Transforma Ladder System

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Goosey

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#732174 13-Dec-2012 17:52

dont forget to buy the correct weight rated ladder !
no point getting a under rated ladder when your weight is almost the rated limit (remembering you might be carring / holding things etc).

eracode

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#732356 14-Dec-2012 04:26

CutCutCut:
CutCutCut:
eracode:
illicit: TV Ladder = $800!!!

Go to Placemakers - buy the Gorilla Ladder, same thing $250ish

Whaaat? Did not know the price - that's ridiculous - forgeddit.

However, although the Gorilla Ladder has similarities, I'm sure it does not have the same versatility.

Yeah and you have to buy the little platform things seperately.

Pretty sure it does everything else though, pulls apart into 2 bits, fold out into one long ladder or with the differnt heights either side.

You are correct. I was the OP here and I also said I thought the Gorilla ladder does not have the same versatility as the Transforma. I was wrong. Just bought a Gorilla Mighty 19 from Bunnings for $299 for my wife's Xmas present to me and it does everything that the Transforma does.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

mrmouse62

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#740167 4-Jan-2013 14:50

The Transforma ladders load rating is certified to 180 kg vs the Gorilla ladders certified 120 kg load rating. Im a strapping 150 kg Maori boy and the last thing I want to hear when I'm at the limits of a ladder is creaking, Criscos is selling the Transforma ladders for $320 which is definitely in my price range.

Technofreak

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#740205 4-Jan-2013 17:40

+1 for the Gorilla, very compact, very strong very sturdy, very versatile. One of the best things about it is it fits easily into the car boot. Yes, it a bit heavier than a small step ladder but still not too heavy. The step attachment for putting the paint pail etc on isn't all that expensive.

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mjb

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#740254 4-Jan-2013 19:08

wellygary: You are going to use this ladder to hold you up, presumably in places where if you fall it would
a) hurt
b) likely cause you damage.

Don't buy a cheap ladder......

+1

Cheap ladders land you in hospital.

Also:
* Erect at the correct angle. (1 in 4)
* Tie the top to what ever you are climbing if at all possible. (If not, find a helper to hold the ladder).
* 3 points of contact at all times.
* Avoid working from a ladder if at all possible.
* Don't stretch to work sideways - MOVE THE LADDER.
* Don't stand higher than around the fourth from top rung.

(I work with ladders in my day job, and these are just some of the rules we work to).

That said, I have a Gorilla at home, and yes, they're pretty good.

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freitasm

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#800045 16-Apr-2013 09:59

Just received:

Commission urges caution for users of multi-purpose ladders

The Commerce Commission has urged consumers and tradespeople to exercise caution when using two models of ‘Transforma’ multi-purpose ladder, sold nationwide by Brand Developers Limited between 2007 and March 2013.

The Commission is investigating potential breaches of the Fair Trading Act involving claims made about the load rating of Transforma TR24 and TR33(35) ladders and their compliance with compulsory safety standards.

The Commission understands that approximately 16,000 of these multi-purpose ladders have been sold, mainly through TV infomercials and trade suppliers.

The Commission’s Competition Manager, Greg Allan, said that while the Commission had so far only tested one of each model of ladder, both ladders had failed the independent safety test and the test failures were of sufficient concern for the Commission to warn people to take care in using them.

The ladders were tested against the AS/NZS 1892.1:1996 Portable ladders Standard.
In testing, the TR33(35) model buckled under the maximum advertised 180kg load.

The TR24 model failed two tests.

• Under the standard the ladder is allowed to ‘sag’ by 5.2mm when the rated weight is put on it. The TR24 sagged 20mm.
• The TR24 was also tested for ‘walking’ - which measures the movement of the ladder’s feet when the ladder is moved from side to side. The maximum allowable movement for these ladders is 79mm under the safety standard. The tested ladder walked 130mm on average.

“There is the potential for someone to be badly hurt if they expect the ladder to carry the advertised maximum load or if the ladder moves significantly,” Mr Allan said.

He said that because the ladders were advertised as able to hold more than 120kg they were classed as industrial strength and therefore more likely to be used by tradespeople.

Mr Allan stressed that further testing was being undertaken by the Commission.

“We will be testing more ladders to see if this is a systemic failure and will let consumers know the outcome of testing as soon as possible. In the meantime, we urge people to exercise the utmost care when using these ladders,” he said.

Brand Developers Limited is working with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to contact customers who have purchased the ladders.

An Unsafe Goods Notice issued by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in November 2012 bans the sale of multi-purpose ladders that do not meet the AS/NZS 1892.1:1996 Portable Ladders standard. The Commerce Commission is the enforcer of Unsafe Goods Notices and has followed up with retailers of the ladders to ensure they are complying with the Notice.

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shrub

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#803570 22-Apr-2013 10:43

http://www.consumer.org.nz/recalls/view/transforma-ladders

Looks bad. Also its been on sale in NZ over 5 years why has it taken this long to get tested?

freitasm

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#1414645 27-Oct-2015 13:38

And a couple of years since the warning...

Commission prosecutes business over unsafe Transforma Ladders

Brand Developers Limited (BDL) has been fined $153,000 in Auckland District Court for charges relating to wrongly claiming that its Transforma ladders had a certified load rating of 180kg and for selling ladders in breach of an Unsafe Goods Notice prohibiting their sale.

The case is the first time that the Commerce Commission has prosecuted a company for selling or advertising a product covered by an Unsafe Goods Notice.

The Auckland based company, which also trades as the TV Shop, pleaded guilty to five charges under the Fair Trading Act 1986 (FTA) relating to the sale and advertising of the Transforma brand of multipurpose ladders between March 2010 and March 2013.

In his sentencing Judge Fraser said; "A condign sentence will be imposed when safety is an issue. The Fair Trading Act is as much to protect consumers from physical harm as financial harm."

BDL misrepresented that the TR24 and TR35 Transforma Ladders complied with the Australian and New Zealand Standard for Portable Ladders to a load rating of 180kg when they had not been tested against all parts of the standard at this rating.

BDL continued to advertise and sell the ladders without ensuring that they had been fully tested, even after the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) issued an Unsafe Goods Notice preventing the sale of multipurpose ladders that did not meet the standard. When the Commission tested the ladders in early 2013 at a load rating of 180kg, both models failed to meet the standard. One ladder became deformed during testing and the testing had to be abandoned.

Commissioner Anna Rawlings says that although the ladders were first introduced to the market with a load rating of 120kg, by the time BDL was trading in March 2010, the load rating on the ladder labels had changed to 180kg.

“BDL’s conduct put the safety of consumers at risk. The 180kg load rating provided a point of difference in advertising the ladders but BDL did not carry out the required testing to ensure that the ladders were safe to use at that weight. And they weren’t.”

“The MBIE issued the Unsafe Goods Notice because it considered that multipurpose ladders that didn’t meet the standard were, or could be, unsafe. But BDL continued to advertise and supply the ladders even though they had not been tested to make sure that they complied and could legally be sold.”

BDL sold approximately 7,800 ladders directly to consumers through infomercials and to New Zealand suppliers. Advertisements for the Transforma ladders were shown on various television channels and claimed that ‘the ladder meets or exceeds New Zealand safety standards for portable ladders’ and that ‘it is rated to a whopping 180kg.’ Labels on each ladder also incorrectly said that the ladder was ‘rated industrial and is designed to carry a maximum load of 180kg.’

In March 2013, with oversight from Trading Standards which is part of the MBIE, BDL commenced a programme notifying purchasers of the issues. It contacted all customers who had purchased the ladders directly from BDL to inform them that the load rating had been downgraded to 120kg and provided refunds where requested.

“It is important that consumers can rely on the information they are provided about the safe use of products that they buy, and an Unsafe Goods Notice is intended to protect New Zealanders from harm. The fine in this case demonstrates that traders can expect significant penalties if they do not take product safety seriously,” Ms Rawlings said.

Background
The 180kg rating issue only applies to Transforma ladders sold prior to January 2014. Consumers who have concerns about whether their ladder is affected, can call the TV Shop on 0800 008 666.

Brand Developers Limited is an Auckland based company which also trades as ‘The TV Shop’. On its website it describes itself as “Australasia’s leading Direct Response Television Company specialising in product development, infomercial shopping and multi-channel retail distribution. Operating from offices in Auckland New Zealand and Melbourne Australia, Brand Developers Limited continues to push the boundaries of traditional home based TV shopping.”

Section 31(1) of the Fair Trading Act (FTA) provides the ability for the Minister of Consumer Affairs to declare, by notice in the Gazette, goods to be "unsafe goods" where it appears to the Minister that those goods will or may cause injury. The mandatory considerations of the Minister in determining whether goods will be declared unsafe, as set out in s 31(1B) of the FTA include:

the likelihood of injury occurring as a result of the reasonably foreseeable use or misuse;
the seriousness of the injury likely to be suffered;
likely frequency of such injury; and
any steps taken to mitigate the risk of injury
On 22 November 2012, the Minister of Consumer Affairs issued an Unsafe Goods Notice declaring multipurpose ladders that did not comply with Australian and New Zealand Standard for Portable Ladders (metal), AS/NZS/1892.1 to be unsafe goods. Following a consultation, the Minister made a decision to prohibit these multipurpose ladders indefinitely and issued an Indefinite Prohibition Notice.

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mdooher

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#1414655 27-Oct-2015 13:56

Yep, If you watch the Transformer Ladder advert now you will see the newer ones have a horseshoe shaped insert you have to use when making the two slide out parts into another short ladder.

This was the bit that caused most of the issue

I have a transformer style ladder and a number of standard step ladders, yes they are a bit heavier but they are much more secure on uneven ground (outside)

If I am working inside on a long job I tend to use a standard step ladder with flat rungs because its much easier on my leg muscles and the soles of my feet.

Edit: I would throttle anyone that put a ladder on the leather back seat of my car like the guy in the advert does

Matthew

andrew027

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#1414727 27-Oct-2015 14:59

freitasm: And a couple of years since the warning...

Yep - I remember this on Stuff a couple of years ago: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/8571526/Failed-ladders-pulled-from-sale

jonathan18

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#1414803 27-Oct-2015 15:50

I see from the posts above that a lot of people recommend Gorilla ladders as an alternative to the Transforma brand, which reminded of the Gorilla step ladder I was keen on buying recently - this model here.

I'd had a look and tested them out a few times, and was convinced it'll be useful but not so convinced on the quality; this was confirmed the very day I planned on buying one: when I opened it I heard a 'ping' and a plastic component related to the mechanism keeping the legs apart had sheared off. I took it to the counter, where the woman said they'd had others returned for the same fault.

Of course I gave up on this model, so can anyone recommend a similar step ladder? Ideally, I'd like one like this with the tray at the top.

Bunning stocks a Rhino-branded model that seems similar; ditto Mitre 10 with a Wender-branded ladder. Or would I be better with a 'Transforma'-style ladder? (I feel this would be too heavy to replace a small step ladder, even if it's not that much taller at its shortest).

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kiwigander

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#1415069 27-Oct-2015 20:29

The only multipurpose ladder I would trust is a Jaws (brookings.co.nz).

I've got two; the smaller one celebrated its twenty-fifth birthday some time ago.

They are massive beasts. They may be too heavy and too dear for your purposes.

I am not affiliated in any way with the manufacturer or the NZ distributor.

webwat

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#1415793 28-Oct-2015 21:31

mjb:
wellygary: You are going to use this ladder to hold you up, presumably in places where if you fall it would
a) hurt
b) likely cause you damage.

Don't buy a cheap ladder......

+1

Cheap ladders land you in hospital.

Also:
* Erect at the correct angle. (1 in 4)
* Tie the top to what ever you are climbing if at all possible. (If not, find a helper to hold the ladder).
* 3 points of contact at all times.
* Avoid working from a ladder if at all possible.
* Don't stretch to work sideways - MOVE THE LADDER.
* Don't stand higher than around the fourth from top rung.

(I work with ladders in my day job, and these are just some of the rules we work to).

That said, I have a Gorilla at home, and yes, they're pretty good.

The normal rule is standing on 3rd from top rung... very important to keep the ladder stable - even if you have to climb a couple of steps and then jiggle the feet around to level them since alloy tends to twist after a while. If the ladder moves or slips it could throw you off balance and sometimes nothing within reach you can grab!

Wear solid shoes on those transformas because the rungs are quite narrow so your feet get sore after a while.

Time to find a new industry!

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