Mequon, Wis. (January 16, 2025) – This January, Hultafors Group North America is introducing its W.steps telescopic RESCUE Line ladders for first responders and military personnel in the United States and Canada. W.steps (pronounced “vee-steps”) traces its roots to Sweden and brings with it an exacting Scandinavian design and manufacturing approach that delivers a superior product that’s safe, durable and efficient.
The W.steps RESCUE Line, which is EN1147 certified, was designed specifically for emergency and military personnel who work in tough, unpredictable environments. The red ladders can handle up to 1,102 lbs., hold three people simultaneously and easily convert to a stretcher.
W.steps RESCUE Line
Designed and manufactured in Sweden, the telescopic RESCUE Line ladders from W.steps are available in two heights – 11.5′ and 13.5′. The telescopic height makes them ideal for use during first responder situations that require quick adjustments and reliable equipment. Plus, W.steps RESCUE Line ladders feature exclusive innovations that deliver safety, durability and ease of use.
- Adjustable Height with Indicators – The telescopic design and rungs with clearly marked heights allow rescue and military personnel to easily extend the ladder to the height they require and then collapse it for convenient, compact transport or storage.
- Strong and Stable Rails – Made in Sweden from aircraft-grade, certified aluminum, the RESCUE Line is the first and only telescopic ladder with rails that have a triangular tube design that’s reinforced with interior overlapping tubes and safety pins. This patented, advanced engineering delivers superior torsional rigidity that makes the ladder stronger and more stable than round tube designed telescopic ladders.
- Safety-Enhanced, Comfortable Rungs – The red RESCUE Line rungs have grooved channels to disperse dirt and moisture and are 3 1/8” wide to provide more comfort, reduce muscle fatigue and help prevent slipping. In fact, the rungs are 30% wider than competing products. With safety and comfort in mind, the rungs are designed to be level to the ground at an optimal 75-degree ladder angle.
- Secure Base – The RESCUE Line has contoured rubber feet to establish solid contact with the ground or floor to help prevent slipping and provide a stable platform to more safely perform operations.
- Adjustable Safety Feet – This add-on accessory allows each ladder leg to be adjusted individually to ensure the ladder has solid and level contact on uneven surfaces.
- Solid Rubber Top – The top rails are capped with durable rubber to prevent sliding and can be adjusted individually to accommodate uneven or obstructed surfaces.
- Secure Locking – The RESCUE Ladder has two locking pins on each side that secure the interior overlapping, reinforcing tubes. In addition, red Safe-Lock tabs visually show when each rung is properly locked in place.
- Stretcher Conversion – The RESCUE Line ladders quickly convert to a stretcher. The top rungs push together to form a head rest, the ends of the ladder can be gripped as handles and height indicators help size the stretcher to the individual.
- Easy Transport – Constructed from lightweight, yet durable, Swedish-made aluminum, W.steps ladders are easy to carry and stow thanks to their telescopic design. The 11.5′ RESCUE Line ladder folds down to 3′ 7" and the 13.5′ collapses to 3′ 8".
In addition to adjustable safety feet, RESCUE Line ladders have a full complement of innovative accessories, including ground spikes, wall mount, carry bag, tool tray and spare parts.
The W.steps RESCUE Line telescopic ladders come with a one-year warranty and have an MSRP of $799 for the 11.5′ and $999 for the 13.5′ model. They are available online at Acme Tools and through Hultafors Group North America dealers nationwide.
For more information, visit wsteps.us.
About W.steps
W.steps is part of the Hultafors Group NA portfolio of premium professional brands. Hultafors Group NA is part of Hultafors Group, a global company based in Göteborg, Sweden, that offers superior brands designed and manufactured specifically for tradespeople.
In 1996, the telescopic ladder category was created by W.steps when the company designed, developed and commercialized the world’s first telescopic ladder. (W.steps is known as Telesteps outside of North America). In 2022, Telesteps was acquired by Hultafors Group and in 2024 it was rebranded to W.steps. W.steps telescopic ladders are manufactured at a Hultafors plant in Sweden. The company and its facilities are committed to sustainable manufacturing and follow environmental action protocols to minimize waste, consumption of energy and use of harmful chemicals.
In addition to W.steps, the Hultafors Group brands include Hults Bruk, SCANGRIP, Johnson Level, CLC Work Gear, Hultafors Tools, Martinez Tools, Snickers Workwear, Solid Gear Footwear and Hellberg Safety.
For more information, visit wsteps.us.
