A Brief History
In 1965, Ben Lyon, aided by engineer brother Graham, started making caving ladders. The name 'Lyon Ladders' was registered in 1973.
In the same year Ben, with Mike Meredith, took a party of cavers to France and called in on Fernand Petzl's 3-man workshop. Mike started imports to the UK, handing on to Ben's business in 1974, making 'Lyon' the first overseas Petzl distributor. The next move was to change our name to Lyon Equipment.
We are…
A leading distributor of quality climbing, mountaineering, watersports, caving, trail running, cycling and general "outdoor" equipment to retailers throughout the UK and Ireland
Specialist suppliers of safety equipment for access and all kinds of work (and rescue) at height
Providers of training and certification for work at height
Experts in the manufacture of flexible sided ladders
Manufacturers of lanyards, slings, tackle bags and Lyon work & rescue bespoke sewn goods, lanyards and other metal technical rescue equipment
The service centre for Bell, Traverse & MacInnes technical rescue stretchers
What is Lyon Equipment today?
Today, Lyon Equipment Limited, has expanded from those small beginnings to an employee owned company with a team of 100, and a turnover in excess of £16M with specialist divisions serving Work & Rescue, Outdoor, Cycle and Watersports markets.
Our mission, “To provide equipment and expertise to Venture Further”
As well as our own manufacturing facility and Work & Rescue training school, we distribute over 30 of the worlds leading technical brands and operate our fully owned Petzl agency servicing the Sport and Pro markets across the UK and Ireland.
"Adding staff of exceptional quality has allowed us to develop an unrivalled range of gear and techniques for tackling every type of play, work, and rescue at height. (And other places too!)"
Today, with even wider scope to our activities, you may find yourself talking, under the banner of Lyon Equipment Limited, to Lyon (Manufacturing), Lyon (Outdoors), Lyon (Cycle), Lyon (Watersports), Lyon (Work & Rescue), Lyon (Training) or the Petzl UK Agency – a division of Lyon Equipment set up solely to manage the supply of Petzl product in the UK and Ireland.......... and after all this time we still make caving ladders!
