Asfare, the Southampton-based maker of ladders for the rescue services, has joined Aim following a £2.4m placing at £1 a share sponsored by Seymour Pierce. The fundraising, all of it new money, pulled in seven institutional investors including ISIS, Singer & Friedlander and ABN Amro. Chief executive David Chisnall says the quotation will give the group greater kudos overseas, help expand the business in the US and Australia, as well as delivering acquisition currency - Chisnall says Asfare is in discussions with a number of targets already. Asfare was actually set up back in 1797, making ladders for the fire brigades of the time. Its main customers still include fire brigades, although it also serves the airport and police sectors. The group's core product is AS Fire, a range of fire ladders tailored to meet the testing needs of fire and emergency services - they have been used by the UK fire service for the last twenty years. Ranging from seven to fifteen metres, they can take the weight of three people in a rescue situation. Asfare also makes a range of gantry systems, as well as slide systems that are used on fire engines to help deploy heavy equipment. Crucially, the company has been in profit since 1989, and turned over roughly £4m last year. Growth is sure to come from health and safety legislation and concerns. One to watch.