AMPCO'S HERITAGE: VEHICLE GRAPHICS VANCOUVER

WE'VE BEEN WRAPPING COAST TO COAST SINCE 1967

Vehicle graphics and vehicle wraps are the true definition of mobile advertising and can be as versatile as the vehicles we apply them to. At AMPCO Graphics we like to refer to ourselves as “The Original Wrap Stars” for we have been printing vehicle graphics in Vancouver since 1977!

Below is a quick overview of some of the AMPCO Fleet projects that have taken place as technology changes throughout the decades.

1978 Subaru Brat Screen Printed & Die Cut Vinyl Graphics

1974 Mercury Capri Screen Printed & Die Cut Vinyl Graphics

1975 Mercury Capri Screen Printed & Die Cut Vinyl Graphics

1978 Datsun F10 Woodgrain Vinyl Graphics

1970s

1977 — Striping Kits for Subaru and Nissan
At our 13,000 sq ft facility on Stainsbury Ave in the Trout Lake area of East Vancouver, we start producing wood grain and striping kits for the Japanese import car markets for Subaru and Nissan

1970s

1977 — Striping Kits for Subaru and Nissan
At our 13,000 sq ft facility on Stainsbury Ave in the Trout Lake area of East Vancouver, we start producing wood grain and striping kits for the Japanese import car markets for Subaru and Nissan

1980s

1981 — Calgary Light Rail Transit System graphics contract won. We win the contract to supply reflective graphics to the new Light Rail Transit System being built in Calgary AB.
1986 — Dairyland, BC Hydro and BC Gas Fleet Contracts Won. We are awarded the contract to supply graphics to the Dairyland Fleet.
1987 — We rebrand the BC Hydro Fleet and BC Gas vehicles.

1996 International Trucks Fleet Graphics

1996 Vancouver Grizzlies & Canucks Fleet Graphics

1990s

1995 — Full Wrap Advertising comes to BC. We fully wrap two BC Transit trolly buses advertising BC Tel pagers. The trolly buses had to be towed to our Coquitlam plant for the decals to be installed.
1997 — AMPCO Graphics becomes the first large format graphic printer in Canada to produce and install decals and wraps for an Air Canada DC-9 plane for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
1998 — The first outside advertising on Skytrain units. Four cars on the Skytrain system are wrapped with advertising for the Metrotown mall. This is the first outside advertising on any Skytrain units.

1990s

1995 — Full Wrap Advertising comes to BC. We fully wrap two BC Transit trolly buses advertising BC Tel pagers. The trolly buses had to be towed to our Coquitlam plant for the decals to be installed.
1997 — AMPCO Graphics becomes the first large format graphic printer in Canada to produce and install decals and wraps for an Air Canada DC-9 plane for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
1998 — The first outside advertising on Skytrain units. Four cars on the Skytrain system are wrapped with advertising for the Metrotown mall. This is the first outside advertising on any Skytrain units.

2000s

2010 — AMPCO Graphics was awarded the lead Print Partner Status for VANOC. Imagine installing graphics on 5,400 passenger vehicles over a 10-week period and 500 buses over a 4-week period! We thought that was fun, and then we removed all the graphics in a one-week period so the vehicles could go to auction. We don't like to pump our tires too often, however internally we feel that all this leads to us calling ourselves — The Original Wrap Stars.

2001 The Produce Terminal Fleet Graphics

2010s – PRESENT

2014 — Rebrand of Kaltire Fleets in Western Canada. We win a contract to rebrand the Kaltire fleet at 250 branches in Western Canada.
2015 — Rebrand of Telus Fleet across Canada. We are selected to do the rebranding of the Telus fleet across Canada.

2010s – PRESENT

2014 — Rebrand of Kaltire Fleets in Western Canada. We win a contract to rebrand the Kaltire fleet at 250 branches in Western Canada.
2015 — Rebrand of Telus Fleet across Canada. We are selected to do the rebranding of the Telus fleet across Canada.

OUR PRIVILEGED FLEET CLIENT PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDE:

AMPCO Introducing a Project Management Philosophy to Fleet Management

Telus
BC Hydro
BC Ferries
BC Transit
Bell Mobility

Terasen Gas
Kaltire
Salmon's Transfer
Waste Control Services Inc.
Leavitt Machinery

TELUS

AMPCO has been the graphics provider since the mid-1970s when the organization we know today as Telus was called BC Tel. For many years now we have supplied a variety of decals and general signage requests to this major telco. In 1999, a “merger of two equals” took place between BC Tel and Alberta Telephone. In 2014, Telus secured the services of AMPCO Graphics via an RFQ bid process for a contract requiring the printing and installation of Fleet Graphics for Telus nationally. AMPCO is very proud of our “Project Management” approach and philosophy as it pertains to the print and installation services that are seamlessly conducted for the client. The coordination of both the printing and installation for the Telus fleet can be quite demanding once factors like weather and multiple vehicles scattered throughout multiple cities and provinces is considered. A complex opportunity where AMPCO is always up to the challenge. Thank you Telus for your continued trust of our organization it is a privilege to be your client partner!

BC HYDRO

AMPCO has helped BC Hydro rebrand many times over the years. Starting in 1981 when they divested themselves of Vancouver’s electric transit buses. Then again in the mid 1980s when they sold off their gas division and rebranded with a new stylized logo and wordmark. Since then they have been with us through each of their different logo rebrands. In 2017 we rebranded all of their vehicles in the province to the new Power Smart logo and wordmark. For this last rebrand AMPCO had several mobile installation crews removing the old decals and installing the new ones on each Hydro fleet vehicle in every BC community where BC Hydro has staff located.

SALMON'S TRANSFER

We first approached Salmon’s in 1986 to offer them vinyl lettering for their fleet rather than the hand painted lettering they were using at the time. We were supplying computer cut letters to the 1986 World Fair (EXPO86) that was being held in Vancouver which proved to be a showcase for our work. A year later they agreed to try our product but only for the lettering on the cab doors of one unit for one of their smaller divisions called Surfside Moving. This test proved to them that vinyl lettering was much less expensive, more durable and cleaner looking than hand lettering. Salmon’s has been a loyal customer allowing AMPCO to supply vinyl and reflective lettering along with the vinyl striping for their moving trucks and trailers ever since.

WASTE CONTROL SERVICES INC

AMPCO Graphics first began working with Waste Control Service Inc. in the late 2000s. The Waste Control Service trucks are recognized throughout the lower mainland for their crisp clean brand and image. AMPCO manufactures and installs the vinyl graphic kits consisting of both the vinyl cut decal lettering and the fleet wrap. The AMPCO Graphics installation team ensures that all details are executed bringing the brand message forward. AMPCO is proud to partner with Waste Control Services as Waste Disposal Trucks have been one of our specialties for many years now.

LEAVITT MACHINERY

AMPCO has been a trusted supplier of fleet graphics to Leavitt Machinery since 2001 when Tom Leavitt purchased Finning Canada’s material handling division and renamed it Leavitt Machinery. Since then, the Leavitt team have grown their business to include over 25 branches in western Canadian and the three Pacific coast states of America with their excellent service and broad equipment selection. In 2015 they started a crane division which has now grown to four branches in western North America. AMPCO has also been providing Leavitt Machinery with durable safety decals and wayfinding signage for their 30+ branches. Leavitt takes great pride in helping their customers be successful and AMPCO is honoured to be the trusted print provided for what we feel is one of the strongest branded vehicle wraps that we see in the market.