Campingaz, formerly Camping Gaz, is a brand of compressed, mixed butane/propane gas supplied in small, lightweight, disposable canisters and larger, refillable cylinders designed for use as a fuel while camping and caravanning. The fuel gas is compressed to a liquid and sold in characteristic blue metal containers. The brand name is also used on appliances manufactured for use with the gas: cookers, lanterns, heaters, grills, refrigerators, etc. as well as more general camping equipment such as sleeping bags.
Company history
Early history
The Camping Gaz company was founded in France in 1949. Introducing a small, blue, refillable gas cylinder, directly fitted with special stoves and Welsbach mantle lanterns, the company rapidly expanded to foreign markets. Starting in 1952, lighting and burner stoves are launched designed for campers, with the company's first portable stove released three years later.
In 1994, the first range of gas barbecues were released, becoming one of the first gas barbecue models to be built and sold in Europe; soft coolers are also added to the company’s portfolio around this time. In 1996, the company was acquired by the Coleman Company, who specialise in outdoor recreation in the United States. In order to expand on production capacities, the company moved its barbecue production to the Italian manufacturing facility CGIT in 1997, which produces the majority of thermoelectric and passive hard coolers. A year later, the brand name was changed to Campingaz.
Contemporary history
In 2005, the company was acquired by Jarden Corporation. Due to the growth of gas grilling in Europe, the Campingaz barbecue range was relaunched in 2014 with new 3 and 4 Series barbecues. Jarden Corporation was acquired by Newell Rubbermaid in April 2016 and Newell Brands was founded. The following year, the company launched its premium gas barbecue collection, the Master Series.
Sizes and availability
The small disposable gas canisters are constructed of thin metal and typically used in portable camping stoves, small cooking rings and gas lamps. Inserting an original Campingaz canister into the device pierces it and, once the appliance's valve is opened, allows the fuel gas to flow. Pierceable canisters must be completely empty before they are removed from the appliance, otherwise the remaining gas will escape and become a fire hazard. There is also a range of "Plus" self-sealing valve-type canisters, such as the CV 300 Plus, which can be disconnected and reconnected when not empty when they are fitted to compatible devices with the Easy Clic plus connection. Larger refillable gas cylinders come in three sizes. The 901 cylinder contains of gas in a high cylinder with a diameter, the 904 contains in a high cylinder with a diameter, and the 907 contains in a high cylinder with a diameter. They are self-resealing, so they need not be empty when disconnected. The cylinders are fitted with an M16x1.5 internal screw thread onto which a specific Campingaz pressure regulator is connected. This is followed by the appliance attached either by a short rigid pipe or a longer flexible hose. These are typically used for appliances like multi-ring cookers, gas refrigerators, grills or heaters and are frequently used in boats, caravans and motorhomes in Europe.
