A Successful Working Partnership
Innovation and perseverance are the key to the 10-year working partnership of Frocester Engineering and Cambee.
Cambee is a VW camper conversion specialist company based in Devon, a perfect base for some of its keenest customers who like to surf. While the pandemic has brought it challenges, Cambee has also seen a month-on-month increase in orders due to people wanting a safe way to travel and holiday. According to Auto Trader, which surveyed 2,000 adults, 29% of people felt more confident going on holiday in a camper.
Any enthusiast will tell you that one of critical aspects of the camper travelling life is the ability to sleep where you stop. Ensuring that sleep is comfortable without compromising on space is where Cambee and Frocester Engineering have excelled.
In 2011 Matt Burgon, Director at Cambee came to the Frocester Engineering team with an idea to produce a rock’n’roll bed with a difference. He wanted the rock’n’roll bed to allow customers to retain the all-important boot space in their campervan as well as being comfortable, lightweight and safe.
Matt Burgon, Director, Cambee:
“Most campers have retractable seats that move to the back of the van, which means you lose the all-important space for your travel essentials.”
Matt’s initial ideas for a bespoke Cambee rock’n’roll bed were developed by a few engineers locally at first, but they couldn’t quite make it work in the way Matt wanted it.
Anthony Locke, Managing Director, Frocester Engineering:
“Matt called after hearing about us from one of our other customers. We had an initial chat over the phone about his idea and then invited him up to Rooksbridge. We instantly got on. Matt liked what he saw in our design and manufacturing facilities, and we liked Matt’s ideas and his refreshing approach to making his products available to other converters. So we agreed to take on the project.”
First stop at Frocester Engineering was Design Manager, Tony Sandford. Using his wealth of design experience and with the help of 3D CAD modelling, he worked alongside Matt to bring Matt’s exacting requirements to life.
Then Production Manager, Gary Hunt, and the welding team took over to make the precision pieces fit together, as well as, creating jigs and fixtures to ensure high quality and repeatability. The Cambee Flex was created!
Matt Burgon, Director, Cambee:
“I can’t fault the team at Frocester Engineering. Gary and Tony were receptive to my ideas and persevered to make sure we got the best product available. During the process, they were calm and considered, and we now have a product that sets us apart from the competition and best of all ensures our customers get a durable, safe and pleasurable night’s sleep!’
With its affiliation to Manchester Metropolitan University’s testing centre STATUS, Frocester Engineering was able to ensure the Cambee Flex met the European M1 standard*. Before going into production, the Flex was pull tested on the STATUS hydraulic testing rig to ensure that it met the required safety standard. Designed to absorb the force of impact, the Flex reduces the shock for the passenger and to the vehicle chassis. The lightweight frame also features three-point seat belts for safety and comfort.
Frocester Engineering also now produce seat swivels and two other variants of the bed for Cambee one of which is on a track system to allow it to move within the back of the camper.
Matt Burgon, Director, Cambee:
“As well as function and safety, we also place high importance on sustainability at Cambee. We’re confident that the critical products which Frocester Engineering have designed and now manufactures for us will last for 25 years and in the unfortunate event of an accident are less likely to damage the chassis of the vehicle due to the innovative lightweight build of the bed”
Looking to the future Matt and the Cambee team are exploring the development of an electric camper conversion. With Frocester’s experience in the electric vehicle market through its division e.park, dedicated to the design, manufacture and installation of EV chargers, they are in the perfect position to help.
Anthony Locke, Managing Director, Frocester Engineering:
“We are proud to be one of Cambee’s key suppliers and are keen to help them innovate even further to continue growing the partnership. The electric space is exciting, and we are looking forward to helping with our knowledge and skills in this area.”
Visit: www.cambee.co.uk
* the measure set out by the European Union for passenger-carrying vehicles with no more than 8 seats. The M1 pull test stimulates a crash at 30mph into solid concrete, pulling the seat with the resulting force of such a collision. 3 tonnes per passenger for 0.2 of a second.I can’t fault the team at Frocester Engineering. Gary and Tony were receptive to my ideas and persevered to make sure we got the best product available. During the process, they were calm and considered, and we now have a product that sets us apart from the competition and best of all ensures our customers get a durable, safe and pleasurable night’s sleep!