What can make a human feel safer than having a ‘roof’ above their head? Shelter is one of our most basic needs, and Shade Systems recognized this early on, building a remarkable legacy spanning over 150 years.

‘A family of makers and innovators’, the Sucklings are now at their 3^rd generation of shademakers. Their story dates back to pre-WWII, when the founder, Mr S.R. Suckling, started its business by trade making tents and other outdoor products, for the war effort. In 1964, he took the leap to establish his own company in Dargaville, quickly expanding its reach across New Zealand and beyond.

Their motto ‘shelter for everyone’, drive them to create solid structures, protecting people from the elements, while keeping an eye on design.

Through the years, the Suckling family has been committed to ‘creating healthy spaces and improving the well-being of current and future generations’.

But what do these protective structures have to do with angle rolls? In the attempt to satisfy the diverse market requirements, structures need to have unique shapes, and every time rafters have to be rolled. That’s why, after relying on contractors, the Sucklings have ultimately decided to invest on an angle bending machine, so as to minimize supply risk and have a higher degree of control over costs.

With these premises, value for money was one of the main decision drivers, along with technical features the machine would need to have, to be able to roll a vast range of sections.

That’s how their research for different possible section bending producers began and word of mouth led them to consider Davi as angle roll manufacturer. What drove their decision to ultimately go for a Davi MCP angle roll machine was the presence of a ‘support crew nearby’, making them feel reassured. In fact, Ottotech Services has been trusted partner for Davi in Oceania for more than a decade. This is an issue that might occur when dealing with customers located (literally) on the other side of the world with respect to a company’s HQ and Davi long been addressing this potential downside, building a strong network of dealers and qualified service partners.

The machine was selected: an MCP 32 angle rolling machine, and Shade Systems is now ‘very impressed’ with the machine, finding it ‘very well-built and easy to operate’ – as Heidi Shelter, from Shade System’s marketing department declared. It is now integral to rolling steel for the company's large tensile membrane canopies, streamlining workflow, and cutting down on time and costs associated with externalizing the process. The positive impact on ROI is already evident, meeting initial requirements for cost savings and lead time control.

With the Davi angle roll in place, Shade Systems is all set for the future, shaping shelters both in New Zealand and abroad with enhanced efficiency and effectiveness. Once more, Davi's exceptional dedication to service and after-sales support played a crucial role in the decision-making process, effectively bridging the gap between businesses located worlds apart.