Case Study: Teleflight Stair System
In 2011 we were approached by Richard Walston, founder and CEO of Walston Stairbuilders in Guilford, CT., to manufacture an innovative new temporary stair system that would help minimize accidents on construction sites. Following five years of development, the Teleflight Stair System was ready for manufacture.
Upon initial meeting with Mr. Walston, president of Fab Masters Co. Ron Troxell, took a deep interest in this project, and personally worked with the Walston family to get this stair system to the marketplace. It took almost a year of honing the design, testing the components for fit and function; we even performed the UL testing in our facility to make sure it would surpass load & safety standards.
Don Brittin, Senior CAD Designer at Fab Masters said, “The main challenge in manufacturing the stair system was getting the extrusion dies right, for proper mating of the extrusions.” The stringers and handrails needed to telescope to 14 feet. This presented a problem of working within standard tolerance and getting the proper fit without binding or slop. We worked extensively with the extruder in finessing the tolerances enabling proper fit. After working on this project for almost a year Brittin said “I was very excited to be part of the final assembly team, and thrilled to finally walk up to the top of the stair case. It was very satisfying seeing it all come together during the UL testing, watching with anticipation as load limit was tested pound by pound exceeding expectations.” As the Teleflight Stair System gained UL Classification, Fab Masters Company also received recognition as a 3rd party manufacturer of UL Classified parts.
Manufacture of the Teleflight Stair System commenced and entered the marketplace in 2012. Mr. Troxell personally delivered six systems to East coast customers, not because he had to (Fab Masters has its own delivery fleet) but because he wanted to, in appreciation for the friendship that was built alongside this project.
