A canopy is a canopy is a canopy, right? Not quite, no. At Beekman, each canopy is mostly handmade to the highest standards and between the company’s two factories, almost 100 canopies are manufactured each day. Beekman produces both leisure and workhorse-style fibreglass canopies.
Beekman canopies are rated as fully approved Toyota accessories, too. Each canopy comes with a two-year warranty on the fibreglass shell and a one-year warranty on mechanical components. This is, step by step, how a Beekman canopy is made.
Phase 1A
A substance called gelcoat is applied to the inside of a canopy mould and left to dry. This gelcoat will eventually form the shiny outside of the canopy.
Phase 1B & 1C
Resin is applied to layers of fibreglass, which are pasted over the gelcoat. Three layers are used.
Phase 2A
Once the fibreglass has dried and hardened, it is grinded down to create a smooth surface. In this picture you can see that wood is used to reinforce certain sections of the canopy.
Phase 2B
The canopy is tapped lightly with a hammer to identify any areas where bubbles have formed beneath the surface. These areas are sanded down and fixed with a filler.
Phase 2C
The inside of the canopy is sprayed with a hard-wearing material that Beekman calls stone-chipping.
Phase 3A
The canopy’s outside is sanded down and polished to create a smooth, shiny surface. Every canopy is checked for imperfections during this process and fixed. Even an imperfection as small as a paintbrush hair has to be fixed before the next phase.
Phase 3B
The bottom of the canopy is made perfectly flat and straight to ensure that it attaches to a bakkie with ease. During the next phase, this edge is covered with rubber lining.
Phase 4
All those fittings that your typical canopy has are now attached. This includes the doors, hinges and windows.
Phase 5
The final quality check: every canopy is carefully inspected and signed off.
Phase 6
The finished canopies are placed on a trailer and transported to a Beekman warehouse, from where they are distributed.
Want to know more about Beekman products?
Visit beekman.co.za or call Tel: 0861 226679
Compiled by Leisure Wheels in partnership with Beekman.