Where did Lyon come from?

Way back 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.

"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!

What is Lyon Equipment Limited today?

We are proud to be an employee owned company led by a team of Directors; Jonathan Capper - Managing Director, Rick Cockayne - Finance Director, Paul Cornthwaite – Commercial Director and Martin Bergerud – Petzl Director. We have a talented team of over 90 people with a wide range of skills and knowledge and an annual turnover in excess of £16 million.

We are...

A leading distributor of quality climbing, mountaineering, watersports, caving, 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
Click to view our Health & Safety Policy, Environmental & Sustainability Policy, Quality Policy, and our Modern Slavery Statement.