Transport Large And Versatile Loads

The rigidek is a revolutionary new hard load-bin cover for Light delivery vehicles and pick-up-trucks. The product was conceived 9 years ago by South African inventor Herman de Vries. When he purchased his first LDV in 1995, he soon realized that there were no local products commercially available that allowed for the secure storage of goods or equipment on the load-bins of bakkies.

His international travels as a business coach and sales-trainer exposed him to the canopies and so-called “hard-tonneau-covers” used in the USA, Europe and Australia. These were constructed wither of fiberglass or aluminum. After building and using a number of prototypes for his own use, it became apparent that the typical hard tonneau cover with its simple single hinge operation would not provide an adequate solution locally.

The primary reason was the prevalence of roll-bars on most SA bakkies as well as the way the vehicles are used locally. In the USA for example, one would very rarely see a pick-up-truck with people or even pets being transported on the open back of a vehicle – the opposite is of course true in South Africa.

It was only after ESKOM's buy-out of his paraffin based products that he had time to again tinker with the idea. After buying another bakkie in 2002 the idea occurred to him to add a second hinge to the regular single-hinge hard tonneau-cover.

This small innovation turned the rigidek into a solution with most of the benefits of a canopy as well as that of a secure hard tonneau cover. It is considered a world first and is currently the only hard tonneau cover designed to allow the user to drive with it in the open position.

This allows for the transport of larger and more versatile loads than can be accommodated with regular single hinge tonneau covers or canopies. (Ex. Animals, garden refuse, kids bicycles etc.)

The process of patenting the rigidek internationally as well as registering its unique design elements was initiated in 2002 and is continuing. This coincided with the development of the rigidek product range with well known Gauteng based automotive component supplier Vacuform 2000 (Pty) Ltd over the past 24 months.