Our Story
Shade Systems’ heritage is woven through the decades by a family of makers and innovators, with roots stretching down family trees over 80 years to pre-WWII. Our story began in Dargaville with one man, our founder Mr S.R. Suckling.
We believe shade has the power to activate better, healthier space for living. From the canvas tents tailored by Mr S.R. Suckling long ago for the war effort, to the canopies and shade sails that now shelter our children and families from the elements, our shade is built for generations.
We believe in building for the future. S.R. Suckling Canvas Goods & Manufacturing was passed to our founders’ sons in 1976 and is now proud to be in the hands of a 3rd generation of shademakers, expertly weaving and innovating shade for the generations to come.
Over the years, the name on our door may have changed but people and family have always been at the heart of everything we do. There’s nothing complicated about that.
Key milestones in our story
1964
S. R. Suckling Canvas goods/manufacturing established.
1976
Business management taken on by S. R. Suckling’s sons.
1985
Began selling products nationwide.
In the 1990’s, under the new ‘Shade Systems’ banner, the company started making sail and shade structures exclusively. As a result, Shade Systems expanded significantly, moving to a new building and recruiting expert staff, with a focus on new structural ideas and designs:
1993
First education project for Selwyn Park Primary School.
1997
Shade Systems name is born.
2002
New purpose made factory built for Canvas and Shade fabrication in Dargaville.
2005
The the business management was handed on to D. R. Suckling.
Covered Outdoor Learning Areas (COLA Canopies)
Most noteworthy, a turning point for the company occurred in 2006 with the introduction of Covered Outdoor Learning Areas (COLA Canopies). In brief, we derived the concept from polycarbonate-covered canopies, where polycarbonate roofing provides shade and weather protection:
2007
First COLA Canopy installed at Whangarei Primary School.
2008
PVC Tensile Membrane roofing concept was born.
2009
Export division begins.
2009
First PVC Tensile Membrane COLA was installed at Cornwall Park School (Auckland).
Taking Shade Systems International
Over the last few years, Shade Systems has gone from strength to strength. Therefore we now produce shade structures for international customers, exporting our products globally:
2011
Becomes a registered company (DAPSCO Limited).
2014
Management split between NZ Projects and Export division.
2015
First COLA Canopy installed overseas (Rarotonga National Auditorium).
2017
Opened Auckland office. Also introduced shareholders.
Shade Systems becomes part of an international network with industry-leading shade and weatherproof solution providers: Greenline and Streetspace, with offices in NSW, Australia and Lympne, UK, respectively.
2018
22 COLA Canopies installed in the past 18 months and over 50 in the past decade.
Staff working at remote offices across New Zealand.
2020
Our NEW large purpose-made shade and membrane fabrication building is complete!
2022
We bring our manufacturing and export division back under the Shade Systems umbrella creating strength in our service offering: Design, Manufacture & Installation
