Australian owned and operated canopy specialist Norweld has been selling products to recreational buyers for over six years. Now, they have set their focus on high quality canopies for fleet vehicles with a variety of standardised all aluminium products set to exceed expectations. While Norweld has found initial success with the agricultural and mining industry, they are looking to expand and spoke to Fleet Auto News while prospecting for new clients at AFAC 2024.
Norweld are applying their knowledge and experience from dealing with off-road 4X4 retail customers to develop a ready built solution for fleet clients that go off the beaten track. Whilst retail buyers have the option of fully welded steel canopies, fleet buyers will have a selection of modular designs to choose from which maintains strength but minimises weight.
From lessons learnt in the recreational market, Norweld have developed a product which will last on and off the road, with a quality control process focused on mitigating cracking and ensuring fleet vehicles are on the road with no downtime.
Shannon Moyle, National Fleet Manager at Norweld, took great pride in showing off the high quality finish of the aluminium canopy which was on display because it’s “designed to outlast the vehicle it is attached to”. This is why Norweld are offering a lifetime warranty of their products independent of the vehicle they are fitted to originally.
This philosophy is what led to another innovation which benefits fleet buyers; separating the tray base and canopy into two pieces to allow for convenient component replacement in the event of an accident.
“Time is money,” Moyle elaborated, “and we can’t afford for our fleet clients to be left in the lurch while their trays are getting welded up”.
Fleet buyers are steered towards standardised designs to keep costs and lead times as low as possible. Norweld maintains a good supply of standard parts of quick replacements or updates. Whilst smaller scale fleet purchases will be steered towards pre-existing products, Moyle did explain that large clients with specific requirements have the option of custom designs, and often these designs will become part of the standard product because of the innovative ideas.
The aluminium trays are a welded construction but have been intentionally bolted to the chassis, allowing for movement and flexibility to mitigate the chance of cracking. This also shortens the time when transferring canopies when a new vehicle is delivered, or if it’s damaged in an accident (a service that Norweld offers at any of its locations nationwide).
Norweld’s reputation for high quality products has given them a solid footing in the mining industry with their biggest client, Diesel and Dirt, operating in the mining areas of Western Australia. They approached Norweld wanting a product that offered flexibility with a heavy duty foundation.
Moyle understands that fleet drivers take pride in the fitout of their canopy and there’s an expectation that their personal items will be protected. He offered an interesting insight on how a high quality canopy is good for staff retention because a good canopy will keep their tools free from the moisture and dust found in harsh conditions.
The range of Diesel and Dirt canopies are customised to include internal speakers, a small fridge and a 12 volt oven “to keep workers happy and out on job for longer”.
