Camel Chat - Winter 2010
February 1st, 2010
Innovative Product Design and Engineering Result in the Birth
of the Camel and Its Unique Features
Recognizing the power of vacuum technology led Super Products to design the Camel® Sewer & Catch Basin Cleaner. Founded in 1972, Wisconsin-based Super Products introduced its first Supersucker® industrial vacuum truck the very next year – March of 1973 to be exact. At that time, the company was a pioneer in producing an industrial vacuum loader with a positive displacement vacuum pump.
Looking to expand its product offering to the sewer cleaning industry, Super Products’ first combination unit, later trademarked the “Camel,” was designed in March of 1976, and the first unit made its debut at the American Public Works Association (APWA) Show later that year.
Several Supersucker features were incorporated into the design of the first Camel, including the positive displacement vacuum pump that utilized the truck engine as a power source and a bag house filter system. The original Camels adopted several concepts from the garbage packer industry including rectangular bodies and a pusher plate for ejecting material out of the body.
The first Camels also included a patented water recycling system, whereby vacuumed sewer water was cleaned and returned to the fresh water tank to replenish the supply for additional sewer cleaning.
Since this unique sewer and catch basis cleaner could be filled with fresh water at the beginning of the day and work all day without replenishing its water supply, it earned the name “Camel.”
While many of the improvements made to the Camel over the years, such as the move from a rectangular body to a round debris body, were the result of the changing times and technological advancements, others were based off the suggestions from Super Products’ dealers, customers and demonstration unit operators.
Since the Camel was introduced 34 years ago as the first combination unit to feature a positive displacement vacuum system and water recycling technology, it has earned a solid reputation for reliability and exceptional performance.
