Aboutcamp BtoB - issue 38

Editor’s note

If we look at the data available to date on recreational vehicle registrations in Europe, the demand remained at high levels through 2022, despite difficulties with vehicle production, delivery and once again, supply chain slowdowns. In Germany, the market held up very well with 90,985 recreational vehicles registered, a decrease of 14.3% compared to 2021. France also recorded a decrease of 16.5% with 31,941 units registered. The decline was more significant in the United Kingdom (-21.7%) with 25,638 new registrations. The motorhome market suffered the most significantly while caravans maintained levels of registered recreational vehicles almost everywhere except for the United Kingdom (-25%) and Northern European countries. The overall figures exhibit a decrease of 16.1% in Europe with 218,301 recreational vehicles registered. The numbers in recent years have been steadily growing and an adjustment is inevitable. Interest is very high and the demand is substantial but there is still uncertainty about delivery dates, high prices, inflation and fear of geopolitical scenarios. The numbers in Europe don’t seem too concerning, but there are, instead, warning signs from the United States. The latest Spring 2023 RV RoadSigns Report prepared by ITR Economics for the RV Industry Association in North America (RVIA) predicts a drop in registrations in 2023 that could reach 32% and fall from almost 500,000 registrations in 2022 to about 335,000. The reasons are known and include an uncertain economy, high inflation, and rising interest rates. Consumer interest remains favorable and the RVIA expects the second half of 2023 to stabilize and recover. The Japanese market doesn’t seem to have problems as demand shows no signs of slowing. Howev-

Contents

Interviews

Columns

• 38 AL-KO VTE

Home automation on wheels

• 40 Lippert

Unity is strength

• 44 Thetford New compressor fridge models

• 46 AL-KO VT

Customer centre model

• 48 Alde

New Compact 3030 boilers

• 50 Ama Composites

New ways to heat and insulate

er, the industry is facing challenges with production capacities and not being able to keep up with demand. The market is doing well in Australia. In 2022, approximately 28,000 RVs were registered with an increase of 17% compared to 2021 and 31.5% compared to 2019. Interest remains very high and the supply chain seems to have had no significant impact on production, which focuses mainly on caravans. We had the pleasure of participating in the 70th edition of the Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow and will report about it in our next issue. Be sure to view our video on the event on our YouTube channel. In this regard, I want to personally thank Daniel Sahlberg, CEO of Caravan Industry Victoria, who wrote the following on his LinkedIn profile: “Amazing effort Antonio Mazzucchelli and Irene Viergever. What a fantastic showcase of our Victorian Caravan, Camping and Touring Supershow as well as the showpiece event for the Australian Caravan and Camping industry. Well done! Thank you Aboutcamp BtoB for your continued support and for allowing us to share and show Antonio our industry”. I am very pleased to receive recognition for our efforts, which we carry out with the utmost passion and professionalism. These testimonies are very positive and provide us with the enthusiasm to continue a “trait d’union” among the various RV markets across the globe.

Antonio Mazzucchelli

• 52 Filippi 1971

Call to UK market

• 54 MB Trading

The decals that make the difference

• 56 Aguti

Celebrating 30 years of innovation

• 58 Maller

A success story that turns 50

• 60 CTA CTA revolution

• 62 Vetroresina

Fiberglass... beyond fiberglass

• 64 Dekalin

High quality in bonding and sealing

Report

• 66 Stuttgart - CMT 2023

A genuine success: news and innovations

Focus

• 76 Successful Inventions

Caravan chassis and running gear - part 2

Market

• 82 Sweden

...the Texas of Europe

News from the world

• 88 Australia, Japan, North America

Agreement for Caravan Salon Düsseldorf renewed until 2028

Messe Düsseldorf GmbH and the Caravanning Industry Association (Caravaning Industrie Verband e. V. - CIVD) have signed a contract to renew their cooperation for CARAVAN SALON DÜSSELDORF until 2028. Previously, the CARAVAN SALON was in Essen from 1962 to 1993, but has been held at Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre every year since 1994 and is one of the few major trade fairs that has always been staged live on site – including during the Covid pandemic.

“This trade fair’s move to Düsseldorf in 1993 was a stroke of luck – both for the event itself and for us as the organising trade fair company. Jointly with the CIVD we have developed CARAVAN SALON further and, ultimately, made it what it is today – the world’s biggest and most relevant trade fair for the caravanning sector. The trust-based, constructive and fruitful cooperation with the Association as well as the loyalty many exhibitors show for their leading trade

Editorial

Editor in Chief: Antonio Mazzucchelli direttore@aboutcamp.eu

Art director: Federico Cavina

Editorial team: Renato Antonini

John Rawlings - Terry Owen - Enrico Bona

Steve Fennell - Paolo Galvani - Giorgio Carpi

Peter Hirtschulz - Andrea Cattaneo

Bartek Radzimski - Irene Viergever

fair form the basis of this shared success. I am pleased that we will also jointly shape this path in future,” says Erhard Wienkamp, Managing Director at Messe Düsseldorf.

“Cohesion, continuity and innovative power are the hallmarks of the caravanning sector and the guiding idea of our Association. This is why we are very happy to have had a strong partner by our side in the Düsseldorf trade fair company for over 30 years now, sharing these values and the passion for caravanning as a form of holiday together with us. Thanks to this trust-based cooperation CARAVAN SALON has become established as a beacon for our industry and a fixture without which the caravanning year is hard to imagine. This being said, all parties involved

have never rested on the laurels of the many past successes, but always developed further and optimised the trade fair concept. We will also jointly follow on from this success formula in future,” explains Daniel Onggowinarso, Managing Director of Caravaning Industrie Verband e.V. (CIVD). The 62nd CARAVAN SALON Düsseldorf will be held from 26 August to 3 September (Preview Day: 25 August) 2023.

Web team: Maurizio Fontana - Gabriel Lopez

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Aboutcamp BtoB helps professionals in the caravan/RV and leisure industry around the world keep up to date with all the latest business news and market trends in this sector. It’s the most well informed source of B2B information in the caravan industry, with a unique global perspective and an international team of correspondents delivering daily news online at www.AboutcampBtoB.eu, a bi-monthly e-newsletter, and a high quality print magazine delivered (free) in Europe, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, China, Korea, Argentina, Brazil, Chile. The Aboutcamp BtoB magazine is published four times a year with features including exclusive interviews with senior management from the industry, reviews of the major exhibitions around the world, and reports about the latest market trends, plus in-depth profiles of OEM suppliers who specifically manufacture components for this sector. With all the recent acquisitions, new technological developments and more and more consumers buying leisure vehicles around the world, Aboutcamp BtoB is essential reading for everyone working in any business related to the caravan industry. While so many flock to the internet, and have an inbox full of emails, Aboutcamp BtoB decided to print a paper magazine so that it gets more noticed, read, appreciated and discussed; so, we wish you happy reading!

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Aboutcamp BtoB is also a website updated daily with news and information dedicated to RV builders and OEM producers. The website is supported by a professional newsletter sent monthly to the professionals in the RV sector. We also strengthened our presence on LinkedIn, where we manage the business page of the magazine but also the group “Caravanning Professional” which allows us to develop direct and informal relationships with decision-makers in the RV industry.

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Joe Thompson to retire, Jarod Lippert to assume CMO role

Lippert announces that Joe Thompson, Chief Marketing Officer, has retired after a sales and marketing career spanning 30 years. Since taking over in October of 2020, Joe has led the Lippert Marketing Department for the past two years. During this time, he successfully led the Marketing Department integration after the CURT acquisition in late 2019 and implemented the new Lippert branding initiative, a project that saw huge success while adhering to a strict deadline of a few short months. Joe has worked tirelessly to build a foundation on the marketing R.E.C. plan, which stands for “Reach, Engage and Convert,” focusing on building strong teams around social media, product marketing, marketing technology, digital marketing and rich content creation throughout all of our sales channels. Joe also dedicated marketing resources to communicate Lippert’s culture and values both internally and externally. Most importantly, Joe helped build a strong marketing leadership team that will propel Lippert’s marketing efforts for years to come.

Hymer win two categories in German Design Award 2023

Hymer has won two categories for “Excellent Product Design” in the German Design Award 2023 for its latest Venture S and the latest generation of the ERIBA Touring caravan. In addition to being named a “Winner” in the “Excellent Product Design” category, the Hymer Venture S also received a “Special Mention” in the “Excellent Communications Design” category for its multi-stage launch campaign consisting of an overarching master story that appeals to new target groups and breaks up familiar patterns with surprising stylistics and progressive tonality.

“I would like to thank everyone at Lippert for the opportunities and immense support I have been given during my time here. I’ve had many valuable experiences, made many great friends and learned a great deal in my role. I’ll always remember our commitment to culture, innovation, quality and the success of our customers. In the next few months, I will focus on the smooth transition of my responsibilities to Jarod Lippert”, said Joe Thompson. Jarod Lippert will assume the role of Chief Marketing Officer immediately. Jarod’s career with Lippert spans 21 years, spending the last 12 years leading Lippert’s marketing efforts.

German study shows a turnover of €18 billion by camping in Europe

The results of a study commissioned by the CIVD, titled “Economic factor tourism camping in selected European countries” conducted by the German Economic Institute for Tourism (dwif) at the University of Munich, show the economic impact and scale of the camping and caravanning industry in Europe with a turnover of €18.3 billion generated by tourism camping in the study area covered 15 European countries provides scientific figures on. The dwif calculated a total of 367 million camping and caravanning overnight stays on around 26,000 campsites. These are purely tourist overnight stays, not including permanent campers. In this survey, France is the abso-

lute leader with 109.7 million overnight stays, followed by Italy with 52.9 million and Great Britain with 50.2 million overnight stays. Germany ranked fourth with 46.9 million overnight stays. The impressive figure of 367 million overnight stays exceeds the number of all overnight stays in all accommodation establishments and forms of accommodation in Germany in 2015. Expenditure for the 367 million overnight stays alone totals €3.4 billion. In addition, there are other tourist expenditures, such as catering, entertainment and cultural offerings, which amount to a total of €10.2 billion. The total turnover resulting from overnight stays thus amounts to €13.6 billion. Tourism camping does not take place however exclusively on camping sites. Modern pitches, for example, are attracting more and more motor caravan tourists with an increasingly diverse range of offers. In addition, modern motor caravans have meanwhile such a high measure at independence that they are not dependent occasionally no more compellingly on the infrastructure of a camping site. Among other things, this results in a further 64 million overnight stays outside campsites. An additional 48 million day trips without overnight stays round off the balance for caravanning tourism. Overnight stays outside campsites and day trips generate an additional turnover of €4.7 billion . In total, the turnover from camping and caravanning tourism in the 15 countries surveyed adds up to €18.3 billion.

THOR Industries: second quarter 2023 results

THOR Industries, Inc. financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2023 include net sales of $2.35 billion (-39.4% compared to same quarter in 2022) and -14.0% over the same quarter in 2021).

“Our fiscal second quarter presented a challenging market environment. Against this backdrop, our financial results and actions are a testament to our ability to operate in such a dynamic and challenging environment. Our resilient second quarter performance demonstrates the strength of THOR’s diverse product offering, the experience of our management teams and the success of our variable cost model. Despite the challenging quarter, THOR generated positive cash flow and maintained an already strong liquidity profile, positioning THOR to operate from a position of financial strength as we move beyond our second quarter,” said Bob Martin, President and CEO of THOR Industries.

Consolidated net sales were $2.35

billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2023, compared to $3.88 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 and $2.73 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2021. Consolidated gross profit margin for the second quarter was 12.1%, a decrease of 530 basis points when compared to the second quarter of fiscal year 2022 and a 330 basis point decrease when compared to the second quarter of fiscal year 2021. North American Towable RV net sales were down 58.2% for the second quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to the prior-year period. The decrease was driven primarily by a 64.6% decrease in unit shipments, partially offset by net selling price increases and a change in product mix. The decrease in unit shipments is primarily due to a softening in current dealer and consumer demand in comparison with the unusually strong second quarter demand in the prior-year quarter, which included independent dealers restocking their lot inventory levels. North American Motorized RV

net sales decreased 24.4% for the second quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to the prior-year period. The decrease was driven primarily by a 26.3% decrease in unit shipments, partially offset by net selling price increases and a change in product mix. European RV net sales decreased 10.6% for the second quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to the prior-year period, driven by a 15.3% decrease in unit shipments due primarily to continuing chassis supply constraints. The decrease due to the foreign exchange rate decline of 7.1% was more than offset by net selling price increases and product mix changes.

Over 218,000 new RVs registered in Europe - third-best result ever

According to a press release from the ECF - European Caravan Federation - containing estimated figures as at 10 January 2023, caravanning is very much in vogue throughout Europe, and the high demand for recreational vehicles is keeping the industry’s order books well filled. However, the European new market for recreational vehicles recorded a 16.1 percent drop last year compared to the industry record set in 2021, with a total of 218,301 newly registered motor caravans and caravans representing the third-best figure ever. Considering the difficult circumstances, this is a remarkable result for the industry.

Germany was again by far the largest market in 2022 in terms of share, with 90,985 leisure vehicles, even though registrations fell by 14.3 percent overall. The double-digit downward trend was reflected in all major sales markets: France, the second

most important market, recorded a drop of 16.5 percent (31,941 units). The United Kingdom with 25,638 new registrations (-21.7 percent) and the Netherlands with 10,206 units (-13 percent) also reported significant declines.

The motor caravan segment in particular was unable to maintain the top level of previous years - despite strong demand: Germany, the largest sales market, reported 66,507 new registrations (-18.3 percent). It was followed by France with 24,611 new registrations and a drop of 20.2 percent. The United Kingdom, the third largest motor caravan market, was down more than 17 percent on the previous year with around 12,000 units. New caravan registrations were somewhat more stable in comparison: At 24,478 units (-1 percent), Germany was roughly on a par with the previous year. French new registrations were 1.6 percent (7,330) below the 2021 figures. The overall picture is clouded above all by

Trigano: first quarter 2022/2023 results

First quarter 2022/2023 Trigano’s sales reached € 782.3 million, approaching the record level achieved last year (€ 786.6 million), in a context still affected by supply difficulties for motorhome chassis. On a like-forlike basis, sales were down 8.2%; the acquisitions contributed for €61.7M in sales.

As expected, the strong demand for motorhomes in Europe, confirmed by the influx at the major national trade fairs in recent months, has not been able to materialize in an increase in turnover, due to the reduction in production of chassis by car manufacturers. Thanks to external growth operations carried out in motorhome distribution network, sales were almost steady (-1.1%).

Caravan sales remained very dynamic (+17.6%), benefiting from both a rise in the average selling price and increased volumes. Sales of mobile homes (-12.1%) were affected by a lack of availability of transporters in a context of very strong demand. Leisure vehicle accessories (-4.3% at constant scope and exchange rates) suffered from high comparables, but remained well above the sales levels achieved in 2021 and previous years.

The trailer activity was affected in all

its segments by the market downturn linked to the passing on of raw material price increases in sales prices. This phenomenon was punctually amplified by a high level of inventories at distributors and by the seasonal nature of the activity. Sales were down 33.3% compared to the first quarter of the previous year. The changes in sales of camping equipment (+15.8%) and garden equipment (-16.7%) are not significant due to the

the significant declines in the United Kingdom, with around 14,000 units (-25 percent), and the Northern European markets of Norway with 2,177 units (-18.8 percent), Sweden with 3,164 units (-18.2 percent) and Denmark with 2,260 units (-22.1 percent).

“Difficulties in the production and delivery of leisure vehicles affected all European manufacturers and suppliers. The shortage of vehicle chassis stood out particularly in terms of negative impact. So we are not surprised that we did not set a new record for new registrations at European level. In the end, however, it still turned out to be the third-best result ever. This makes us optimistic for 2023,” says Jost Krüger, Secretary General of the European Caravan Federation (ECF).

seasonal nature of these activities. Demand is structurally buoyant with development prospects still well oriented for 2023: Trigano’s order books are saturating its production capacities for the season, and the level of motorhome stocks in the distribution networks remains historically low. Deliveries of chassis have improved significantly since the end of November, which means that an

increase in production in Trigano’s factories can be expected from the second quarter of 2022/2023 and throughout the financial year.

The activity of the recently acquired distribution companies in France should remain strong with, on the one hand, an active policy of buying back used vehicles which enables to have an attractive offer, and, on the other hand, thanks to the expected improvement in deliveries of new motorhomes which should make it possible to deliver the majority of the current order book by the end of the calendar year 2023. Beyond this timeframe, the inflationary environment in which Trigano operates could affect the level of demand. The company therefore remains particularly attentive to the evolution of its cost prices and the level of its costs in order to adapt them to market developments.

With its solid financial structure and its positive net cash position, Trigano will continue to invest in the distribution of leisure vehicles and may study any external growth operation that would enable it to strengthen its presence in the major markets for the manufacture of leisure vehicles and their components, accessories for leisure vehicles and trailers.

Stellantis announces $155 million investment in three Indiana plants to support North American electrification goals

Stellantis is investing $155 million in three Kokomo, Indiana, plants to produce new electric drive modules (EDM) that will help power future electric vehicles assembled in North America and support the goal of 50% battery electric sales in the U.S. by 2030. With more than 25 battery electric vehicle (BEV) launches planned in the U.S. between now and 2030, the Kokomo-built EDM will be integrated into vehicles designed on the STLA Large and STLA Frame platforms. Offering an all-in-one solution for electric vehicle powertrains, the EDM consists of three main components – the electric motor, power electronics and transmission – that are combined into a single module to deliver improved performance and range at a competitive cost. The optimized efficiency of the new EDM will help each platform achieve driving range up to 500 miles (800 km). “While we continue our successful transition to a decarbonized future in our European operations, we are now setting those same foundational elements for the North American market,” said Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO. “By combining the benefits of the EDM with our new BEV-centric platforms and innovative battery technologies, we will offer

our customers a variety of electric vehicles with unparalleled performance and range at more affordable prices. And with our in-house manufacturing capabilities and expertise, we will do it with greater flexibility and efficiency.”

Production is expected to start in the third quarter of 2024. With the investment, more than 265 jobs will be retained across all three plants.

“With more than 7,000 employees in Indiana, these investments will leverage the core manufacturing competencies of the local workforce in the areas of casting, machining and assembly, all of which will be needed even as the market transitions to an electrified future,” said Mark Stewart, Stellantis North America COO. Since 2020, Stellantis has invested nearly $3.3 billion in Indiana to support its transition to electrification. This includes recent announcements of $643 million to produce a new engine for conventional and PHEV applications, a next generation eightspeed transmission and a gigafactory joint venture with Samsung SDI. In total, these investments support Stellantis’ ambition to achieve carbon net zero by 2038, as set out in its Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan.

Hobby MAXIA caravan receives DCC Safety Award 2023

Hobby received the DCC Safety Award 2023 during its press conference at the CMT holiday exhibition in Stuttgart for its MAXIA 495 UL caravan. The experts from the German Camping Club (DCC) were ‘blown away’ by how masterfully the design has been combined with an extensive range of standard equipment and safety features.

Hobby Managing Director Holger Schulz was delighted to accept the DCC Safety Award at the exhibition stand in Stuttgart. “The award is a tremendous accolade and shows that the latest products in our Maxia range are also going down a storm with our customers. In addition to various safety features, this range boasts an openplan design and natural materials, as well as a generous helping of Nordic ‘hygge’.”

When choosing their winner, the DCC caravan experts took into account all the safety aspects, the fixtures and fittings, as well as how the Maxia caravan is produced. The number of lights and plug sockets, as well as the large refrigerator and the excellent craftsmanship of the caravan made a particularly good impression. In the case of the latter, the DCC caravan experts took an extensive tour of the factory in May 2022 and saw with their own eyes how the model is made, right from the start. This provided them with key insights into things that cannot be seen once the caravan is complete, such as the installation of the cables and lines. “This caravan clearly demonstrates the current and future possibilities of caravan construction. Put simply, the option to increase a caravan’s load capacity and an all-inclusive equipment package have long been part and parcel of the perfect caravan. Only then is the issue of safety adequately addressed,” says DCC President Dieter Albert.

Aguti expands into Japan via cooperation with RV brand, Toy-Factory

Aguti, a European market leader for motorhome seating systems and a specialist competence centre within the global AL-KO Vehicle Technology Group and DexKo Global Inc, is expanding into Japan after agreeing a cooperation to supply seating technology with the leading manufacturer of motorhomes in the country, Toy-Factory. Founded in 1995, Toy-Factory has an uncompromising approach to quality, combining its own expertise with quality European suppliers. The new Fiat Ducato-based motorhome will be available to Japanese customers with a variety of Aguti seating products to give a European touch. Aguti’s Managing Director, Sebastian Janssen commented: “We are proud to be entering the Japanese market and I would like to thank our friends at Toy-Factory for their trust. RVs are in high demand in Japan at the moment, and the supply is catching up considering the various global supply chain factors. Toy-Factory’s uncompromising development approach has made its motorhomes very popular in this market. We are happy being part of this exciting project and bringing Aguti to the Japanese market for the first time.”

The first-class Milan seats and the new slide-out comfort bench seat from Aguti are sold to Japanese customers through 11 Toy-Factory retailers and the network of more than 300 affiliated Toyota dealers nationwide.

Fiat Ducato “Best Motorhome Base Vehicle” for the 15th time by Promobil readers

The Fiat Professional Ducato has been voted the “Best Motorhome Base Vehicle 2023” for the fifteenth time in a row by the readers of the German magazine “Promobil”. The annual readers’ choice of the German magazine is an important reference point and benchmark for the trends in the field of leisure vehicles for more than a quarter of a century. It confirms the trust customers have in Fiat Professional Ducato as the ideal base for their leisure vehicle: several variants of the Fiat Professional Ducato are the base for motorhomes designed and developed together with the largest European motorhome manufacturers. The cornerstone of the Ducato’s successful streak is the strategy of designing the vehicle as a platform for add-ons right from its development stage. Ducato has always offered modularity, car-like driveability and versatility. Today, the community of Ducato-based motorhome owners has grown to over 700,000 members who travel all over Europe. To let Fiat Professional Ducato users enjoy their holidays with peace of mind, Fiat has been offering for years a free phone assistance service in 51 countries and 15 languages exclusively for motorhome owners, which helps with breakdowns, but also with any kind of information. Since the presentation of the first model in 1981, the Ducato has been continuously improved and is now sold in more than 80 countries worldwide.

Thule Group appoints Mattias Ankarberg as President and CEO

Thule Group’s board of directors has appointed Mattias Ankarberg as the new president and CEO of the company. To secure a seamless handover, Magnus Welander will remain in his role until Mattias Ankarberg has finished his current role.

Hans Eckerström, chair of the board, said: “The board is very pleased to be able to present Mattias Ankarberg as the new president and CEO of Thule Group as part of the long-term succession planning. Mattias will be a great addition and a great force for Thule as it is now time to lift the company to the next level and continue building the organization with talented people. The company is about to launch two new product categories that were presented at the capital markets day in 2022, and the board believes that in connection with the ongoing commercial investments, the time is now right for a new leadership. In his previous roles, Mattias has proven himself as a successful leader with extensive experience in consumer goods, branding and international markets. I am happy to welcome Mattias as the new president and CEO and would like to thank Magnus for his long and successful leadership of Thule.” Mattias Ankarberg has over 20 years of experience in consumer goods, from McKinsey & Company (located in Sweden and the USA), H&M (several senior positions, most recently as Global Sales and Marketing Manager) and now as CEO of Byggmax Group (publ). Mattias has been a member of the board of the Thule Group since 2018. He will take over as President and CEO of Thule no later than August 9, 2023.

AIRXCEL: warehouse expansion

To give more capacity and support to Airxcel brands, it has announced that it is moving warehousing and distribution for Airxcel brands Coleman-Mach, Maxxair, Suburban, United Shade, and MCD from its Verdant Street warehouse to the larger 126,000 square foot facility at 3002 Coast Court in Elkhart, Indiana. The expansion is expected to be fully operational in March, 2023. “The layout and capabilities of the Coast Court warehouse allows for better logistics and order fulfillment,” said Marc Brunner, General Manager, Dicor. “This warehouse has double the dock doors compared to the Verdant location and is located minutes away from the major highways. After the supply chain challenges of the past few years, this move will help us better serve our customers both locally and throughout the country.”

Big numbers from the German market in 2022

Camping and caravanning sets new record of over 13 million visitor nights in Queensland, AU

New research released by Tourism Research Australia shows another incredible result for the caravan industry in Queensland Australia which, for the first time, has exceeded 13 million visitor nights annually. Along with that, the research also shows: 3,054,394 overnight trips (+10.3% on the previous year); $2.04 billion in visitor expenditure (+27.4% on the previous year). The quarter data (July – September 2022) recorded 890,000 overnight caravan and camping trips across the state and over 5.2 million visitor nights. This is an increase of 24% in trips and 32% in nights and represents the largest September quarter of trips and nights on record.

The growth in trips was mainly driven by younger market segments (15-19 years + 20-29 years) which grew 20% year-onyear. While interstate travel has increased compared to Y/E September 2021, intrastate travel remains above pre-pandemic levels, accounting for 87% of trips and 67% of nights in QLD. These results demonstrate the incredible resilience and strength of the sector that kept growing despite all the adversities brought by unprecedented past events – from the pandemic to damaging floods early in 2022.

Adria Supersonic wins

German Design Award 2023 for excellent product design

Adria Mobil’s new Supersonic A-class motorhome (on a Mercedes Sprinter chassis), which made its public debut at the Caravan Salon Dusseldorf 2022, has won the German Design Award 2023 for excellent product design. The Jury of the German Design Award commented: “Supersonic combines well thought-out, timeless, luxurious design with performance and innovation, promising an exclusive driving and living experience at the highest level of design and technology.”

According to the Caravaning Industrie Verband (CIVD) press release, in 2022 a total of around 91,000 motor caravans and caravans were newly registered in Germany. This is the third-highest result in the history of the industry. Compared to the previous year, 66,507 units, or around 18.3 percent fewer motor caravans, were newly registered. The caravan segment remained at the previous year’s level with 24,478 new registrations (-1 percent). The main reason for the lower new registration figures is supply shortages. As in previous years, demand for leisure vehicles will remain high in 2023. Motor caravans and caravans have not just been in vogue since Corona, but have been growing in popularity across Europe for many years. In 2020 and 2021, over 100,000 new leisure vehicles were registered in Germany each year – these were historic record figures for the industry. In 2022, however, new registrations were below the 100,000 mark: a total of 90,985 leisure vehicles were newly registered in Germany. Compared to the previous year, this represents a drop of 14.3 percent, but overall it is the third-highest new registration figure of all time. New registration figures could have been significantly higher, but due to faltering supply chains and staff shortages, manufacturers were only able to complete fewer vehicles than planned. The supply chain problems had already started in 2021 and worsened again in the last twelve months. A frustrating situation for the companies, as they were only able to process their very high order backlog with time delays and under increased material and energy costs.

Although for the first time in many years the caravanning industry cannot report a new record in new registrations, Hermann Pfaff, President of the Caravaning Industrie Verband (CIVD), is satisfied with the annual results: “The general conditions for the caravanning industry were again extremely difficult last year. Our industry has never experienced such a complex and challenging situation in this form before. The approximately 91,000 new registrations are therefore a more than solid result”. Looking to the future, the CIVD President is optimistic: “Due to the many volatile factors, we cannot make any specific forecasts at present. However, the fact is that motor caravans and caravans are still very much in vogue. In principle, we believe that the supply situation will also improve in the course of this year. Companies will then be able to better process their numerous orders again and waiting times for ordered vehicles will become shorter.”

‘RVs taking roads by storm’, says China Daily news report

A news story on ChinaDaily.com reported that demand for RV road trips is a growing trend in China, particularly since the COVID pandemic, with sales revenues for the RV travel company, Fliggy, nearly tripling compared to pre-pandemic.

“Taking self-driving tours by RV can bring consumers different and wonderful experiences, and the sector shows booming growth prospects.

Yet, at the initial stage of development, overall services available are not standardized and normative enough. We hope to help solve some real problems for the industry and consumers by introducing RV tour service standards,” said Cui Yupeng, deputy general manager of the vacation department at Fliggy.

However, despite the growth in demand, the supply of RVs seems to be lacking according to Wang Yankun

from the Totem Travel Agency which offers long hual and domestic road trips: “Although the RV travel market had grown rapidly in the past few years in China, the supply of RVs is insufficient.”

The story reports that total sales of RVs in China have increased from less that 5,000 in 2017 to 12,600 in 2021, according to the China Passenger Car Association.

The RVIA in USA has also reported on this story and confirmed that it has already been working for years with Chinese officials to ensure US RV manufacturers are able to take advantage of the growing RV interest in China and that US product is not excluded through the standard setting process. Prior to the pandemic, the RVIA had set up meetings with Chinese state officials so they could learn how the USA licensees and tests RV drivers.

Strong start to 2023 for RV sales in the Netherlands

The KCI (Kampeer & Caravan Industrie) in the Netherlands (Holland) has reported a strong start to 2023 with an increase in registrations of both caravans and motorhomes compared to the figures in January 2022. In the first month of 2023, there were 332 new caravans registered in the Netherlands, resulting in a positive difference of 3.4%. In January, it even saw an increase of 14.9% compared to last year, which is equivalent to 177 registered new campers.

The Owner Satisfaction Awards 2023 for awnings, caravans, folding campers,

tents

and motorhomes announced in UK

The Owner Satisfaction Awards 2023, assessed via joint surveys undertaken by The Camping and Caravanning Club and the magazines, Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome between January and October 2022, have revealed which caravans, awnings, folding campers, tents and motorhomes that their owners in the UK like the most. The two most popular awnings were from the Vango brand: Kela and Galli. The winner of the Best Caravan Porch Awning was Sunncamp, and the winner of the Best Caravan Full Awning was Isabella. The winner of the Best Motorhome Awning was Vango. This year, 69% of the owners had awnings with inflatable tube frames, down from 79% the previous year, and 84% of owners said they would buy the same make of awning again. The results of the Caravan Owner Satisfaction Awards 2023 were split between new and pre-owned caravans. The winner for new caravans was Knaus, with Eriba in second place and Adria

in third – just ahead of the highest scoring UK manufacturer, Coachman. For pre-owned caravans, Adria took the top place, with Coachman and Eriba in joint second place. Owners voted Coachman as the best caravan manufacturer this year, while for motorhomes, they voted Adria as the Best Motorhome Manufacturer, while for preowned motorhomes, the best manufacturer was a tie between Burstner and Dethleffs. The Best Van Converter (direct sales) for the second year running was the UK manufacturer, Bilbo’s. The Trailer Tent and Folding Camper Owner Satisfaction Survey 2023 choice the Isabella Camp-let and Pennine as their winners, respectively. There were seven categories in the Tent Owner Satisfaction Awards: Best Budget Tents – Quechua; Best Mainstream Tent – Coleman; Best Premium Tent – Karsten; Best Backpacker Tent – Vango; Best Family Tent – Kampa; Best Traditional Pole Tent – Coleman; Best Inflatable Tent – Karsten.

Volkswagen ID. Buzz orders exceed expectations

In 2022, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV) delivered a total of 328,600 vehicles to customers, a yearon-year drop of 8.6 per cent, but doubled the number of electric vehicles it delivered thanks to orders for the ID. Buzz – the first Bulli designed as an all-electric vehicle – exceeding expectations with a total of 26,600 orders between May (when pre-sales opened) and the end of the year. VWCV says that 2022 was dominated by the war in Ukraine and the renewed uncertainties in the supply chains, both in terms of production and thus also in units delivered to customers. A total of 10,800 ID. Buzz left the VWCV main factory in Hannover-Stöcken by the end of 2022, and 6,000 have been delivered to customers. “Our ID. Buzz created a real BUZZ in 2022 – not just here, but all over the world”, said Lars Krause, Member of Board of Management VWCV for Sales and Marketing. “We are very happy with the launch of our

first all-electric Bulli from Hannover”. Krause continued: “In the last few months, we’ve already succeeded in doing this and we’ve been able since September to increase deliveries to customers significantly. In November and December, we sent out 30 per cent more vehicles than in the same period last year”. With a total of 7,500 electric vehicles delivered, VWCV more than doubled the prior year’s figure of 3,600. The most significant proportion of that was accounted for by the ID. Buzz, with which the company has laid the foundations for the large-scale electrification of its vehicle fleet. “The ID. Buzz marks a milestone on our way to achieving the goal of 55 per cent BEV vehicles by the start of the next decade, a target firmly set in our GRIP 2030 strategy”, explained Lars Krause. VWCV received a total of 407,400 orders in 2022, once again way above the number of vehicles delivered to customers, and evidence of the great customer loyalty and high level of interest in VWCV’s current vehicles. Bucking the downward trend, one market, Germany, was able to increase both units delivered and orders taken in 2022: in Germany VWCV achieved a rise in units delivered of 8.3 per cent to 98,400. VWCV’s domestic market thus continues to be the strongest individual market in the world.

Lippert: new Chief Technology Officer

Lippert has promoted Mark Woloszyk to become its Chief Technology Officer to lead Global Product Technology and Innovation initiatives, reporting to Jamie Schnur, President of Aftermarket & Technology. Mark succeeds Rob Ford, who retired at the end of 2022. Jamie Schnur stated: “I would like to thank Rob for his leadership and countless contributions to the Company through the years. During his tenure, Rob and his team have been instrumental in Lippert’s success in the technology and innovation space, with countless product developments and improvements. Our OneControl platform was the key building block in the foundation for our digital products. Rob and his team empowered the rest of our organization to build world class connected products.

Mark Woloszyk is an industry veteran, with over 25 years of experience, and over eight of those years at Lippert. Mark and Rob worked closely together and he is well equipped to lead Lippert’s technology and innovation initiatives in 2023 and beyond. His vision for our organization will allow us to continue to build industry leading products.”

Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show 2023 achieves record-breaking number of visitors

Following a sell-out 2022 event, the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show 2023, that was held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham between 21 – 26 February, attracted a record-breaking number of over 108,000 people. It is the UK’s largest start of season display of Leisure Vehicles, tents, trailer tents, camping essentials, tech and gadgets. The industry’s leading manufacturers, dealers, experts and retailers filled five halls (almost 20 acres), at the NEC. Many exhibitors, including Bailey of Bristol, RP Motorhomes, Wildax Motorhomes, Premium Motorhomes, Knaus, AutoSleepers, Adria, Campervan Co, Bradcot Awnings, SUP Co and more have praised the success of the Show, particularly due to the record number of visitors and volume of sales. As well as getting up close to compare the new-for-2023 campervans, caravans, motorhomes, tents, camping essentials and shopping from a huge range of tech, gadgets and accessories, visitors were also greeted by a star-studded line-up of

guest speakers at the Inspiration Theatre. Featuring talks from the UK’s biggest outdoor- loving personalities and advocates such as Camping and Caravanning Club President Julia Bradbury, Channel 5’s Motorhoming with Paul Merton & Suki Webster, extreme adventurer Aldo Kane and wildlife cameraman and ornithologist Hamza Yassin.

Terry Dullaghan, Managing Director at NCC Events, said: “We are ecstatic with the outcome of the Show. It’s been a record breaking event in terms of visitor numbers, and we are pleased that this wave of new visitors resulted in a high level of sales for so many of our exhibitors. It’s great to see that despite the challenging economic times, the appetite and interest for camping and touring holidays and the outdoor lifestyle continues to grow. As always, we’d like to give a massive thank you to all exhibitors and visitors for their support and we look forward to delivering another fantastic event – the Motorhome and Caravan Show – here at the NEC in October.”

Dometic CEO comment on Q4 report

Juan Vargues, President and CEO of Dometic made the following comment on its Q4 2022 report: “In 2022 we continued to take significant steps forward on our transformational agenda. In an extremely challenging macroenvironment impacted by geopolitical uncertainty, high inflation, increasing interest rates and high retail inventories, we delivered record-high net sales of SEK 29.8 b (21.5) with an EBITA of SEK 3,9 b (3.3). We are continuing to transition into a more diversified and resilient company with greater exposure to low-ticket discretionary spend products. Our net sales have more than doubled compared to five years ago, and Distribution and Service & Aftermarket’s share has grown to 56 percent (39). In the fourth quarter of 2022 net sales growth was 11 percent and operating cash flow more than doubled to SEK 1,117 m (546). Organic net sales declined by -11 percent mainly due to reduced Service & Aftermarket sales as retailers globally are rebalancing their inventory levels. In addition, sales to Recreational Vehicle manufacturers (RV OEM) in the US declined as expected. EBITA before items affecting comparability was SEK 430 m (632), corresponding to a margin of 7.0 percent (11.4). The decline was mainly attributable to the EMEA and Americas segments, while

Caravan Industry Association of Australia shares its 23-24 Federal pre-budget submission

The Caravan Industry Association of Australia has sent a submission to the Australian Government Treasury office for the 2022-23 Federal Budget with 4-policy priority areas for Australia’s $27.1bn caravan and camping industry seeking direct engagement and where necessary, support from the Australian Government. This includes: supercharging Australian tourism by refocusing Tourism Australia, labour fource solutions and insurance reform; future proofing the caravan and camping industry via residential land lease comunities, regional investment, caravan and camping ‘net zero’, ebergy uplift scheme for caravan parks; and improving safety outcomes by assisting the industry’s transition to RVSA & safer vehicles, national caravan safety check program, and safer drivers. Its key recommendations are:

• $10M for Round 2 of Caravan Parks Grant Program & $500,000 for Partnership Agreement with CIAA for Engagement & Marketing

• Future Fuel Transition: Market Readiness Report for Caravan Industry Future-Proofing Around Net-Zero - $1.5M

• Assist Caravan Industry’s Transition to RVSA & Safer Vehicles – A $375K ($1.5M over 4 years) National Industry Education Program in Cooperative Partnership with Commonwealth.

• Insurance Reform – Affordable & Accessible Insurance for Our Industry Participants

• Tourism Australia Funding & Activity – A Continuing Role in the Domestic Market for Tourism Australia as Part of Annual Funding & Partnerships in Operational Planning

• Land Lease Communities.

the Marine segment continued to deliver strong results, with 11 percent organic net sales growth and improved EBITA margins of 25.5 percent (22.9). The sales mix, with lower share of Service & Aftermarket net sales, as well as currency movements had negative effects on the margin for the EMEA segment. In addition, the EMEA result was impacted by extraordinary logistics related costs and by inefficiencies in manufacturing, which are expected to gradually decline in 2023. The margin for the Americas segment was negatively impacted by significantly lower net sales in both RV OEM and Service & Aftermarket. The global restructuring programs are running at high pace, and our workforce has declined by more than 1,600 resources compared to a year ago (pro forma). We are taking further measures to address the situation in EMEA and Americas and we expect to see gradual improvements during 2023. [...] We are very proud of the results that the entire organization has achieved in an extremely challenging 2022. Thanks to our dedicated and highly professional employees, we have taken several important steps on our strategic journey, while at the same time taking necessary short-term cost reduction actions to protect margin and cash flow”.

Auto-Trail bids farewell to Dave Thomas; Shane Devoy new MD

After 28 years at Auto-Trail, Dave Thomas, Managing Director has now retired and left the business. His successor is Shane Devoy, who joined Auto-Trail in 1998, who has been joined on the Board of Directors by Commercial Director, Scott Stephens and Technical Director, Steve Moverley who (together) have nearly 80 years of experience. Dave Thomas led the company through a continuous period of significant growth and success, overseeing the introduction of numerous popular ranges in the leisure vehicle market and growing the company’s workforce to over two hundred members of staff at its Grimsby headquarters. Dave’s leadership and contribution to Auto-Trail over a near thirty-year period have been greatly valued and appreciated, and he will be deeply missed by all. “On leaving Auto-Trail, I shall miss the industry, the people in it and my Trigano colleagues, but now is the time to move on, spend more time with my family and who knows do something else to occupy my time,” said Dave Thomas. After 25 years at the company himself, new Managing Director, Shane Devoy has a wealth of experience in the industry and is confident in Auto-Trail’s capability to go from strength-tostrength and grow to meet the ever-increasing popularity of the leisure vehicle industry despite industry-wide constraints. Devoy spoke of the economic and supply constraints suffered by the industry but can see positivity on the horizon.

Knaus Tabbert increased the group revenue in fiscal year 2022

Driven by a strong growth spurt in the fourth quarter, Knaus Tabbert increased consolidated group revenue to over EUR 1 billion for the first time in fiscal year 2022 based on preliminary figures. Overall, consolidated group revenue in financial year 2022 increased by 22 percent to EUR 1,050 million (previous year: EUR 863 million). Of this, EUR 356 million was attributable to the fourth quarter alone (previous year: EUR 228 million), in which the positive effects of the multibrand strategy at chassis became clearly evident for the first time. As a result, 11,426 motorized vehicles and 18,130 caravans were sold across the Group in the past fiscal year. “The growth momentum in revenue and unit sales underscores the appeal of our brands for dealers and customers alike. The strong demand for leisure vehicles is also reflected in a continued high order backlog of EUR 1.3 billion at the end of the year,” commented Wolfgang Speck, CEO of Knaus Tabbert AG, on the past year. The strong growth was driven by all five group brands – equally in the luxury and premium segments. The key figures reflect the temporary shift in production from motorhomes to caravans.

Matjaž Grm resigns from Adria Mobil to start CEO role in marine industry

Matjaž Grm, the Executive Sales and Marketing Director of Adria Mobil in Slovenia has resigned to start a new position as CEO of Greenline Yachts. Aboutcamp BtoB enjoyed several meetings and interesting discussions with Matjaž Grm during his time at Adria Mobil, would like to wish him every success in his new role. In his announcement of his new role on LinkedIn, Matjaž Grm said: “I would like to thank Sonja Gole as general manager of Adria, Trigano executive management and the rest of the Adria management team for all the opportunities, autonomy, trust and cooperation during all the (14) years. And last but not least, I need to thank all my employees in the S&M departments, product designers, marketing agencies, R&D development and all Adria distribution partners for a really unique cooperation and incredible support to each other for business and personal growth during all the years. And with that legacy in place, I am leaving Adria with strong proudness of all achievements and the confidence for the future perspective for the company.”

European Innovation Award 2023: trendsetting innovations in the caravanning industry

The top trends in 2023 for camping buses, vans, motorhomes and caravans are now published - including great design concepts, smart apps and a stylish box that brings not only a kitchen but also a whole bed on board. Once a year, the media brands Reisemobil International, Camping, Cars & Caravans and CamperVans bring together the concentrated expertise of European caravanning editorial teams and honor the latest innovations in the industry.

For the thirteenth time, developers of vehicle and camping accessories submitted their innovative products for

the coming season. The expert jury of the European Innovation Awards, chief editors of 17 trade magazines from 15 European countries, chose between more than 145 new products and had plenty to do, especially in the crowded category “Technology & Connectivity”.

After a two-year break, all European Innovation Awards were now presented again at a festive awards ceremony at the CMT, the world’s largest public trade fair for leisure and tourism, in Stuttgart.

The editors-in-chief of Reisemobil international, Camping, Cars & Car-

Category Company Product

Interior design

Niesmann+Bischoff GmbH The new Flair

Exterior design Hymer GmbH & Co. KG Hymer Venture S

Technology Knaus Tabbert AG Knaus Azur

Layout LMC Caravan GmbH & Co. KG LMC Style 400 F

Safety Niesmann+Bischoff GmbH The new Flair

Vehicle equipment KABE AB Smart Level Control

Innovative vehicle related equipment QUQUQ GmbH & Co. KG BusBox-4 for the ID.Buzz

Sustainability & Environment Bosswerk GmbH & Co. KG Bosswerk Powerstation

Audience focus Adria Mobil Adria Altea

Marketing and PR campaign

Hobby-Wohnwagenwerk GmbH Maxia Van

Innovative startup mobile emotion GmbH camigo - real-time parking space reservation

Overall concept Camper Bürstner GmbH & Co. KG Lyseo Gallery TD

Overall concept Caravan Hymer GmbH & Co. KG New Eriba Touring generation

Overall concept Van Knaus Tabbert AG Knaus Tourer CUV

Overall concept 4x4 Camper Van - Sunlight GmbH Sunlight Cliff 4x4

Overall concept equipment SAWIKO - AL-KO Vehicle Technology Group TRIGO-VAN - bicycle carrier for panel vans

Bloggers favourite QUQUQ GmbH & Co. KG BusBox-4 for the ID.Buzz

avans and CamperVans magazines congratulated the award winners. Jan Phillip Lehmker, moderator, magician, inspired the audience with his magic show in keeping with the theme of innovations.

“Our awards help fuel the innovative spirit of the caravanning industry,” said Simon Ribnitzky, editor in-chief of Reisemobil International. “Whether in terms of safety, sustainability or comfort, the large number of high-caliber submissions confirm the reputation of the international jury of experts. In the end, our readers will also benefit from the competition for the best ideas when they soon use these products in their everyday camping life.”

The European Innovation Award honors the most innovative products from 17 categories in the caravanning industry. It is represented by DoldeMedien Verlag, a growing media company at the creative media location Römerkastell in Stuttgart. With its magazines “Reisemobil International”, “Camping, Cars & Caravans” and “CamperVans”, DoldeMedien Verlag has been a specialist in all topics relating to mobile vacations for more than 30 years.

Carthago celebrates 10th anniversary of opening of ‘Carthago City’

Cathago, the premium, independent motorhome brand from Germany, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of moving from its old company location in Schmalegg to its new headquarters in Carthago City located in Aulendorf in southern Germany.

The opening of its new location was celebrated in 2013 with numerous visitors and a grand opening ceremony. Carthago City extends over around 100,000 m² and combines its mod-

ern headquarters with a large sales showroom, rental station ‘Test & Rest’, service centre with attached spare parts warehouse and production facility. Even 10 years after its opening, the location is hard to beat throughout Europe. Carthago encourages visitors to Carthago City. It has a parking area for guests in their motorhomes and offers test drives and factory tours (by appointment).

Winners in the category

LCI Industries reports fourth quarter and full year financial results

“In fiscal 2022, we achieved record net sales while expanding margins, a testament to our experienced leadership team, enhanced operations, and flexible cost structure. Though we faced headwinds, primarily in the fourth quarter as OEMs implemented production shutdowns, the diversification of our businesses and actions to flex staffing helped mitigate the impact on earnings. We expect these efforts will limit margin pressure as we move through 2023, but we did incur severance-related and inventory reserve costs in the fourth quarter. Despite persistent macro-economic headwinds, we remain confident for the future as millions of campers continue to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle,” commented Jason Lippert, LCI Industries’ President and Chief Executive Officer.

“Our team’s deep industry knowledge and experience navigating fluctuating production schedules will guide us in 2023, during which we anticipate production levels will normalize. Although we expect strong organic growth within RV, we believe this down cycle will be different than the last as our marine, adjacent and aftermarket markets continue to support our diversification strategy,” Lippert con-

tinued. “I would like to thank all our Lippert team members for the hard work and dedication they showed throughout the year, driving our business forward. I am excited for the growth opportunities ahead, as we leverage our culture and innovations to deliver value for our customers and shareholders.”

Consolidated net sales for the full year 2022 were $5.2 billion, an increase of 16% from full year 2021 net sales of $4.5 billion. Net income for the full year 2022 was $395.0 million, or $15.48 per diluted share, compared to net income of $287.7 million, or $11.32 per diluted share, for the full year 2021. EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $682.2 million, compared to EBITDA of $510.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. Consolidated net sales for the fourth quarter of 2022 were $894.3 million, a decrease of 26 percent from 2021 fourth quarter net sales of $1.2 billion. Net loss in the fourth quarter of 2022 was $17.1 million, or $(0.68) per diluted share, compared to net income of $82.3 million, or $3.22 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2021.

EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2022 was $10.2 million, compared to EBITDA of $146.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2021.

REV Recreation Group: from the recent past to present

Innovative design concepts, exceeding dealer satisfaction, and effective production practices have imposed a positive future for the REV Recreation Group. Aboutcamp BtoB spoke with Mike Lanciotti, President, REV Recreation Segment, to further determine what drives the growth of its strong portfolio of RV brands

Words Steve Fennell - photo: Permission by the REV Group

Mike Lanciotti has been President at Renegade RV since 2008. Following an acquisition of the company in 2016 by the REV Recreation Group, he continued his leadership before being appointed President, REV Recreation Segment in 2021. In that time, well-established RV brands currently under the company’s banner, including Fleetwood RV, Holiday Rambler, American Coach, Lance Camper, Midwest Automotive Designs, Renegade RV and Goldshield Fiberglass, have successfully maintained their position as key players in the RV industry.

With several new models and initiatives this year, we discussed the company’s goals and business strategies through 2023 and into 2024.

Aboutcamp BtoB: What are some of the trends in the North American RV industry that you have recognized within the last five years and how is the REV Recreation Group adhering to these trends to better serve its dealer base and consumers?

Mike Lanciotti: I think people are enjoying the outdoors more, the fact that many RVers are now working remotely from the road, and the passing of the Great American Outdoor Act by the U.S. Federal Government in 2022 are some of the most important recent trends. They all strongly support this lifestyle.

I also think the major investments in the outdoor recreation infrastructure with the purchasing of land and other natural resources, and turning them into places to camp, is another huge positive for us and the industry. Being a B2C business and meeting these trends, we continually work hard in product development. We do this by listening to consumer and dealer feed-

back, which helps us identify what is popular and what consumers like, but we benchmark other demographics and design concepts in other industries. So, if we like something that the marine or private aviation sector is doing, and we feel it’s a good fit for the RV space, we work to see how it can be applied to some of our brands.

As the RV companies in the REV Recreation Group are high-end, our big focus is also on appearance. We just feel it’s just as important as overall function. Our brands will continue to be appealing to the consumer and every year we make them stronger and better.

We are also fortunate that our products have strong brand recognition. Fleetwood RV is one of the hallmarks of the industry and has been around for a long time. We work hard to sell brand identity but we fully support each of our brands. We believe they will remain strong by delivering a quality product.

Aboutcamp BtoB: In addition to industry trends, the demographics among RV buyers have changed considerably. How is the REV Recreation Group remaining competitive with the evolving younger demographic?

Mike Lanciotti: The average age of RVers is certainly much younger than it once was but what has really played into the hands of RV manufacturers in recent years is the current difficulties and high costs of air travel. With an RV, people realize more and more that they can simply pack their bags, load them up in the RV and go. More than anything, however, COVID-19 has dictated how people travel now and even how they work. They realize they can do their job remotely and also do it on the road in the comfort of an

RV. Meeting these needs by providing easier accessible WiFi connectivity and user-friendly portable electronic systems is now very important.

We made a good move for the 2023 model year with our new Fleetwood Frontier GTX 37 RT, which introduced the corner office, an industry first. We windowed it out, so people are provided with nice natural light at the desk. It’s like being in an office at home or even in the workplace. There’s a lot of interest now in that design for our class A motorhomes.

The larger coaches may not be the perfect match for millennials, but they are of interest to other long-term RVers. Class Bs are still very appealing to the younger crowd. They have many features and are very functional, but we design and manufacture all classes to provide a unit that will be a good fit for all ages.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Does the REV Recreation Group get a lot of influence from suppliers as far as providing more technology to its brands?

Mike Lanciotti: It’s interesting, our suppliers always have a new concept for us to consider and we get a lot of feedback from our dealers about this as well. Technology is a big deal. For example, when RAM came out with a huge LCD monitor the size of an iPad in the center of the console for one of its trucks, its sales increased significantly.

However, I think technology has to be easy to use and very functional. A lot

The new Fleetwood Frontier GTX 37 RT

The Fleetwood Frontier GTX corner office

T he floor to MIKE LANCIOTTI

of control panels have grown in size so they are clear and concise. We are finding that consumers are willing to pay for electronics that are comfortable for them.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Now more than ever, RV manufacturers are using lightweight materials in their units to better manage weight and labour costs. Can you provide some examples of how the REV Recreation Group has been making similar efforts?

Mike Lanciotti: We now utilize a lot of one-piece synthetic materials as well as lighter aluminum whereas we used steel before. Generally speaking, for all of our brands, we do a lot of weight analysis where we determine the weight of each unit before it leaves the plant.

By this, I mean we pull all four wheels of the unit and weigh it on a scale to get the exact weight from the four corners, ensuring it has proper balance before delivery. We always make sure that they are under the regulated weight since we know the units will be weighed at some point again once it takes delivery.

An example of some of REV Recreation Group’s lightweight units includes Lance’s ultra-light and eco-friendly travel trailer, which has earned the RVDA’s DSI Quality Circle Award, as well as the 650 truck camper. It’s only a little more than 2,000 pounds so it isn’t very heavy and can easily fit a variety of truck beds.

Aboutcamp BtoB: How do you manage weight and what materials are used for REV Recreation Group’s larger models in divisions like Amer-

ican Coach, Fleetwood RV and Renegade RV?

Mike Lanciotti: What a lot of people don’t realize is there is a lot of weight under the floor and in the basement of these larger units. A lot of steel is used. For example, if 16-gauge steel can be used and still achieve optimal strength to weight savings rather than using heavier 18- or 20-gauge steel, we make the spec change. Determining where the stress is on the product is also very important. We do this with AutoCad and SolidWorks. These systems indicate where there’s not much stress/weight on the unit and in turn, they help us determine where to use lighter gauge steel to reduce weight.

We take weight out of basements all the time and even look at components like storage compartment doors. We don’t want them so heavy that you can’t close them and we don’t want them too light so they won’t latch or even fly open on the highway. There’s always a fine line when determining weight.

Aboutcamp BtoB: The RV industry experienced supply chain issues during the pandemic and production was limited. Are the REV Recreation Group and your dealers currently right-sizing to previous levels of inventory and what is your forecast on this for 2023?

Mike Lanciotti: We are still not anywhere near pre-COVID-19 levels. I think a good backlog for motorized products is six or seven months. Right now, we have a backlog of about one year. Will our dealer inventory backlog get back to pre-COVID-19 levels? I would have to say it could, but it might take

an increase in distribution and better channels to get back to those levels.

Aboutcamp BtoB: What channels would you consider for that to happen and can you provide some further details on the current status of the supply chain?

Mike Lanciotti: The REV Recreation Group is fortunate with its motorized product to have registration like a car. We know where each unit was sold and know what Business Trade Area (BTA) has the most volume, who sells the most product, and where the product is present (and not present). We then see how we compare with everybody else. Just as an example, when we analyze these BTAs we think, if Midwest class Bs are not in a certain region and a competitor is doing well, we consider more channel management.

Right now, we are in a position where we can move where the population moves. Florida, Texas, California and the whole southeast all have large RV distribution. There are pockets in the U.S. where your brands need to be and with the moving population, you need to have a presence there as well.

However, during COVID-19, our dealers had very low inventory and we felt we were smart enough to keep it low so that the demand would be high. However, the supply chain was the governor of our ability to operate at capacity versus the way other manufacturers were able to.

The towable market did well during the pandemic because it could. Trailers don’t require an engine with a chip and the supply chain wasn’t holding up production as much. But this also meant we could only run production at

“We truly have a partnership with our dealers,” says Mike Lanciotti

While lightweight, the Lance 650 Truck Camper doesn’t compromise style and comfort

a certain level, which happened to be a little less than the market wanted so the dealer inventory was depleted. Most of our dealers during that time were on allocation. So, we worked hard to make sure our costs weren’t too high, stayed competitive, and the higher cost of materials didn’t result in overall price increases for the consumer.

Currently, since the towable industry has slowed down significantly, our suppliers can redirect common parts to us. Our motorized brands are where their action is so we are getting more of their attention than we did in the past. To provide an update, when it comes to pure units, approximately 80 percent of all the units in the U.S. are towables and about 20 percent are motorized. When that 80 percent starts to fall off, our motorized division becomes more important to the suppliers. That’s where we are today.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Engine suppliers also experienced challenges with microchip production through COVID-19. How has this impacted REV Recreation Group’s motorized brands and what solutions have you devised to offset these challenges?

Mike Lanciotti: Microchips were an issue everywhere. Now, Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner and some other companies are on track and getting us what we need. They are great suppliers to us and continue to make their product safer and better every year.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Current inflation, rising fuel prices and interest rates are challenging for everyone right now. How is REV Recreation Group man-

aging this economic climate?

Mike Lanciotti: We were at the Florida RV Supershow in Tampa this past January and we had some wonderful dealer partners that represented our product and each of our manufacturers brought an entourage of units for support. It was very well attended, and we sold a lot of units. It’s interesting, most people weren’t talking about interest rates or fuel prices. It seemed to be the last thing on their mind. People were happy that they saw some units that they could buy at the moment and not wait a year.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Are you providing any new incentives for your dealer base to carry products given the current economy?

Mike Lanciotti: We are not offering anything that is unique to the REV Recreation Group. There are always programs for volume rebates near the end of the year. Sometimes, we trade future orders for current orders, but we truly have a partnership with our dealers and try to help them move products from the previous model year to free up their working capital. That’s not unique to us.

Aboutcamp BtoB: We are witnessing new phenomena. Some motorhome manufacturers are buying their suppliers. In Europe, a large group has also

bought some dealerships, creating a proprietary distribution network. What is your opinion on this?

Mike Lanciotti: This is not something REV Recreation Group would be interested in doing. Some of our competitors have bought suppliers and we were hoping they don’t try to control their output or where they send their products.

I am happy to say the ownership change of the supplier did not alter the way the supplier managed their customers. Even though some suppliers we do business with are owned by our competitors, they treat us like everyone else. I know our peers in the industry hold their suppliers accountable to a certain profitability and I am sure they are comfortable getting that profit from one of their competitors just as much as anyone else.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Looking ahead, what can dealers and suppliers expect from REV Recreation Group through 2023 and beyond?

Mike Lanciotti: They can expect a lot from us. Strategy changes all the time and we get different challenges to certain degrees of difficulty every year. I think we are moving into a time now where there may be a reduction of floorplans, models, and choices so we can lower the cost of production a little and get the prices down to levels that are even more appealing to buyers, but all the while providing a nice variety of options.

I can see working on platforming a little more, so the construction of units are the same but what you build upon them are different, and cutting down on the supply chain by reducing SKUs. It will just make it easier to manufacture and the result is a higher-quality product. I can’t help but think that will be an industry trend into next year.

“I think technology has to be easy to use and very functional,” says Mike Lanciotti

Mike Lanciotti with his team of the REV Recreation Group

I nterview with CHRISTIAN BAUER

History, and future

We interviewed the President of Hymer: here’s how the business, the leading brand in the Erwin Hymer Group, is managing the euphoria, the problems and the changes of this complex but intriguing phase of the market

Words Antonio Mazzucchelli - photo Enrico Bona

Hymer is perhaps the best known brand in the RV sector at a European level. This is because it has written important chapters in the history of the motorhome in Europe, but also because of the quality and prestige image of its products. Today, the head of the company is Christian Bauer, who answered our questions about the market situation, attendance at trade fairs and the raw material and component supply crisis; but we also talked about the relationship between new product categories and new user groups.

Aboutcamp BtoB: How did 2022 end for Hymer? What was your experience of the final period of the pandemic and the great market euphoria?

Christian Bauer : All in all, 2022 was a great year for us with many highlights, such as the highly anticipated market launch of the Hymer Venture S, the presentation of a new generation of touring caravans and camper vans, the opening of a newly-built Super Light Chassis (SLC) production hall in Bad Waldsee, and many more.

After two challenging years marked by the pandemic, business is finally getting back to normal. We have experienced a great camping boom with unbroken interest in this type of travel and are therefore very optimistic about the future.

Aboutcamp BtoB: In Germany, registrations of RVs, and above all of motorized RVs, have reached numbers never seen before: was this also the case for Hymer?

Christian Bauer : Indeed, demand on our RVs is at an all-time high. We can look back on a very successful year.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Now the demand is declining: what figure will it settle on? Will there be numbers on which to build a solid future?

Christian Bauer : That’s a bit like looking into a crystal ball during times of volatility, but given the positive developments in our business and the camping industry, we believe we are very well positioned for the future.

Aboutcamp BtoB: What is Hymer’s role within the world of the Erwin Hymer Group? Have relations with the other companies in the Group changed in recent years? Are any changes foreseeable in the future?

Christian Bauer : Hymer remains the core brand of the Erwin Hymer Group with the highest brand awareness. We continue to live up to our claim as the industry’s innovation leader and, where it makes sense, we naturally also use exchanges and synergies with other brands in the Group, with whom we have a good relationship. This will not change.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Was your Group’s decision not to participate in some trade fairs a painful choice on Hymer’s part? What were the results of doing this? What alternative actions

Christian Bauer : Due to the pandemic, we had to increase our emphasis on new digital formats and sales channels instead of appearances at traditional trade fairs. This went hand in hand with a strengthening of advisory skills at the point of sale. We have had very good experiences with this approach.

However, of course, we will continue to maintain contact with customers and business partners for whom a visit to a trade show or live event is indispensable. That’s why we aim for representation at key shows (such as the Caravan Salon) while participation in other trade fairs will be considered on individual merits.

Aboutcamp BtoB: In general, do you think there has been, or will be, a decisive change in the way of selling and communicating?

Christian Bauer : Good interaction between manufacturers and retailers is crucial – whether online or offline. Nevertheless, digital sales and marketing opportunities continue to grow. That’s why it’s important to professionalize our entire internet presence across all channels. Emotionality and approachability must not be lost in the process. First-class consultation and good customer service will always be central for a premium brand like Hymer.

Aboutcamp BtoB: How was Hymer affected by the raw material and component supply crisis?

Christian Bauer : This is indeed the greatest challenge our industry faces and requires great flexibility from all

Above: Eriba Touring 430

On the left: Hymer Venture S

I nterview with CHRISTIAN BAUER

parts of our workforce. However, we are proud that we have been able to manage any problems occurring very well so far.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Have you implemented precise plans for the lack of chassis? Have you opted for a greater differentiation of the mechanical bases?

Christian Bauer : No, we are very well positioned with our current business partners (first and foremost Mercedes-Benz) and will continue to maintain a very transparent and trusting exchange.

Aboutcamp BtoB: The increase in production costs has pushed up the final price of the products: are they too high for your customers?

Christian Bauer : As in most industries and areas of life, there have been price increases in the last years, some of which we had to pass on to customers. This has not affected the

Hymer at a glance

demand for our products, however.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Do you think that, from now on, motorized RVs will have to be a luxury product, for a more limited clientele?

Christian Bauer : RVs are not fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and therefore purchasing decisions will always be well-considered. We see ourselves as a manufacturer of emotional goods for passionate enthusiasts who do not subordinate everything to price. Then again, purchasing a RV has also proven to be a stable value investment in recent years.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Is it to emphasize that Hymer will increasingly address customers with high spending power that very high-level motorhomes and camp -

Hymer started its business in 1957 and became known for its caravans, but in 1961 it already produced its first motorized RV. Then, in 1971, the first model of the successful Hymermobil motorhome series was launched, which became part of the history of caravanning in Europe. In 1978 the PUAL construction technique was introduced, which has now become PUAL 2.0, consisting of sandwich panels with double aluminum sheets and polyurethane foam between them.

The company (Hymer GmbH & Co. KG) is based in Bad

ervans have been created, such as the Venture S and four-wheel drive campervans?

Christian Bauer : Hymer’s claim derives from seeing ourselves as an innovative premium brand. That’s what our customers appreciate and know us for. As we follow the wishes and expectations of our customers, not

Waldsee (Baden Württemberg, Germany).

Hymer is one of the many brands of the Erwin Hymer Group with a widespread network of over 300 sales and service points. The Hymer GmbH & Co KG products range from motorhomes to campervans, alongside the Eriba branded caravans.

Hymer Grand Canyon S “CrossOver”

just a highlight product like the Ven ture S, vehicles from all categories are steadily becoming more comprehensive and comfortable.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Has there been significant growth in the campervan market segment for Hymer as well? How much do these products represent of your total sales today? Have you implemented specific programs for this type of vehicle?

Christian Bauer : Hymer’s campervan segment has been growing continuously for many years. Today, we can point to a broad portfolio with many special models that also serve the increasing demand for all-wheel drive.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Many say that the campervan brings new customers to the RV world: is this the same for Hymer?

Christian Bauer : Yes, of course. Campervans usually appeal to a younger, more active target group who want to pursue their hobbies independently and are not primarily enthusiastic campers. Nevertheless, campervans naturally also offer the most cost efficient entry into the camping and caravanning world.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Hymer still maintains various ranges of caravans: how important is this type of product to you? Are production and commercial efforts proportionate to market sales?

Christian Bauer : With our Eriba brand, which is becoming increasingly independent, we are clearly committed to the caravanning segment. A look at the many vehicles with cult status, such as the Eriba Touring, shows the importance the brand has had in the industry’s history as well as today.

Aboutcamp BtoB: What is the sales ratio between the domestic market and exports for Hymer? Which markets are you most involved in? What changes have there been in the last period?

Christian Bauer : As a traditional German manufacturer, the German-speaking market is naturally very important to us. But we are well represented in all European core markets, such as England, France and the Netherlands, and are also steadily expanding our presence in East Europe, especially in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Aboutcamp BtoB: What evolution has Hymer encountered in the Eastern European markets and what

changes will there be due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict?

Christian Bauer : Ukraine and Russia have never been primary markets for our business. But, of course, the consequences of the conflict have also affected us in terms of current supply chain challenges.

Above, from left: Hymer B-Klasse ModernComfort I, Hymer B-Klasse MasterLine, Hymer Free Blue Evolution. Below: Eriba Touring 820

Christian Bauer (right) in conversation with our editor-in-chief

First class motorhomes

MORELO stands for first-class motorhomes that are among the best in the world. With this idea, in just a few years, MORELO has become one of the most successful manufacturers of luxury motorhomes in Europe

The MORELO project started in 2010 with a single prototype at the Caravan Salon. Today, MORELO builds over 530 luxury vehicles a year in one of the most modern production facilities in Germany. MORELO currently offers eight series, has around 430 employees and is represented in Germany by over 15 trading companies. Reinhard Löhner and Robert Crispens are the Managing Directors of MORELO. The young family man, Robert Crispens, has already been very successful at MORELO. In addition to factory tours and customer contact, he still finds some time for the concerns of his colleagues and has become a valuable member of the MORELO family.

Aboutcamp BtoB: MORELO has been a phenomena of recent years, and entered a difficult market. How was the company born and how did it develop?

Robert Crispens: Over the past few years, MORELO has positioned itself as a top provider in the luxury motorhome market segment and is the leading manufacturer of luxury motorhomes in Europe. The company was founded by Jochen Reimann in 2010, and production started in 2011 in Schlüsselfeld. To make this breathtaking development possible, MORELO continuously invested in the expansion of the key plant. The most recent construction phase included the addition of a 3,600 m² production and machine hall, including a belt extension. Because sales and the exhibition hall have also grown by 715 m², the MORELO plant is now 15,300 m². Soon, we will build a large second workshop.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Who owns the company and what are its links to the Knaus Tabbert Group?

Robert Crispens: MORELO has been part of KNAUS Tabbert Aktiengesellschaft since 2020. However, we operate as a completely independent company.

Aboutcamp BtoB: What has been the largest number of vehicles produced in one year? And which year was this?

Robert Crispens: We have been able to continuously increase our production for almost 10 years. Thus, the past year, 2022, was our most productive year to date with 532 First Class motorhomes manufactured.

Aboutcamp BtoB: If a customer orders a MORELO today, how long is the wait to get hold of it?

Robert Crispens: It depends on which model our customers are interested in. For vehicles on an IVECO Daily chassis, for example a MORELO PALACE, the current delivery time is around 18 months. With the large models like our MORELO GRAND EMPIRE, our customers have to be patient even longer: the delivery time is currently around 24 months.

Aboutcamp BtoB: What area does the production site cover? How many employees do you have? What are the best practices you are most proud of?

Robert Crispens: At the moment we have a floor space of 130,000 m² which corresponds to about 20 soccer fields. Around 460 employees currently work at MORELO in Schlüsselfeld. We are very proud that in a relatively short time we have become the most popular brand for luxury motorhomes in Europe and that we enjoy

a high level of brand loyalty from our customers.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Do you develop the design of your products internally or do you use external studios?

Robert Crispens: We have been working with a renowned design studio for many years which has built up the dynamic and unmistakable design language of MORELO and is consistently developing it further. The encouragement of our customers proves to us that we are one step ahead in terms of design.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Your motorhomes are among the most expensive RVs marketed in Europe today: how do you justify such a high price for your products?

Robert Crispens: Quite simply: the best materials and loving craftsmanship. More than 70 percent of the costs for a MORELO First Class motorhome are pure material costs.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Who is your typical customer?

Robert Crispens: Most of the time we are dealing with older couples between the ages of 55 and 70 - but they often feel a little younger. He is usually responsible for the technology,

she likes to take care of the interior design. Our customers often want to enjoy their retirement after their working life and realize their dreams. Their hobbies are, of course, traveling, pleasure in all its facets and nature. They are financially well off, but want to know that their money is well invested and they always need reliable contacts.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Inflation, war in Ukraine and widespread uncertainty: do these factors, which are so prominent at the moment, influence the choices of your customers, or does the MORELO customer’s spending capacity and purchasing intentions remained unchanged?

Robert Crispens: During economic crises, the luxury segment is usually spared for a long time. Fortunately, the demand for our MORELO brand is unbroken. It is, of course, more difficult for average earners to make an investment or even complete financing one when inflation is high. Customers from the luxury segment usually have enough equity to be able

to afford the purchase of a first-class motorhome without any problem. However, it is often precisely a crisis that accelerates a purchase decision, as customers become aware of which aspects in life they want to focus on.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Europe imposes many constraints on driving vehicles over 3,500 kg of gross mass. Does this limit the sales of your products?

Robert Crispens: Our vehicles start at a permissible total mass of 5.6 tonnes. Our latest model, the MORELO GRAND EMPIRE 120 GSB / GSO, has a permissible total weight of 26 tonnes so a truck driver’s license is necessary for this. For all other vehicles up to 7.49 tons, a C1 driving license or the old class 3 is sufficient - the latter for driving license holders who passed their test before 1999. Many MORELO customers would like to switch to the “liner class”, i.e. over 7.5 tons. For this purpose, we offer tailor-made courses for our customers in cooperation with a driving school, so that they can take the driving test directly at MORELO in a familiar environment.

Aboutcamp BtoB: On which market sectors are you present at the moment?

Robert Crispens: We focus exclusively on the luxury segment in the motorhome sector. We offer different vehicle classes, which differ in size and technical level. There are many customization options and we have never built two motorhomes that are exactly the same. Nevertheless, the options are limited, for example, in terms of wood colour or floor plans, although we offer a remarkably wide range of floor plans and equipment variants.

P eople ROBERT CRISPENS

Aboutcamp BtoB: Are you planning an expansion to other markets?

Robert Crispens: Not yet. But as the old saying goes, “never say never.”

Aboutcamp BtoB: What does it mean to be a MORELO dealer? Are there any special requirements?

Robert Crispens: We require good expertise in the sale of motorhomes. A dealer has the task of providing customers with comprehensive support, especially in the after-sales area. This means that the dealer must demonstrate service competence in all areas that may be relevant for large motorhomes. This ranges from know-how in the field of GRP to carpentry, plumbing, electrics and vehicle technology - the spectrum is very wide.

Aboutcamp BtoB: The pandemic and the subsequent lack of supplies: what

problems did you face? What is the current situation?

Robert Crispens: The Corona crisis also hit us hard. Luckily, we were able to keep production running with almost no major restrictions thanks to restructuring. Nevertheless, we were often unable to deliver many vehicles because we were missing important components - such as the toilet bowl. We currently have the situation under control, thanks to the great support from our suppliers.

Aboutcamp BtoB: How do you expect the premium class market to evolve in the coming years?

Robert Crispens: The Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to many people choosing to travel in their own motorhome as a safe and isolated travel option. A saying that has often been heard from our customers over the past two years is: “Now or never” - that says a lot. An

important factor that could influence the growth of the market is the increasing development of technologies that can be integrated into luxury motorhomes. In the future, customers could have higher demand for RVs equipped with luxury technologies such as autonomous driving systems, intelligent monitoring systems and advanced entertainment systems. Overall, however, it is difficult to predict the exact evolution of the market over the next few years as it depends on many factors including economic, political and social developments.

Aboutcamp BtoB: What differentiates you from your competitors?

Robert Crispens: Our competitors also build beautiful motorhomes. Above all, we place customers at the centre of all our efforts. We want our customers to feel that they are in good hands and are understood.

MORELO GRAND EMPIRE

Aboutcamp BtoB: Have you ever considered producing a vehicle for B licenses within 3,500 kg?

Robert Crispens: Of course, we think about these possibilities regularly, but there are currently no concrete plans in this regard.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Can you list 10 characteristics that make MORELO a unique vehicle?

Robert Crispens: Our motorhomes are designed, developed and built by motorhome owners for motorhome owners. They are technically mature and are continuously tested in practice. We are in constant dialogue with our customers and take their needs and wishes very seriously. We have high standards when it comes to design and function and are not satisfied with half-finished solutions. What we are proud of in our vehicles is that they are really suitable for winter. A

trip to the North Cape in winter at -36°C? That’s no problem with a MORELO First Class motorhome. Our MORELO service centre with professional service points for all our customers’ after-sales needs makes a large contribution to customer satisfaction.

Aboutcamp BtoB: How do you retain your customers? Do you have partnerships with campsites? Do you organize events? Do you have specific marketing activity? Are you directly involved in user clubs and associations?

Robert Crispens: A few years ago we launched the MORELO VIP customer club. Membership is completely free for MORELO owners and enables great experiences that money can’t buy. For example, our event series MORELO am Ring: here we regularly set up our own MORELO fan camp directly in the paddock at the Nürburgring during well-

known motorsport events and enable our guests to have unforgettable moments. We also ensure special moments on the MORELO Lapland tour: husky sled tours, snowmobiles, reindeer and northern lights - our guests experience all of this on a fully guided tour to the Arctic Circle. Finally, not to forget our annual MORELO OPEN: a festival of superlatives directly on the MORELO factory premises in Schlüsselfeld. Last year we were able to welcome over 800 motorhomes over four days, making it one of the largest motorhome meetings in Europe. But even in addition to our big events, we are always open to dialogue with privately run motorhome clubs, which we regularly welcome to our inhouse parking space with 52 spaces, for example to invite them to MORELO factory tours. Motorhome owners, no matter what brand, are always welcome guests with us!

MORELO PALACE

Caravan first

Does the caravan still have a chance on the European market? We find out in this interview with Erna Povh, who takes care of the caravan segment for Adria Mobil

Erna Povh has worked for Adria Mobil for more than twenty years and she is now the product manager of the caravan sector. Erna started in the sales department as a market researcher, then became a market executive for the most of Europe and also sales operation manager for some years. After that, in 2016, she became the product manager of the previous Alpina project, her first one. Now she manages the full caravan portfolio, following the lifecycles, leading new product development projects, managing design, etc... During this time, Adria has launched seven ranges and more than doubled its market share in Europe, from 4.9% to 9.4%.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Adria has always maintained a high inter-

Words Antonio Mazzucchelli and Paolo Galvani

est in the caravan segment, while increasing its production of motorized RVs over time. Is this a winning decision?

Erna Povh: Historically, Adria started with caravans and became an international business. It became known for good quality products and value for money, so this is still the heart of our portfolio. However, after the crisis in 2008, the market expanded in the motorized sector much faster than in caravans: it was the ‘baby boomer’ generation, which had money and could afford a motorhome. Adria started its first motorhome production in the 1980s and for the van segment in late 1990s. Today, we believe even more in a balanced portfolio between the caravan, motorhome and van segments. The motorhome segment has higher added value which, for the financial stability of the

company, is very important, but caravans are a segment that is not dying. We see traditional caravan markets; but we also see many newcomers in this segment and we see a future need for holiday freedom at an acceptable price.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Maybe because of the rise in prices, a caravan could now be more attractive...?

Erna Povh: Rising prices have affected all segments. The buying decision ‘funnel’ will take longer. In the past, the consumer used to read everything on the internet and they were really skilled on exactly what they wanted, which layout, what features, etc., but in the last two years during the corona pandemic, we’ve seen new buyers who did not know the product exactly, instead, they were buying holidays. This was valid for all segments. I believe that the caravan will always be an alternative; however, what we see now is not a completely realistic situation because we sell mostly luxury productsmotorhomes and caravans - so to me, this doesn’t seem to be the next normal, which I think will happen. I believe that the company with a stable portfolio needs to include a caravan segment because, historically, there are more people with great memories in a caravan from their own childhood that they want to offer to their children, and also to have the complete price spectrum to offer customers.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Caravans and motorized RVs: are they two distinct segments in terms of users, design and production?

Erna Povh: Users are different between segments and these differences also vary across the markets. However, from a design and production point of view these segments are not so different.

Therefore, we have established an Adria design language across our complete portfolio. When you see our offer in the caravan and motorhome programmes you see many similar elements from the Adria design language. In the past, there were more differences, and the teams were more specialized for motorhomes or caravans, but now we’ve merged a lot of knowledge across the programmes. Over 10 years ago, we started to bring innovation in to caravans very systematically; the caravan with its space and more defined user, offers more opportunities to innovate. In that time, we established a great cooperation with an external design studio from Slovenia. They helped us establish the design management process and we started to monitor consumer needs. We saw there are different types of freedom; there are traditional users who were caravanners and very often want to stay caravanners. The big challenge are the newcomers as they are very often dependent on the budget they have available and are also sensitive to the very first experience they have with their new product. We conduct

Left: led slhuette light

Sketch: comfort concept phase

Below: luxury ambient - alu profiles

at least one design research each year to understand consumer needs. We also established an internal team of designers and we keep working with two external agencies: one is from Slovenia and they’re working mostly on caravans, and then we have a German design agency that we are cooperating with on our motorhome programme. I have to say that, for us, our long-term relationships with these two agencies are very important. Only with years of cooperation can a design agency learn and understand our needs and the needs of our customers. We say that they understand our DNA.

Aboutcamp BtoB: The caravan yesterday, today and tomorrow: what is Adria’s vision?

Erna Povh: As previously mentioned, caravans are historically a very important segment for Adria. I believe that in the last five years we made a tremendous step in brand recognition with Adria caravans, and, of course, we have many initiatives for caravans in our roadmap for the future. Even if everyone talks about lightweight and e-mobility, we still sell

Adria Alpina

F ace to face with ERNA POVH

a lot of heavy and expensive caravans. I believe it’s very important for tomorrow that we keep the entry-price level in our portfolio or even a bit lower, so we are working on lightweight materials to make some new concepts which will be easier to be towed by e-cars; we are also cooperating with some end users that own one of our heavier segment caravans and tow with a Tesla, so we are making studies about the aerodynamics. If you ask me: Erna, do you think caravans will die? I say no, they will not die. I think there is a great future for caravans; I don’t believe they will grow back to the levels they reached around year 2000, but we still have a good business with today’s numbers.

Aboutcamp BtoB: You mentioned e-cars, and Tesla: which kind of new challenges is this kind of technology bringing to the caravan segment?

Erna Povh: Of course, weight is the first issue, and then the body size; this is a thing that defines the speed of driving or, in combination with the speed, defines the energy consumption of the batteries. Our industry definitely is not carbon neutral, especially because 85% of the carbon footprint is done while using the products, but on the other hand, nobody really calculates that people can own a caravan for 30-40 years; so bringing this aspect into the calculation, the carbon footprint is much smaller. Nevertheless, we will have to change our habits: how

field: our entry-price Aviva and recently launched Altea range were very focused on the weight. But still a caravan has a certain volume… that’s why we have caravans: because we don’t want to sleep in a tent, we want to have a solid roof, a good bed and a good kitchen inside…

Aboutcamp BtoB: With the Astella range you have established a new point of reference in the caravan sector: can you tell us how this project was born and developed?

Erna Povh: It was a very good project, and I still think the Astella really is an outstanding product. We were at the turning point of portfolio lifecycles. We had five ranges in the segment at that time and we realized that in our top range, which was at that time the Alpina, some customers would like to upgrade their product but there was nothing on the market that could offer more comfort and still give the freedom of mobility. That was a part of this segment of consumers; then there was another part who we met and they wanted to have a homestyle comfort but they didn’t want to buy a mobile home, because then they would be stuck only in one location. So, we made studies on what would have brought better comfort, and a better experience of space. What came out of the first design concept was quite radical. We were working on this project also in cooperation with a Slovenian company, who are experts on the

From top of page, clockwise: climate chamber tests; clean interior design; aerodinamics with wind diffusors; vehicle cutout

Adria Astella

light plane technology, and they helped us with aerodynamic studies and gave us some design proposals, and how to improve it. So, we came up with some very similar solutions that you can see on big trucks. After the innovation project was released and we started evaluating the designs of the layouts, which would enable a real homie, luxury experience, including high quality materials like real wood and corian worktops. We went into cooperation with a good partner from Italy, and together we designed and developed a unique panoramic door. This big, 150cm wide panorama door is one of the most recognizable elements on the Astella. Later, we developed with the same partner also a narrower one, a 90 cm wide door, which we now have on one Astella and even on one Alpina.

Aboutcamp BtoB: You have already four Astella models: do you know how the clients use this caravan – pitched on a campsite or do they travel with it?

Erna Povh: It is so different than I had imagined: when we interviewed consumers before starting the project, we thought it would be more like typical users who would have their Astella half the year at a summer campsite and then move it to a winter camp for the rest of the year, but it’s so different... for instance, Germany surprised me the most because with the new Astella we were more focused on Scandinavian market, but German caravanners were hungry for a product like this. They have good cars... so, with this in mind, I would say that 60% of users stay in one or a maximum of two locations per year, but 40% of them are driving on the road.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Do cheap caravans

have a future? What are Adria’s plans in this sector?

Erna Povh: We believe that there will be a need for entry-price caravans, as new buyers, consumers at their first purchase, don’t dare to immediately buy an expensive one because they need to try out and experience this style of holidays. For example: the previous generation of Aviva was designed seven years ago and it was a very innovative caravan; it was a €10,000 caravan: a little bit more, or the same price, as a second-hand caravan. So, people buy an Aviva and in two years they realize they like the experience, and they buy a better caravan. I believe tomorrow we will also go back to basics. I have a big family and every year we go on holidays with a caravan. What we really need is to spend time together, we like to be outside, we like to sleep and we like to play in a caravan, we like to be stable at a location for a while and have fun. Caravans are perfect for such needs.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Many argue that the exterior design of caravans, with a few exceptions, has had little substantial change over the past twenty years or so. Is this true?

Erna Povh: I believe that with our new generation of caravans, starting with Astella, we have set new standards; and also, Alpina and Adora, that followed Astella, have many exterior design elements from Astella and address a better driving experience as well as an attractive appearance. We have, of course, much more freedom to design interiors and we believe that each caravan has its own story. We have a well-structured portfolio covering all prices segments with appropriate interior styling and proper level of equipment. The ambience is very import-

ant, and also, the contrast of the colours and the styling: it makes you peaceful or it makes you nervous, it brings emotion. It’s like a home. We paid a lot of attention to the interiors bringing a proper mood board to a proper product category.

Aboutcamp BtoB: We have been in all your caravans before, and here at the CMT in Stuttgart, and were surprised to see how you can feel the differentiation between the categories, it’s really interesting and not very common.

Erna Povh: It is true. With different user groups you expect, of course, a different level of experience, different equipment and also different styling, with more attention to modern or classical details, materials and decors.

Here we started to innovate the most. First starting to bring a better experience to the kitchen with the Adria special cooking unit, then a special ergo bathroom concept that brings the best combination of space and functionality performance. It was also interesting when we were studying the behavior of consumers using our products: for instance, in the last ten years, every family has been using an average of ten devices, and is bringing them on their holidays. This means many cables and places to store those gadgets, so we really prepared many multi-functional solutions for the interior storage, which are nicely integrated in the overall design, because otherwise people do it themselves and it might not look as beautiful as you would have designed it. That’s why we also really pay attention also to the soft parts of the interior, how people are using them, how they will leave a book when they go to bed, or where the lady will look for her glasses when she wakes up, and things

Adria Adora

Left: the living in night mood, “below the stars” - Right: the 613 PK model with flexible children solutions below rear panorama

like that... so I think our ambience also differs from the rest of the caravan offers because of these details.

Aboutcamp BtoB: This kind of experience is one that we discovered over time. How can the dealer push these aspects during the sales process?

Erna Povh: In the last three years, the situation has been different than in the past because there was more demand than availability, so dealers, for us also distributors as market representatives, did not have many new requirements. The effort needed for selling was lower than in the past. So, in this respect I am a little bit cautious about the next years to come. But, in the past, Adria’s regular development process included our distributor partners and meetings with dealers for market requests, and our ambition is always to listen, because different markets very often have different needs. With the research that we conduct, plus the long experience and competences that we have, we can create the best products. Dealers are the first contact with our consumers and they also know all the pain points customers have using many products, that’s why direct communication is, to me, very important. We all really trust each other a lot. To me, as a product manager, it’s the most important thing that I have contact with the end consumer, and I also listen to the dealers and the distributor partners. This is how you can bring the right design into new projects. This is most valuable. I think this is also the success formula: I start with the end consumer, and I lead the project through the whole end-to-end development process and validate concepts with partners, and I am present again at the launch of the product with end consumers. This is how we bring correct insights back into the new development projects.

Aboutcamp BtoB: You talked about the ambience, the details: what about lighting?

Erna Povh: Lighting is a very specific point where I have a little bit different opinion than most of the industry. I am not really enthusiast to have too much light in the ambience. Of course, you need to know what do you need light for, so maybe a good sample is Alpina: the project developed in recent years is very rich in all the light solutions, but it’s not too crowded with too many lights. On the other hand, there are some basic elements of the interior comfort that we tried to address. With the Alpina we developed a chargeable lamp which you have inside for a really nice ambient feeling, but actually if you want to read out-

side the caravan you have to bring your own light, because the standard awning lights are not good enough for reading. Well, with this chargeable lamp that we developed for Alpina you can pick it up and take it out, so that you can also read outside. At the same time, we upgraded the standard awning light with better light performance and with emphasize to the overall caravan aesthetics. To sum up, we try to understand the user’s behavior, we try to also understand the colour of the light and its temperature that arouses the right feelings. We try not to be too noisy.

Aboutcamp BtoB: In the years to come, what could we expect in terms of design for the interiors and exteriors of a caravan?

Erna Povh: To me, design is not about how beautiful something will be. Of course, aesthetics is a very important element of design, but only in combination with functionality and emotions can it win. And, we have to see how the customers will behave in the future. I think we will have to be more careful with the younger generations: on the one hand, we want to offer this younger generation the best experience in our caravans; on the other hand, with the higher volume of electric cars, we will have to adjust the products so that people will not be scared to buy a caravan that needs to be towed. We must not promise to this generation what we cannot deliver. I think that with some efforts on these key points, the weight, the managing of the power to the caravan, we will address some of the future needs and I am convinced that the consumers respect when you’re honest with your future efforts. I believe we cannot make a fully electrical caravan with current technology with the right user experience of freedom holidays. Many producers also explore new sustainable product design solutions. We are very much active on this and believe that sustainability is not just about weight and some new materials, which might not be durable in the long run. That’s why I think the long life of our products is still very important. The recent years pushed our industry over production capabilities. In many ways, I believe we all shall strive for stable and good quality products to deliver to our consumers, and OEMs should together focus on the main challenges the future will bring. The RV industry should play as one in honest efforts to bring the right products and experience for happy people and the planet in the future.

Current generations of Adria caravans (from left: Astella, Adora and Alpina); last on the right is the previous generation of Alpina for comparison of the exterior design (more clean lines, less plastic clutter and better storage accessibility)

Erna Povh with our editor in chief Antonio Mazzucchelli Adria Altea soft living

ONDA

Home automation on wheels

Communicating with various CL-BUS and CI-BUS protocol based devices, the new Onda gateway from AL-KO VTE allows the end user to comfortably manage the recreational vehicle

AL-KO VTE, part of AL-KO VT as well as DexKo Global, launches its new gateway: the project, which has been given the name Onda, aims to replicate what we call home automation in the home in recreational vehicles. More than a specific need we can talk about a “convenience”, in line with current market demands that seek increasingly comfortable and better connected RVs. This new product from AL-KO VTE channels the various devices in the vehicle into a single application, enhancing the user experience. We talked about this new product with Andrea Lombardi, product manager of the Onda project as well as AL-KO VTE sales manager responsible for the RV sector.

Aboutcamp BtoB: The new CL-BUS based gateway is now a reality in the AL-KO VTE landscape: what is it?

Andrea Lombardi: The new ICL12 gateway is a device developed to allow, at a hardware level, a connection and therefore a communication between the system based on CL-BUS protocol (i.e. AL-KO VTE systems) and exter-

nal devices based on CI-BUS protocol (Basic system version). This communication between systems allows us to offer our App as a control tool for the motorhome, based on the connected devices and the information available. It’s possible to take advantage of local communication via Bluetooth (Advanced version) or remote communication with data in the cloud (Pro version). Our gateway is small and lightweight, making it easy to install even in RVs with limited space, such as camper vans. It’s suitable for both motorised RVs and caravans.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Is this product reserved exclusively for RV manufacturers, or will it also be marketed in other ways?

Andrea Lombardi: The project is mainly geared towards manufacturers, but the intention is to extend the application to the aftermarket as well. The challenge here is considerable: we have to deal with retro-compatibility issues, the wide range of devices on the market and the difficulties in making installation easy for the end user. It’s essen-

tial that the vehicle is equipped with our system including the junction box and control panel.

Aboutcamp BtoB: What are the key stages in the development of the new product?

Andrea Lombardi: First of all, we de-

Words Renato Antonini

Andrea Lombardi

fined the system requirements. We did a major job of gathering feedback and requirements with customers, then we talked about defining the hardware and choosing stakeholders for the cloud part. Our goal is to be able to offer the system and provide prototype batches as early as the 2023-2024 season.

Aboutcamp BtoB: AL-KO VTE was born from the experience of CBE and Nordelettronica: to what extent has this experience contributed to the development of the new project, and how does this project fit into the broader AL-KO VTE panorama?

Andrea Lombardi: As far as the development of new products is concerned, Onda represents one of the first projects realised in synergy between the two companies. As development progressed, the major contribution in terms of know-how of both companies became apparent, as they already had a similar product, but at an earlier stage than the one we want to achieve. The system will work with both Nordelettronica and CBE equipment.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Where and how will production of the new product take place?

Andrea Lombardi: Production will be in one of our production plants, using processes and partners already managed by us. In keeping with our quality standards, we’ll carry out testing for the prototype phase and up to product validation, which will cover 100 per cent of the devices with relevant lifespan tests.

Aboutcamp BtoB: How does remote control work?

Andrea Lombardi: The end user will need to have a Wi-Fi access point inside the vehicle, with SIM and data connection, to which our gateway will connect to transmit/receive information and instructions. The data is stored in the cloud, in compliance with privacy and data protection regulations, and will be accessible to the user via our App.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Does the user have to have the latest generation of devices?

Andrea Lombardi: There are no special requirements, all you need is a Smartphone (Android 4.3 or higher, iOS 10.0 or higher) and data connection when using the system with remote connection.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Is the possibility of voice management considered fundamental for a device like yours, or is it just a plus that may appeal to end users?

Andrea Lombardi: We could call it an appreciated feature to complete the system and at a reasonable cost.

Aboutcamp BtoB: What on-board devices and utilities can you connect to?

Andrea Lombardi: It’s possible to display internal and external temperature, tank fuel level, battery charge status among other things. It’s also possible to switch lights and the water pump on and off. Additional utilities include geolocation and vehicle levelling readout, useful when parking. These are our

devices, but we’ll be able to add external devices such as a stove, refrigerator and air conditioner. More generally, the system will be set up to connect and communicate with devices, equipped with a CI-Bus communication protocol, providing information on their status or instructions on commands to be carried out. A functionality will be implemented to identify types and brands of connected devices, to present the available features to the user via widgets.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Is it possible to expand the system with new functions? If new devices are developed in the future, will it be able to interface with them?

Andrea Lombardi: The system will be constantly updated to interface with the most popular devices. We’ll be releasing updates that will also be downloadable by the end user.

Aboutcamp BtoB: You also provide the vehicle geolocation function. How important is this service for the user and how does it relate to other solutions offered by other operators, e.g. insurance companies?

Andrea Lombardi: The principle with which the application was developed is to be a hub of information relating to the vehicle, so geolocation is also an interesting utility, which nevertheless is not intended to replace or interfere with external functions or services. A typical situation in which it can be useful is searching for your vehicle when you can’t remember how to find it.

Unity is strength

In recent years, thanks to a careful acquisitions strategy, the growth of the company has been rapid, and Lippert is now working to make its activities more efficient, especially in Europe, to translate its potential into high-quality solutions and products, greater operational efficiency, and an increasingly engaging user experience

Words Paolo Galvani

Lippert is an industrial organisation that, today, brings together over 140 production plants and sites dedicated to distribution scattered throughout North America, Africa and Europe.

Its growth in recent years has been dramatic, thanks to a careful acquisition policy that has expanded the scope of its activities. In our sector, it is known primarily for its solutions dedicated to recreational vehicles

and prefabricated houses, but Lippert is actually involved in a much wider range of activities, including marine, buses, industrial vehicles and trains. In addition, there is its aftermarket activity dedicated to the caravan, automo-

A solid example: the problem was a support that was not effective in keeping the components in the correct position during assembly. This led to problems of ergonomics, quality, and compliance with production cycle times. The solution was to create quick fasteners with materials commonly found on the market: simple and effective, then used in other factories.

Giovanni Casarini

tive and marine industries.

Such a large and varied range of activities, which have not grown organically, translate into great challenges as well as extraordinary opportunities. Lippert is, therefore, working to organise its activities better, especially in Europe, where the brand is much younger than in the United States, so it can translate its massive potential into high-quality solutions and products, greater operational efficiency, and an ever more engaging user experience.

This is achieved by the careful sharing of experience between production departments, by the launch of innovative products from the research & development departments, and from a complete revision of its multi-lingual website dedicated to end users and partners.

Just Fix It!

Lippert has launched an internal program called ‘Just Fix It’. This is a structured way to allow people who work in completely different production realities to share improvements that can have an impact on product quality, production efficiency, cost savings, or improvement of safety and working conditions.

Through its internal social platform, called ‘Lippert Life’, each employee or work team can illustrate their idea in a one-minute video to show how it has brought a benefit to internal processes, products, or the work environment.

“Especially in Europe, Lippert was born out of a series of small companies that came together under one umbrella,” explains Giovanni Casarini, Lean Manager of the Caravanning and Railway division for Italy and Tunisia.

“One of the main advantages of being part of a large group is having a lot of experience spread across our factories. With ‘Just Fix It’ we urge people who work with us to not hesitate to propose even minimal improvements, and to do

Meet Lippert

Lippert is not only about products and technology, but also a user experience worthy of the brand. For this reason, the company has decided to completely restructure its European website. The goal of the redesign was to put the end user at the centre, to allow them to have everything available to get to know the company, to find its solutions, and to learn more about its products.

The new Lippert website (www.lippertcomponents.eu) now highlights all the industries in which the company operates: caravanning, marine, rail, retail (which refers to the DoubleCool brand of Polyplastic), and Equestrian. In the Product section you can find all the Lippert offers divided by category, while in the Support section you can find the Dealer Locator and the

so continuously. In this way, all the small improvements that everyone has made in their work place can be shared, instead of keeping it to themselves, with benefits that can be applied to different situations or in other parts of the world”.

An example of ‘Just Fix It’ includes the replacement a weld with an assembled reinforcement. With the same quality of the finished piece, the costs of a highly specialized operation such as welding have been saved. The assembled reinforcement can be made by anyone, as a skilled worker is not needed, and with this solution the risk of non-compliance is lower because it is much more difficult to damage the piece. There is, therefore, a saving of time, effort, and materials. “This is a symbolic case,” explains Casarini. “In itself, the concept of ‘Just Fix It’ is not so much the development of the

page dedicated to the Platinum Circle Service Centre – the programme dedicated to Lippert partners.

improvement that brings great profits in the face of large investments. Many of the ‘Just Fix It’ ideas are based on safety, without an immediate economic return, but of great corporate value.”

All Lippert employees and work teams can participate in the ‘Just Fix It’ programme, just as everyone can vote to choose the best practices. The winners get small gifts that stimulate active participation.

External handle Internal handle Emilio Gambineri

Door locking system

Innovation on doors and locks

If the process of sharing information and optimizing production processes are at the centre of the group’s internal strategies, the higher profile ones are the innovations that are frequently brought to the public and professionals. One of the main recent innovations is the new series of locks with twopoint locking that have been integrated into Lippert doors for some customers. In the future, the goal is to do this on all production and to also take advantage of the opportunity to restyle the doors. The new, two-point lock is available with and without an electric actuator, and consists of a catches and strikers locking system and a high-performance plastic activation disc. The product has passed strict quality and durability tests and is ECE R11 certified, while the external handle complies with the ECE R26 requirements for vehicle exterior parts. Thanks to a gasket that surrounds the external handle, the door lock assembly has achieved IPX5 waterproofing certification.

Ergonomics and functionality are also very important. Lippert has created a product with a simplified latch movement that helps prevent malfunctions, while the force required to open the door is the lowest on the market. Furthermore, even by applying improper twists or opening the door incorrectly, opening is always guaranteed. The locks are obviously customizable according to the customer’s needs.

“This is our first two-point lock developed entirely within the Lippert group as a consequence of integrating different small companies,” explains Emilio Gambineri, Director of Product Management Caravanning EMEA. “The division specializing in the processing of plastic components developed this lock in close communication with those who made the doors. It is therefore a synergistic product obtained from the collaboration between two compa-

nies that were not previously within the same group. By exploiting internal skills, we have thus developed a component that we previously purchased from third parties”.

Safety first

Doors and locks are not the only area in which Lippert brings innovation. Safety, for example, is a fundamental element for recreational vehicles, both to protect the vehicle itself and the occupants.

The innovative Furrion Vision S line of cameras and wireless kits can eliminate blind spots during maneuvering and bring exterior-vehicle monitoring capabilities to RVs, trucks, specialty vehicles, trailers, and more. These systems

Refrigeration: 10 days

are highly reliable, thanks to the use of a wireless digital signal that operates on the 2.4 GHz frequency, ensuring stability and also operating over long distances of up to 150 metres.

All the cameras offer sharp images, wide viewing angles and night vision, while the monitors are available in three sizes – 4.3, 5 and 7 inches – with the ability to display images from side, rear and/or side doors cameras. The smaller display only supports one camera, while the two larger ones can have up to four, shown individually or simultaneously.

A motion sensor makes the system activate automatically. The control monitor, available with both a suction cup and a table support (there is also the option of installing it on the wall), can be easily moved inside the motorhome or caravan habitation area, or even outside, as long as you have a 12 volt power supply. In this way, the situation outside the vehicle can be checked at any time. The image delay of the cameras is less than 0.2 seconds.

What has been discussed here is only a small part of what Lippert is undertaking to enrich its product portfolio and to increase efficiency and quality. It is on a path destined to lead the multinational to be increasingly prominent and successful in the caravanning sector, and beyond.

The Furrion eRove compressor cooler is one of the latest innovations from Lippert. Perfect for camping, boating, and all off-grid travel, it’s a high-tech solution to a problem that outdoor enthusiasts have always struggled with: keeping food and drinks safe and fresh without compromising time spent outdoors. With 46.1 litres capacity and best-inclass insulation technology, the eRove can keep ice from melting longer than any other device – up to 10 days. This means that eRove offers the best cooling performance available today. It is powered by 12V or 230V, and thanks to its optional rechargeable battery, the ePod - included in the Camping Pack and in the Adventure Pack kits, together with the trolley that allows for easier travel - guarantees up to 5 days of autonomy, even as a freezer.

The Adventure Pack includes a 100W photovoltaic module which allows it to be charged when there is no access to the electricity grid. This makes eRove one of the most versatile and effective portable compressor refrigerators on the market today.

Furrion Vision S line system

LAMILUX SUNSATION®

THE WORLD’S MOST COLOUR AND GLOSS RESISTANT COMPOSITE MATERIAL

Your Benefits

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Thetford launches two new compressor fridge models

The increasing trend towards end mounted fridges in panel van conversions has prompted Thetford to launch two new models with this application in mind

Words Terry Owen

T2090-E

It’s just 18 months since Thetford launched its T2000 series of highly efficient compressor fridges. It’s fair to say they’ve been a great success, with those designed specifically for panel van conversions doing particularly well. The T2090-C and its taller cousin the T2138, are fabricated to fit the roof curve of Stellantis panel vans whilst allowing the OEM to offer an easy change of fridge capacity according to market demands.

But OEMs also found that the T2090-C could be end mounted under the kitchen top, especially if they removed and relocated its control panel to provide a sensible height for the worktop above. This arrangement allows the fridge to be accessed from both inside and outside the van when the sliding door is open. Whilst the layout can work very well, it’s not something the fridge was ever designed for.

T2090-E

This change of use prompted Thetford to come up with a new version, the T2090-E, better suited to end mounting. It retains the T2090 cabinet, but comes with a remote-control panel that can be fitted using clamping or screws. This allows the fridge height to be reduced by 50 mm to 925 mm. The control panel features tactile buttons and a 1.7 metre cable to connect it to the fridge. It’s suitable for wall thicknesses from 8 to 15 mm. A range of required venting options is suggested. The climate class is a combined SN/ST for day mode or SN in night mode.

T2095

The requirement for an end mounted fridge coupled with the recent shortage of Stellantis product got Thetford’s designers interested in designing something completely new with these new requirements in mind. The alternatives to Stellantis such as Ford, MAN, Mercedes, and VW are all slightly narrower internally, potentially resulting in reduced hallway widths on conversion. The result is the T2095, an easy access drawer model with a high space efficiency and some innovative features. To offset a narrower hallway, Thetford’s T2095 is 20 mm narrower than the T2090-E at 400 mm. It’s also 17 mm lower in height, at 908 mm, to give designers more flexibility with worktop heights and thicknesses. At the same time the tactile control panel has been moved inside the cabinet to give a clean look. An internal fan ensures all areas remain evenly cool in this unusual layout.

Despite these slightly reduced dimensions, a total internal volume of 90 litres is retained. This includes a frozen food compartment of 7 litres, which is set back to allow tall objects to reside in the drawer below. When not needed the frozen food compartment can be switched off to save electricity. The cooling unit is mounted low down

at the rear and sits proud of the cabinet. This maximises the space inside whilst providing space above for a sink, hob, or service pipework. Venting is via a two-way grille just above floor level in the hallway. The climate class is an impressive SN/T or SN in night mode. Although crash testing is not mandatory for motorhomes Thetford also considered what might happen to an end mounted fridge, facing the direction of travel, in the event of a frontal impact. The forces on it could be enough to cause detachment and so, with this in mind, the T2095 is supplied with two M10 bolts that allow the vehicle specific fridge chassis to be bolted to the floor. These bolts are in addition to the normal side fixing screws. The bolts are accessed via the ventilation panel making fitting and removal a doddle.

A three-point door locking mechanism ensures the contents remain inside in the event of a crash. Tests on a rig simulating a 30 kph frontal impact produced a peak loading of 9.5 G but the fridge remained firmly attached to the floor, despite having 12.5 kg of contents. As

you might imagine, all this strengthening adds a little weight to the fridge but it still acquits itself nicely at just 33 kg. All Thetford fridges come with a user interface and CI-Bus connectivity. Both the new fridges are available for OEMs to fit now.

T2090-E remote control panel

Compressor cooling

Floor fixing

T2095 dimensions

Successful customer centre model

AL-KO Vehicle Technology (AL-KO VT) knows that it’s not just first-class products, but also a customer-focused service strategy that are essential to ensure a company resonates well with wholesalers and end customers alike. This is what the customer centres and the AL-KO Academy stand for

Words Peter Hirtschulz

AL-KO Vehicle Technology Group employees ensure that customers are always the focus and priority at AL-KO VT, led by the experienced CEO Harald Hiller and, particularly in the customer centres, Guido Kovermann, Senior Vice President After Sales and Customer Centre, and Michael Duckek, Head of the Customer Centre in Kötz (the company’s original site) and coordinator for all European Customer Centre locations.

As Harald Hiller says: “The needs of our customers change along with market conditions and trends. To ensure our customers always get exactly the products they expect from us, we are constantly expanding our range and adapting it to these new directions or wishes in close coordination with our suppliers and body manufacturers. This allows us to provide our customers with individual support for as long as they use their AL-KO VT products, to ensure their vehicle is comfortable and future-proof on the road.”

There are currently six customer centres across Europe: three in Germany, in Neukirchen-Vörden (North), in Elsdorf (West) and in Kötz (South); one in Nieuw-Vennep (Benelux) in the Netherlands; one in Louhans-Cedex (France) and one in Verona (Italy). In April 2023, the opening of a seventh customer centre is planned in Ramsau in the Zillertal valley in Austria.

“The new customer centre in Ramsau in the Zillertal valley in Austria is another step closer to the customer and an excellent addition to AL-KO VT’s close-knit service network in Europe,” says Günther Schöllenberger, Managing Director AL-KO Vehicle Technology Austria. “Its ideal geographical location on Europe’s north-south axis also makes the Ramsau Customer

Centre a good place for a stopover during your holiday trip.”

He continues: “Also farmers, craftsmen and tourism businesses in the region will benefit from our expertise in all aspects of commercial trailers with a gross weight of up to 3.5 tonnes. Professional brake system maintenance and repair is of the ut-

most importance for safety, especially in this mountainous region.”

The customer centres offer owners of leisure vehicles, light commercial vehicles and trailers a wide range of services and products from the Group’s AL-KO brand and its affiliated product brands such as SAWIKO, E&P and CBE. Besides classic maintenance and repair work as well as increasing the payload of the body, the service portfolio also includes the installation of air suspension and levelling systems as well as driving assistance systems, e. g. anti-snaking systems. Vehicles with an AL-KO chassis and axle naturally benefit from all special work being carried out in original equipment manufacturer quality. Moreover, bicycle carriers, towbars or motorbike loading ramps for motorhomes can be installed.

The site not only offers complete technical expertise: it also has the optimal equipment for top-quality work. Hydraulic ramps for vehicles and trailers are available to carry out workshop tasks quickly and reliably. Brake test stands for trailers as well as state-of-the-art

processing machinery round off the equipment, as do visitor lounges and showrooms with the latest product presentations.

It is not only end customers who are comprehensively catered for. And this is where the term ‘customer centre’ takes on a whole new dimension: AL-KO VT also takes care of its partners and wholesalers through its workshops. “In order to provide the best possible customer service and be able to overcome any situation confidently as a competent contact, constant training is the key to success. In our seminars, we impart the specialist knowledge needed to keep professional and practical capabilities honed to the highest level. Our range of seminars offers the ideal opportunity for active training to expand the workshop and accessories business,” says Guido Kovermann, describing the AL-KO Academy’s advantages for wholesalers. The customer centres are not in competition with the wholesalers, but rather provide a regional or national link between ALKO VT, partners and end customers.

This Europe-wide system will be expanded by another link in April 2023. “The customer centre in Ramsau in the beautiful Zillertal Valley in Austria is an excellent addition to our broad support network,” says Michael Duckek. Duckek knows what he is talking about, because AL-KO VT’s success story of retrofitting, repair and maintenance began some ten years ago with the customer centre in Kötz in southern Germany. Particularly when it comes to advice-intensive topics such as payload increases or selecting the right air suspension, customers are certain to find the right contacts here: seasoned workshop professionals whose sole ambition is to make customer wishes come true in the best way possible. Guido Kovermann sums it up: “Our customers invest in a high-quality vehicle consisting of high-quality components –and we always show them even more optimisation possibilities. To enable them to continuously improve the efficiency and quality of their driving experience, we offer our visitors all the advice and support possible.” In this regard, for example, the customer centres now also offer financing offers in response to popular customer demand, as is familiar from the purchase of a car.

The customer centre concept ensures: AL-KO VT and the entire DexKo Group are a respected expert partner worldwide, not only for end customers, but also in particular for wholesalers, manufacturers and suppliers. Or, as DexKo CEO Fred Bentley always reminds his teams: “Our Group’s highest priority is customer proximity as our core strength. We are always ready to answer questions and are passionate about providing custom tailored solutions.”

Michael Duckek and Guido Kovermann

Harald Hiller

Alde’s new Compact 3030 boilers raise the bar

Alde’s Compact boilers have long set the standard for ultimate comfort in RV heating, with many improvements being made over the years. Now Alde has pushed the boundaries again with the launch of its new Compact 3030 boiler models

The standard model features a 20% larger hot water tank and the ability to control the heating in two separate zones, rather than the usual one. A new, more intuitive, colour touchscreen control panel completes the package. Meanwhile the Compact 3030 Plus version allows for continuous hot water, in addition to the above. Over and above its new boilers Alde has also launched its AquaClear water purification system for RVs (see later). OEMs have long known that fitting Alde helps sales; the Compact 3030 boilers and AquaClear products enhance that appeal, whilst providing good reasons for end users to change their RV’s.

Compact 3030 boiler

20% larger hot water capacity

The Covid-19 pandemic caused a change in the way people use their RVs. Instead of using communal washing facilities, more and more are preferring to use their on-board showers and kitchen sinks. Hot water performance has therefore never been more important for

these end users. In response Alde has increased the capacity of the hot water tank from 8.5 to 10.0 litres. This 20% increase in capacity is quite significant, often enabling two showers to be taken in quick succession.

Multi-zone heating

With multi-zone control the bedroom area can be set to a lower temperature for sleeping, whilst the lounge area can be at a higher temperature, ideal for watching TV or socialising. This is perfect for many of today’s RVs, where the bedroom area is well separated from the lounge area. Not only does this increase the overall level of comfort in the RV, it also saves fuel – a winwin for both the RV manufacturer and the end user.

Words Terry Owen

These enhancements have been achieved with only a small weight penalty (0.8 kg) over the previous 3020 model, which is now being phased out.

New control panel

Alde has upgraded the classic colour touchscreen with a new user interface. In addition to controlling the two optional heating zones, there is now a label-driven interface to make the various functions even more self-explanatory.

Alde Intelligent Climate Technology (ICT) Enhancements

Alde heating systems contain built in software that works in the background to maximise climate comfort. This has been further improved for the 3030

boilers through:

• Increased use of telemetry from indoor and outdoor temperature sensors.

• Rebalanced energy optimisation based on power source priority.

• A smoother heating curve.

• Automatic climate control compatible with the widest range of Truma A/C systems.

Compact 3030 Plus boiler: continuous hot water

Over and above the standard 3030 boiler, the 3030 Plus variant allows for continuous hot water at a flow rate of 4 litres per minute, assuming cold water can be supplied. This is perfect for showering or any other purpose.

Previously, continuous hot water required the addition of the Alde Flow device. Whilst this does work very well, it takes up extra space and adds some weight. The 3030 Plus eliminates all that with just a small weight penalty (0.7 kg) compared to the standard 3030 model.

Alde AquaClear water treatment solution

If there’s one thing that all campers agree on it’s the need for safe, clean water for drinking and washing. Even if you’re on a site with a good mains supply it doesn’t mean the water will still be pure by the time it exits the taps on your vehicle. This is because RV water systems can spend extended periods with little use, allowing bacteria to build up. On board storage tanks can also harbour bugs and be difficult to clean thoroughly. With these thoughts in mind, along with the rise in the popularity of wild camping, Alde’s engi-

Eliminates

neers decided there was a need for a simple and effective solution. Carbon filters, comprising activated charcoal, are highly effective at removing bad tastes and odours but do little, if anything, to remove bacteria and viruses. A very good way to deal with these is to expose them to ultra-violet light, specifically UV-C. This short wavelength version of UV light has the power to destroy micro-organisms, including E-coli and Legionella. The UV-C light from the sun gets filtered out by the earth’s atmosphere but it can be produced arti-

ficially using mercury vapour lamps or, more recently, LEDs. The latter is what Alde uses in its AquaClear UV-C unit. This is placed in the feed from the fresh water tank or container and immediately before Alde’s accompanying carbon filter. The result of the two together is odour and germ-free water that can be used throughout the vehicle. Also, when fitted in conjunction with Alde’s Compact 3030 boilers, the status of the AquaClear can be checked through the control panel.

Legionella bacteria

Chlorine

Smell

Pesticides

Heavy metals

Taste

Control panel screenshots with a new user interface

New ways to heat and insulate

Low-consumption heating fabrics and Aerogel-based thermal insulation: proposals that go beyond the traditional way of manufacturing

Words Renato Antonini

In recent years, Ama Composites has dedicated time and resources to boosting innovative solutions dedicated to RV insulation and heating. The company’s focus is on introducing high-performance materials, advanced technological solutions and cutting-edge systems into a traditional sector such as RVs, which allow for energy savings, reduced polluting emissions and improved living comfort.

“We are successfully experimenting with cutting-edge solutions to improve the thermal insulation of RVs,” says Marco Benatti, Product Manager at AMA Composites, “but also to increase on-board climatic comfort through the use of unconventional heating systems. We have been offering nanotechnology and the use of Aerogel to achieve an excellent thermal insulation. Moreover, we have also developed

low-consumption electric underfloor heating systems that can complement conventional heating systems more efficiently. We have always tried to overcome the limitations of a production based on traditional techniques, with a scant inclination towards innovation. At one time this way of behaving in the RV sector was partly justified by the need to keep costs reigned in in a growing market. Today, this scenario has changed: the cost-benefit ratio has to be carefully evaluated, taking into account the higher level of comfort demanded by users, the need to limit the weight of vehicles and the necessity to reduce environmental impact.”

Heating fabric

Ama Composites offers the AMATHERM supplementary heating system for the cockpit of RVs and the

interior of pleasure boats. It consists of a heating membrane, a mat made of a fabric composed of a continuous conductive metal thread (copper) and glass filaments with a continuous non-textured yarn. Also marketed under the name Jess, the AMATHERM radiant technology allows heat to be radiated only to the targeted areas and rapidly heats the selected spots. It is possible to use this system in various areas of the cockpit. The AMATHERM conductive fabric can be laid on the floor, wall or ceiling.

“The possibilities offered by AMATHERM heating mats are extensive,” continues Marco Benatti, “because this particular fabric has a limited thickness and can be shaped as desired. What’s more, it can be incorporated into composite materials, which allows it to function efficiently yet be invisible. OEM applications are possible, but also after-market solutions.”

A fixed connection to the vehicle’s 12V system can be set up for the power supply, but it is also possible to provide a connection to an electrical socket, e.g. the cigarette lighter socket in the cabin, so that the user can quickly choose when to plug it in. The AMATHERM fabric inserted in a carpet can take on a variety of shapes, contoured to fit the various points in the cockpit according to the shapes of the various furnishings. For example, with a T-shape, it can fit into the driver’s cabin by slotting between the seats and the central console. It is possible to provide heating for only one part of the mat.

“Heating mats with AMATHERM fabric can be tailor-made according to the customer’s wishes,” continues Marco Benatti, “not only in terms of shape, but also in terms of voltage (12 V, 24 V or other) and power, allowing the customer to balance power consumption and temperature as they wish. Normally the heating mat

is calibrated for a temperature of 2530° C, but this product is capable of reaching 250° C. In the case of ceiling installation, the heating fabric is covered with another finishing material, which doesn’t interfere with the heat transmission. The possibility of embedding the AMATHERM con ductive fabric in a GRP laminate or other composite material, applying it between the various lay ers of resin and fabrics that make up the material itself, shouldn’t be underestimat ed. With this system, for exam ple, it’s possible to create heated walls or floors in RV bathrooms.”

Insulation with Aerogel

Thanks to its involvement in a variety of sectors, such as building & construction, Ama Composites has been able to experiment with super-insulating materials that it has recently introduced to the RV sector as well. These are special composites based on Aerogel, a high-performance thermal insulator, also used in the aerospace sector. There may be various applications in the RV sector, and Ama Composites believes that Aerogel is a winning solution for the thermal insulation of camper vans, vehicles that have always posed more problems for insulation due to the original sheet metal bodywork. Ama Composites reiterates that Aerogel-based insulation can be applied ten times thinner than traditional polystyrene or rock wool insulation. Based on nano silicon dioxide, Ama Composites’ Aerogel-based insulation is fireproof (Class A2) and does not absorb water. There is a wide range: the semi-rigid panels, with thicknesses varying from 2 mm to 10 mm, can be cut to the desired size, while the product in mouldable plastic form is able to follow the various contours of the shell and can also be inserted into small places. There are

also special Aerogel-based paints, which can be applied with a thickness of 200-300 microns, and with which the chosen shape can be fully coated, even if it has an extremely complex three-dimensional shape.

Marco Benatti

AMATHERM floor heating system on DELUXE 695 by ATLANTIS

AEROGEL Rear insulation Treatment

AMA T-ZONE

Carpet with connection to the cigarette lighter socket in the cabin

Call to UK market

Filippi 1971 has appointed Scan-Térieur as its exclusive distributor in the UK of its vast range of customized products

New projects and new investments, but also new markets: after broadening its offer, Filippi 1971 wants to strengthen its presence in some specific areas. The recent participation in the NEC in Birmingham (Caravan Camping & Motorhome Show 2023) goes in this direction and marks the official entry of Filippi 1971 on the UK market. After analyzing the peculiarities of the RV sector in the UK, the company decided to intervene with the support of an established local distributor, Scan-Térieur. In a few months Filippi 1971 will still be involved in Birmingham, in the autumn edition of the NEC. Entry into the UK had been expected for some time, but was postponed due to the difficulties that arose with the start of Brexit and the start of the Covid pandemic.

“After consolidating our presence on most European markets and reaffirmed our historic presence in Australia - says Francesca Filippi, sales and marketing manager of Filippi 1971the time has come to face such an important and stimulating market like UK with the due commitment. We have a lot to offer to local builders and we are convinced that our strengths are production flexibility and a truly vast range of products. We are able to support both artisan companies that make a

few vehicles a year, and large manufacturers with important serial productions”.

Words Renato Antonini

Here and above: doors with a ribbed surface

Cabinet doors of all types

“Among the various proposals with which we are presenting ourselves there is a new door with a ribbed surface – explains Francesca Filippi – we can consider it our tribute to the UK market. It is a product with great expressive potential, which follows the latest trends in Interior Design. In general, the ribbed surface is varnished, but we can cover it with the decorations already used by the builders, matching the rest of the furniture”.

The new door is one of the special products that Filippi 1971 is able to manufacture. The company offers a truly vast range of interior furnishing solutions for motorhomes, caravans and campervans. The core business of Filippi 1971 remains the laminated panels, which have reached a level of excellence thanks to over twenty years of experience. A significant part of the company’s turnover is made of wood-based doors supplied to manufacturers in more than 25 different countries all over the world. The basis for this type of product is plywood: mostly Italian poplar is used, but there are also other types of sustainable substrates such as E-Wood. Various types of decorative films are used for the finishing, such as Finish Paper, PVC, PP, CPL and Alkorcell. Filippi 1971 can manufacture also laminates that can be customized thanks to the digital printing carried out internally, with any design or texture, even with 3D effects and with a very flexible production. The doors can be of vari-

Scan-Térieur

Scan-Térieur has been a preferred supplier to the leisure vehicle industry for over 40 years, supplying all key manufacturers with industry equipment. Among the reasons why Filippi 1971 has chosen Scan-Térieur as its representative agents is the continuous innovation and sourcing of new products that has maintained them at the forefront of the leisure vehicle industry supply chain, building strong relationships with customers and delivering exceptional level of service and quality.

VittEr®

The spearhead of Filippi 197’s exclusive products is VittEr®. It is a versatile compact laminate, very resistant and fully customizable that does not require any edging. The high mechanical resistance allows it to be done also in slabs with reduced thicknesses and weight. It is an anti-scratch material, resistant to heat and water. There are ample choices for color, also with customized digital printing ad textures. The color of the edges can be different from the top and stratified in a customized composition. Furthermore, being formaldehyde-free, VittEr® is certified to be suitable for contact with food, fitting perfectly in the kitchens as well as in the bathrooms. For example, stove and sink lids are made in VittEr®, but also decorative and safety elements placed near the stove, such as the window frame, the kitchen splashback and the protective wall.

ous types, both flat and curved, as well as postforming doors. Special processes are possible, upon customer request: convex doors, doors that integrate lighting elements, doors with a particular edge cut. It is possible to integrate particular materials, for example special upholstery materials or high-quality gloss coatings.

Complete furnishing kits

Filippi 1971’s activity does not stop at laminated panels and cabinet doors: in fact, the company is also able to produce complete furnishing kits. In 2017 the internal joinery was inaugurated, where entire furnishing sets can be built in series, from the simplest ones to kits of up to even 350 components or more. The joinery is able to produce both flat elements and curved pieces. Each component is labeled with a bar code: it is possible to integrate the labeling with the codes supplied by the customer to speed up operations on the assembly line. In addition to blockboard panels, the company offers lightweight sandwich panels for table tops or other applications, with an internal core in low-density expanded polystyrene or expanded polyurethane. The Filippi 1971 carpentry shop also meets the needs of those builders who, despite having their own carpentry shop, do not want to engage in small series or in particular processes that require high manual skills. The joinery is also equipped to work with special materials, such as composites.

Francesca Filippi

Mark Horseman + Ian Hughes, Scan-Térieur directors

Kitchen bench top in sandwich panel and VittEr® surface

Sink covers in customized VittEr®

The decals that make the difference

The company now makes much of the exterior decals used in the European RV sector. Manufacturing flexibility and the ability to work just in time characterises its operating methods

Words Renato Antonini

Exterior decals have always been used to characterise the image of RVs and to differentiate the various brands, but in recent years they are being used in a really big way. It is a fashionable trend and a lot of effort goes into studying how to make vehicles more and more aesthetically pleasing. MB Trading has

been able to interpret this tendency with a graphics department capable of keeping up with demands and with investments in machinery and new work management principles. “We were not thinking about the RV sector when we started our business in 1997” , admitted Walter Bracci, founding partner of MB Trading.

“Actually, we grew when we launched several proposals to Italian RV manufacturers in 2011. After the first deliveries to SEA, we approached the world of camper vans with decals for the models made by the Trigano group at the Italian plant in Atessa. We then became suppliers to other Italian manufacturers, like Rimor, and soon after our decals became known and appreciated all across Europe. Considering the motorised RVs produced in Europe, almost one in four has MB Trading decals today. Today, 85% of our turnover comes from the RV sector”.

Punctuality and flexibility

But what is the secret of this Italian company’s success? Firstly, it is based in Tuscany, in the area where almost all Italian RV production sites are located, but this factor is actually less important than it seems. What counts most is delivery, flexibility and punctuality but also creativity and the ability to provide a complete service to customers.

“Quality, efficiency, punctuality and being able to adapt to specific customer requirements is what characterises the service we offer to companies in the RV sector” , Walter Bracci continued. “They choose MB Trading because they know that they can rely on production speed and on-time delivery. To achieve this, we have an in-house graphics department, state-of-the-art machinery and an adequate number of employees. This is why we are competitive and popular in the RV sector”. Three people were working in the company in 1998. Today there are sixty and this number that has allowed MB Trading to become an industry that is appreciated throughout Europe. The plant was expanded in 2021, doubling the available space.

Just in time

New machinery – four printing plotters and two large cutting plotters – was also purchased in the same year. Today production is carried out on twelve printing presses and nine automated cutting plotters. Printing techniques have evolved since 2011, resulting in higher speed and better definition, but there has also been an expansion of the colour range and an increase in the number of print media employed.

Model customisation

The graphics department is one of the strengths of MB Trading. Six people work in it and it can draw designs for customers independently, offering customised solutions for small quantities and large batches alike. The plant still has a conventional

Of particular interest is the fact that MB Trading can work following just-in-time principles. For customers, this means avoiding the need to have a well-stocked warehouse, less occupied floor space, lower investments, less risk of deterioration of goods and no waste if they are not used.

MB Trading can work closely with the customer organising the supply of decals precisely and independently by direct access to their corporate portals. Knowing when a specific vehicle model will be produced, a dedicated decal kit can be delivered to the manufacturer, even the day before the vehicle reaches the production line, without going through a warehouse.

Over the years MB Trading has understood the needs of RV builders, has successfully adapted to changes in the market and production and has invested in offering an increasingly efficient service. The achieved results prove that the choices were right.

Company Profile

M.B. Trading srl is one of the leading italian and international companies in the field of printing for industrial and advertising decorations. Cutting-edge technologies, orientation towards innovation and creativity are at the base of a wide range of products and solutions that enable M.B. Trading to dress and decorate surfaces and materials of any kind. M.B. Trading’s printing techniques range from screen printing, with an over 20 years experience, to the most innovative digital printing. The company covers a total area of 4000 square meters and has 60 employees.

screen-printing line with a UV oven capable of high-volume production. Range fragmentation has been a defining trend in recent years in the European RV sector. This means that a lot of different models – that often need specific decals – are produced.

MB Trading can meet this need by exploiting modern digital printing processes, allowing production flexibility and excellent quality even for small batches. The various models can be customised at a low cost. This is also important to differentiate the ranges of the various brands, built on common platforms within the same group.

Words Peter Hirtschulz

Celebrating 30 years of innovation

Langenargen was once known simply as a beautiful town on the shores of Lake Constance, just as the name aguti only referred to a lovable South American rodent, nicknamed the ‘golden hare’. Not any more; three decades of hard work and engineering excellence from seating specialists Aguti has put their home town and animal mascot firmly on the map in the recreational vehicle community. Since starting operations in early 1993, Aguti Produktentwicklung & Design GmbH has grown consistently into a trusted supplier for an ever expanding base of OEM customers, reaching annual sales of more than 50,000 units to over 20 countries from its modern headquarters at Langenargen, and several production and assembly sites around Europe. “Aguti’s 30 years is a remarkable story of expansion and innovation, which has

been achieved thanks to the creative spirit and hard work of everyone who has worked for the company, including in our production and assembly partners,” says Sebastian Janssen, Managing Director of Aguti. “Several of our team members were here in the very early days of Aguti and we are proud that our company has grown together with the engineers who started the story all those years ago.”

Innovating from humble beginnings

The seeds of future growth were sowed 30 years ago when an innovative new design was integrated into the first Aguti seats, produced in a former greenhouse in Kressbronn, just a few kilometres inland from Langenargen. By creating one of the first seat belt-integrated motorhome seats, Aguti quickly caught the attention of manufacturers, initially

Aguti, the leading supplier of seat technology to the motorhome and camper van industry, celebrates a significant milestone in 2023 marking three decades of growth and innovation

Sebastian Janssen. Above: New Aguti Comfort Bench Slide-Out

developing for Knaus before expanding to other clients. Series production helped Aguti seats became known within a demanding customer base for their supreme comfort and adjustability, making them ideal for relaxed long-distance drives and relaxing at the destination. A broader range of products was introduced, including swivel fixations, bench seats and rail systems, all displaying the Aguti hallmark of high-quality, user-friendly engineering.

Expanding through excellence

What started as a visionary design project was quickly becoming an established player within the industry, and this required a modern, dedicated facility. Therefore in 2003, Aguti moved into a new, purpose-built headquarters, decorated in its signature black and gold colouring, to allow an expansion of research and development, engineering and innovation capabilities. Those efforts proved spectacularly successful and, in 2005, Aguti looked back on five-year growth which saw sales quadruple, with a workforce now three times larger, and the capacity to contribute to wider social targets via new apprentice and internship positions. Customer expectations are constantly evolving, particularly within the motorhome sector, and Aguti’s quest for improvement continued, broadening to include lightweight engineering which would soon become a priority for electric vehicle developers. Those efforts were strengthened in 2012 when a tensile testing system was installed to allow in-house material testing and TÜV certification.

A strategic alliance

Aguti’s craftsmanship and engineering made it the market leader, so a strategic alliance with a multi-sector, global giant was an obvious next step. This came in 2019 when agreement was reached for AL-KO to take ownership of Aguti, bringing the Langenargen company also within the DexKo Group, the world’s leading manufacturer of highly-engineered running gear for trailer, motorhome and towable equipment manufacturers. “Since becoming part of our family three years ago, Aguti has complimented the DexKo and AL-KO strategy and our core business, creating a value-added partnership which delivers benefit to our customers,” explains Harald Hiller, Pres-

ident and CEO of AL-KO Vehicle Technology Group. Expanding on Aguti’s contribution to the wider company, Fred Bentley, President and CEO of DexKo Global Inc, adds: “I have been impressed how Aguti has grown over the years whilst retaining the creative, customer-focused approach for which they have become known over the last three decades. DexKo is proud to count Aguti as part of our family since January 2020 and they are an important part of our continued growth within the motorhome and recreational vehicle supply chain.”

New markets, new products

Utilising the synergies offered within the wider group and bringing its own independent spirit of creativity to the new organisation, Aguti has continued to prosper. It enters its fourth decade as a benchmark for seating excellence, exporting comfort and safety around the world to thousands of customers each year, including a prestigious entry into the Japanese market from 2023 with Toy-Factory, Japan’s leading converter of recreational vehicles. The latest contribution to Aguti’s product line is the Slide-Out comfort bench, which brings new levels of comfort to passengers, both on the road and at their destination, thanks to a comprehensive range of comfortable configurations and independent adjustments. The seat, including the headrest, slides out by 110 mm for extra width, and each can independently be moved forward by up to 100 mm. The backrest also reclines to a relaxing angle to ensure a comfortable solution for every occupant. The elegant double seat appears as a single unit, thanks to clever integration of functionality and the belt frame, while high-quality moulded polyurethane foams provide perfect ergonomic support for all body types and allow manufacturers to customise the cover materials and thread colours with premium stitching for additional sophistication. Various widths and frame heights are available for motorhome manufacturers and fitters, with ready-made solutions for Fiat Ducato, MAN TGE and Ford Transit vehicles. In a highly competitive industry, and within an ever-changing world, Aguti continues to innovate to thrive, and already has ambitious targets for the next three decades and beyond.

Early Aguti seat

Early tensile test

Maller: a success story that’s turning 50

From 1973 to 2023: half a century of activity for the Italian company engaged in the production of faced panels, 50 years of history that are celebrated with a rebranding activity and participation at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf

An important milestone for Maller, which celebrates its 50th birthday in 2023. A specialist in the production of veneered panels for the RV and mobile home industry, Maller is one of the companies in the Sandei group, and has many benefits from belonging to such a well-structured group.

Maller has had a remarkable growth in the last five years, which is still continuing. It has been able to rely on controlling the entire production process thanks to the other companies in the group which deal with poplar plantations and wood transformation.

Over 60% of Maller’s turnover comes from supplying the RV sector. The company has an impressive history, but there was a noticeably increase in its growth

after a big change occurred in 2017. “Our family has been involved in the wood sector for over half a century,” explains Maurizio Sandei, owner and president of all the companies in the Sandei group. “In 2000 we created Industria Compensati Colorno for the production of plywood panels of different thicknesses with veneers of various types to be used as a support for finishing and other transformations. In 2017 we acquired Maller, with the aim of growing it to become the market leader. We took over a company that was still known for its good performance of the past, but that needed a strong renewal. We have invested a lot and continue to do so: between mid2021 and the end of 2022, we invested €3 million to modernize machines, buildings

Words Andrea Cattaneo

and the logistics department. Since 2018, when we started managing sales, Maller has had a growth of 25% per year. We also have plantations: when we started five years ago we planted 40,000 trees, this year we will cultivate 9,000 poplars and the goal is to reach at least 70,000 trees,” added Maurizio Sandei.

The group and the supply chain

The Sandei group began supplying wood to the RV sector many years ago with Industria Compensati Colorno. This company specializes in the production of plywood support panels, of variable thicknesses and types to supply to RV builders.

Maller is responsible for the production of the finished panels and creates faced

Elisabetta Sandei Nicola Di Benedetto

Maurizio Sandei

Maller’s 50 year anniversary will also be celebrated with a rebranding. “The history of the company is important, but we are now writing a new chapter regarding Maller’s future,” – says Elisabetta Sandei, CEO of Maller. “The new logo is important: it is a spiral that may look like a reel but at the same time an eye, with a style that looks ahead at 360 degrees,” she added.

At the same time, the website www.maller.it will also be redesigned and will highlight the company’s certifications. Maller is ISO9001 and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified, all products are certified through analyzes by specialized and accredited external laboratories.

panels for furnishing elements at the production site in Parma. The synergy between the various companies of the group is fundamental and offers security and continuity of supplies.

“Clients trust Maller because they know that it is a company that has a supply chain linked to the production of raw materials behind it,” - explains Nicola Di Benedetto, Sales Director of Maller. “In fact, we are not dependent on market fluctuations because we have our own supply chain via the Sandei group. Maller is part of a group that directly controls the entire production cycle: purchase of trees, cultivation of plants, cutting of wood, production of support panels, purchase of decorative paper and, finally, production of faced panels. The company was set up to give real support in critical moments, such as what the RV sector is experiencing now: we can process orders within 24 hours, thanks to the supply chain and the well-stocked raw material warehouse,” he added.

There are four active plants within the Maller production site: three dedicated to veneer application and one to laying CPL laminate. There are also two side-by-side squaring plants, one of which also works in sizing. This allows high performance as the panels are worked with specific technical measurement criteria, something that’s extremely important in the processing of MDF panels for the door sector. The company has a production potential of 9,000 faced panels per day. Maller has invested heavily in the potential and specialization of the machinery. The finishing systems are state-of-the-art machines, which guarantee a high quality of the product and make it possible to manage thicknesses ranging from 1.6 mm to 40 mm. For further refinement, the two main plants have a sanding machine that smooths the panels so that they arrive at the finishing stage perfectly smooth and free of imperfections.

Exhibiting at Düsseldorf

Maller will be present at the 2023 edition of the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf: it will be an opportunity to reaffirm its presence on the European market and make itself known on the international scene. The synergy between the companies of the group will be highlighted at the stand by showing how the group creates a raw panel and then transforms into a veneered panel. “We want to give the company global visibility,” concludes Maurizio Sandei. “We are starting a scouting activity on various markets: United States, South America and Africa. We want to make people understand the wide range of choices we offer to international customers. Before we only produced semi-finished raw wood products, but now we have a large production capacity of quality finished products, which can create strong characteristics for the habitation compartment of the RV. I am delighted to see our panels incorporated into modern and stylish furnishings aboard recreational vehicles. Being part of this supply chain makes us proud,” he continued.

CTA revolution

CTA’s new production site is up and running, propelling the company’s operations into the future

Words and photo Andrea Cattaneo

CTA’s new production site has been in operation since 2022 and is now working at full throttle, marking a milestone in the Italian company’s growth. We at Aboutcamp BtoB went to visit the new facility and met the CTA team. The factory covers an area of 10,000 square metres, almost half of which is under cover. The buildings house the production department (3,000 sqm) and the warehouse (1,200 sqm), but there are also administrative offices and the technical department.

“After forty-five years in business and steady growth over the latest period, the time had come to scale up and look to the future,” explains Dario Bellezze, the founder’s son and current CEO of the company, “which is why we invested not only in a large new building, but also in state-of-the-art machinery and production processes. Lean-oriented manufacturing strategies enable a significant boost in production, but also increase production flexibility and decrease lead times. There has been a significant investment in terms of human resources

and staff training: over forty people now work in the company, a number that has practically doubled in three years. The technical department has been implemented and we have a new production manager, Alessandro Ferrara, who already has ten years’ experience in Operations inside the company”.

Digital transformation

CTA has set itself a clear goal: to streamline all processes with the focus on customer satisfaction. With this mission always in mind, the company is aiming to increase production while maintaining high product quality, meeting the increasingly demanding requirements of the market in terms of numbers and costs. A pivotal figure in the development of the new production site is Alessandro Polidoro, an engineer and external company advisor, who has considerable experience in digital transformation projects, Industry 4.0 and quality improvement in innovative contexts.

“My role in the company is that of Programme Manager,” says Alessandro Po-

Alessandro Polidoro

Dario Bellezze

Alessandro Ferrara

lidoro, who is also a member of ISIPM, the Italian Institute of Project Management, “in other words, Project Manager for all the innovation projects. All the innovation projects have been managed through programme management methodologies”.

Activities in collaboration with Alessandro Polidoro (PHD in Industrial Innovation Engineering) are continuing into the future: as part of its Digital Transformation process, CTA has in fact been chosen as a partner of the innovative start-up iMetho (www.imetho.com) to apply the latest innovations in data analytics and artificial intelligence (specifically process mining, machine learning and deep learning) in its sector, aiming to maximise customer satisfaction, increase productivity and optimise consumption.

In recent years, CTA has expanded as a result of market growth, but by also broadening what it has to offer. All investments and strategic choices have been made in an optimal customer-centric manner, to better respond to customer needs.

“Over the last four years we have greatly diversified our range,” explains Ursula Scalia, CTA’s Sales & Marketing Manager, “both for our OEM customers, by also proposing solutions for the growing Minivan category such as the new swivel seat models and the Dinette Sleep, and by introducing solutions that better respond to the needs of the aftermarket. Today we are partners with the leading distributors of accessories and components, operating in most European countries and also in the United States. We are now also starting to penetrate other markets, such as Japan. Behind this development activity is great attention to the needs of the end customer and the distribution needs of our wholesale partners, for whom we have customised some of our core products created for original equipment, in order to make them easier to distribute and more usable for both the fitter and the end customer, also through specific marketing material such as brochures, assembly instructions, and available optional extras. One example among many: our seat belt anchorage structures, which have always been CTA’s core business for original equipment, have now become “Smart Kits”, with everything you need to install a professional and tested product according to current regulations”.

Automated and flexible production

State-of-the-art, interconnected machinery has been installed in the new production department. Versatile and flexible work islands have been created, according to the type of production. For laser sheet metal cutting, there is an automatic loading and unloading system, which allows the machine to work around the clock.

“The layout is optimised for flows,” explains Alessandro Ferrara, CTA’s new production manager, whose role is to optimise all the manufacturing processes. “We have six bending machines, one electronic and five hydraulic, two with seven axes and 150 tonnes, the other three smaller ones with 80 tonnes and four axes. The Cobot can be reprogrammed in a matter of minutes, offering unrivalled versatility and unparalleled flexibility. The production of the Cobot is managed directly through the internal software, so we always know what it is doing”.

Fiberglass... beyond fiberglass

Fabrizio Baglioni, Commercial Director at Vetroresina Spa, talks about the company’s innovative products, designed to replace traditional materials in the RV industry

Words Giorgio Carpi

Vetroresina Spa reaffirms its leadership in the production of fibreglass laminates by taking advantage of the investments made in recent years, which in 2019 saw the opening of a new department with automated lines. Thanks to this expansion and the use of new technologies, the company’s production capacity is now 6 million square metres per year, with considerable advantages also in terms of quality. But also of particular interest is the proposal of innovative products as alternatives to traditional materials used in the RV industry. We discussed this with Fabrizio Baglioni, who holds the position of Sales Director focusing mainly on Europe, as well as the Far East and Middle East.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Which Vetroresina Spa products are currently best suited to the RV sector?

Fabrizio Baglioni : For quite a while now, we’ve been producing various types of polyester resin laminates for exterior applications, for cladding sides, roofs and the underside of floor panels. We have conventional, glossy or matt laminates, but there are also some innovative products. One example is the recently introduced J451 laminate: it’s super flexible, designed for roofs, has limited thickness, is

extremely light and can be easily bent. But we’re also focusing on vehicle interiors: we’ve launched Vetroskin Delta, which can be used for both ceilings and interior walls, and we also have Vetrostyle in our catalogue, which is a PVC laminate used for floors or load compartments. For exteriors, we’ve invested heavily in the new Vetroprint, which is a laser-printed laminate.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Is Vetroskin Delta an evolution of Vetroskin, which you already had in your catalogue?

Fabrizio Baglioni : That’s right, we already had the version with a smooth finish in production, whereas Vetroskin Delta has an innovative textured effect. It is a laminate with an embossed effect and we can make it in all the colours within our Vetroskin range. The customer can choose from a range of colours in the catalogue, but the normal procedure is to look at the sample that the customer wants or already uses, produce our colour in-house and then submit the new sample. Vetroskin Delta can be used for interior roof cladding, but also for kitchen, bathroom and shower walls, where it’s important to give a particular character to a rather large vertical surface. It is supplied in 60-metre rolls and also in sheets on request. Vetroskin Delta is flexible; we can create curves up to a radius

of 55-60 mm. We’ll be seeing some interesting applications in the 2024 ranges of leading European brands.

Aboutcamp BtoB: What are the advantages over traditional plywood?

Fabrizio Baglioni : With Vetroskin Delta we can eliminate unsightly joints, which are present with traditional wood systems, and are restricted by the size of the decorative papers. Joints on walls often tend to wear, whereas by using a single piece as we do we not only have great strength, but also a reduction in installation time. We can achieve an aesthetically pleasing effect and maintenance is facilitated because the material can be washed without any problems. Furthermore, Vetroskin Delta doesn’t absorb odours and won’t absorb moisture. Importantly, this embossing effect masks any defects, such as internal wall reinforcements, to a great extent. Compared to plywood cladding we have reduced thicknesses, thus saving space. Another feature is its toughness: this product is scratch and impact resistant. We also have a self-extinguish version, made with the addition of alumina. We then have to consider the fact that our product is easily recyclable, without having to disassemble materials.

Aboutcamp BtoB: What other products are suitable for indoor use?

Fabrizio Baglioni : Our Vetrostyle laminates can be successfully used in the construction of sandwich panels for flooring. You replace the normal

Left page, bottom:

About Fabrizio Baglioni

wooden substrate with a fibre-reinforced polyester laminate, which already has an integrated PVC finish. By doing so, one step is skipped, that is the step of gluing the PVC onto the wood, a step that has risks because the glue doesn’t always adhere well. We supply a monolithic laminate, the fibreglass is built on top of the PVC: it is a stable, durable product that saves the customer time, so there is a reduction in labour costs. Vetrostyle doesn’t have a gelcoat finish surface, but a finish in effects chosen by the customer, like imitation wood. Floors made with Vetrostyle have no joints, there is a single highstrength laminate that is mechanically resistant, impervious to moisture and easily washable. Vetrostyle is produced in several versions, which differ in the aesthetics of the surface layer, including a 3D effect, but the differences also relate to thickness, mechanical properties and the type of glass fibre used.

Aboutcamp BtoB: The other innovative product is Vetroprint: is it intended to be used on vehicle exteriors?

Fabrizio Baglioni : Vetroprint represents a major challenge, we’ve invested a lot of resources. The need came from the United States: there was a desire to obtain a branded façade without using classic adhesive graphics. We therefore printed the fibreglass with a laser jet system. Now we’re going further, because we can also print a complex design and even achieve a textured effect. In or

der to achieve Vetroprint, we use a special laser-printed layer that we have developed ourselves. The 3D finish is customisable, for instance we can achieve a very realistic wood effect. It’s also possible to create a two-colour side panel. Vetroprint is produced both in rolls and sheets.

Engineer Fabrizio Baglioni joined the company two years ago and holds the position of Sales Director at Vetroresina Spa. In the past, he had significant experience in a multinational company in the steel sector including Tyssenkrupp, moving on to the plastics industry and working in various companies involved in the production of pipes, fittings and valves. He also held professional positions in the multinational Uponor, which was the first company to develop plastic pipes for radiant underfloor heating.

Vetrostyle

Above and below: Vetroskin Delta

High quality in bonding and sealing leads to cost savings

Adhesives and sealants are widely used in the RV industry. When one manufacturer likes to bond more, the other still prefers traditional construction methods using screws or other mechanical fastenings. Both methods require their own specific products. We would like to highlight 2 products of DEKALIN product portfolio which can be used for the different construction methods: the classic sealant DEKASEAL 8936 and the latest developed elastic sealant and adhesive DEKASYL MS-6

In the early days of RV construction mechanical fasteners, like screws, have been used. Every screw or hole inside an RV is a potential risk of water ingress. Therefore plastic-elastic sealants (and tapes) based on mainly Polyisobutene (PIB) or butyl, are in use since the beginning of RV construction and are still largely used in the RV OEM market and the repair market.

“DEKALIN is already more than 40 years active in the RV market”, says Roland Oldenburger, Business Manager Deka-

lin RV, “and our most used and important plastic-elastic sealing product is our high professional product DEKASEAL 8936. This product is based on PIB and has some great features and advantages compared to other chemis tries. Important to mention is that DEKASEAL 8936 can not be used as a gener al sealer, but should always be used in combination with mechanical fastening, like screws. It doesn’t hard en and remains permanent ly sticky and flexible and keeps it’s initial properties over time.”

The most important fea ture of DEKASEAL 8936 is that it has the lowest water vapor permeability of all available chemistries in the market, due to its high content of PIB. This means that it provides the best barrier against water and moisture, so preventing leakages. From an application point of view the most important feature of DEKASEAL 8936 is that it can be dabbed off with itself. This means that when e.g. a service hatch or plug socket, sealed

with (enough) DEKASEAL 8936, is screwed onto the side panel, excess material which is pressed out can be cleaned (dabbed off) with a piece of DEKASEAL 8936 where the solvent already has been evaporated. So no cleaning agents (solvents) are needed. This leads to time (and cost) savings and less emission of solvents in the air. Another feature of DEKASEAL 8936 is that it can be removed very easily in case of a repair. Company says that even after more than 30 years the product can still be dabbed off easily without leaving residues and without damaging the surface and/ or service part. The repairability is an important reason why some manufacturers still choose for screwed connections in combination with DEKASEAL 8936 or similar products above bonded parts which cannot be dismantled as fast and as easy without damaging some parts. However, there are manufacturers who use screwed connections

Roland Oldenburger and Twan van Zutphen (from left to right)

in combination with (curing) elastic adhesives or sealants (e.g. when installing a service hatch). In this case, one of the main properties of an elastic adhesive/sealant doesn’t come to its right, which is the compensation of movement due to thermal expansion, as there is almost no layer thickness. Secondly as just mentioned, repairability of a bonded part is much more difficult. The use of DEKASEAL 8936 is therefore a solution also considering the very low water vapor permeability compared to other products.

Elastic bonding and sealing

As mentioned earlier in this article, there are 2 different methods in RV construction. When it comes to elastic bonding and sealing, DEKASYL product range offers a wide variety in solutions. DEKASYL adhesives and sealants are based on MS-Polymer technology (Modified Silane) and are free of isocyanates, solvents and silicones, have a wide adhesion spectrum and show a good UV- and weather resistance. Bonded constructions offer a uniform stress distribution,

Environmental sustainability

Dekalin believes in taking responsibility. Our planet is our only home and they feel it deserves protection. Consequently, one of their priorities is to continue making products more environmentally sustainable and to provide their customers solutions to reduce the emission of solvents. The DEKASYL MS product range for bonding and sealing is already free of solvents and isocyanates. Beside, they introduced a more environmental and user friendly adhesion promotor (DEKAVATOR 22NF). Next wish is developing a solvent or VOC free DEKASEAL 8936. Also in respect to environmental sustainability Dekalin developed DEKASYL MS-6 elastic sealant and adhesive.

compensation of component tolerances, no visible joining elements, no weakening of the substrates due to drill holes and designers of RV´s have more freedom in the selection of materials. More and more focus is on lighter weight constructions and materials, also promoted by the current and future use of electrical cars and RV’s. When we speak about light weight materials, such as aluminium and plastics, aluminium is a very good substrate to bond. In general the DEKASYL products have a very strong adhesion on aluminium after cleaning with DEKACLEAN ULTRA. Depending on the type of aluminium an adhesion promotor (DEKAVATOR 22 NF) might be necessary to achieve a good bond. Bonding and sealing of commonly used plastics in the RV market like ABS, ASA, PMMA and PC is another story. In general an adhesion promoter is required, but Dekalin still note that there are differences in quality and therefore different adhesion results on parts. For this reason they advice the repair aftermarket to clean with DEKACLEAN ULTRA, sand the plastic and use DEKAVATOR 22 NF. Then the end user makes sure to have a safe bond. For their RV OEM and OES customers, Dekalin conducts a series of adhesion tests in their laboratory, so they can advice the right product and the right pre-treatment. To meet the growing challenge of varying adhesion to substrates, they have developed the DEKASYL MS-6, an answer to save costs and contribute to environmental sustainability. This solution saves time, money and reduces the use of adhesion promoters and solvents at the same time. Like the other DEKASYL products, it is a moisture curing product based on MS-Polymer technology with similar technical features, but the additional advantage is that it has an excellent adhesion without special pre-treatment (only cleaning) on almost all substrates including most (and the already mentioned) plastics (except PE, PP, PTFE).

“We are already supplying DEKASYL MS-6 to 4 major RV manufacturers in Germany,” says Twan van Zutphen, Sales and Product Manager. “Reason for their use of DEKASYL MS-6 is the excellent adhesion on their substrates including difficult to bond substrates, saving on their current pre-treatment step(s) and in the end also saving production time and costs. Another feature of DEKASYL MS-6 is that it is mould resistant and can be used in sanitary rooms.”

Although the properties of DEKASYL MS-6 are more like a sealant, it can also be used as an adhesive in case there are no high forces on the bond. It is expected that new lightweight plastics and composites will be used in future and Dekalin believes that DEKASYL MS-6 can meet the challenge to realize a good adhesion on these new materials! More info on www.dekalin.com or send an email to info@dinol.com

Before and after dabbing off with Dekaseal 8936

Application of DEKASYL MS-6 on plastic

Adhesion test of DEKASYL MS-6 on plastic

A genuine success

After two years of absence, the most important event capable of uniting the themes of itinerant tourism and caravanning, the CMT exhibition was back in Stuttgart in January 2023 and attracted 265,000 visitors. There were 10 halls and 1,200 vehicles on display, which was a massive result achieved by Messe Stuttgart

CMT Stuttgart is back. After two years of absence due to the problems caused by the pandemic, in January 2023 the halls of the German trade fair, which de scribes itself as the “world’s largest consumer fair for tourism and leisure”, reopened to the public with great success: 265,000 visitors came in during the nine days it was open, 80,000 of which came on the first weekend alone. “Our expectations were greatly exceeded,” said Roland

Bleinroth, President of Messe Stuttgart. “We welcomed 265,000 visitors to the Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre. Our exhibitors were also very satisfied: the visitors not only looked at and compared the offerings, they also made purchases and placed orders. This CMT is one of the best we have ever experienced.”

The success of recreational vehicles, with almost 91,000 units registered in Germany in 2022 (the third best result ever for the German cara-

Words editorial staff

van industry), was well demonstrated by the wide variety of vehicles on display, totalling around 1,200, which expanded to occupy seven of the 10 halls available. The fact that the areas dedicated to tourism and leisure had been slightly downsized did not affect the success of this part of the event, which was full of initiatives. In addition to the well-known side events – dedicated to cycling and hiking tours, golf and wellness trips, cruises and boat trips – there were many other innovations this time.

“The networking meeting entitled ‘Future Tourism’, the presentation of the ‘Sustainable Holiday Destination’ Award

Roland Bleinroth

by TourCert, the new Award of the Corps Touristique for international understanding and the kick-off event on tourism cooperation between Baden-Württemberg and the Grand Est region proved that we are examining

and also implementing future topics.” said Guido von Vacano, Executive Vice President of Messe Stuttgart. The extensive professional visitor programme was another successful fearure. Around 40 events were offered through the CMT business plat form. Whether it was the Baden-Württemberg Tourism Day, the RadRunde, the Green Caravaning Symposium, the New Mobility Design Congress or the Bus Tourism DayCMT’s special program attracted around 30,000 interested people to Stuttgart. Visitors to the trade fair appreciated the extensive programme offered. On average, visitors spent five hours at the show getting information from exhibitors and viewing the vehicles on display. Almost a quarter of them traveled more than 100 kilometers to get to Stuttgart, and 11% come from Bavaria. The interest of visitors for the tourist offers and for the products in the camping area was almost equal. The parking area for caravans and motorhomes and the additional parking spaces of the “Motel CMT” were also very popular: the fair recorded a record number of 9,667 vehicles parked overnight.

Caravanning: high demand in all sectors

CMT 2023 has been a huge success for the caravanning industry, as summarized by Hermann Pfaff, president of the Caravaning Industry Association, CIVD: “The visitors here did not just include people

wanting to look at the exhibits, but also those with a genuine interest. CMT is also an important indicator for the caravaning industry at the start of the new season. Our presence went down very well with the visitors, it was a successful start to the new year!”

Matthias Euch, a member of the Executive Committee of the German Caravan Trade Association (DCHV), concurred: “It was fantastic to see how many visitors were here, we had an incredible number of initial contacts. The suppliers were delighted with the great interest shown in all areas of caravaning, in all vehicle categories and in the after-sales segment – and were able to conclude some excellent deals. We also welcomed the product innovations and digital solutions which are becoming increasingly better and making business easier.”

Hermann Pfaff

Matthias Euch

News and innovations

If the CMT was a success both in numbers and in content, it is imperative to try to understand what trends are emerging in the world of recreational vehicles. Speaking with operators, three topics seemed particularly “hot”. The first is an indication of a return to normality in deliveries of Fiat chassis, which weighed decisively on the 2022 deliveries results. The second is the rise in prices, which is forcing manufacturers and dealers to face a new type of public, less aware of the intrinsic value and unable to make comparisons with previous years. This also entails the need for educational and informational content. Finally, the third important signal is that in the last two years all the manufacturers have tried to optimize the layout and product portfolio, with the result that the number of ‘novelties’ have been reduced. But the clear sign that this crisis has left is the multiplication of mechanical base vehicles on which motorhomes are built: if, up until two years ago, the undisputed leader was the Fiat Ducato, now manufacturers have heavily diversified and are also using chassis that previously struggled to emerge in this sector, such as Man TGE and the Volkswagen Crafter. In this regard, the policy of the Knaus group is typical as it now offers a portfolio based on five different platforms: Fiat, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, MAN and Volkswagen. In the background, the strong interest in caravanning was consolidated by a varied public. Despite everything, several innovations were presented and we will examine some of them in the following pages.

Words editorial staff

www.lmc-caravan.com

Part of the Erwin Hymer Group, LMC took advantage of the CMT to show a prototype for the public to judge: the Innovan 592, on a Ford base, combines the characteristics of its camper vans built on Fiat Ducato and Ford Transit, with total compactness (599 cm in length) and the convenience of twin beds (also convertible into a huge double bed). To achieve this, the design effort to recover the necessary centimeters concentrated on the service area: the kitchen and the bathroom. In the first case, LMC has adopted a sliding worktop: when working in the kitchen, it moves to the right, covering the foot of the bed (under which a pantry unit is also hidden), while when not needed, it overlaps the stove area. Thanks to its ability to hold up to 40 kg, it can also be used to house an espresso coffee machine. The wall of the bathroom, with a mirror, rotates 90 degrees to free up the space for showering, but also has a foldable sink and a retractable toilet which, when not needed, retracts under the bed on the left.

Among the halls dedicated to caravanning we found many new products and original ideas. We would like to present a selection for you here

LMC

The German company, also part of the Erwin Hymer Group, has not shied away from the need to expand its offer of base vehicles. Thus, in addition to the Just Go range that was announced at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, the new generation of the compact semi-integrated Globebus was unveiled at the CMT in Stuttgart, which also acquire the name Go and switch to the Ford Transit. As in the past, the range is made up of two models, characterized by a width limited to 220 centimetres, a height that stops at 269 centimetres

Dethleffs

and two length measurements: 599 and 669 centimetres. The Globebus Go T15 and T45 share the lsame front layout, with a semi-dinette assisted by two swivel seats in the driver’s cab, a linear kitchen with an 86-litre compressor refrigerator (which can optionally become 140-litres), and a bathroom with variable volume, in which the shower cubicle is created by rotating the wall on which the sink is mounted by 90 degrees towards the toilet bowl. What changes is the rear part, where in the smaller T15 there is a transverse double

The Polish company always manages to stand out for its originality in the production of camper vans. At CMT we were able to admire its latest creation: the Falcon. It is a vehicle built on a Volkswagen Crafter base with a super-high roof (made in-house) and stands out for a layout that is very fashionable in the United States: a single, longitudinal sofa that transforms into a bed, plus a small table for two people, a linear kitchen with generous dimensions and, at the back, a transverse bathroom. There is also a vertical loading compartment suitable for also containing skis or snowboards across the rear of the vehicle, accessed from the tailgate. Stowage space is abundant thanks to the wall units on both sides of the van and with a higher than average height thanks to the high roof. In terms of dimensions, the length reaches the classic 599 centimetres, while the height stops at 293 centimetres, thus avoiding exceeding the three-metre barrier which in many cases triggers – on motorways, tunnels and ferries – increased tariffs. Among the features, we would like to highlight the dry toilet, the gas hob with ceramic burners, a pair of lithium batteries for a total capacity of 400Ah and photovoltaic modules for 320W. The inverter is also standard, while a “gas free” set-up can be obtained on request.

www.dethleffs.it

bed, while in the T45 the increasingly popular solution of twin beds has been adopted. In terms of mechanics, the basic versions are made on the Ford Transit with a two-litre engine with 130 horsepower and a six-speed manual gearbox. Those looking for more power, there is a 155 horsepower version available with automatic transmission. The decision to homologate the two vehicles for only two people with the aim of increasing the load capacity is curious. On request it is still possible to have the classic four seats.

Dethleffs Globebus Go T15.

Right: Dethleffs Globebus Go T45

R eport Stuttgart - CMT 2023

Hobby

The news from Hobby was the Maxia 595 KML caravan for families (or large crews), which offers five sleeping places as standard but which can go up to seven on request. The novelty of this trailer is represented by the concept of the bedroom for children which, thanks to removable and modular beds, can take on nine different configurations from completely free space to a room for three people. There is space for up to three bunk beds, each with a load capacity of 100 kg. Thanks to a click-in system with slats and roll-up mattresses, the comfortable 76 x 200 cm upper beds can be easily put up and taken down. The lower bed consists of three filled cushions and a topper creating a 73 x 200 cm bed. During the day, the cushions can be transformed into a cozy living area, perfect for playing. In addition, the structure of the fleece underside ensures good air circulation, even in winter. Both lower beds have a side window and the upper bed offers a full view of the starry sky through a porthole. Even the single beds for adults are multifunctional as by using an extension they can be transformed into a double bed, about 220 cm wide. The open-space concept, with Scandinavian-inspired design furniture, recreates the charm of a small and stylish home. Its elegant felt-effect surfaces, together with natural materials, create a modern atmosphere. The central part of the caravan houses a large wardrobe, a spacious sitting and dining area, kitchen and bathroom.

www.hobby-caravan.de

The Swedish manufacturer has a very complete and varied range of caravans, but its top of the range never ceases to amaze! In fact, the Imperial 1000 TDL has a cell that is 9.4 meters long, which becomes 11.6 if you calculate the rudder. We are talking about a vehicle that can weigh up to 2,800 kilos when fully loaded; therefore, it is not easy to find the right engine, and also in terms of ease of driving ... However, if you organize well, you can travel by towing a palace. The nine layout variants have in common a large transversal bathroom in the rear, the kitchen with a worktop facing the refrigerator column and the pantry and a huge horseshoe-shaped dinette in the front. The differences are concentrated in the sleeping area, which can be more or less spacious: ranging from a pair of twin beds or a double bed to any combination of these types to offer a bed for four crew members. In addition, you can have versions with bunk beds that can accommodate up to eight people.

Hobby Maxia 595 KML

www.kabe.se

Kabe

Knaus

More than any other, this German company has focused on the diversification of the mechanical base vehicles it uses and now , coming offers as many as five different manufacturers: Fiat, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, MAN and Volkswagen. For 2023, there will be no news of a Fiat Ducato base vehicle. The Knaus CUV (Caravanning Utility Vehicle) built on the Volkswagen T6.1 and characterized by a pop-up roof that rises horizontally thanks to the work of four pistons, caught everyone’s attention in Stuttgart. Everything is electrically controlled. When closed, the vehicle is only 190 centimeters high, allowing the rear seats to still be used, while when open it becomes 260 centimeters high. There are two internal layouts, both on a total length of 590 centimetres. The more traditional one, called 500 MQ, features a clas-

Pilote

www.knaus.com

sic-looking layout (transverse rear bed, services in the centre and semi-dinette at the front) but hides a surprise: an independent shower that is formed using moveable walls that slide away under a portion of the rear bed when not being used. In the 500 LT version, however, the fixed bed disappears (only the front drop-down bed remains) and the bathroom is more traditional. However, the stowage spaces are increased. Both have a 110 horsepower engine combined with a manual gearbox, but on request (and in the CUVISION special series) it is possible to have 150 horsepower and an automatic dual clutch gearbox. The same engines, configuration (here called VANSATION) and layout are also present in the corresponding Tourer Van models with the more traditional semi-integrated with fixed roof.

www.pilote.fr

Atlas is the name of a new range presented by this French manufacturer, consisting of a camper van and two “slim” semi-integrated vehicles intended for those who Pilote defines as “adventure lovers”. The Ford Transit base vehicle has a 170 horsepower engine with a large FORD inscription on the black grille that characterizes the front. The A603G model is a classic six metres in length, with a particularly large load compartment thanks to the height of the Ford van, which is greater than that of the Ducato. In the Trail version, this vehicle boasts a traction control system called “mechanical Limited-Slip Differential (mLSD)”, or mechanical limited-slip differential, which improves grip on the most slippery surfaces, and has a manual gearbox. The layout provides for a rear transverse double bed in a slightly raised position, the services (kitchen and bathroom) are in the centre and the semi-dinette in the front part, with the driver’s cab without the transverse parcel shelf to make the living area more useable. The heating is oil-fired with a power of 4 kW, the refrigerator is a 95-litre compressor. The water tank is slightly higher than the average: 110 litres. The semi-integrated A660 and A690G, offered with automatic transmission, have a width limited to 220 centimeters and differ in the rear part. The smallest have no fixed bed but have a large transverse bathroom in the rear (this model was not exhibited in Stuttgart), while the largest one has twin beds that can be transformed into an enormous double bed. What the two variants have in common is the gas heating with Truma Combi 4, the 133-litre column refrigerator with automatic energy selection and 130-litre water reserve.

Above and on the right: Knaus CUV 500

Above and below: Pilote A603G

Pilote A696G

R eport Stuttgart - CMT 2023

Slovenian brand, Robeta, has decided to expand its range of camper vans by moving further towards the luxury segment. The new model is called Adonis, and is built on 593 cm Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a 190 horsepower engine. The layout follows the classic model of rear transverse bed, services in the centre and semi-dinette at the front, but some stylistic choices and precious materials for the interior raise its calibre. What stands out at first sight, in addition to the overall elegance of the interior design, is the kitchen module with a worktop made of Kerrock, known for its durability and minimal environmental impact. A good portion of it is designed to slide to reveal the sink underneath. Another clever element of the design is the double door that closes off the toilet compartment. Made of frosted glass, it gives a much more “homely” look to this area. The left door can also be used to separate the bedroom from the living area. In terms of systems, the Robeta Adonis stands out for the presence of a nautical toilet with macerator, electrically controlled valves for the discharge of black and grey water and a system with lithium battery and photovoltaic modules. The mechanics are offered as full options, already including the Mercedes-Benz MBUX multimedia system equipped with navigator and all the driver assistance systems (ADAS).

Weinsberg

This Knaus Tabbert group company brand presented three new semi-integrated Ford Transit-based models at the CMT. All are offered with the two-litre 130 horsepower engine and manual gearbox, but the 155 horsepower version is available with automatic gearbox on request. The CaraLoft 650 MF remains under seven metres in length and has a longitudinal French bed layout, located on the right-hand side to give a great feeling of airiness. For a

crew of four it is possible to use the front semi-dinette to create a second double bed. On the CaraSuites, in addition to the rear single beds, there is a double bed available which descends into the living area which can be accessed via a ladder normally stowed on the bathroom door. The 650 MEG maintains the 699 centimetre length of the CaraLoft, while the CaraSuite 700 MEG offers large spaces extending up to 742 centimetres.

Robeta

Above and below: Weinsberg CaraSuite 650

Above and on the left: Weinsberg CaraLoft 650

Disability and caravans: here are the solutions

The topic of disability is taken very seriously in Germany. The Brecht Caravan dealer adapts Hobby products on request. The project, named Brecht Rolli, includes the enlargement of the entrance door by up to 80 centimetres, the installation of a system to lift a wheelchair and the revision of the

internal spaces to be able to move around easily. The bathroom thus becomes accessible, separated only by a curtain, and the dinette narrows to let the wheelchair pass, and then widens when more space is needed at the table. Each adaptation is designed and implemented according to individual

needs. The solution proposed by The Cuber is easier to adapt, given the peculiar shape of its trailers, which boast a completely opening rear wall. An electric platform is provided for the ascent of the wheelchair onto the caravan, while the interior of the vehicle is completely customisable.

Wingamm

While waiting to start its operations in the United States, the Italian company specializing in monocoque vehicles presented a redesigned version of its best-selling Oasi 540, which has become the 540.1. On an aesthetic level, you have to look through the details to understand that the entire mold has been redone. This can be perceived, for example, by the new recesses in line with the side lockers, which make it easier to open the door, or by observing the new proportions of the electric step for accessing the living area, which have been revised to make everything more ergonomic. What hasn’t changed is the over-

all elegance of a timeless model which has been constantly improved over the years. Externally, optional decorations are now available, which personalize the aesthetics, as shown with the Fashion Edition exhibited in Stuttgart. Inside, however, the layout has not changed. Focused on an open space obtained thanks to the patented manual drop-down bed, the Oasi 540.1 remains a champion of habitability, with a spacious kitchen that occupies the right-hand side, an L-shaped seating group with a side sofa and a large corner bathroom.

R eport Stuttgart - CMT 2023

Alpincamper

The success of the all-electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz was resounding: the new van has aroused enormous interest all over the world. At the CMT it was possible to admire it for the first time as a camper, created by the German company, AlpinCamper. A small mushroom-shaped pop-top roof in the central part of the roof improves ventilation and brightness inside where you can sit on a long side sofa, which transforms into a bed for the night. On the opposite side, there is a linear kitchen with an induction hob and a small sink. A minimalist solution to recover the hippie culture in a modern solution.

www.alpincamper.de

Barefoot

Who said that all caravans have to be the same? From Great Britain comes this Barefoot caravan with an original one-piece fibreglass body. Small, light and with an unmistakable shape, it has a horseshoe-shaped front dinette that transforms into a double bed, a complete kitchen and a rear bathroom. Available in different colours, it also boasts a DAB digital radio among the options. You just have to get used to the entrance door on the ‘wrong’ side!

www.go-barefoot.co.uk

Campravan

Going off-road with a 4x4 vehicle is easy, but less so when towing a caravan. Thus, the Turkish brand Campravan has created the Raptor X, a trailer designed for the heaviest uses, completely camperized and with AllTerrain BF Goodrich tyres, a 90 litre fresh water tank, 80 litre grey water tank and a 150Ah battery as part of the standard equipment. There are three beds available, plus an optional fourth, as well as a bathroom and fully equipped kitchen. The total weight is 1,250 kilograms.

www.campravan.com

CargoClips

The dream of a completely modular van, to be used for work and leisure, has come true thanks to CargoClips. This Austrian company has developed the Castino VAN system: wooden walls with clip hooks that allow you to support elements of all kinds: beds, kitchens, refrigerators, wardrobes, and even a shower. And for those who are not satisfied, there is the complete Castello camper van, also in a 4x4 version and with a pop-up roof and completely insulated aluminum walls.

www.cargoclips.com

Go Outside

Turning your car into a campervan is easier with the “crates” of the Austrian brand, Go Outside. Made of checkered aluminum, the Expedition Black includes stove, sink, 12-litre tank for drinking water, 19-litre tank for grey water, removable work surface, a pair of 6-volt batteries and a holder for the CADAC to be ready to grill at any time. And if it doesn’t fit inside the vehicle, it can even be placed on the towball.

www.go-outside.at

Kashmir Overlander

An expedition vehicle is always a dream which the German Kashmir Overlander can make come true. At Stuttgart it exhibited a vehicle built on an Iveco Eurocargo 4x4 with a capacity of 15 tonnes, a 350 litre fresh water tank, a disinfection system with 0.3 micron ceramic filter and antibacterial filter, a 150 litre recovery tank, dry toilet and induction hob are part of the standard equipment, together with 900W of photovoltaic modules, 300Ah of lithium service batteries and 3kW generator. So you’re ready to go, destination anywhere.

www.kashmir-overlander.de

Tischer

The CMT could not miss the demountable campers for pickups. This Box 230S by Tischer has a particular charm, perhaps due to the generous dimensions or the original colour. The total length is 585 centimetres, while the height is around three metres, with a useful internal height of 195 centimetres. The double bed, a dinette always ready, kitchen, wardrobe and bathroom make it a real alternative to motorhomes and caravans. It can be fitted to Ford, Isuzu, Mercedes, Nissan, Toyota Hilux and VW Amarok vehicles. At CMT it was on a crew cab Jeep Gladiator.

www.tischer-pickup.com

X-Gloo

Not only vehicles, but also components. The most interesting of them, seen in Stuttgart, is the electrically lifting pneumatic roof proposed by X-Gloo, the company that designed it for Hymer and Bürstner. At the CMT it was shown on a Volkswagen Transporter and the intention of the company, in partnership with SCA, is to sell this solution to other manufacturers as well. The production lines are ready to meet the demand. https://xgloo.com

Words Terry Owen

Caravan chassis and running gear - part 2

In this second instalment of chassis inventions that changed our world we look at auto reversing overrun brakes, semi-trailing arm axles, hitch head stabilisers and active stabilising devices

Auto reversing overrun brakes

L

ong after the operation of the overrun brake was perfected its main drawback was that it would often apply the brakes when reversing, especially over rough ground or uphill. I well remember my first caravan in 1974. If you wanted to reverse you first had to make sure the hitch mechanism was not in compression, then you could move over a lever that prevented it going into compression so the brakes would not operate when you reversed. I seem to remember it automatical -

ly disengaged when you went forwards again. However, if you were executing a multi-point turn because you’d taken the wrong road, it was a nightmare!

A better solution was needed and it came a few years later with the invention of the auto reversing overrun brake.

A German patent DE3203113A1 from 1981 describes ‘… two positively coupled, floating but limited tangential to the wheel axis movable brake shoes, thus preventing tensioning against the brake drum when reversing…’. The patent was assigned to Olbernhau Fahrzeug (Olbernhau Vehicle), although Knott GmbH claims to have invented it and manufactures such brakes to this day.

Like many of the best inventions the auto reverse overrun brake is simple but ingenious. AL-KO’s version is discussed here.

When reversing, the towing vehicle pushes in the draw shaft of the overrun device. The brake shoes (1,2) are pressed against the brake drum via brake linkage, Bowden cable and expander clutch (3). The brake drum turns backwards, taking shoe 2 with it. The transmission lever (4) swings back, over centre, allowing the brake shoes to collapse towards each other and so releasing the braking effect. The wheels can then revolve freely in reverse, despite the fact that the drawshaft is then fully to the rear.

When the vehicle moves forward again shoe 2 moves outward through friction with the drum and the reset

Semi-trailing arm axles

emi-trailing axles are an ingenious bit of thinking from axle designers that came to the fore in the 1970’s although they were introduced somewhat earlier by BMW. (One of the first cars to use the technology was the BMW 2002 which first appeared in 1968.)

On a standard trailing arm axle, the arm holding the wheel stubs pivots along an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel. The wheels are free to move up and down with the suspension but always remain perpendicular to the axle tube. Most of the time this works just fine but, if a vehicle starts to roll, the tyres tilt with the vehicle, losing grip.

spring (5) pulls the transmission lever back into its normal position. The potential problem of the handbrake not working in reverse is solved by applying it fully. Shoe 1 then pushes shoe 2 via the transmission lever and adjuster assembly such that it presses against stop 6 and thereby provides braking action.

Auto reversing brakes are now standard on virtually all European caravans. In other parts of the world, such as the USA and Australia, trailer brakes are often electrically operated, eliminating the need for an auto reversing mechanism.

With a semi-trailing axle, the arm holding the wheel stub pivots at an angle to the direction of travel. Then, if the vehicle rolls, the tyres go up and down in an arc at 90 degrees to the direction of travel. This allows them to stay in full contact with the road surface.

SWhen applied to a tall vehicle, such as a caravan, the other advantage of a semi-trailing axle is that the roll centre becomes higher and closer to its centre of gravity (C of G). There is therefore less ‘leverage’ to make the caravan roll as it might, for example, in sidewinds. The result is a more stable and comfortable ride.

AL-KO’s version of the semi-trailing axle, the Delta, appeared as early as 1975. AL-KO’s archive says “As a result of the development with Mr. Prof. Kirchgäßner, the first AL-KO Delta axle with upwardly shifted moment centre was presented at the 1975 Caravan Salon.”

In the meantime, rival BPW countered with their V-Tech design, which also

employed semi-trailing arm geometry. Now, most caravans over 750 kg manufactured in mainland Europe come with semi-trailing axles as standard. The axle has yet to catch on with UK caravan manufacturers although the Explorer Group (now The Erwin Hymer Group UK) used the BPW V-Tech semi trailing axle on their caravans for many years.

Reverse travel

AL-KO auto reversing brake

Normal roll

roll

Straight axle

Semi-trailing axle

Normal trailing axle

Semi-trailing axle

Standard trailing axle during a roll

Semi-trailing axle during a roll

Direction of travel

Wheels lean, losing contact

Wheels stay upright, maintaining contact

on SUCCESSFUL INVENTIONS

Hitch head stabilisers

Hitch-head stabilisers have so transformed towing today, it’s hard to remember what went before. Nevertheless, it’s worth taking a look into the past so we can see these devices in their true per spective.

Most people who’ve towed a cara van will have experienced that uncomfortable feeling when the outfit becomes unstable as the ‘tail tries to wag the dog’. Instability can be a function of several variables such as loading, speed, weight ratio, side winds and so on. Although it’s true to say that a well matched, sensibly loaded outfit, driven well, should rarely experience any problems; being hit by the bow wave of a large overtaking vehicle can be very uncomfortable. Also, a sudden avoidance manoeuvre or tyre blow-out can bring about instability.

worked in a similar way to other blade stabilisers that had become common

Shown here is a typical blade type stabiliser from British company, Bulldog Security Products. It works by using friction discs to control the movement of a blade attached to the ‘A’ frame via a special sliding shoe. I had a blade stabiliser for many years and it worked well enough but it was a bit cumbersome, and heavy to carry around at 10 kg. The blade stabiliser was not the only yaw damping device available at the time, although it was perhaps the most popular for its combination of weight, simplicity and cost.

For these reasons aftermarket stabilising devices became very popular many years ago but most had one thing in common – weight and inconvenience. Between 1968 and 1985 AL-KO produced a device known as the Exact Drive, or Bügel Stoßdämpfer (Bugle Shock-absorber) as it became known. It employed a yoke and pair of oilfilled shock absorbers to dampen the yaw movements of a trailer. Whilst undoubtedly effective, it was a cumbersome and heavy device, and this limited its success.

In the late 1980’s AL-KO and Winterhoff triggered a paradigm shift in stabiliser technology by designing friction stabilisers with the friction built into the hitch head. The idea was to grab the towball very tightly and damp out oscillations that way. It was great idea, not only for saving weight, but for the sheer convenience it offered.

In each of the two designs (AL-KO and Winterhoff) the hitch head coupling contains friction pads that grip the towball very tightly when the operating lever is deployed. Needless to say, the towball has to be perfectly dry for this to work - a significant departure from the previous situation where the towball was normally greased.

The very first such stabiliser, AL-KO’s AKS 2000, was produced as long ago as 1989, with the smaller AKS 1300 appearing in 1995. The numbers denote the MTPLM of the trailers to which they are suited. A friction pad on each side of the hitch gripped the towball and dampened out any tendency for the trailer to yaw (sway from side to side) or roll, although pitch damping was minimal.

sitioned front and aft within the hitch head, they also damp pitch as well as roll and yaw. A nice feature of the Winterhoff stabiliser is that you can’t deploy the operating handle until the towball is safely inside the hitch head. In this way the chances of mis-hitching are greatly reduced. The set-back hinging arrangement also gives more room for those with tailgate-mounted spare wheels.

By 2002, end user demand was such that OEMs had started to fit hitch head stabilisers as original equipment and, in 2003 AL-KO launched the AKS 2004 stabiliser which had no less than four friction pads. These enabled it to damp pitching movements as well as rolling and yaw.

In 1985 the bugle device was superseded by the AL-KO’s APS 4, which

At the same time Winterhoff was working on its own hitch head stabiliser, the WS 2000/3000. This also uses just two friction pads but, being po-

AL-KO Exact Drive Bügel Stossdämpfer 1968-1985

The first hitch head stabiliser AL-KO’s AKS 2000

Blade type stabiliser

Here and above: Winterhoff stabiliser

Winterhoff friction pads

According to AL-KO at the time ‘On the AKS 2004 Comfort, four long-term friction linings enclose the towball on the right, left, rear and front with around 1.5 tons of force. There is no metallic contact whatsoever. The friction linings can be easily replaced if they are too worn.’

In 2008 AL-KO claimed their AKS 3004 hitch ‘increases the critical driving speed by around 20% (ADAC test winner).’

In 2014 BPW launched its own brand stabiliser, the iSC (Type ZKAS), based closely on Winterhoff’s device. Sadly, both these devices have recently been discontinued. (The Winterhoff Group was acquired by AL-KO’s parent DexKo in 2016, and merged with the AL-KO business unit.)

Those looking for a similar device to the Winterhoff can opt for the KS30 from brake and trailer technology specialist Knott. Launched around 2020, it too boasts single lever activation, and a setback hinging arrangement.

The major virtues of hitch head stabilisers are their simplicity in operation with instant hitching up and no need for additional, often heavy components. A dry towball is a bonus too as there’s no grease to get on your clothes. Correctly set, the friction pads have a long service life; in the case of the AL-KO models, a lifespan of 50,000 km is claimed.

Such has been the impact of the hitch head stabiliser that today virtually all new European caravans are fitted with one as original equip-

Active stabilising devices

Active stabilising devices use sensors to detect when a trailer is becoming unstable and then apply its brakes to pull the trailer back into line. In this way any tendency for oscillations to set in is quickly damped out. Active stabilisers are not intended to allow you to tow at faster speeds but will give you an extra margin of safety if, for example, you have to make a quick avoidance manoeuvre. Operating power is normally taken from the towing vehicle so it doesn’t matter if the trailer has its own power or not.

Active stabilising devices are not to be confused with add-on systems that apply the trailer’s brakes every time the tow vehicle’s brakes are operated, such as the one introduced by Dutch company IVRA in the 1990’s. Instead, they only apply the brakes when instability is detected, and have no effect at other times.

The first such device is claimed by German inventor Wolfgang Lubs, as long ago as 1986. European patent DE3600708A1 from that year describes an anti-roll device ‘…which, connected to a trailer, is intended to prevent a dangerous building up of oscillations (rolling) beyond a certain movement, in which the trailer is automatically braked independently of the tractor vehicle.’

A box clamped to the trailer’s ‘A’ frame contains a spring and tensioning motor. When swaying is detected, the spring is released, gently applying the brakes. A warning buzzer alerts the driver to the actuation. Once stability is returned the motor re-tensions the spring for further use.

The invention appeared as the LEAS universal stabiliser around 1995. Until this point the only stabilising devices for trailers were friction-based ones which worked as constant friction dampers on every movement. None of these actually applied the trailer brakes. The LEAS stabiliser was the first one to do so, but only when lateral movement was detected. Further patents followed as the device was improved. It remains on sale to this day.

In the meantime, AL-KO and BPW set about producing their own active stabilisers. These appeared as the AL-KO ATC and BPW iDC around 2008. Although similar in principle to the LEAS device these new safety devices work in a slightly different way. As soon as any instability is detected, the ATC and iDC devices use an electric motor to gently apply the trailer brakes before snaking becomes a problem.

Knott KS30 stabiliser

BPW iSC stabiliser

LEAS universal stabiliser

SUCCESSFUL INVENTIONS

There is no sudden release of stored energy from a spring.

Also, unlike the LEAS, which uses a sensor at the rear of the trailer, the AL-KO and BPW devices have their sensors mounted on the axle. This is logical as these companies also manufacture the axles and chassis so the exact performance of the systems can be known in advance.

the ETS Plus. This is bolted to the axle tube and acts on the brake rod mechanism in a similar way to ALKO’s ATC. Indeed, it can even be fitted to an AL-KO chassis. The ETS Plus was the first electronic stabiliser to come with a remote display and smartphone app. Following the acquisition of BPW Fahrzeugtechnik by AL-KO’s parent, DexKo Global, in 2017 the iDC device is no longer being made. In 2019 AL-KO updated its ATC device to be ‘even faster and more sensitive’. The new device is claimed to be the lightest on the market, weighing in at just 4.5 kg.

In 2013 Knott introduced their ETS (Elektronische Trailer Stabilisierung) system for stability control. It was unique in that it used a hydraulic valve block with actuating cylinder to activate the trailer brakes ‘in milliseconds’. Meanwhile a two-colour LED display showed the status of the device. For the 2017 season the ETS202, as it became known, was replaced with

The ATC-2 device is distinguished from the previous one by being horizontally, rather than vertically, mounted. It can also communicate with AL-KO’s 2LINK system to display its status via a smartphone app.

AL-KO says ‘The system is adapted to the respective trailer weight, recognises critical swaying movements earlier and at the point of origin, and is thus more likely to intervene in time. The car stabilisation system with trailer recognition in the towing vehicle is generally no longer needed.’

Whilst we have Wolfgang Lubs to thank for the original invention, we have to thank AL-KO, BPW and Knott for engineering these stabilisers to a high level of overall performance. Active stabilisers have now become so popular with end users that they are either standard equipment, or an option, on virtually all new caravans in Europe.

The author would like to thank AL-KO for their assistance with the preparation of this article.

AL-KO’s first ATC unit

BPW’s iDC stabiliser

Knott ETS Plus stabiliser

AL-KO’s ATC 2 device and 2LINK app (below)

Sweden, the Texas of Europe

In Sweden we like big vehicles, with all the trimmings. SUVs, minivans and premium cars have a long history of selling well here. We also have one of the largest collections of classic American cars outside of the US. This love for size and luxury also translates into the RV market. This makes Sweden interesting for the RV manufacturers, because here they can sell their top-margin models

Sweden is a small country. We are a mere 10 million inhabitants. But the geographics of Sweden means we have long distances between cities. If we want to take our RV to continental Europe it is a very long drive. At least if You don’t live in the south of Sweden. From the far north of Sweden to the south it is almost 1,600 km as the crow flies, with a car it is close to 2,000 km. That is like driving from Copenhagen to Rome.

A large part of the nation is wilderness. One of the last true wildernesses of Europe. When we go RVing we can’t expect to find a campground or

RV-parking every 10 miles, or a service station for that matter.

We also have the unique right to camp almost anywhere. It is a privilege called “Allemansrätten”, a word not easily translated, in direct translation it reads “all peoples right”. It means we can stay also on non-public land as long as we don’t disturb anyone. In (very) simplified terms it means out of sight from houses, no littering and not to have any negative effects on the land. In short; to be respectful. All of the above makes us want RVs suitable for wild camping. We want/ need a high degree of self sufficiency.

And also comfort. Preferably in all seasons. I think most RVers of the world say the same. But in Sweden it is not only words. To sell an RV in Sweden it needs to have heated and insulated tanks. We prefer waterborne heating. If we buy an RV with airborne heating, for example the Truma Combi, we for sure choose the larger 6kW version. With electric cartridge. Even in vehicles around six meters we choose the larger heater.

To sell a poorly winterized motorhome in Sweden is almost impossible. Even though 80% of the RVs are not used during the winter season.

Words and photo Stefan Janeld

This is Sweden

Total area: 532,000 km2 (incl. lakes and sea)

Land area: 410,000 km2

Coastline: 2,400 km

Distance North-South: 1,572 km

Distance West-East: 499 km

Capital: Stockholm

Population: 10.5 million

The faiblesse for comfortable living on the road has resulted in the largest fleet of tag axle motorhomes in Europe.

“Grandfather rule” helps with payload issues

In Sweden all holders of a B-license taken before 1st of July 1996 are allowed to drive motorhomes without any weight restriction. Even liners based on heavy truck chassis. This is because before 1st of July 1996 there was no weight restriction on passenger cars. And since motorhomes in Sweden are registered as Passenger

Winterization is a big topic in Sweden

Things valued extra high by Swedish RVers

• Winterization

• Wardrobe by entrance

• Shoe storage by entrance

• Large fridges

• Alde heating

Cars Class 2 they follow the same rules as Your everyday family car. This means a lot of motorhomes have gross vehicle weights over 3,500 kg. It makes no sense to buy a 3.5 ton vehicle with low payload when You are allowed to drive a heavier vehicle without upgrading Your license.

High ratio of premium vehicles

Since we like wild camping, good winterization and have less issues with weight of the vehicle it reflects on what vehicles we prefer. The Swedish market have a bigger percentage of premium and upper level midclass

• Solar panels

• Lithium batteries

• Automatic gearbox (motorhomes)

• Payload

vehicles. You won’t find any real entry level vehicles at the dealerships. Forget about €50,000, or even €60,000 motorhomes.

In Sweden the bulk of the sales is in the €90,000 to €110,000 price range. Also vehicles with prices from €200,000 and above have an unusually high market share in Sweden compared with most European markets.

The same is true for caravans. Our domestic brands Kabe, Polar and Easy Camper are premium brands. Built for all year use. And when foreign brands make a push into our market it is with more exclusive and competent rigs.

Highest taxes in Europe

In Sweden we have a taxation of motorhomes called “Bonus Malus”. The idea is that environmentally friendly motorhomes get a bonus - lower tax and even a cash bonus. Not so envi-

ronmentally friendly vehicles are instead punished, Malus, with extra high taxation.

This system is based on personal vehicles, so the emission limit for Bonus is set very low. No light commercial vehicle can reach the Bonus level, in reality they all get a hefty Malus.

To explain the system in detail with all parameters and all the exceptions would take too much space and Your brain would melt from reading about the idiotic system. But if I tell You that the motorhome taxation is between €1,500 and €3,000 annually, You un-

derstand that this doesn’t help motorhome sales.

Luckily the pandemic compensated somewhat for the decline in sales due to the high taxes. With no possibilities to go abroad for vacation many turned to motorhomes and caravans for their holiday pleasure. And it seems like most of them keep their vehicles and have embraced the nomadic lifestyle. There are already signs that this taxation system will not survive. The cash bonus have been cancelled since November due to the fact that it is no longer needed. People buy electric

The author

Stefan Janeld is the editor in chief of Sweden leading online motorhome magazine, www.alltomhusbilen.se and also runs The Motorhome School (www. husbilsskolan.se ), an online service that advice consumers on all matters connected to motorhomes and mobile living. He has been a motorhome journalist since 2008 and has tested more than 350 motorhomes.

If You have questions, want to give feedback or for any other reason want to reach him You can shoot him an email: stefan@alltomhusbilen.se

Kabe is Swedish premium motorhomes and caravans. They made their name by being excellent winter vehicles and also have a strong profile in safety. They own the British manufacturer Coachman and in Sweden they produce also the Coachman motorhome models.

In Dorotea, in the North of Sweden, S Karosser build truck campers that can handle the coldest Nordic winter, in Sweden they are branded Easy Camper, when exported they are called NordStar. The company was recently bought by Kabe.

vehicles in a fast pace, too fast for the charging infrastructure to keep up. A new system is needed. To pay for the cost of charging infrastructure the electric vehicles need to be taxed. I expect a tax based on milage will be presented in a few years. That will benefit motorhomes that on average drive less than 7,000 km annually.

Slow to adopt trends

15 years ago I wrote my first “van special”. I pointed out the advantages of this small and very versatile vehicle. I also pointed out that it was a very popular type of motorhome in France, Germany and Great Britain and predicted the same would be true in Sweden shortly. When it was published Swedish dealers mocked me. Their reasoning was that for the same amount of money the customers could get a larger and more comfortable motorhome.

Five years later some of them contacted me for advice on what vans to keep

2022 Swedish motorhome market

The total sales of new motorhomes was 3,523 units. 30% less than 2021.

Top 10 motorhome brands

Adria 362 units

Volkswagen 239 units

Hymer 223 units

Kabe 204 units

Pilote 203 units

Knaus 169 units

Sunlight* 152 units

Bürstner 146 units

Carado* 132 units

Rapido 129 units

Market shares by group

Trigano Group 26%

Hymer Group 25%

Knaus Tabbert Group 8%

Kabe Group 7%

Pilote Group 7%

Rapido Group 5%

Carthago Group 5%

Independent brands** 17%

in stock. Today vans are at least 25% of the Swedish market and every dealer carries them.

Now the European trend is small campervans with popup-roof. A trend that has not caught on in Sweden. Again dealers say they are too expensive. “You can get a much more comfortable full size van for the same money.” But give it 2-3 years and I am certain also this segment of the market will grow in Sweden. Last year only a handful of dealers carried popup-vans. 2023 many more have at least one in stock.

Few independent garages

In 15 years the number of registered motorhomes in Sweden has gone from 25,000 to 120,000. Most of them are repaired and serviced at the dealership where they were purchased.

With such a rapid growth the dealers have problems keeping up with demand. An average sized dealership sell about 100-200 units per year. In a few years it becomes an almost impossible amount of vehicles to repair and service. There is a need for independent garages to take the load off the dealerships. But so far not many have opened. If this doesn’t change it will become difficult to own a motorhome in Sweden. And already we hear complaints from motorhome owners that can’t get help from dealers when they travel around Sweden. The dealers only have time for their own customers.

Same is true for those that has bought their motorhome outside Sweden and imported it themselves. They have a hard time getting repairs of the living area. Luckily they can service and

*In most countries Sunlight and Carado are reported together as Capron. Doing this would land Capron on 2nd place in Sweden with total sales of 284 units.

**Volkswagen, Mercedes, Pössl, Concorde, Ahorn, Bravia, La Strada

Adria, market leader in Sweden for well over a decade.

In Sweden You are allowed to wild camp basically anywhere. This makes for great camping experiences, especially in the North.

Source: Husvagnsbranschens Riksförbund

Market SWEDEN

repair the base vehicle at any normal garage.

From a caravan country to a motorhome nation

There are more than 300,000 caravans registered in Sweden. And about 120,000 motorhomes. But the market has favored motorhomes the last 15 years. It used to be that caravans sold twice what motorhomes sold. About ten years ago the figures was the opposite. Now the sales figures are almost the same for motorhomes and caravans.

If we had not had such high taxation of motorhomes and shortage of chassis the last two years the numbers would be different.

Now, when entering 2023, the dealers expect a year with increased sales of motorhomes. In total we expect sales in excess of 4,000 motorhomes. Caravan sales are expected to increase with 2-3%.

2022 Swedish caravan market

2022 landed on 3,164 caravans sold. That is down 18% compared to 2021.

Top 5 caravan brands

Adria 854 units

Kabe 655 units

Hobby 539 units

Knaus 347 units

Polar 301 units

Polar is built in the north of Sweden, in Dorotea. Where winters are harsh and snow depth is often measured in meters.

Nordic is a small manufacturer that build motorhomes and mobile offices and other specialty vehicles. During pandemic they made some mobile Covid test and vaccination vehicles.

Hugos is a manufacturer specialized in custom made vehicles. On any chassis.

Source: Husvagnsbranschens Riksförbund

© Photo by Polar

© Photo by Hugos

© Photo by Nordic

WE TALK ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY.

Every trip is an adventure, full of emotions, people, experiences. Sometimes even unexpected events. Since 50 years we pay attention to the smallest details, in the highest quality, to make your journey comfortable and safe Roller blinds, roof hatches and plastic components for the RV: your vanlife is over the horizon

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PRODUCTION 100% MADE IN ITALY.

Record numbers at the Victorian Supershow

Melbourne Showgrounds welcomed back the biggest Caravan and Camping Show in Australia last month for the 70th Anniversary edition. The 2023 Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow was held from Wednesday 22nd of February and conducted on Sunday 26th of February.

Almost 48 thousand consumers visited the event, which is a record number for a 5-day Supershow in Australia.

Celebrating over 70 years in manufacturing, Truma (part of Leisure-Tec Australia) was again the major partner for the 2023 Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow. CEO of Leisure-Tec Paul Widdis: “Truma was proud to be the major sponsor of Australia’s biggest caravan and camping Supershow, and it was fantastic to see record crowds return to Mel-

bourne. This year saw a number of new innovations introduced by the Caravan Industry Victoria.”

Over 200 companies exhibited at the 2023 Victorian Supershow, including 75 RV Manufacturers. The Best Caravan Stand Award for this year went to Lotus Caravans, whose stand attracted big crowds over the full duration of the show. Chris Holland, Marketing Manager at Lotus Caravans: “Our stand this year was special because we wanted to showcase the lifestyle that many of our customers live beyond just driving around with a caravan. We know that our customers love to hike, to fish, some love dirtbikes, some love drag racing and many just want to see all the best gear on their tow vehicle. We tried to showcase all of these things in one spot and the award was just a great reward for effort to our team and Freestyle RVs, and showed that we are on the right track with our approach.”

CEO of Caravan Industry Victoria, Daniel Sahlberg presented the latest manufacturing figures at the Show Launch on Wednesday morning. A total of 28,031 RV’s were manufactured in Australia in 2022. This is 4100 units (17.1%) more than the year prior and 6566 units (31.5%) more than 2019. In addition to

the above, over 20 thousand products were imported into Australia in 2022. 93% of the towable RV’s are produced in Victoria, making Victoria the heart of the Caravan Industry in Australia. AboutCamp BtoB attended the show in Melbourne and created a video report on the event and Australian RV market, including interviews with key players in the Australian RV Industry.

Don’t miss the full written report that will be published in issue 39 of AboutCamp BtoB magazine in June this year.

Our video report

From left: Nat Schiavello, President Caravan Industry Victoria, Daniel Sahlberg, CEO Caravan Industry Victoria, Paul Widdis, CEO Leisure-Tec Group and Co-Founder Everything Caravan & Camping

Japan Camping Car Show 2023: a success

The largest Camping Car Show on the Japanese RV Show Calendar was held this year in the first week of February. Starting from February 3rd, the show was held over a 4 day period and welcomed over 51,000 visitors to the Makuhari Messe located on the outskirts of Tokyo. The show was an overall success with most of the 79 manufactures who participated reporting high quality customer turnout and good sales. Again this year also, the show grew in size compared to previous year with a total 165 exhibitors and displaying their vehicles, parts and camping car travel related products on over 16,000m2. Unlike some other markets, Japan RV demand is far from slowing down and continues to see a strong demand with the industry average waiting time for delivery currently at around 1.5 years. There are also no signs of this trend slow-

ing down in later part of this year as the market continues to face the challenge of production capacities not being able to keep up with demand. Additionally, there were two important developments from the perspective of the market and the association that brough as significant pre-show buzz to the industry. The big market news that was the launch of locally designed & manufactured Ducato Camper Vans for the first time from the local manufactures. Stellantis Japan launched the sale of the Ducato vans in Fall of 2022 and despite the extremely tight schedules and various supply challenges, the key manufactures showed their Japanese interpretations for this popular base vehicle. The domestic RV Media also picked up this news quite aggressively creating a lot of excitement among the visitors for these new solutions. The vehicle is offered by Stellantis in the L2H2, L3H2 and L3H2 variants which offer a significant increase in interior space when compared to Toyota who has dominated the van market due to lack of other offerings. Additionally, thanks to visit of the Caravanning Industry Association (CIVD) Board Members, Management Team and key association members, important steps

could be made to reconfirm the mutual interest and intention to collaborate. The Japanese RV Association (JRVA) expressed a deep interest to further understand and usage of the extensive European experience to tackle challenges that the expanding market is locally facing. After a joint visit to the Ministry of Land, Transportation and Tourism (MLIT) and several key meetings during the show, the two Association Chairmen, Mr. Herman Pfaff (CIVD) and Mr. Kenji Araki (JRVA) officially singed the Memorandum of Understanding.

Overall, the show kicked off another bright looking year for the Japanese Camping Car industry with both new vehicle offerings and strong demand from the market on both local and the new European base vehicles. With easing of supply chains and delivery times from the international suppliers, most key players in the market have a positive outlook for the upcoming year.

Words Bartek Radzimski

From left: Hermann Pfaff, President of CIVD; Daniel Onggowinarso, Managing Director of CIVD; Kiuchi Minoru, politician and JRVA Government Lobby Group Representative; Kenji Araki, President of JRVA

KOA research report says an additional 1.5 million households camped in USA in 2022

The Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) Monthly Research Report – January 2023 Edition offers a provisional look at the prior year in which more people camped than ever. According to the latest research, camping exceeded a record 2021 by 1.5 million households. Released ahead of Kampgrounds of America, Inc.’s annual North American Camping Report, available this spring, the latest edition of the monthly report shared that camping is more vital than ever amidst economic and life stressors.

According to the report, it is estimated that 30% of campers joined the activity in 2020 or 2021. While most (17%) share that they began camping as a direct result of COVID-19, some (13%) cite other reasons for choosing to camp for the first time. In 2022, 11% of camping households were new campers. In all, 41% of camping households in 2022 were relatively new to camping as a form of leisure travel, having camped for the first time over the last three years.

“Over the past several years, we have seen dramatic increases in new campers,” said Whitney Scott, senior vice president of strategy at Kampgrounds of America, Inc.

“People are looking for modes of travel that fit their lifestyle and improve their daily lives. Camping provides that for a growing number of travelers, and we don’t see that slowing down.”

Painting a healthy outlook, most households that camped over the last year indicate they plan to include camping in future travel (74%). Notably, 45% will have booked their camping trips or be in the planning stages for 2023. Mental health appears to be one reason for the continued popularity of camping. Six-in-ten campers share that camping helps improve their mental health. Additionally, 54% say that camping induces less anxiety than other forms of travel.

Shifting economic factors over the course of 2022 also played a role in how people camped. In fact, 64% of campers camped more or replaced other types of travel with camping during the last year. Similarly, 64% said camping was a more viable travel option during economic uncertainty.

“Camping is proving to be a top choice for travel amidst uncertainty,” Scott said. “People have faced a multitude of stressors in 2022 and camping trips proved to be a solution for many. We’re seeing the perseverance of campers as they make camping a continual priority as a leisure activity.”

The January report also shared the way campers explored in 2022. Most (54%) tented as their primary camping accommodation, while 26% and 17% utilized RVs or accommodations, like cabins, respectively. Campers also tried many things for the first time during the year, including glamping (21%), snowbirding (21%) and staying at a private campground (20%).

REV Group announces leadership change

REV Group, Inc. has announced that Mark Skonieczny, CFO has been appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer, effective January 27, 2023. Rod Rushing has stepped down as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board of Directors.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank Rod for his dedication and contributions to REV Group over the past three years,” stated Paul Bamatter, Chairman of REV Group’s Board of Directors. “During his tenure, Rod has played an important role in positioning REV Group for long-term success, while leading the company through a challenging period that included COVID-19, rapidly rising inflation, and supply chain disruptions. We wish him all the best.”

Mr. Skonieczny joins the REV Group Board of Directors effective immediately and remains Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Skonieczny will serve as Interim CEO until the role is permanently filled.

Prior to joining REV Group, Mr. Skonieczny held positions as Vice President and Corporate Controller of Adient PLC and

spent 17 years at Johnson Controls in a variety of financial roles including Vice President of Corporate Development, Vice President of Finance, Global Aftermarket-Power Solutions, Vice President of Finance, Middle East, Latin America and NA Systems-Building Efficiency, and Assistant Corporate Controller. “Mark has been a valuable member of the REV leadership team since joining the company in June 2020,” said Mr. Bamatter. “The Board is confident that his extensive experience, existing deep knowledge of the REV business, and operational experience will further enable REV to accelerate its transformation.”

Mr. Skonieczny added, “I appreciate the opportunity to serve as interim CEO and I’m committed to working closely with the Board and our strong management team to drive improved operational performance and financial results. We have many opportunities ahead and I look forward to engaging with the Company’s customers, employees, shareholders and other stakeholders throughout the coming weeks.”

Airstream reveals innovative travel trailer concept

Airstream has unveiled a concept travel trailer developed in partnership with legendary design firm Studio F. A. Porsche. The collaboration between the two expert teams resulted in them being charged with envisioning a next-generation Airstream trailer that incorporated elements from the design playbooks of both brands. The process engaged Studio F. A. Porsche designers in Zell am See, Austria, and Los Angeles in a steady back-and-forth with Airstream designers and engineers at the company’s headquarters and manufacturing facility in Jackson Center, Ohio. Brought to life through photorealistic renderings, a 1/3 scale model, and computer-assisted aerodynamic testing, the project resulted in a conceptual evolution to Airstream’s iconic riveted aluminum look that’s unlike any previous design. Among the concept’s many innovative ideas,

the design addresses changing demographics in the RV market by utilizing a pop-up roof for additional interior headroom and a lowering suspension that allows city dwellers to store the trailer in a standard residential garage. “Innovation is the art of discovering the possible,” said Airstream President and CEO Bob Wheeler. “Our collaboration with Studio F. A. Porsche brought talented new eyes and minds to our never-ending process of improving the Airstream experience. It’s a fresh design approach aimed at reaching a broader, more diverse base of potential customers.”

RV RoadSigns Report: shipments to move lower through the first half of 2023 in North America.

The latest, Spring 2023 RV RoadSigns Report prepared by ITR Economics for the RV Industry Association in North America says that RV wholesale shipments are expected to retreat in 2023 in the face of challenging economic conditions. The new forecast projects 2023 RV shipments to range from 324,300 to 344,00 units next year with a mid-point of 334,100 units, which represents a 32% decline from the 493,300 wholesale shipments in 2022. RV shipments are expected to fall through the first half of 2023 as consumers are squeezed by inflation, higher interest rates, and a slowing economy. On the positive side of the ledger, retail inventories are normalizing and reports from RV consumer shows and dealers point toward continued strong interest in RV ownership. Shipments are expected to stabilize in the latter part of the year.

Jayco has opened a new 70,000 square feet Pre-Delivery Inspection facility on its campus on Southridge Blvd. in Middlebury, Indiana which will accommodate four lines running simultaneously. This is the fifth of Jayco’s dedicated PDI facilities and now means 100% of all Jayco, Entegra Coach®, Starcraft RV® and Highland Ridge RV® products can be Pre-Delivery Inspected before being shipped to a dealer. The 100% PDI initiative includes all manufacturing locations; Middlebury and Shipshewana, Indiana and Twin Falls, Idaho. These rigorous processes include the inspection of numerous aspects and components of the entire product lineup and follow additional audits and quality checks performed on the production line before the units arrive at the dedicated PDI facilities. By implementing the PDI process, it allows for an additional key step in the manufacturing process to identify and fix any potential issues before they arrive at the dealer.

Winnebago reveals latest electric RV prototype at Florida SuperShow

Winnebago has revealed a fully-operational prototype of its all-electric, zero-emission RV at the Florida RV SuperShow in Tampa, Florida. Known as the eRV2, the prototype emerged from Winnebago Industries’ original eRV concept vehicle, which debuted at the same event last year. The eRV2 is the most advanced all-electric, zero-emission RV. Rigorous field testing with everyday consumers is underway to provide insights that will inform the eRV2’s final design before hitting dealerships in the future. In addition, show attendees will have the opportunity to test drive the eRV2 on-site and share their feedback with the company. Winnebago says the eRV2 is America’s first all-electric, zero-emission motorhome prototype. Both the powertrain and the house systems are powered by electricity, allowing for silent and environmentally responsible travel, and up to seven days of Boondocking, aided in part by 900-Watt solar capacity. It’s built on a Ford E-Transit™ chassis, which promises both a powerful torque and smooth handling. The current generation of this chassis has a pub-

lished range of 1081 miles, well-suited for a pilot program. Winnebago is actively pursuing range extension opportunities to incorporate into a future commercial version. Winnebago partnered with Lithionics Battery® to create a proprietary IonBlade® lithium house battery which is the most powerful, compact and safe lithium battery system available today. It

features a 48V system with more than 15,000 usable watt-hours, and a unique thin lay-flat design stored beneath the floor to maximize interior space. It meets the highest safety standards with UL safety certification No.1973. The eRV2 is sustainably designed to further reduce the impact on the environment. Recycled

RV Industry Association Government Affairs team starts lobbying for e-RV infrastructure

The RV Industry Association Government Affairs team has launched lobbying efforts to expand e-RV infrastructure. After receiving approval from the Association’s Board of Directors earlier this month – and supported by the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – the Government Affairs team has been hard at work spreading the word about the need for an increased number of pullthrough EV sites in campgrounds.

“As e-RVs start to become more common, charging them could present an issue,” predicts Jay Landers, RV Industry Association Vice President of Gov-

ernment Affairs. “Many of the current charging stations are not designed for combination vehicles, including electric towables. There are very few pullthrough electric vehicle charging stations, and if an RV combination takes up two spots, it prevents others from charging their electric vehicles. Even with just an electric tow vehicle, the RV owner would have the added frustration of uncoupling the trailer, finding a place to put their RV trailer, charging the tow vehicle, and then reattaching the trailer. More pull-throughs, especially those designed for electric RV combinations, would help solve this barrier.”

With the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act now signed into law, $5 billion has been set aside for the states to improve their EV infrastructure, as a way of helping the U.S. move towards EVs and away from internal combustion. Another $2.5 billion remains with the federal government to spend on national infrastructure. The Government Affairs team is hoping these funds will help create more pull-through sites suitable for e-RVs.

materials are used extensively throughout the interior, including in the flooring, removable floor mats, Winsleep® mattress system, and trimming around the window frames. Cab seat coverings are made with renewable plant-based materials and the Acrylic countertops are made from biodegradable materials. Unique broad color-spectrum lighting allows users to customize the interior lights from white to red, which helps to reduce light pollution and negative effects on native flora and fauna. The eRV2 interior is inspired by modern Japandi principles, a fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian design that creates a clean, calm and multi-functional environment. This includes a five-in-one sleep/ lounge and two adaptable workspaces with built-in charge points and a highspeed Wi-Fi router for optimal data streaming. Finally, the eRV2 is connected thanks to the proprietary Winnebago Connect™ system which allows users to easily monitor and control the vehicle’s electrical and energy management systems using a display inside the vehicle or an intuitive app.

Landers notes that any industry with large trailers or vehicles is going to have a need for more pull-through spaces, but the RV industry is leading the charge: “Our team is working with the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and receiving their support on this initiative. We’re also working with a national lobbying firm to help spread the word. We’ve found some support from the Federal Highway Administration, which put out a statement in the Federal Register announcing that pull-through sites would be considered.”

Along with these efforts, the Government Affairs team is undertaking a state-by-state campaign to reach out to state departments of transportation, as well as governor’s offices and economic development offices. The team also plans to work with the member companies whenever possible on this initiative. “The Government Affairs team is thankful for the support of the board in these efforts, and we look forward to providing some real results in mid-2023,” Landers says.