“Black stepladder” chosen by behind-the-scenes professionals — Why Hasegawa is essential at events and photo shoots

Glamorous fashion show runways, perfectly calculated product photography studios, and enthusiastic live stages. Behind the success of these events, there are unseen figures akin to “Kurogo” (traditional stagehands dressed in black). These are the professionals: lighting technicians, set designers, and camera assistants.

In recent years, Vietnam’s event and creative industries have matured rapidly, with the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of the exhibition sector in the MICE market predicted to reach 8.24%. With this market expansion, the standards required for on-site equipment have also improved dramatically.

Amidst this trend, the “black stepladder” manufactured by Hasegawa Vietnam is quietly but surely becoming the tool of choice. Why is “black” sought after for a stepladder, which is essentially just a foothold, and why do so many professionals choose Hasegawa? In this article, we unravel this hidden demand and the reasons behind it from the perspectives of light, sound, and safety.

At professional sites, equipment is not just a tool, but an element that influences the quality of the work. The “3 noises” caused by standard silver aluminum stepladders have become major issues on site.

In photography studios and stage wings, “unexpected light reflection” is most avoided. Silver stepladders risk reflecting (causing halation) powerful studio or stage lighting, ruining the atmosphere of the set or sending unwanted light into camera lenses.

Photographers wear black to prevent reflections, much like “ninjas hiding in the forest,” and stepladders similarly require “stealth” to blend into the darkness. Especially in settings like high-end “Black on Black” photography, where the depth of black is perceived as quality, equipment reflections are unacceptable.

During video recording or live concerts, “sound” emitted by equipment is fatal. Cheap stepladders may emit squeaking metal sounds when climbing up or down due to loose joints or wobbling. During changeover work backstage where silence reigns, this noise can ruin the performance.

For staff climbing to high places with expensive equipment, foot “wobble” becomes psychological noise (stress). The fear of standing on an unstable foothold while holding cameras or lighting equipment worth millions of yen significantly reduces work precision and speed.

Hasegawa Kogyo’s “BLACK LABEL” series and “lucano” provide clear solutions to these challenges.

The “BLACK LABEL” series features black color anodizing on the entire body. This is not just painting, but a process that generates an oxide film on the aluminum surface, characterized by high durability and resistance to revealing the silver base metal even if scratched. This minimizes diffuse reflection of lighting and allows it to completely assimilate into the darkness of the stage.

Additionally, the designer stepladder “lucano” has won numerous global design awards, including the “Red Dot Design Award (Best of the Best)” and the “iF Design Award,” for its beautiful form. Due to its high design quality, it looks natural even when placed directly in apparel store displays or design-oriented office spaces.

Hasegawa Vietnam’s strength lies in the pursuit of “sensory quality” that cannot be measured by numerical data alone. With the slogan “Reliability you can feel when you step on it,” the company thoroughly implements sensory evaluation by humans from the design stage.

Specifically, strict quality tests are conducted more than 250 times a month at four global bases, including the Da Nang factory. For example, the Tough Series has cleared endurance tests of 100,000 cycles assuming “climbing up and down 100 times a day, 5 days a week,” realizing a structure where wobbling and squeaking sounds are unlikely to occur even after long-term use.

Event setup is a race against time. The “BLACK LABEL” stepladders (such as the RHB series) are equipped with a “One-Touch Bar” that allows folding by simply lifting the bar with one hand.

The 60mm wide steps allow for stable footing even when holding heavy equipment, and the rigidity with a maximum weight capacity of 100kg reduces the psychological burden on workers.

Before: Silver stepladders were wrapped in black tape to prevent reflection, but the tape would peel off and become sticky, causing issues with soiling equipment and costumes. Also, clattering sounds during movement in the dark hindered proceedings.

After: Introduced “BLACK LABEL”. The effort of taping became zero, and the fully matte black body blends into the darkness. The One-Touch Bar dramatically improved removal speed during changeovers, and silence was also secured.

Before: Conducted a luxury watch shoot in the presence of the client. The staff’s silver stepladder was reflected in the background glass, requiring time for correction work.

After: Adopted “lucano 3-step (Black)”. Not only was the risk of reflection drastically reduced, but its stylish appearance also elevated the studio’s elegance and improved the impression on the client. It became established as a “tool not embarrassing to be seen”.

These high-quality “black stepladders” are not imports from a distant country. They are manufactured by Vietnamese staff who have inherited Japanese craftsmanship at Hasegawa Vietnam’s factory in the Dien Nam-Dien Ngoc Industrial Zone in Da Nang, Vietnam.

Since starting operations in 2014, the factory has continued to supply products to markets with the strictest quality standards in the world, such as Japan and the United States. In other words, Hasegawa products available at sites in Vietnam are “re-import quality” products that have cleared global safety and quality standards (compliant with JIS/ANSI, etc.).

At event and photography sites, a stepladder is not just a tool that is “fine as long as you can climb it.” It is important “equipment” for controlling light, mastering sound, and protecting worker safety.

As Vietnam’s creative industry becomes more sophisticated, Hasegawa Vietnam’s “black stepladder” is the one and only option that meets the expectations of professionals. Aesthetics that do not reflect, silence that makes no sound, and unwavering reliability. Please experience the difference at your next site.