Camso

Camso is a Canadian off-road mobility company headquartered in Magog, Quebec. The business traces its origins to 1982, when Normand Carpentier and Michel Lasalle acquired four divisions of Bombardier and established Camoplast Inc. Over time, the company developed from a Canadian manufacturer associated with tracked vehicles and specialized industrial equipment into a global supplier of tires, rubber tracks, wheels, conversion track systems, and undercarriage components for vehicles that operate away from conventional paved roads. The company serves several equipment and vehicle segments, including material handling, construction, agriculture, and powersports. Its product range includes pneumatic, airless, and solid tires; rubber tracks; driven and trailed conversion track systems; wheels; and original-equipment-manufacturer undercarriages. These products are used to improve traction, load distribution, flotation, durability, and maneuverability in demanding operating environments. Camso also provides related engineering, manufacturing, distribution, and service capabilities rather than functioning only as a component brand. A major stage in the company's development came through its involvement with Bombardier's industrial-vehicle activities. Camoplast acquired Bombardier Recreational Products' industrial vehicles division in 2004, obtaining operations connected with tracked utility vehicles, snow-removal equipment, snowcats, and the lineage of the Bombardier Muskeg tractor. The industrial-vehicle business was subsequently transferred to the Leitner Group in stages between 2005 and 2009, while Camoplast retained manufacturing responsibilities for part of the transition. In 2010, Camoplast acquired Groupe Solideal, a Luxembourg-based producer of tires, tracks, and wheels for industrial and construction applications. The combined business adopted the name Camoplast-Solideal and, in July 2015, was renamed Camso. The new name was intended to combine the heritage of Camoplast and Solideal while presenting the company as a broader off-road mobility supplier. Camso expanded its international footprint through manufacturing, sales, service, and research activities in North America, Europe, and Asia. Research centers were identified in Magog, Ghent, Colombo, Shanghai, and Ho Chi Minh City, and the company reported a workforce of more than 8,000 employees in the period before its acquisition by Michelin. Its products were sold both through its own channels and through original-equipment relationships with vehicle and equipment manufacturers. Michelin agreed in 2018 to acquire Camso and completed the transaction in December of that year. The transaction combined Camso's off-road operations with Michelin's existing off-road activities into a new Michelin division. In December 2024, Michelin announced the sale of Camso to Indian tire manufacturer CEAT for US$225 million. Camso therefore remains an active off-road products business, but its ownership has changed from an independent Canadian company, to Michelin ownership, and subsequently to CEAT ownership.

Camso's history begins in 1982, when Normand Carpentier and Michel Lasalle acquired four Bombardier divisions and founded Camoplast Inc. The company developed expertise in tracked mobility and specialized equipment, establishing a foundation for later work in tires, rubber tracks, wheels, and vehicle undercarriage systems. Camoplast expanded its connection with tracked equipment in December 2004 by acquiring the industrial vehicles division of Bombardier Recreational Products. Bombardier had manufactured rubber-tracked snow and all-terrain vehicles since the 1950s, and the acquired division was based in Granby, Quebec. Its products included snowcats, sidewalk snow-removal tractors, tracked utility vehicles, and equipment descended from the Bombardier Muskeg tractor. This acquisition gave Camoplast a direct role in a distinctive Canadian tracked-vehicle lineage. The industrial-vehicle activities were later divested. In November 2005, Camoplast sold the snow-groomer range's design, engineering, research and development, service, parts, and sales operations to the Leitner Group. The products were to be marketed as Prinoth, while Camoplast continued to manufacture them during the transition. In February 2009, Camoplast sold the remaining industrial-vehicle operations, including development, design, sales, service, and vehicle production, to the Leitner Group. This marked a shift away from complete tracked vehicles toward component and mobility-system manufacturing. In 2010, Camoplast acquired Groupe Solideal, a Luxembourg-based company producing tires, tracks, and wheels for industrial and construction markets. The combination created Camoplast-Solideal and strengthened the company's position across off-road tires and track systems. The merged company served material handling, construction, agriculture, and powersports customers, with products ranging from pneumatic and solid tires to rubber tracks, conversion track systems, wheels, and OEM undercarriages. The composite-materials business was separated in August 2013. Four managers acquired Camoplast-Solideal's Composite Division, which became an independent company called Roski Composites under the presidency of Yves Carbonneau. The divestiture further concentrated Camoplast-Solideal on off-road tires, tracks, wheels, and related vehicle systems. On July 3, 2015, Camoplast-Solideal changed its name to Camso. The rebranding was presented as a way to retain the strengths associated with both Camoplast and Solideal while giving the combined business a unified identity. Under the Camso name, the company operated manufacturing sites, branches, research centers, sales operations, and service activities across North America, Europe, and Asia. Research centers were located in Magog, Ghent, Colombo, Shanghai, and Ho Chi Minh City, and the company had more than 8,000 employees according to the cited company description. Michelin announced an agreement to acquire Camso in 2018. The deal was intended to combine Camso's off-road activities with Michelin's existing off-road operations in a new division. Michelin completed the acquisition on December 18, 2018, after the required approvals. The reported consideration was US$1.36 billion, compared with an earlier announced transaction value of US$1.45 billion. On December 6, 2024, Michelin sold Camso to CEAT for US$225 million. The transaction placed Camso under the ownership of an Indian tire manufacturer and continued the business's focus on specialized off-road products. The available reference material does not identify a separate current executive roster or provide sufficient detail to describe the post-2024 organizational structure beyond the change in ownership.

1. 2024Camso sold to CEAT

   Michelin sold Camso to CEAT for US$225 million.

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2. 2018Michelin acquisition completed

   Michelin completed its acquisition of Camso and combined the off-road businesses into a new division.

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3. 2015Company renamed Camso

   Camoplast Solideal adopted the Camso name as the unified identity for the combined company.

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4. 2013Composite division becomes Roski Composites

   Managers acquired Camoplast-Solideal's Composite Division and established it as the independent company Roski Composites.

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5. 2010Groupe Solideal acquired

   The acquisition expanded Camoplast's tire, track, and wheel portfolio for industrial and construction applications.

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6. 2009Remaining industrial vehicles activities divested

   Camoplast sold the remaining industrial vehicles operations to the Leitner Group, including vehicle development, production, sales, and service.

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7. 2005Snow-groomer commercial activities transferred

   Camoplast transferred the snow-groomer range's design, engineering, research, service, parts, and sales operations to the Leitner Group while retaining manufacturing during the transition.

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8. 2004Industrial vehicles division acquired from Bombardier

   Camoplast acquired Bombardier Recreational Products' industrial vehicles division, including tracked utility and snow-removal vehicle activities.

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9. 1982Camoplast is founded

   Normand Carpentier and Michel Lasalle acquired four Bombardier divisions and established Camoplast Inc. in Canada.

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Provider of specialized off-road mobility, traction, and undercarriage solutions for material-handling, construction, agricultural, and powersports equipment.

• Off-road tiresTires

  Camso manufactures and distributes pneumatic, airless, and solid tires for equipment operating in construction, agriculture, material handling, and powersports environments. These tire types address different requirements for cushioning, puncture resistance, load capacity, traction, and operating-cost control across specialized off-road applications.

• Rubber tracksTrack systems

  Rubber tracks are a core Camso product category. They provide continuous contact with the ground and are used on construction, agricultural, powersports, and other off-road equipment where traction, flotation, reduced ground pressure, and mobility on difficult surfaces are important.

• Conversion track systemsVehicle conversion systems

  Camso supplies driven and trailed conversion track systems that replace or supplement conventional wheel configurations on off-road vehicles. These systems are intended to adapt equipment to challenging terrain and seasonal conditions by changing the vehicle's contact pattern, traction, and ground-pressure characteristics.

• Industrial and construction wheelsWheels

  The company's wheel activities support industrial, construction, and material-handling equipment. The wheels form part of broader tire and mobility packages supplied for demanding operating conditions, where compatibility with solid, pneumatic, or other specialized tire formats is required.

• OEM undercarriagesVehicle undercarriage systems

  Camso manufactures undercarriage systems for original-equipment manufacturers. These assemblies support tracked equipment and integrate with the vehicle platform, helping manufacturers source specialized mobility hardware for construction, agricultural, industrial, and other off-road machines.

• 2024Sale from Michelin to CEATM&A

  Camso operated within Michelin following the 2018 acquisition, while Michelin later decided to divest the business.

  What changed. Michelin sold Camso to Indian tire manufacturer CEAT for US$225 million.

  Aftermath. Camso became part of CEAT, retaining its focus on off-road tires, tracks, wheels, and related mobility products.

  Sale consideration. US$225 million (December 6, 2024)

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• 2018Acquisition by MichelinM&A

  Camso had become a global supplier of off-road tires, tracks, wheels, and undercarriage systems.

  What changed. Michelin agreed to acquire Camso and completed the transaction in December 2018 after receiving the required approvals.

  Aftermath. Camso's off-road operations were combined with Michelin's existing off-road activities in a new division. The reported final consideration was US$1.36 billion, following an earlier announced value of US$1.45 billion.

  Total acquisition consideration. US$1.45 billion announced transaction value → US$1.36 billion paid consideration (2018)

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• 2015Rebranding as CamsoStrategy

  Following the Solideal acquisition, the company operated under the combined Camoplast-Solideal name.

  What changed. Camoplast Solideal changed its name to Camso, presenting the new identity as a combination of the strongest elements of Camoplast and Solideal.

  Aftermath. Camso became the principal corporate and market identity for the company's global off-road mobility activities.

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• 2013Spin-off of the Composite DivisionStrategy

  Camoplast-Solideal separated its composite-materials activities from its principal off-road tire and track operations.

  What changed. Four company managers acquired the Composite Division and established Roski Composites as an independent corporation.

  Aftermath. The transaction concentrated Camoplast-Solideal more closely on tires, tracks, wheels, and vehicle mobility systems.

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• 2010Acquisition of Groupe SolidealM&A

  Camoplast sought to broaden its position in specialized tires, tracks, and wheels for industrial and construction markets.

  What changed. Camoplast acquired Groupe Solideal, a Luxembourg-based manufacturer of tires, tracks, and wheels.

  Aftermath. The combined business operated as Camoplast-Solideal and developed a broader off-road mobility portfolio.

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• 2005Transfer of snow-groomer activities to Leitner GroupM&A

  Camoplast had acquired Bombardier's industrial vehicles activities, which included snow-groomers and other tracked utility equipment.

  What changed. The company sold the snow-groomer range's design, engineering, research, development, service, parts, and sales operations to the Leitner Group, while continuing manufacturing during the transition.

  Aftermath. The products were marketed as Prinoth, and the remaining industrial-vehicle operations were later sold to the Leitner Group in 2009.

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• 2024Michelin sells Camso to CEAT

  Michelin sold Camso to Indian tire manufacturer CEAT for US$225 million, transferring the off-road tire, track, and related mobility business to new ownership.

  M&A
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• 2018Michelin agrees to acquire Camso

  Michelin agreed to acquire Camso in a transaction initially announced at US$1.45 billion, with the businesses intended to be combined into a new Michelin off-road division.

  M&A
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• 2018Michelin completes Camso acquisition

  Michelin completed its acquisition of Camso after receiving the necessary approvals. The reported total consideration was US$1.36 billion.

  M&A
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• 2015Camoplast Solideal adopts the Camso name

  Camoplast Solideal changed its corporate name to Camso to reflect the combined heritage of its two predecessor businesses and its broader off-road mobility positioning.

  Leadership change
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• 2010Camoplast acquires Groupe Solideal

  Camoplast acquired Luxembourg-based Groupe Solideal, broadening its portfolio of tires, tracks, and wheels for industrial and construction applications.

  M&A
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• 2009Camoplast completes transfer of industrial vehicles operations

  The remaining development, design, sales, service, and vehicle-production activities of Camoplast's industrial vehicles division were sold to the Leitner Group and marketed through Prinoth.

  M&A
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• 2005Camoplast transfers snow-groomer activities to Leitner Group

  Camoplast sold the design, engineering, research and development, service, parts, and sales operations of its snow-groomer range to the Leitner Group, while continuing to handle manufacturing during the transition.

  M&A
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• 2004Camoplast acquires Bombardier industrial vehicles division

  Camoplast purchased Bombardier Recreational Products' industrial vehicles division, including activities associated with tracked utility vehicles and snow-removal equipment.

  M&A
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1. Camso
2. Camso official website