Transfer Equipment (Telescopic Conveyors, Loaders, Tipplers) (IMAHABAI)

Keywords

• Work at height equipment
• Ladder manufacturing
• Loft ladders
• Scaffold towers
• Access platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Cardiff

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Direct sales of work-at-height access equipment including ladders, steps, podiums, scaffold towers, and loft ladders through e-commerce and direct sales team. Products are sold at ex-VAT RRP prices ranging from £85 to £2,438 depending on product category.
2. Exclusive Distribution (Little Giant): As exclusive UK importer of Little Giant Ladders, the company distributes a range of Little Giant branded products including ladders, podium steps, and accessories.
3. Training Academy: PASMA training courses for scaffold tower users, ladder inspection courses, and working at height training. TB Davies is an approved PASMA training centre for South Wales.
4. Inventory Service Feed: B2B automated data feeds containing stock inventory information for authorised distributors and partners to view inventory levels in real time.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TB Davies manufactures and distributes professional work-at-height access equipment, including telescopic ladders, extension and combination ladders, loft ladders, scaffold towers, podium steps, bridging platforms, and modular access platforms. The company is the exclusive UK importer for Little Giant Ladders and distributes Tubesca-Comabi products, serving industrial, hire, trade, and domestic customers from its Cardiff manufacturing facility.

Product overview

TB Davies is a professional work-at-height equipment manufacturer and distributor based in Cardiff, UK, established in 1945. The product portfolio comprises proprietary TB Davies-branded ladders and access equipment alongside exclusive UK distribution of Little Giant Ladders. Core product categories include: telescopic ladders (Xtend+Climb range), extension and step ladders (Taskmaster, Prima, Verti, Insul8-C), loft ladders (FireFold, LuxFold, EnviroFold, EuroFold, MiniFold, Electric variants), multi-purpose ladders (Little Giant Velocity, Conquest), podium steps (Little Giant Safety Cage, King Kombo), scaffold towers (X-Tower, Speedy, Centerfold), and work platforms (Bridge-Deck bridging steps, Meca-Modul modular system). The portfolio also includes safety accessories such as Ladder Base stability devices, Ladder Guard security accessories, Good to Go inspection systems, Microlite roof access standoffs, Lighting Collars, Downpipe Standoffs, and Little Giant Wingspan wall standoffs. The company operates as a one-stop shop for working-at-height solutions spanning domestic, trade, and industrial applications, with products certified to various EN standards (EN131, EN14975, EN1004, EN14122) and backed by ISO 9001 registration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Little Giant Ladders: Exclusive UK importer of Little Giant Ladders, the world's most trusted ladder brand, featuring innovative access solutions including hi-vis green fibreglass series, multi-purpose industrial and telescopic models
• Xtend+Climb
• Meca-Modul
• Tubesca-Comabi

Products and services

• Xtend+Climb Telescopic Ladders A range of telescopic ladders featuring aerospace-grade aluminium alloy construction, automatic locking stabilising bars, and EN131-6:2019 professional compliance. Includes ProSeries and Super ProSeries variants in various lengths (2.9m to 4.4m). Designed for trade and industrial users who need portable, compact-storing extension ladders.
• Little Giant Ladders (UK Distribution Range) Exclusive UK import of Little Giant Ladders, including King Kombo combination ladders, Safety Cage podium steps, HiViz Green fibreglass ladders, Velocity multi-purpose ladders, and Conquest all-terrain ladders. Distributed under exclusive UK importer arrangement, featuring patented technologies including GroundCue, SumoStance, and Hi-Viz visibility systems.
• TB Davies TASKMASTER Professional Extension Ladders Proprietary aluminium professional extension ladder range, available in multiple lengths with ex-VAT RRP pricing from £107.83 to £416.66. Designed for trade use.
• TB Davies PRIMA Industrial Combination Ladder Heavy-duty industrial aluminium combination ladder with multi-configuration capability, priced from £299.99 to £499.99 ex-VAT RRP.
• FireFold Fire-Rated Loft Ladder Fire-rated wooden loft ladder with EI230 30-minute fire rating (tested to 45+ minutes before door breach), continuous seal for draught exclusion, and PEFC certified timber. Complies with EN14975 standard. For domestic and residential loft access installations requiring fire safety compliance.
• LuxFold Premium Timber Loft Ladder High-end timber folding loft ladder with industry-leading 0.59W/m2K insulation value, 87mm extra-thick insulated trapdoor, double-lock system, and finger-tip dual action counterbalance operating system. For premium residential loft access.
• EnviroFold Timber Loft Ladder Contractor-grade timber loft ladder with 1.11W/m2K insulation, 33mm insulated trapdoor, continuous air seal, and PEFC sustainably sourced timber. Quick to install with dovetail treads.
• Electric Loft Ladder Motorised loft ladder operated via remote control, featuring 30-minute fire rating, 65mm insulated trapdoor, and smooth concertina ladder deployment. For accessible loft entry in domestic settings.
• X-Tower Telescopic Scaffold Tower
• Bridge-Deck Bridging Platform Industrial bridging step with extra-large 150mm deep steps, twin handrails, kick plates to prevent tools falling, aluminium platform with timber non-slip surface. Available in 3-9 tread options with 90cm or 120cm platform lengths and 200kg max load. Designed for safe access over pipework and obstacles in industrial environments such as distilleries.
• Meca-Modul Modular Platform System Pre-designed modular access platform system adaptable to industrial environments. Available in access, platform, and circulate configurations with 1-5 tread options and handrails/guardrails. Expandable and reconfigurable over time without specialist installation teams.
• Training Academy (PASMA & Ladder Association Courses) Approved PASMA training centre for South Wales offering PASMA Towers for Users, Combined Towers & Low Level Access, Towers on Stairs, Work at Height Novice, and Low Level Access courses. Also offers Ladder Association courses including Ladder & Step Ladder User, Combined Ladder & Stepladder Inspection, Working with Steps & Step Stools, and Ladder & Stepladder Inspection courses.
• Specialist Access Equipment (Bespoke Solutions) Bespoke specialist access engineering service offering custom-designed solutions for aerospace, defence, mining, manufacturing, and retail sector applications where standard catalog products do not fit the access challenge.

Quantifiable outcome

• Xtend+Climb ProSeries mechanism tested to 4,000 cycles for durability
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Tubesca-ComabicoreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2018Tubesca-Comabi is France's market leader for aluminium access technology. TB Davies launched industrial rated telescopic tower (X-Tower) and distributes Tubesca products including podiums, scaffolding and special fabrications for construction, heavy industry and mass transit sectors. Products available for next-day delivery.
• Little Giant LadderscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerTB Davies is the exclusive UK importer of Little Giant Ladders, the world's most trusted ladder brand. They distribute the full range including Hi-Viz green fibreglass series, multi-purpose industrial ladders, telescopic models, and podium steps. Little Giant products feature patented technologies including GroundCue, SumoStance, and Hi-Viz visibility systems.
• Ladder AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTB Davies works closely with the Ladder Association on several committees including representation on the Association's Council. Company collaborates on developing standards and safety guidance, and promotes safe use of ladders through association training programmes.
• PASMAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTB Davies is an approved PASMA training centre for South Wales, offering training courses including PASMA Towers for Users, Combined Towers & Low Level Access, and Work at Height Novice courses. PASMA is the Prefabricated Access Suppliers' and Manufacturers' Association.
• Troy (Buying Group)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTB Davies has been a Troy supplier for over 12 years. Exhibits at Troy Means Business events at Silverstone and participates in Troy product innovation awards. Troy is a buying group serving the tool and equipment hire industry.
• ROSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTB Davies supports ROSPA initiatives including the 'Get a Grip' campaign launched by the Ladder Association in association with ROSPA, focusing on ladder safety awareness and reducing falls from height.
• NMBS (National Merchant Buying Society)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTB Davies is a committed exhibitor at NMBS Trade Shows serving building, timber, plumbing, and hardware merchants. Regular presence at NMBS exhibitions in Coventry and other venues.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Krause: German manufacturer of ladders, steps and access platforms with strong European hire-industry presence. Comparable across the same telescopic, combination and step-ladder categories that anchor TB Davies' own-brand range.
• Youngman Group: Long-standing UK access-equipment manufacturer (BoSS scaffold towers, Youngman ladders). Closest direct UK peer for ladders, steps and scaffold towers, with overlapping trade, hire and industrial channels.
• ZARGES: Aluminium access and logistics solutions manufacturer serving industrial, aerospace and rail customers. Comparable on engineered aluminium scaffolding, work platforms and ladder systems for safety-critical industrial verticals.
• Tubesca-Comabi: France's market leader for aluminium access technology and TB Davies' distribution partner for the X-Tower and podium/scaffolding lines. Direct comparable in telescopic scaffold towers, podiums and aluminium access equipment.
• Scafom-Rux: European scaffolding and access systems specialist. Comparable for scaffold-tower and modular access-platform offerings competing with TB Davies' X-Tower and Meca-Modul systems in construction and industrial hire.
• Hailo: German maker of step stools, household and trade ladders. Comparable on step-stool and domestic loft-ladder ranges where TB Davies' EnviroFold, LuxFold and Electric loft ladder product set compete.
• Little Giant Ladder Systems: US-based ladder innovator behind the King Kombo, SumoStance and Hi-Viz Green technologies. Direct product-overlap peer and simultaneously TB Davies' exclusive UK import partner, defining the premium tier of TB Davies' portfolio.
• Bailey Ladders: UK professional ladder brand with strong trade/hire-industry footprint. Comparable direct competitor across trade-extension ladders, step ladders and accessories distributed through merchant and hire channels in the UK.
• Hymer: German professional ladder and access-equipment brand with strong aluminium and telescopic ladder lines. Direct comparable for TB Davies' Taskmaster, Prima and Xtend+Climb product families aimed at trade and professional users.

Broad incumbents

• WernerCo: Global ladder and access-equipment parent (Werner, Louisville, Centaur) with broad professional and consumer portfolios. Comparable as a direct competitor across ladder, step and platform categories where TB Davies competes, but with materially larger geographic reach and SKU breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tbdaviesgroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/TBDaviesCoUk
• Facebookfacebook.com/TBDavies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tb-davies-cardiff-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/tbdaviesgroup

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TB Davies