Bird Ladder Open House May 15th

Bird Ladder will be having their annual open house May 15th. Every year we have customer appreciation day which includes a truck load sale on everything. Werner ladders, pump jacks, planks, Granite scaffolding, MBW compactors, trowels and mixers, Werner fall protection, Acro roofing equipment, Tie down shingle hoists, Van Mark brakes, Knaack job boxes, Weatherguard truck and van equipment, Reechcraft PowerPole, PowerLift and PowerMast to name a few.

We will also have factory reps demonstrating their products. We will be introducing new products at the show.  The NEW Knaack 118 data vault will be on display with demonstrations. We will also have the new Reechcraft Powermast set up. They also have a new free standing base that will be shown. We will also have new MBW plate compactors on display.

Free safety classes will also be returning this year. We will offer ladder safety courses, fall protection courses and also a presentation by Acro products on use of their roof edge protection. Cards will be issued for the ladder and fall protection training. We are also attempting to have a representative from OSHA here to answer questions.

We also serve lunch from 12:00 till the food runs out. So bring your shopping list, save money, get trained, and have lunch.

Preventing Theft

Unfortunately in the world today, we have to lock our doors and be concerned about preventing theft.  But, such is life.  There are two products that exist to address this for contractors.  It is surprising to me that both of them were created outside of Chicago.  The first solution was created by American Lock Company, which has been purchased by Masterlock.  Both use the hockey puck style locks, and there are distinct advantages and disadvantages.  I will discuss both.  First the original American Lock 800, this product can be used to secure swinging doors on a van.  The Hockey puck lock is protected on all sides and is very secure.  The second solution is the Slick Lock, this utilizes the locking mechanism on the door of the vehicle and works really well on new vehicles.

Since both systems utilize the hockey puck locks, I will discuss the other differences.  The Slick Lock is great for new vehicles, you don’t have to drill any holes, and it works on sliding doors.  This is really important, as the American lock doesn’t have a solution for sliders.  The disadvantage of the slick lock is that on old vans they often won’t work, because the hinges are sagging or the doors are a bit out of alignment.  Now, that being said the other necessity for the slick lock is the spinner, this is so someone can’t take a 48″ pipe wrench and grab the hockey puck lock twist it off.

So the advantage of the American lock 800 is that it is very secure and it can be installed on older vehicles as long as the doors close. The disadvantage is that you have to drill six holes in your vehicle.  That equals rust in Wisconsin.  We use stainless hardware when we install it, and caulk it, but sooner or later it will rust.

The other two necessities are the covers which keep snow, ice, salt, etc. out of the hockey puck lock itself.  The Reda Guard, was also invented in Illinois, it works with the American Lock 800.  Slick Lock has their own cover, because the Reda Guard doesn’t work with the spinners.