82 | ENGINEERING Camco T T Russell Fredric Easing the load for trades, services Camco offers a wide range of integrated vehicle canopies, service bodies and associated fit-outs. Based in Cambridge and offering a nationwide service, Camco offers a wide range of integrated vehicle canopies, service bodies and associated fit-outs. The family-owned business was established in 2005 by Phil Blackman, who was inspired to find a way to make life easier for trades and service people anywhere they needed to work. Phil designed the company’s cornerstone product, the RolaWorx slide-out drawer with a 400kg capacity, suitable for most vans and utes. Due to its excellent design, the basic structure of the original cargo drawer system has not changed, but Camco’s range of products and its client base has expanded considerably since the production of its first service body in 2009. General manager Carl Blackman, one of Phil’s sons, says the company has continually invested in ensuring it produces the highest-quality products based on provably robust materials. Camco’s manufacturing is based on efficient processes that include outsourcing metal fabrication and powder coating, which means a stock of parts is kept on-hand. “We standardise as much as we can, but then you have modular options. What that means is we can hold stock of various sizings for different vehicles, for different ute configurations, and then manufacture to order,” says Carl. The modular systems mean clients have the flexibility to choose the layout and features for their specific needs and applications. A special feature of Camco’s service is CamcoFleet, a comprehensive step-by-step consultation process that assesses industry-standard solutions, vehicle payloads and kerb weights, health and safety compliance and fitness-for-purpose, which all contribute to the exceptional on-road safety of all work completed by Camco. CamcoFleet provides the ability to fit out an entire fleet, including nationwide. “Typically, it can be four to six weeks from order to a completed build, but we only need the vehicle for a few days, depending on the complexity.” Camco’s aluminium Stealth ute canopy is a game changer for the service industry, and because they are kept in stock, the turnaround is just 24 hours. “That’s whether it’s despatched to someone for a DIY fit, or one of our agents nationwide, or to be fitted at our own workshop,” says Carl. The Stealth canopy has a proprietary push-button electronic central locking system, easily opened while holding an armful of tools or gear. A crucial aspect of Camco’s service bodies is their design in relation to a vehicle’s chassis. Its rigorous processes include three types of testing – finite element analysis, CAD analysis, and its own accelerated fatigue and strength testing, and significant field testing. Through its research and development and specialised design, Camco’s service bodies have achieved a level of certification unique to a New Zealand company in this sector. Camco recently qualified for Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier status from Ford Australia. “It’s a Ford programme that started in the United States and now it’s been rolled out to the UK, Europe, Australia and now New Zealand. “We are the only one that has got it for service bodies. That consists of a rigorous audit of all of our processes and how we get to the final product and it gives us access directly into the Ranger engineering team in Australia.” In 2021, Camco purchased Sokoza Engineering, a company with extensive experience in the transport engineering industry, and has applied the same high standards, processes and legal compliance to the design and manufacture of equipment and service bodies for trucks. “Where Sokoza excels is something that has a specialist purpose, such as sandblasting rigs or power company lines crane trucks, or transport industry crane trucks, as well as various service bodies,” Carl says. info@powdercoatingnz.co.nz | www.powdercoatingnz.co.nz | 07 823 4001 | 10/12A Carters Crescent, Cambridge 3434 Industry-leading quality & durability Commercial, industrial & domestic services Convenient pick-up & delivery available Renowned for Excellence - The Best Powder Coating & Abrasive Blasting
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