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Site updated

02/17/08

OVERVIEW:

Robica is primarily a manufacturing company that has extensive parts & service facilities dedicated to the niche markets that it serves.

Products are "custom" fabricated metal primarily for the electrical and liquid cargo transportation industries.

PRODUCTS:

Manufacturing:

Petroleum Tank Trucks: Aluminum truck mounted tanks and full pup & semi trailers are manufactured from 2,000 L to 60,000L capacity. Most tankers are multi-compartment and are mounted on commercial chassis up to 75,000 Lbs GVW. Combined vehicles up to 8 axles and up to 139,550 Lbs GVW.

Dry Bulk Trailers: Semi-trailers, typically for cement, plastics, and foods. The Ultra-light Paron type design maximizes payload with an all-aluminum tank & structure.

Propane Tankers: Bobtail tankers from 3,000 to 7,000 USWG capacity mounted on commercial chassis up to 60,000 lbs GVW.

Fire Tanker Trucks: Tankers from 1,500 IG to 3,000 IG primarily for transporting water to fires in rural areas where there is no municipal hydrant service available. Tank/pumpers up to 500 USGPM with PTO pumps are also available. Tankers are usually supplied with custom bodies designed for carrying other fire fighting equipment mounted on commercial chassis up to 60,000 Lbs GVW.

Electrical cabinets: Enclosures and consoles made of steel, stainless and aluminum. These are all CSA approved for the electrical industry and generally serve heavy capital intensive industries. Examples would be automotive, pulp & paper, steel mills, steel processing, and other large manufacturing industries.

Fabricated Parts: Many various parts are manufactured, predominately for the large AC motor industry from 200 HP to 10,000 HP motors.

Services:

  • New & Used Tank Truck sales

  • New truck chassis sales, Freightliner, IHC and Sterling

  • Service/Refurbish
    -Pumps, & related fluid delivery equipment
    -Meters, mechanical & computerized
    -Truck chassis, brakes and related safety equipment
    -Sandblast, paint & decal
    -Calibration of petroleum & propane delivery systems
    -Remounting existing equipment on a new chassis
    -Update equipment to current environmental standards
    -Multi-shift service shop
    -Mobile service and mobile calibration
    -Government inspections & certifications for MTO, TDG, TSSA, and CGSB

Distribution:

Parts Inventory and sales for liquid transportation. Authorized Distributors for: Alfons Haar, Allegheny, Base Engineering, BASF-ART, Bayco, Betts, Blackmer, Bosch-Rexroth, Colson, Dri-Dek, Fairview, Grote, Hannay, Jactone, Knappco, LC, Mid:com, Neptune, Nordic, OPW, PT-Coupling, Paulin, Pneu-max, Scully, Tempo-AeroSpace, Truck Lite, Velcon,

HISTORY:

Robica Manufacturing:

Established in 1984 by an acquisition by Bob Nothof of the fabricating department of a major manufacturer of large A.C. motors of which he was Plant Manager.

The original facility was 6,500 square feet near Stratford, Ontario. By 1988 the manufacturing facility had expanded to 13,000 square feet.

A distinct product line of Electrical Enclosures was developed to compliment the existing products.

Robica (a derivative of ROBert & monICA) quickly outgrew their premises and in 1989 bought Forman Tank & Welding Ltd.

In 1990, Robica moved to St Marys to share the premises with Robica Forman Tank.

The facility has been expanded to over 40,000 sq. ft.

Robica Forman Tank Ltd:

Carl Forman established Forman Tank & Welding in 1952 which grew from the original 1,500 square feet to 27,500 square feet in 1976.

In 1989, Carl Forman retired at the age of 73 and the name was changed to Robica Forman Tank Ltd.

The facility is located on 10 acres of rural industrial land near St Marys, Ontario with a main plant of 35,500 square feet plus 4,500 sq ft outbuildings

Robica has established a reputation of top quality workmanship along with being an innovator and leader in the industry with some highlights being:

  • Introduced Mid:com ATC electronic registers to the Ontario market

  • Designed & manufacture the "ROBO-TANK", a heavy duty "Rough Service" aluminum tank barrel.

  • Unprecedented 10 year Tank warranty

  • Unprecedented 5 year aluminum pipe warranty

  • Unprecedented 10 year stainless steel pipe warranty

  • Developed & introduced the Nordic air manifold with Robica Master Control Center

  • Assisted with Government approvals and installed the 1st Blackmer DMX system in Canada.

  • Completed a $ 10M Defence Department contract for 88 refueler tankers within 18 months in 2002/3.

  • Acquired the tooling, fixtures and designs of Paron Trailers for Dry Bulk Trailers in 2003.

  • Opened a 7 day-a-week Service Centre in London, Ontario in 2004.

  • Wins another DND Contract

THE PEOPLE AT ROBICA:

Robica has long term, experienced and dedicated personnel in all areas. The trades involved are:
Machinists, Millwrights, Truck Mechanics, Fabricators, Welder/Fitters, Pump & Meter Technicians, AutoBody and Paint Finishers.
All inquires are answered by technical sales professionals and engineering estimators.

FACILITIES:

St Marys, Ontario:
Manufacturing facility of 40,000 square feet for truck tanker production, custom fabricating & service. Ten acres with 10 ton lifting capabilities with 22 foot clear height under the crane hook.

London, Ontario:
Service Centre of 12,000 square feet located on a 10 acre lot beside the Sunoco Loading Terminal.

Stratford, Ontario:
Paint/Sandblast & Graphics facility of 8,500 square feet.  The 5 year old building includes a 65’ spray paint booth, a 65’ sandblast booth along with modern in floor heat, dust collection cyclone and an air make-up unit.


MARKETS:

Ontario & The Maritimes:
Industrial, primarily related to the heavy capital goods sector
For Example: Pulp & Paper, Steel processing, Automotive, Hydro, Etc.
Major Oil Companies: (Esso, PetroCanada, Shell, Ultramar, Sunoco)
Individual Petroleum & Propane agents, associates and distributors
Pump, Meter, and Tank Service companies
Municipalities, Townships and Industrial accounts

GROWTH:

Robica Forman Tank Ltd has exceeded a 100% increase in sales & production over the last 5 year period and now enjoys a significant portion of the Canadian tank truck market.

All signs and indicators lead to Robica's continued growth and increase in both market area and market share.

STABILITY:

Robica has growing revenues in the 10 million dollar range and employs over 50 personnel. A coveted Dunn & Bradstreet credit rating of 3A2 has been earned.

SUMMARY:

Robica concentrates on certain niche markets with "quality" first, honest delivery dates, technological innovation and at the most competitive prices possible.

Robica's rural setting with the "old fashioned" rural work ethics has contributed greatly to the success.

These philosophies have served Robica and it's customers well with the results of controlled growth while maintaining service, stability and reliability.

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