AWL Canopies

Company Overview

Coastline Constructions Pty Ltd was founded in 1979 by Bob Frankham, a local Gold Coast builder, who started off as a crafty tradesman, innovatively pushing housing structures to a new level. It wasn’t long before Bob’s ideas were noticed by ‘Automatic Welding and Engineering’, a steel fabrication company that paved the way for Bob to introduce into the aluminium market; automotive accessories such as tray bodies and bull bars.

In 1986, Bob founded C&B Mobile Fitting Service Pty Ltd. after seeing a lack of service in the after-market motor industry and began to specialise in custom manufactured fit outs for vehicles. C&B Mobile Fitting Service Pty Ltd was a family owned and operated business that originally commenced trading from Bob’s home in 1986 and later moved in 2003 to a larger factory complex in Leda Drive, Burleigh Heads. At that time, the company serviced the motor industry on the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers including Coffs Harbour with its mobile fitting service. C&B developed a business that proved very popular with motor dealers and the public, due to the convenient nature of the mobile service.

During the years of operation of C&B Mobile Fitting Service Pty Ltd., Bob continually had requests from customers for a fibreglass canopy which fitted directly onto a tray with large access doors on all 3 sides. Bob undertook market research of such a canopy and was told by an international company that there was no such market for this type of product, as they had already explored this avenue. However, Bob took a commercial gamble and Australian Work Leisure Canopy (AWLC) commenced in 2000.

AWLC moved in 2007 to Central Drive, Burleigh Heads and is operated by Bob and Caryl Frankham, son Graham as Manager, son Darryl as Production Manager and QA/Stock Controller officer David Whatson.

AWLC offer a wide range of custom and standard fit outs that are practical, but also aesthetically pleasing with the capacity to cater in aftermarket accessories. Along with this development, they have been able to give customers options such as windows, roof racks, extension racks for carrying long ladders, door warning system and remote locks. It has also become very popular for the leisure market and retirees who wish to go cruising with their caravan and require a system available to lock up all their incidental items.

This project has proved very successful for many government departments, electricity and trade companies, transporting expensive items which are locked in a safe, waterproof environment. Clients include Queensland and Federal Police, Gold Coast City Council, Redland Shire, Coffs Harbour, Ballina and Byron Bay councils, Tyco, Chubb Security, Queensland Rail, Ergon and Country Energy, RACQ and NRMA.

Australian Work and Leisure Canopy currently have distributors in every state and territory in Australia.

AWLC is committed to quality products and design, health and safety requirements and most importantly; customer satisfaction. AWLC is seeking to develop add on accessories to enhance already established products. “People become rich by a combination of hard work, astuteness and good luck. They may succeed because they manage to create a product or service that catches a wave of perfect timing and meets an unsatisfied demand.” Bob enjoys this quote because it encompasses all that he and his family have worked for and will continue to work towards.