PRODUCTION SCHEDULE INTURRUPTED AGAIN

July 19, 2011 - In a surprising and disturbing announcement yesterday, our new molding partner informed us that their head office had decided to concentrate on high end, high volume, established accounts and that they were to cease production on startup opportunities such as ours. Consequently, we are now forced to find a new supplier.

This is certainly unwelcome news to Teal International Corporation and our customers. While we have no doubt that we will find another supplier and eventually be back on track, the impact on our delivery schedule is significant.

We are working with our customers who are awaiting campers to allow them to continue with the program or receive a refund of their deposit. Those customers will remain at the top of the priority list and can re-establish their orders once we are in production.

New customers can still email us and get their name on the list, but we will not take deposits until we are in actual production.

GETTING CLOSE

July 8, 2011 - If anyone had told me two years ago that it would take this long to get our camper produced, I might not have started the venture. On the other hand, it has be great fun mixed with furstration. We are very pleased so far with our new rotational molding partner and the parts they are producing.

We had hoped to begin assembling production campers by the end of June, but that was not to be. The good news is that suppliers are getting busy again. The bad news is that it is creating more delays for our camper.

Realistically, it may well be into August before we can be up and running. We publish our progress here as things develop. Please stay tuned.

IMPROVEMENTS PUSH BACK PRODUCTION

May 5, 2011 - One thing about having hundreds of people inspect your product is that you quickly find out what needs to be improved. While we are overwhelmed by the positive reactions to the Teal Camper, we have also recognized areas that need improvemet to make it a top shelf product.

Molds are being modified to improve fit and finish, while interiors are being designed to make them lighter and more portable. We are excited about the improvements and know our customers will appreciate them. The improved Teal Camper is due out after June.

MORE ABOUT TEAL PANELS

MORE ABOUT TEAL PANELS

April 15, 2011 - A sister web site has been launched with more information and photos on the Teal Panels used in the Teal Camper. The site focuses more on the details of the panels themselves and the various options. Please visit and find out more about the versatile Teal Panels. www.TealPanels.com

COLORADO RV SHOW

BIG HIT AT RV SHOW

March 6, 2011 - By the close of the show on Saturday it was obvious that the Teal Camper was a hit. Hundreds of people smiled broadly as they walked up and looked into the camper. "What a great idea!" pretty much captures the majority of the comments.

To see a short video of the camper at the event click here... VIDEO

FIRST MOLDED PARTS

Quality Control inspector, Suzanne, inspects the first parts out of the mold for wall thickness.

Dick Vondresky and Sean McDonald check the fit on the first test wall panels to come from the mold.

Inventer, Lawrence Drake, gets a first look at the sample run parts.

FIRST MOLDED PARTS

October 19, 2010 - The first sample parts for the Teal Camper emerged from the molds today. The side and corner panels are the key to the Teal Camper. They are rotationally molded of a highly durable polyethylene plastic and then foam filled for strength and insulation.

Now that the molds are complete, there is a process of tuning the molding procedure to achieve consistency and quality. The first test parts are run at varying temperatures, timing and "shot" size (amount of plastic put in the mold) to determine which produces the most uniform parts. Once the optimum procedure is established, that proceedure is locked in and production runs can begin.

Although the side and corner panel molds are complete and parts can be run, they are not ready for the Teal Camper. Fixtures must now be fabricated to hold the parts in perfect shape while foam is injected. These fixtures require a minimum of four weeks to be built. Once they are completed, the side and corner panels can be injected with foam as the final step in production.

Based on the current progress in production, the first Teal Campers are scheduled to be completed by the end of November. A small number of campers will be produced for Beta testing. These campers will go to select customers who have agreed put them to the test in the real world and provide feedback. Delivery of production campers should begin right after the first of the year.

Producing the Teal Camper has been a longer process than anticipated but the results will no doubt be worth the effort. This milestone in the production is exciting and is a substantial step towards achieving the goal of providing a unique addition to the sport of light weight camping.

Shape Of Things To Come

SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME

August 12, 2010 - Slight modifications to the production model of the Teal Camper has given it a new and roomier shape. The video above shows the Teal Camper on a 5' x 8' utility trailer bed before interior furnishings are added.

MAJOR COMPONENT MANUFACTURER SELECTED

June 17, 2010 - After an exhaustive search, a manufacturer for the Teal Camper panel system has been selected. It took much longer than expected to find the right combination of technology, capability, design and pricing to meet the requirements of the Teal Camper. Molds will require eight to ten weeks to complete, followed by test runs of parts. Actual production parts are expected in mid-September.

Production Schedule Now Online

Click image for Schedule

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE NOW ONLINE

April 19, 2010 (updated 12/23/10) - Getting from a concept to a marketable product is always a challenge. There are a lot of people and systems to coordinate with. We are doing our best to get the Teal Camper on the market for this camping season. Click on the image above to see our projected schedule and when we are planning to have the camper available.

We already have a number of people who have volunteered to test out the beta version of the Teal Camper. If you are interested, be sure to click on the "Keep Me Posted" link and leave us a note.

Teal Camper Prototype hits the road

TEAL CAMPER PROTOTYPE HITS THE ROAD

March 16, 2010 - The Teal Camper prototype tows behind a small Chevrolet HHR like a feather. The prototype is assembled on an 4' x 8' utility trailer. Even at 5,000 ft elevation the HHR hardly knows its pulling a travel trailer. It takes on washboard gravel roads, and is stable and solid. Highway speeds pose no problems for this combination either.

We are very encouraged by these early tests and are looking forward to more aggressive adventures.