Camso

Camso, formerly Camoplast Solideal
Private
Industry Manufacturing
Founded 1982
Headquarters Magog, Quebec, Canada
Area served
 Global
Key people
 Pierre Marcouiller, President
Products Off-the-road (OTR) tires, tracks and track systems
Number of employees
 7,500+
Slogan The Road Free Company
Website www.camso.co

Camso, the Road Free Company (formerly Camoplast Solideal)[1] is a Canadian multinational corporation headquartered in Magog, Québec, Canada. Committed to the off-the-road (OTR) mobility market, the company is a world leader in the design, manufacturing and distribution of off-the-road tires, wheels, rubber tracks and track systems for the material handling, construction, agriculture and powersports industries.

Committed to put 100% of its effort on 11% of the global tire and track market—the off-the-road market—Camso operates four research and development (R&D) centres (Ekala, Sri Lanka, Shanghai, China, Ghent, Belgium, and Magog, Québec, Canada) where more than 200 researchers work on product development.

The company has 24 manufacturing facilities in North America, South America, Europe and Asia, including production facilities in 9 countries: Canada, USA, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Hungary, Sri Lanka, China, Vietnam.

Camso works with major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including Caterpillar, John Deere, Toyota Industrial Equipment and BRP, and its products are sold in the replacement market through a global distribution network in more than 100 countries.

The company employs more than 7,500 people in 27 countries worldwide.

History

Origins

In 1982, Normand Carpentier and Michel Lasalle acquired three divisions of Bombardier dedicated to snowmobile components manufacturing. Together, they founded Camoplast, a company whose name is an amalgam of the French words for the rubber (caoutchouc) of snowmobile tracks, the style (mode) of snowmobile clothing and gear, and the plastic (plastique) of composite snowmobile hoods.

Initially, all divisions of Camoplast were located in Québec, specifically in Kingsbury, Richmond and Roxton Falls.

Early years

In 1989, the company began the production of hulls and components for personal watercraft. The acquisitions of Accurate Industries, a truck components manufacturer (1992) and Finnish company Skega, which specialized in snowmobile tracks manufacturing (1996) helped establish the organization as a market leader.

In November 2000, Pierre Marcouiller succeeded Normand Carpentier as Chairman of the Board.

In 2007, the company decided to direct all its activities to meeting the needs of the off-the-road market, a decision that led to investments in technology, and the expansion of manufacturing and distribution on all continents.

In September 2010, Camoplast acquired Groupe Solideal,[2] a Luxembourg-based manufacturer of tires, tracks and wheels for the industrial and construction markets. In November 2010, the new company became known as Camoplast Solideal Inc. This acquisition increased the number of employees to 7,400 from 1,400 across several countries, mainly Canada, the United States, Sri Lanka, China and South Korea.[3]

In July 2015, Camoplast Solideal changed its name to Camso, the Road Free Company.[1]

Acquisitions and divestitures

Business units

Material handling

As the largest specialized material handling tire manufacturer in the world, Camso has the greatest number of product SKUs covering 98% of all forklift applications.

The company’s enhanced tires are engineered to ensure the continuous motion and constant flow of material on any surface in any application. Given the importance of fleet efficiency, special attention is paid to low rolling resistance; the company’s tires can also help optimize the battery life and uptime of electric powered forklift fleets.

Camso has a wide range of products for today’s sophisticated material handling machinery that is required to lift larger loads, travel at higher speeds and cover greater distances.

Products

Camso’s material handling products include pneumatic, solid resilient and press on tires for forklifts (narrow aisle, rough terrain, port applications, ground support equipment) and polyurethane wheels for specialized application.

The company also provides on-site industrial tire service and replacement in North America and Europe. This includes mobile tire service, in-shop tire service, fleet inspection, tire management programs (TMP), tire flatproofing, solid tire recycling, tire disposal and wheel exchange.

Clients

Camso’s material handling clients include Toyota Industrial Equipment, Linde, Kion Group and Uni Carriers.

Construction

Camso is an off-the-road manufacturer that meets all tire and track performance requirements for compact construction equipment.

The company’s tires are recognized for their performance in terms of durability, stability, traction, puncture resistance, as well as operator ride comfort. Its tracks offer superior protection against rolling path failure, carcass puncturing and detracking, and they last up to 50% longer than standard tracks.

Products

Camso’s construction products include tires and wheels for skid steer loaders, backhoe loaders, wheel loaders, compact wheel loaders, wheel excavators, telehandlers, compactors, motor graders, mini-dumpers, truck-mounted forklifts and articulated dump trucks. The company also manufactures tracks for compact track loaders, multi terrain loaders and mini excavators, pavers, carriers (dumpers), drilling machines as well as over-the-tire tracks

Clients

Camso’s construction clients include Bobcat, John Deere, CAT, JCB and Kubota.

Agriculture

Camso is the world’s leading manufacturer and distributor of tracks and track systems for the agriculture industry. As a preferred OEM product supplier, the company’s products are designed to optimize each stage of a farmer’s operation from field preparation and planting to crop maintenance, harvesting and handling.

The company has a single cure technology and unique manufacturing process that is like no other in the industry.

Products

Camso’s agriculture products include tracks for high-capacity tractors and undercarriages, as well as conversion track systems (CTS) for tractors and harvesters, and trailed track systems (TTS) for grain carts, manure spreaders, sprayers and planters. The company also manufactures replacement midrollers, idlers and drive wheels in heavy duty polyurethane and rubber.

Clients

Camso’s agriculture clients include John Deere, Caterpillar, Agco, Case IH Agriculture and CLAAS.

Powersports

Camso is the global market leader in the manufacturing and distribution of high performance tracks and track systems for the powersports industry. The company works closely with its OEMs to keep their snowmobiles, ATVs and UTVs vehicles running in the toughest conditions. As well, the company’s R&D teams proactively work to define new products and technology that will redefine how a machine interacts with the surface, in ride comfort and traction.

Camso’s tracks and systems are compatible with 99% of all major ATV and UTV brands, and its track systems reduce vehicle ground pressure by up to 75%, which greatly improves floatation and allows riders to go where they want, when they want.

Camso’s all season track systems are renowned for their versatility, stability and manoeuvrability on all types of terrain, conditions and climates, and have the traction required to pull and transport material in harsh environments.

Products

Camso’s powersports products include tracks for all types of snowmobile riding preference (trail, cross-country, mountain, utility, racing), as well as track systems for all terrain vehicles (ATVs), side-by-side vehicles and utility vehicles.

Clients

Camso’s powersports clients include BRP, Polaris, Yamaha, Arctic Cat and John Deere.

Corporate values

Corporate values are at the heart of Camso’s organizational culture and play a key role in the company’s recruitment and retention efforts.

Camso’s corporate values are:[9]

Quality management

Camso enforces and maintains a strict quality management with regard to its equipment and production processes, as well as to the knowledge and expertise of all employees. The company and its staff are committed to providing the best possible service to meet the needs of every client.

ISO certifications

Awards

Camso business units have received numerous awards from OEMs and corporate entities.

Material handling

Construction

Agriculture

Powersports

Other

References

  1. 1 2 Davis, Bruce (July 10, 2015). "Camoplast + Solideal = Camso".
  2. ↑ "Camoplast fait une acquisition majeure | Gilles Fisette | Économie et Innovation". La Presse (in French). Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  3. ↑ "Camoplast et Solideal unissent leurs forces". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  4. ↑ "BPR cède sa division de véhicules industriels à Camoplast". Le Devoir. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  5. ↑ Corporate, Prinoth. "History Prinoth Corporate". www.prinoth.com. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  6. ↑ "Acquisition of Camoplast Solideal’s Thermoplastic Division". Desjardins capital régional.
  7. ↑ "Camoplast buys Argentina's Rodaco - Tire Business". Tire Business. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  8. ↑ "Camoplast buys N.Z. distributor - Tire Business". Tire Business. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
  9. ↑ "About Us - Our Company - Camso". Camso. Retrieved 2016-04-12.

External links

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