Camso
![]() | |
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+ |
Website |
www |
Camso, the Road Free Company (formerly Camoplast Solideal)[1] is a Canadian multinational corporation headquartered in Magog, Quebec, 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
- 1992 – Acquisition of Accurate Industries
- 1996 – Acquisition of Skega (Finland)
- 2002 – Acquisition of Caterpillar’s rubber track technology and its USA plants (USA)
- 2004 – Acquisition of the industrial vehicles division of Bombardier Recreational Products[4] (Canada)
- 2006 – Acquisition of A.D Boivin ATV-undercarriage systems (Canada)
- 2006 – Acquisition of Tatou ATV-undercarriage systems (Canada)
- 2008 – Acquisition of Taeryuk Construction Rubber Tracks (South Korea)
- 2009 – Sale of the track machines division to Prinoth, part of the Leitner Group[5] (Italy)
- September 2010 – Fusion of Groupe Solideal (Luxembourg)
- June 2012 – Acquisition of the assets of Forklift Tire of Florida (USA)
- September 2012 – Sale of the thermoplastic division[6] (Québec, Canada)
- 2013 – Acquisition of Tidue (Italy)
- January 2014 – Acquisition of Cherokee Industrial Tire (USA)
- February 2014 – Acquisition of Gulimsa Industrial Tires (Spain)
- 2014 – Acquisition of Atra Tires (Austria)
- August 2014 – Acquisition of Rodaco Tires (Brazil and Argentina)[7]
- May 2015 – Acquisition of Eastwood Tyres (New Zealand)[8]
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, JLG Industries 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]
- Entrepreneurship – Being industrious and constantly asking, "Is there a better way?"
- Integrity – Doing what’s best for the company and its customers.
- Commitment – Making sure that everyone does what they say, with excellence.
- Teamwork – Working together as one fully committed company.
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
- ISO/TS-16949 – 2002 2nd edition
- ISO 9001:2008 – Quality management systems
- ISO 14001-2004 – Environmental management systems
Awards
Camso business units have received numerous awards from OEMs and corporate entities.
Material handling
- Toyota: Supplier of the Year, 2015
- UniCarriers Americas: Challenge of Excellence Award, 2015
- Linde: Project Cooperation Award, 2015
- Toyota: Production Special Award, 2015
- Toyota: Safety, Environment, Quality, Cost and Delivery Award, 2014 and 2012
- Doosan: Golden Supplier, 2014
- Mitsubishi: Mitsubishi Supplier Gold Award, 2014 and 2013
- Linde: Best Partner, 2013
- JLG: Outstanding Support, 2013
Construction
- Yanmar France: Best Quality Award, 2014
- JCB: Most Improved Supplier, 2013
Agriculture
- John Deere: Partner Status, 2015, 2014 and 2013
- John Deere: Supplier of the Year, 2013
Powersports
- Arctic Cat: Gold Status, 2014
- Polaris: Star Program Award, 2014
- BRP: Supplier Recognition, 2014
- BRP: Gold Supplier Award, 2013
- Polaris: Award of Excellence, 2013
- Arctic Cat: Quality and Delivery Award, 2013 and 2012
Other
- Desjardins: Desjardins International Commerce Award, 2014
- Sri Lanka National Productivity Award, 3rd place – Large Manufacturing, 2014
- Sri Lanka Most Outstanding Exporter of the Year from the National Chamber of Exporters, 2014
- Sri Lanka Kotugoda Factory: Merit Award for Safety from Ministry of Labour and Labour Relations, 2014
- Sri Lanka Presidential Exports Awards, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010
References
- 1 2 Davis, Bruce (July 10, 2015). "Camoplast + Solideal = Camso".
- ↑ "Camoplast fait une acquisition majeure | Gilles Fisette | Économie et Innovation". La Presse (in French). Retrieved 2016-04-12.
- ↑ "Camoplast et Solideal unissent leurs forces". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
- ↑ "BPR cède sa division de véhicules industriels à Camoplast". Le Devoir. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
- ↑ Corporate, Prinoth. "History Prinoth Corporate". www.prinoth.com. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
- ↑ "Acquisition of Camoplast Solideal's Thermoplastic Division". Desjardins capital régional.
- ↑ "Camoplast buys Argentina's Rodaco - Tire Business". Tire Business. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
- ↑ "Camoplast buys N.Z. distributor - Tire Business". Tire Business. Retrieved 2016-04-12.
- ↑ "About Us - Our Company - Camso". Camso. Retrieved 2016-04-12.