Camping Trade World – Issue 07

C OC NO N EN CE TC IT NI NG G T THHE E G LLO B A L C A M P II N G I INNDDU US ST TR RY 

Y 

ISSUE ISSUE 07 07 | CAMPINGTRADEWORLD.COM 

| JUST HOW TOUGH ARE 

SUPERSPRINGS INTERNATIONAL PUT 

THEIR SUSPENSION TO THE ULTIMATE TEST. 

See more on page 34

GROW YOUR BUSINESS 

Grow your 

business 

with... 

TRADE 

WORLD 

S 

■ince the launch of our 

website and digital 

magazine around a year 

ago, Camping Trade World has 

been on a rapid growth curve. 

We’ve gone from 0 to 60 pretty 

quickly and reach a growing 

audience of camping, caravanning 

and RV industry professionals 

around the world every single day. 

Our aims are to keep the industry 

informed, help you improve how 

your company operates and, if you 

choose to work with us, help you 

grow your business. 

What can it do for me? 

By working with us, even in just a small capacity, we can help you: 

• Gain partners in new countries and territories 

• Put your products/services in front of buyers around the world 

• Build your brand 

• Communicate your message to the industry 

• Source new products, services and components 

• Learn about market trends and insight 

• Get the latest news and opinion from the industry 

• Get your voice heard 

02 | www.campingtradeworld.com

GROW YOUR BUSINESS 

How We Do It 

Our up-to-the-minute 

website is updated daily and 

is visited by 2,000 people per 

month from more than 110 

different countries. 

Our LinkedIn page is a hub 

of industry news and debate 

with a fast growing network of 

followers and a post reach of 

more than 8,000 on average. 

Our email newsletters 

feature a wide range of 

content and have strong 

engagement rates of between 

20% and 45% on average. 

Our multimedia channels 

such as our industry podcast 

and YouTube channel are 

listened to and watched by 

people around the world and 

are on a fast growth curve. 

Over 4,500 pageviews 

per issue of our digital 

magazine, people spend 10 

minutes and read 12 pages 

on average per session 

Our database now has 

professionals subscribed 

from more than 40 

different countries – with 

more joining every month. 

YOU CAN WORK WITH US FROM AS LITTLE AS £385 / $520 / €430 

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WELCOME 

MEET THE TEAM 

DAVID GUEST 

EDITOR 

David has worked in B2B publishing since 2006 and has edited 

several major titles in that time. He has also worked on the UK’s 

biggest consumer camping magazine, Camping & Caravanning. A 

keen camper and outdoorsman, David will bring you the very latest 

international industry news. 

david.guest@dhpub.co.uk 

JUSTIN FOX 

PUBLISHER 

Justin is hugely experienced in publishing and oversees the running 

of all of David Hall Publishing’s titles, which includes not only B2B 

titles, but also some enthusiast consumer brands too. Justin’s 

organisational and sales skills are invaluable to the business. 

justin@dhpub.co.uk 

WILLEM BONNEUX 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 

Fluent in several languages, Willem is hugely experienced in 

helping outdoor industry brands realise their global communication 

ambitions. He has a broad background in sales, marketing and key 

account management. 

willem.bonneux@dhpub.co.uk 

GUIDO KNEGT 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 

Guido has a wealth of experience in helping companies grow their 

international export businesses. He speaks numerous languages 

and is well-known for going that extra mile for all of his international 

customers. 

guido.knegt@dhpub.co.uk 

MARK GRAFTON 

DESIGNER 

Mark is the man who takes our essential trade info and turns it into 

something beautiful. A freelance designer with more than 20 years of 

experience as a magazine and digital designer, we trust him to make 

us look good. 

housegrafton@gmail.com 

PAUL EVANS 

ART EDITOR 

Paul is the Art Editor of our publishing house and he runs the rule 

over the creative direction of our titles. He has worked in the company 

since 2008 and keeps our vision in focus. 

STAY TRUE TO YOU IN UNCERTAIN TIMES 

T 

■here’s no doubt that 

the world is a pretty 

crazy place at the time 

of writing this piece. After 

seemingly coming close to 

the end of a global pandemic, 

major conflict has broken out 

in Europe for the first time in a 

generation and the fallout from 

that has ensured that uncertainty 

remains the flavour of the day. 

For many businesses, I know 

the very last thing some of you 

need is more global instability, 

volatile markets, and events that 

can cause further disruption to 

the cost and availability of raw 

materials. I guess the saying 

“nothing worth doing is easy” 

really does apply to businesses 

across the camping and 

caravanning industry right now. 

Despite everything, I believe we 

can all still continue to prosper 

so long as we plan well and stay 

true to our overriding goals. 

Before war, there was the 

pandemic, before that was the 

financial crash, before that was 

terrorist attacks, and before 

that was more war. My point 

being that there is never really 

a time when we have ideal 

trading conditions. There will 

always be a crisis of some kind 

that inhibits us or tries to deal 

our businesses a cruel hand. 

That’s why the importance of 

planning is key. When so many 

things are unknown, make sure 

you and your team focus on the 

knowns. What things do you 

control? How can you make 

those things work better for you, 

or adapt them to overcome a 

new challenge? If you’re being 

squeezed by external costs, why 

not consider how you can make 

savings and be more efficient 

within your own four walls? 

Consider what other markets 

you could expand into so that 

all your eggs aren’t in one 

basket. Or make a schedule 

that sees you regularly spending 

time to think and to reassess 

plans. Whatever you do, make 

sure that your key objectives 

and values as a business are not 

forgotten. You got to where 

you are by sticking with them 

and continuing to do that in 

times of adversity will mean you 

always have a steady base. 

The huge positive we have in 

our industry right now is that 

camping is more popular than 

it’s ever been – but we need 

to make sure we stay true to 

ourselves so as to not get carried 

along the wrong path. 

Enjoy the issue, 

David Guest 


CONTENTS 

16 

20 

32 

36 

58 

BASECAMP 

06-13 What’s trending in the camping, caravanning and RV 

industry? See for yourself with our usual round-up of the 

latest happenings. 

THE DETAIL 

14 Why the owner of Nikwax is handing over control of his 

company to the employees. 

16 The hottest trend in camping right now? Drive-away 

awnings, and there’s big names getting involved to prove it. 

18-19 The incredible RV Women’s Alliance has conducted a 

survey to determine whether the industry is going in the 

right direction regarding equality. 

20-21 When two of the biggest names in leisure vehicles 

combine, you better pay attention. What’s behind the 

recent deal between Ford and Erwin Hymer Group? 

22-23 The European caravanning market smashed all records in 

sight in 2021 – how and why did it get to this point? 

24-25 Get inside the mind of the Australian trade thanks to a 

survey by the Caravan Industry Association of Australia. 

FEATURES 

26-31 Our Doing Business With feature focuses on one of 

Europe’s most significant consumer and manufacturing 

markets: Italy. Here’s all you need to know. 

32-33 How one of camping’s best-known sleeping brands reached 

its 50th anniversary – this is the Therm-A-Rest story. 

34-35 SuperSprings International has taken testing products to a 

new level with the torture test of its SumoSprings. 

36-43 Missed the return of the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome 

Show in Birmingham in the UK? Our huge wrap-up 

including video content has everything you need to know. 

44-47 Exclusive interview with Thetford’s marketing manager 

Norbert van Noesel on the RV accessory and component 

expert’s past, present and future. 

48-51 We delve deep into the OEM and accessories market 

to find out what the hottest trends are, and who the key 

manufacturers and suppliers are. 

52-53 Though innovation was dead? You haven’t met the team from 

family-run firm PeggyPeg. 

54-57 Branding – it can make or break your business. Our 

marketing guru explains how you can make it work better for 

your company and how to keep your messaging consistent. 

MAKING CONTACT 

58-63 Our usual round-up of some of the most interesting, 

innovative and saleable products from the industry, 

including a special section featuring the recent European 

Innovation Award winners. 


BASE CAMP 

CAMPING IS COOL (SOMETIMES FREEZING) 

■he crunch of snow underfoot, The Dyrt CEO Kevin Long said: 

the brush of frost on canvas, the “For some people, solitude is one of the 

T 

glowing warmth of the campfire. things they love most about camping. 

While it’s not for everyone, winter With the surge in camping over the last 

camping has its charms. And that’s been two years filling up campgrounds, more 

proven. American camping app The Dyrt and more people are realizing that there 

conducted a study that reveals winter are amazing camping experiences to be 

is the fastest-growing camping season had all year round. A lot of campers are 

in the USA, recording a 40.7 per cent currently busy planning trips for 2022, 

increase in participation since 2019. but many are out there right now braving 

The survey of more than 3,000 users the cold and finding their peace.” 

of The Dyrt indicates that camping In addition to the drastic increase in 

participation is increasing in popularity winter camping, the other seasons have 

throughout the year but the most also seen a bump. Since 2019, camping 

significant increase has come in the in the springtime has gone up by 27.7 

colder months. 

per cent, fall saw a 15.1 per cent increase 

and summer, already the most popular 

camping season, rose 2.3 per cent. 

The hunger for camping is so strong 

that it’s pushing people to camp in all 

seasons, or so it seems. The movement is 

probably also helped by the fact that the 

technology available to campers in the 

modern market is better than it has ever 

been. Electric blankets, innovative stoves, 

incredibly warm thermal sleeping bags, 

improved tent fabrics – these products 

and more mean that the camping season 

can be extended beyond the traditional, 

and people don’t seem to mind camping 

in the cold as much anymore. To learn 

more visit: www.thedyrt.com 

A MATTER OF PRINCIPLES 

Utah is a dirty word. At 

least that’s according to an 

assortment of outdoor industry 

companies who are urging 

the organisers of the Outdoor 

Retailer trade show not to move 

to the show to the state. The 

reason? They say they will not 

support or attend a trade show 

event in Utah as long as its 

elected officials continue their 

attacks on national monuments 

and public lands protections. 

Leading names in the camping 

industry such as REI Co-op, 

Kelty, Sierra Designs, Nemo 

Equipment, Therm-A-Rest, 

MSR, and Helinox USA are 

all lending their support for 

the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal 

Coalition and its longstanding 

efforts to protect the homeland 

of the Tribes and Pueblos with 

cultural ties to the Bears Ears 

landscape. Emerald Expositions, 

the Outdoor Retailer show’s 

organisers, are said to have 

demonstrated continued interest 

to move the event to the state of 

Utah, which the Conservation 

Alliance believes to be a move 

at odds with what they stand 

for. Those threats appear to have 

fallen on deaf ears, as the show’s 

owner, Emerald Expositions, 

decided to go ahead with the 

move, leaving the Outdoor 

Industry Association in a 

difficult position of taking much 

of the flak from its members. It 

has since released a statement 

explaining its position and that 

all questions should be directed 

to Emerald Expositions, as they 

are the owners of the show. This 

one ain’t over… 

GETTING OFF ON THE 

RIGHT FOOT 

In a year where forecasts are 

predicting that the RV industry 


BASE CAMP 

in the United States could see 

record-breaking shipments of 

new RVs of more than 600,000, it 

was vital that the year got off to a 

good start. And a good start they 

got, with the latest figures from 

the RV Industry Association 

(RVIA) determining that 

shipments for January 2022 stood 

at 53,290 units, an impressive 16 

per cent increase compared to the 

45,930 units shipped in the same 

month in 2021. This figure made 

January the best on record in terms 

of RV shipments – couldn’t have 

started any better really, right? 

The RVIA’s president 

and CEO Craig Kirby said: 

“Our latest report shows RV 

manufacturers and suppliers 

delivered another strong 

month of RV shipments and 

are prepared to meet consumer 

demand as we head into another 

excellent year for the RV industry. 

With spring just around the 

corner, consumers are looking 

to RVs as an ideal way to take 

advantage of the mental and 

physical health benefits of living 

an active outdoor lifestyle and 

our manufacturers and suppliers 

are prepared to meet this ongoing 

demand for RVs.” 

The interesting quirk of these 

figures is the fact that for the first 

time in quite a while, towable 

RVs showed more impressive 

growth than motorhomes – 

17.3 per cent versus 4.6 per 

cent. This could perhaps be due 

to the incredible growth that 

motorhomes experienced in 

2021, meaning there is less room 

for them to continue to grow 

compared to towables. Either way, 

the industry is very firmly on the 

600,000-units-in-a-year track. 

INDUSTRY INSIDERS 

IN THIS ISSUE 

Founder of camping and 

outdoor clothing cleaning 

and proofing products 

brand Nikwax, Nick Brown, 

recently handed over the 

stewardship of his company 

to his employees. We find 

out why. 

P14 

We explore the Italian 

camping and caravanning 

market in our latest Doing 

Business With article and 

also hear from Simone 

Nicolai, the president of 

the country’s Associazione 

Produttori Caravan e 

Camper. 

P26-31 

Photo: Airstream 

▲ RV shipments in the United States are well on track to break the 600,000 barrier in 2022. 

We speak to Thetford’s 

marketing manager 

Norbert van Noesel about 

the company’s long history 

of success in the camping 

industry and what it has 

planned for the future 

under new owners. 

P44-47 

www.campingtradeworld.com | 07

BASE CAMP 

Photo: KEEN 

DOING OUR BIT AS AN INDUSTRY 

■media statement from the 

European Outdoor Group (EOG) 

A 

says it is collating efforts of the 

whole industry to distribute outdoor gear 

to Ukrainian refugees who are fleeing the 

conflict in the country, following military 

action by Russia in February 2022. The 

EOG is working in close contact with 

colleagues from the Polish Outdoor 

Group, footwear brand KEEN (via its 

Polish distributor) and the Scandinavian 

Outdoor Group to ascertain exactly what 

specific emerging needs there are and how 

its external members can help support. 

The EOG statement read: “At this 

very moment, we are witnessing the mass 

displacement of families and individuals in 

the harsh cold of winter – it is both a great 

tragedy, and an immediate humanitarian 

priority. As an outdoor industry 

association, we may not have the ability 

to influence military actions, but we can 

mobilise our members and the wider sector 

to aid the innocent civilians who are being 

affected by those actions. Our industry 

specialises in the design, manufacture, and 

production of kit that can help people in 

the harshest conditions, and we can step 

up now to provide assistance. This is not a 

marketing opportunity, it’s a call to action. 

“We will continue to monitor the 

situation closely and adapt our approach 

accordingly. However, for the moment, 

our message is clear. This is an urgent 

humanitarian crisis and outdoor 

companies can help civilians on the 

ground who are in need.” 

Any outdoor companies in Europe 

interested in helping in any way they 

can via materials or products donations 

is urged to contact one of the following: 

The EOG team on 

info@europeanoutdoorgroup.com 

The Polish Outdoor Group on 

pt@4outdoor.pl 

The Scandinavian Outdoor Group on 

david@scandinavianoutdoorgroup.com 

KEEN on 

meijer@keenfootwear.com 

MERCHANDISING 

MANOEUVRERS 

Optimising the presentation 

of products and services to 

better highlight their features 

and benefits. That’s the rough 

dictionary explanation of visual 

merchandising. You’ve heard 

the term before, but what does 

it really mean for your business 

and how do you go about 

implementing it? Luckily RV 

components expert Lippert is 

on hand to give its dealers and 

retailers a helping hand on this 

front – the company recently 

revealed a host of eye-catching 

new displays and merchandising 

▲ Lippert recently revealed a stylish 

store-within-store concept for retailers. 

solutions at the NTP-STAG 

Expo in Las Vegas to help 

its network of retailers and 

dealerships boost sales. Among 

the merchandising solutions 

revealed was Lippert’s new storein-store 

concept, which will 

feature custom-engineered retail 

fixtures for small, medium and 

large dealerships alike. Lippert, 

in partnership with an industry 

leading retail design firm, will 

offer its all-new retail kiosk 

technology. 

It’s so good that VP of 

marketing at Lippert, Jarod 

Lippert, called it ‘a tremendous 

value-add’ for the company’s 

distributor and dealer partners. 

Can’t say fairer than that. It 

will start our in 22 dealerships 

initially, before expanding out. 

Makes you wonder – what else 

could you do similarly in your 

outlet to further massage those 

sales numbers? 


BASE CAMP 

MOVERS AND SHAKERS 

The who’s who of hires and promotions 

RV components expert Lippert has 

named Oliver Steenaert as its new vice 

president of human resources for the 

EMEA region. Oliver will lead all aspects 

of the company’s human resources 

activities for this region including 

strategic direction, talent acquisition, 

talent management and development, 

organisational design, succession 

planning employee relations and total 

rewards for all European business 

units. The Jayco Family of Companies 

has announced the promotion of 

several key executives in its sales and 

marketing team. Nic Martin, former 

general manager for Jayco and Entegra 

Coach motorized group, has been 

promoted to vice president of sales for 

Jayco Motors & Towables and Entegra 

Coach; Brion Brady, former general 

manager of Highland Ridge RV and 

Starcraft RV, has been promoted to 

vice president of sales for Highland 

Ridge and Starcraft; and Ryan Eash 

will backfill Nic Martin’s position of 

general manager of the Motorized 

Group from his prior role of director 

of product development. The Caravan 

Industry Association of Australia has 

appointed two new deputy chairs to its 

national board in the shape of COO of 

THL Australia Kate Meldrum and CEO 

of Tasman Holiday Parks Nikki Milne. 

It is the first time that two individuals 

have shared the title. Global leader in 

outdoor apparel, footwear, equipment 

and camping gear Jack Wolfskin has 

hired Matthew Jung as the new general 

manager for its operation in China. 

American Matthew has almost 25 years 

of experience working on executive 

roles in the Asian Pacific market. And 

finally, after 26 years of service to the 

RV industry, Philippe Gerboin is set to 

retire from his position as key account 

manager for South Europe with Thetford. 

He leaves Fabrizio di Piazza to take over 

from his responsibilities, alongside the 

experienced team at Thetford SARL. 

Tell us about your hires and promotions via: 

david.guest@dhpub.co.uk

BASE CAMP 

IT’S COOL TO COLLAB 

W 

■e’ve all heard the sayings about the great things that can happen 

when we work together, and more and more in the camping 

industry we are seeing that brought to life through the wonderful 

world of collabs. Companies with similar goals and values are working 

closely together to combine their skills, talents and experience to offer 

customers even better gear that goes places it never could before. There 

seem to have been plenty of examples in recent times. Take Swedish 

outdoor clothing and luggage brand Fjällräven partnering with American 

bicycle brand Specialized to create a next-level range of on-bike storage 

solutions perfect for cycle camping (pictured left), as just one example. 

This hiking and biking combo looks set to be an instant hit for fans of 

both brands, but also new customers. It’s a smart way to encourage 

cross pollination into another market piggybacking the experience and 

reputation of a well-known brand. It’s reciprocal and it’s effective. 

Another recent example saw Japanese camping and clothing expert 

Snow Peak embark on its fourth collaboration with Japanese fly fishing 

brand Toned Trout. The two Japanese companies created a selection of fly 

fishing clothing and accessories that again taps into two different markets 

that while similar, have slightly different customer bases. 

These kinds of collaborations are also commonly seen in the leisure 

vehicle and RV industry too – by its very nature, an RV involves products 

from many different specialists coming together to create a complete 

product. It’s encouraging and exciting to see the new ways in which the 

collab is taking shape in the camping industry. Answers on a postcard for 

the most wild collab you’d love to see next. 

RECORDS ARE THERE TO 

BE BROKEN 

The words ‘record breaking’ 

could make a case for being 

two of the most typed words 

in the Camping Trade World 

newsroom over the past year. 

The industry is flying, companies 

are taking full advantage, and 

records are tumbling in the 

process. The occasion of a record 

being broken has become so 

commonplace that it would be 

forgivable for the impact to be 

watered down somewhat – but 

as businesses, we should never 

lose track of just how significant 

our achievements are. Whether 

you’re a fast-growing enterprise 

like SuperSprings International, 

which reported recordbreaking 

42 per cent growth 

in 2021, an exhibition like the 

recent Caravan, Camping & 

Motorhome Show in the UK 

that recently enjoyed a record 

▲ SuperSprings International is smashing records every year. 

attendance of more than 101,000 

people, or just an industry body 

reporting on record figures 

such as the European Caravan 

Federation (ECF), which 

recently announced industrybest 

figures of 259,393 new 

caravans and motorhomes 

sold over the course of 2021 in 

Europe. It doesn’t even have to 

be a headline figure like this, 

something as simple as selling a 

product faster than ever, a record 

quick time to go from inception 

to finished product – whatever 

records you are breaking at your 

company, be proud of them. And 

don’t sweat about getting ahead 

of yourself – those records you’re 

breaking today will be broken 

again. That’s the nature of a 

growth industry. 

DEALS ON WHEELS 

Texas-based manufacturer of 

adventure trailer RVs, Taxa 

Outdoors, has announced that it 

has been acquired by the growth 

fund of consumer-focused 

private equity firm L Catterton. 

RX3 Growth Partners, a 

growth equity firm backed 

by a network of professional 

athlete and celebrity investors, is 

investing alongside L Catterton. 

Originally founded in 2014 by 

NASA architect Garrett Finney, 

Taxa is an expert in highperformance, 

multi-functional 

camping machines designed 

to connect people with the 

outdoors. 

The DexKo group has set up 

a new Italian company, AL-KO 

Vehicle Technology Electronics 

srl, that is the result of the 

merger of two caravanning 

electrical system suppliers: CBE 

and Nordelettronica srl. DexKo, 


BASE CAMP 

which is the parent company 

of AL-KO Vehicle Technology 

Group, said that the move is part 

of its overall growth strategy in 

the caravanning and motorhome 

electronics sector. 

Scandinavia’s largest camping 

chain First Camp has extended 

its network into Norway after 

acquiring its first ever campsite 

in the country, Norsjø Ferieland 

in Telemark. First Camp already 

has 58 different destinations in 

Sweden and Denmark. 

American designer and 

manufacturer of outdoor and 

sporting goods, Gathr Outdoors, 

has added roof tents to its stable 

with the acquisition of Cascadia 

Vehicle Tents (CVT). Based in 

Bend, Oregon, CVT is a family 

business that has established 

itself as a leader in rooftop tents, 

awnings, off-road trailers and car 

camping equipment. 

01 

02 

03 

04 

05 

FIVE STATS TO MAKE YOU THINK 

An amazing 101,606 visitors attended the recent Caravan, Camping and Motorhome 

show in the UK - that’s more than could fit inside the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona… 

…And 23,775 people attended the Japan Car Camping Show in Chiba City. More than 

60 exhibitors showcased over 280 campervans at the event, which is in its 12th year of 

existence. 

91 per cent of people surveyed in the Australian RV industry say that the costs of 

materials have increased for them in the last year according to a study by the Caravan 

Industry Association of Australia. Read more on page 24. 

Including the issue that you’re reading right now, Camping Trade World has produced 

448 pages of industry news, features and insight in our digital mag in just over a year. 

We’ve also produced more than 500 stories on www.campingtradeworld.com with daily 

updates and regular postings to our LinkedIn page too. Make sure you’re following us so 

you don’t miss a big story. 


AROUND THE WORLD 

CANADA 

While there has been much furore 

about the amazing figures coming out 

of its neighbour to the south, there is 

still plenty to be excited about from an 

RV industry perspective in Canada. The 

Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association 

reports that RV wholesale shipments into 

Canada for the 3rd quarter of 2021 totalled 

14,245 units compared to 6,995 in 2020, 

representing an increase of 103.65 per cent. 

According to Statistical Surveys, RVDA of 

Canada reported that retail activity during 

the 3rd Quarter totalled 15,239 units and 

when compared to the wholesale shipment 

figure of 14,245, Canadian RV dealer 

inventory levels decreased slightly during 

the quarter. CRVA expects that dealer 

inventory levels will start to build in the 4th 

quarter and into 2022 but that it will take 

the next one to two years to fully replenish 

inventory to historical industry levels. 

Head to www.crva.ca to find out more 

about the RV market in Canada. 

01 

Around the world 

Camping and leisure vehicles are a global business, but 

each corner of the world faces its own unique challenges 

and enjoys its own successes. Here’s a snapshot of what’s 

been happening on planet camping the last few months. 

02 

What’s happening 

in your part of the world? 

Contact us today and 

tell us your story: 

david.guest@dhpub.co.uk 

ITALY 

The latest figures revealed by Italy’s Associazione Produttori Caravan e Camper 

(APC) show that 2021 was an impressive year for the industry, with no signs of the 

upward trend slowing despite challenges facing material supply. Italy recorded 

7,342 new registrations of RVs in 2021, an 11.92 per cent increase on the 6,560 

recorded in 2020. Italy can also lay claim to being the third largest manufacturer 

of RVs behind Germany and France, with its companies recording an increase 

in production rates of 33.88 per cent in 2021 compared to the previous year. An 

estimated 80 per cent of these are exported outside of Italy. 

You can read more about the Italian market in our Doing Business With Italy 

feature on pages 26 to 31 or visit www.associazioneproduttoricamper.it 


AROUND THE WORLD 

03 

NORWAY 

Scandinavia’s largest camping chain First Camp has extended its network into Norway 

after acquiring its first ever campsite in the country, Norsjø Ferieland in Telemark. 

First Camp already has 58 different camping destinations throughout Sweden and 

Denmark, and can now offer its high-quality services to campers in Norway. 

“We have been looking at the Norwegian market for some time, so it’s wonderful 

that Norway has now become our third country,” saidJohan Söör, CEO of First 

Camp.“Norwegian campers are already an important guest category for us, and we can 

now offer them a First Camp option on their home ground. This is our first step toward 

becoming a major camping chain in Norway as well.” 

Learn more about First Camp at www.firstcamp.se 

04 

JAPAN 

The biggest show of its kind 

in Japan, the Japan Camping 

Car Show, recently welcomed 

thousands of visitors to its event 

in Chiba City in mid-February this 

year. The show, which is run by 

the Japan RV Association, hosted 

hundreds of domestic exhibitors 

and also some international ones 

too, with the likes of Adria and 

Winnebago being represented. 

As well as RVs and campers, the 

show also hosted tents, camping 

accessories and companies 

showcasing associated outdoor 

activities such as fishing, picnics 

and motorcycle camping. It has 

always been a strong show within 

the Asian market, and continues 

to grow as Japan experiences 

the same increase in interest in 

camping as many other countries 

around the world. 

Visit www.jrva-event.com 

05 

AUSTRIA 

With the continuous growth of the caravan and motorhome industry seen 

across the whole of Europe over the last decade, there is a potential problem 

of there not being enough skilled workers to build them. That’s a problem 

being addressed by the Austrian Caravan Association, which is pushing a 

promotional campaign to encourage people to consider joining the industry 

in various roles. The campaign is targeting people who might be suitable to 

become specialists, technicians, or those with manual and technical skills. 

The organisation has compiled several info sheets that are downloadable at 

its website to help show people what is involved in this kind of career. Head 

to www.öchv.at for more information. 

06 

NEW ZEALAND 

After a period of frustration for 

events with cancellations due 

to COVID-19 restrictions, the 

New Zealand Motor Caravan 

Association’s Motorhome Caravan 

and Leisure Show in Christchurch 

is set to go ahead on 21 and 22 

May. The show aims to provide a 

complete experience for visitors 

and will be attended by industry 

leaders, offer a huge array of 

accessories as well as RVs and 

also expert advice. The show also 

welcomes attendees to attend and 

stay over in their own camping 

units on a special temporary 

parking site at the Christchurch 

Arena – as long as the motorhome 

or caravan is self-contained. The 

show is one of two major shows 

the NZMCA runs, the other is on 

the north island of New Zealand in 

Hamilton. 

Visit www.nzmca.org.nz 


NIKWAX THE DETAIL 

Investing in the future 

Producer of innovative cleaning and waterproofing products Nikwax is making a bold 

step towards a brighter future after owner of 45 years Nick Brown handed control of 

the company to his employees in the form of an employee ownership trust. 

U 

■nemployed, full of ideas 

and in love with the 

great outdoors. This 

was the situation Nick Brown 

found himself in back in 1977. 

He had just finished university, 

was living in London, England, 

and trying to decide what to 

do with his life. As well as a 

huge fondness for long walks 

and backpacking, Nick had a 

talent for chemistry, and is so 

often the case, he combined 

his passion and talent to create 

a product. That product was 

Nikwax, a waterproofing wax 

for leather, which he supplied 

to the 1980 Royal Geographical 

Society Karakoram Expedition, 

and which quickly gained 

popularity locally and abroad. 

Nick and Nikwax went 

on to develop a highly 

innovative range of cleaning 

and waterproofing products 

for outdoor clothing, footwear, 

and gear that are both free 

of solvents and persistent 

chemicals of concern. Nikwax 

is the only established 

waterproofing aftercare brand 

never to have used PFCs in 

its formulations (PFCs are 

associated with cancer and 

endocrine disruption, and are 

now known as the “forever 

chemicals” because they 

bio-accumulate). Over the 

years, Nikwax has grown to 

be an international company 

with branches in Mainland 

Europe, North America and 

South America. The name is 

synonymous with camping and 

the outdoors. 

Photo: Nikwax 

▲ Nikwax has become a name campers around the world trust for cleaning and waterproofing. 

FUTUREPROOFING 

Now at the age of 67, while 

not completely sold on the 

idea of retirement, Nick has 

known for some time that a 

plan for the future needed to 

be established for his company. 

He wanted a smooth succession 

and a future that maintained 

Nikwax’s legacy of trying to 

business in a responsible way, 

taking the planet and people into 

consideration. He decided the 

best people to run his company 

in future were the people who 

have made it what it is: his 

employees. And so Nikwax 

became an Employee Ownership 

Trust in February 2022, meaning 

that the company now exists for 

the benefit of the employees and 

all, in effect, are partners while 

employed. The employees now 

effectively own and control the 

company, and from now on, one 

per cent of all revenue Nikwax 

generates will be dedicated 

to environmental and social 

projects. 

Maïté Angleys, director of 

sustainability for Nikwax, said: 

“One per cent for people and 

planet is about giving back. 

Nikwax has been here for 45 

years and aims to be here in 

another 45 years’ time, which is 

why we want to do our best to 

protect the great outdoors for 

generations to come. To ensure 

continuity, Nick and his family 

will be involved in choosing the 

projects and organizations we 

support, giving us the chance to 

preserve our founding values into 

the future.” 

To learn more about Nikwax 

and its products, visit 

www.nikwax.com 


DRIVEAWAY AWNINGS THE DETAIL 

Driveaway awnings 

are hot property 

You know a product category is hot when some of the biggest names in the 

game jump on the wagon and launch their first forays into it. That’s the position 

driveaway awnings are in right now… but why? 

T 

■he growth of the vanlife 

market, and the general 

trend for campers who 

want to expand their living 

space without expanding the 

size of their leisure vehicles, 

means that the humble awning 

has been subject to quite a bit 

of innovation in recent years. 

One of the most interesting 

trends in this market is the 

expansion of the driveaway 

awning. Already a staple for 

some brands such as Outwell, 

and Vango, this market is now 

attracting the attention of the 

some of the other big players 

in the market. The most recent 

examples include Danish giant 

Isabella and global player 

Dometic – both of whom just 

revealed their first ever small 

driveaway awnings designed 

to work perfectly with smaller 

motorhomes and campervans. 

Dometic launched the 

Club AIR Pro driveaway 

awning, which it says has been 

designed from top to bottom 

to support touring adventures. 

It is completely free-standing, 

detachable from the vehicle 

and leave it to reserve the pitch 

whilst exploring the local area 

or drive to a nearby beauty spot. 

This is the first time Dometic 

designed a drive-away awning, 

but the Club AIR Pro DA 

also features all unique features 

Dometic offer for its highend, 

premium awnings, such 

▲ Dometic and Isabella recently got into drive-away awnings, spotting the market’s potential. 

as single inflation air frame 

technology, tough yet lightweight 

Weathershield Pro, sun protection 

and mosquito screen. 

Meanwhile Isabella recently 

revealed the the Air X Tension. 

This awning lets campervan 

users expand their living area 

by 8.25sqm with plenty of 

headroom and the option to 

zip out two of the sides to 

transform it into a sun canopy 

with fixed screen panel. The 

awning boasts quick set-up 

and pack-down times thanks 

to its air tubes that feature a 

single inflation point. There 

will be two versions of the 

Air X-Tension, one for the 

Volkswagen California and 

one for other vans including 

Citroen Spacetourer, Toyota 

ProAce Verso, and Crosscamp 

to name just a few. 

You don’t have to be an 

expert to spot the patterns 

developing here – campers are 

demanding more and more 

flexibility from their set-ups 

and it seems like driveaway 

awnings are the hot ticket to 

help them achieve that right 

now. 

Pics © Dometic and Isabella 


RVWA STUDY THE DETAIL 

Women’s representation 

improving in RV industry 

A new study conducted by the RV Women’s Alliance in collaboration with Cairn 

Consulting Group has revealed that representation of women and attitudes around 

women in the RV industry are improving, but there is still much work to be done. 

I 

■t’s an uncomfortable 

truth, but the RV 

industry could be doing 

a lot more when it comes to 

diversity among its workers. 

It’s an industry dominated by 

men, and has been for some 

time, but that doesn’t mean 

change isn’t afoot. The RV 

Women’s Alliance (RVWA), 

who we featured back in our 

second issue, have made it 

their mission to help foster and 

encourage the next generation 

of female RV Industry leaders 

and innovators. One of the ways 

in which the organisation does 

that is via industry surveys. 

Alongside Cairn Consulting 

Group, the RVWA has released 

the results of a new study from 

2021 that shows that there has 

been moderate improvement in 

women’s involvement in the RV 

industry, but there is still a ways 

to go. 

RV Women’s Alliance 

president, Susan Carpenter, said: 

“The results of the new survey 

are encouraging and show there 

has been modest improvement 

in women’s representation in the 

industry. The results also show 

that while those employed in 

the RV industry feel there has 

been progress, they also see a 

lot of room for improvement. 

And that is where we at 

RVWA come in. Our group of 

women and men from across 

the industry are dedicated to 

the elevation, education, and 

promotion of women in our 

industry so that the RV industry 

is a place where women thrive. 

And it is clear from the results 

of this new survey that there is 

a recognition of the importance 

of women in our industry and 

acknowledgment of the work 

that still needs to be done.” 

Staffing remains a challenge 

for the RV industry at large, 

thanks in part to the surging 

demand for products. This could 

be one of the things holding 

back progress in attracting 

more women into the industry, 

however the study has revealed 

that the overall representation 

of women in the industry is up 

about 16 per cent compared 

to 2019. The RVWA will use 

this and the other stats shown 

here to tailor its programs and 

resources for its members to 

help continuing in its mission 

to help make the RV industry a 

place where women thrive. 

Learn more about the RVWA 

and see the study in full at 

www.rvwa.org 


11% 

THE DETAIL RVWA STUDY 

Data: Cairn Consulting Group and the RVWA 

13% 

15% 

34% 

TOP FIVE GREATEST CHALLENGES 

IN THE INDUSTRY 2021 

n Finding employees/skilled employees – 34% 

n Retaining employees – 31% 

n Diversity – 15% 

n Job performance/work ethic – 13% 

n The changing economy – 11% 

31% 

SALARY COMPARISONS 

% who say that women make 

less in RV industry 

71% 64% 66% 

DO YOU ACTIVELY SEEK 

WOMEN JOB APPLICANTS? 

n Manufacturers 

(+5% on 2019) 

n All others 

(+8% on 2019) 

n Overall 

(+8% on 2019) 

62% 35% 38% 

n Women n Men n Overall 

TOP FIVE CHALLENGES 

IN HIRING WOMEN 

Finding candidates interested in the work – 62% 

Finding qualified candidates – 46% 

Nature of the work – 39% 

Composition of local workforce – 39% 

Attitudes of co-workers – 32% 

MOST HELPFUL INFORMATION 

IN RECRUITING WOMEN 

Job performance, attendance and retention – 72% 

Supported by statistics or research – 64% 

Testimonials from line managers – 38% 

Testimonials from senior executives – 29% 

Increases to your company’s productivity – 26% 

PERCEPTION OF CHANGES IN THE WORKFORCE IN LAST TWO YEARS 

24% 14% 28% 34% 

n More women n Fewer women n No change n Uncertain/cannot say 

DIRECTION OF THE INDUSTRY 

29% 18% 47% 6% 

n Heading in right direction n Heading in wrong direction n Staying the same n Uncertain 


STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP THE DETAIL 

Erwin Hymer Group and Ford: 

what does the new partnership mean? 

Back in January, one of the biggest leisure vehicle producers on the planet 

agreed a strategic partnership with one of the biggest automotive brands. 

Erwin Hymer Group and Ford are officially on the same team. 

But what does the deal mean for the industry as a whole? 

T 

■here’s nothing strange 

about motorhome 

brands working closely 

together with automotive 

manufacturers – motorhomes 

need base vehicles to be built 

on – but in the last 12 months, 

we have seen a lot more activity 

and movement from big players 

across the globe. One of the 

latest arrangements of this 

type to occur was in January 

this year when motorhome 

and caravan powerhouse 

Erwin Hymer Group (EHG) 

announced a new strategic 

partnership with Ford (or Ford- 

Werke GmbH to be precise). 

The initial framework of the 

deal will see Ford Transit and 

Ford Transit Custom vans 

delivered to EHG as the basis 

for completed motorhomes 

to be built on. This should 

perhaps not be a surprise 

to many people – supply of 

parts and manufacturing is 

still playing catchup after 

the disruption caused by the 

COVID-19 pandemic, so it’s 

only natural that leisure vehicle 

producers will look to different 

base vehicle suppliers to meet 

the still escalating demand. 

However, this deal offered 

something deeper – talk of a 

strategic partnership between 

the two companies is cause 

for intrigue. The two say that 

Pics: Erwin Hymer Group 


THE DETAIL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP 

“We are participating in one of the fastest 

growing vehicle segments in Europe.” 

‘at its core, it is about topics 

such as emissions legislation, 

electrification, digitization, 

connectivity, and the integration 

of driver assistance systems’. It 

is understood that Ford will be 

not only supplying vehicles to 

EHG, but also heavily involved 

in the product development 

process for new motorhomes – a 

move likely to lead to greater 

harmony between motorhome 

and base vehicle. 

While we know Ford is just 

as reliable a van producer as 

its rivals around Europe, the 

precise reason behind this 

decision to work more closely 

with EHG becomes clearer 

when speaking to the people 

that matter. Martin Brandt, 

CEO of the Erwin Hymer 

Group said: “The two Ford 

Transit series convinced us 

HANS JÖRG KLEIN, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN FORD-WERKE GMBH 

▲ Smart vans like the Ford Etrusco will soon be getting the Erwin Hymer Group treatment. 

as the base vehicles for our 

brands. Our customers will 

particularly appreciate their 

diversity, innovative assistance 

solutions and attractive design. 

Ford has also given us a clear 

strategy for developing its 

commercial vehicle business in 

Europe. We therefore see an 

ideal prerequisite for further 

expanding the long-term 

partnership.” 

Meanwhile, Hans Jörg 

Klein, deputy chairman of the 

management board of Ford- 

Werke GmbH, added: “At 

Ford, we have many years of 

experience and a great passion 

for mobile homes. We are 

all the more excited that our 

two commercial vehicle series 

Custom and Transit – and 

especially the new versions 

‘Active’ and ‘Trail’ – have 

convinced the Erwin Hymer 

Group and that we are now 

able to supply another equally 

strong and innovative partner. 

We are thus participating in 

one of the fastest growing 

vehicle segments in Europe.” 

HISTORY REPEATING 

On a practical level, the deal 

will initially focus on the 

Ford Transit panel vans and 

low-frame chassis and Ford 

Transit custom station wagons, 

which are used as the basis for 

camper vans, semi-integrated 

and alcove motorhomes from 

the EHG brands. The basic 

vehicles will be produced in 

the Ford plant in Kocaeli in 

Turkey and will be delivered in 

instalments from 2022 to 2024. 

Ford is investing, among other 

things, in expanding production 

capacities in Kocaeli and is also 

strengthening its organizational 

structure in various European 

and German corporate 

divisions. But on a level of two 

companies with similar ideals, 

this deal goes way back. In the 

early 1980s the Ford Transit was 

the basis for the Hymercar – 

the first camping bus from the 

Hymer brand. In 2004 Ford and 

Hymer agreed on the delivery of 

Ford base vehicles for partially 

and fully integrated camper 

solutions as well as for alcove 

conversions. 

EHG and Ford have 

identified that there is great 

potential for the two brands 

to work together and meet 

the new challenges of the 

rapidly growing and changing 

demographic of motorhome 

and campervan owners around 

Europe. The companies cite 

that while 45.1 per cent of all 

new motorhome registrations 

in Germany in 2020 were in the 

55 to 64 age group, they believe 

camping is changing into a 

lifestyle that younger people 

– singles and families – are 

attracted to. Herein lies a key 

aspect of this new agreement. 

The companies believe that 

they can cater to the needs 

of this younger demographic 

by offering more modern 

stylings, floorplans, accessories 

and overall flexibility to use 

these vans for more than just 

camping. They want this new 

wave of Ford-based vans to be 

perfect for work, the school 

run and shopping in the week, 

and camping at the weekend. 

EHG and Ford believe that 

the Transit Custom Series 

in particular can deliver this 

thanks to its manoeuvrable and 

accommodating size. 

The future, it seems, is brighter 

when the sum of parts of this 

industry work closer together. 

Learn more at 

www.erwinhymergroup.com 


RECORD SUCCESS THE DETAIL 

Record-breaking 

year for European 

caravanning industry 

22 | www.campingtradeworld.com 

Sales of caravans and motorhomes 

in Europe registered an impressive 

9.9 per cent increase in 2021, 

making it the most successful year 

on record for the industry. 

T 

■he caravan and motorhome industry in Europe 

enjoyed the most successful year in its history 

in 2021 according to the latest data released by 

the European Caravan Federation (ECF). There were 

259,393 new caravans and motorhomes sold over the 

course of the year in Europe – the best annual results in 

the industry’s history – that represented an impressive 

growth of 9.9 per cent.

THE DETAIL RECORD SUCCESS 

▲ Motorhomes and caravans are on a course of almost non-stop growth, with records tumbling in Europe in 2021 in particular. 

As is often the case in 

Europe, the German market 

led the way with motorhome 

and caravan sales of 106,138, 

but substantial growth was 

also seen in the markets of 

Sweden, Belgium and Finland 

with sales recorded at 10,815, 

8,376 and 3,636 respectively. 

In Austria, the growth leap was 

an eye-watering 47.5 per cent 

with 5,851 vehicles sold. Sales 

increases were also reported 

in the Netherlands (24.4 per 

cent), France (19.4 per cent), 

Sweden (17.2 per cent), the 

United Kingdom (16.2 per 

cent) and Denmark (10.3 per 

cent). 

Jost Krüger, general secretary 

of the ECF, said: “The 18,047 

new caravans sold in Europe’s 

second largest market, the 

UK, clearly indicates that the 

demand for caravans in the UK 

has bounced back and that the 

dampers on consumer demand 

occasioned by Covid and Brexit 

have now abated. 

“We’re extremely pleased 

with the record-breaking sales 

growth achieved in 2021 – 

nearly 260,000 new caravans 

and motor caravans sold. And 

this despite the daunting 

market conditions currently 

faced by the industry as the 

result of the Covid pandemic 

and the attendant raw materials 

shortages and supply-chain 

challenges. And so, we feel that 

the outlook is excellent for 

2022 given that the popularity 

of holidays in caravans and 

motor caravans is at an all-time 

high in Europe.” 

WHAT’S DRIVING THE 

GROWTH? 

The short answer is 

motorhomes. Overall, sales 

of new motorhomes rose by 

13.2 per cent in Europe to 

an all-time high of 181,299 

vehicles. This represents the 

fifth consecutive year that 

the record has been broken 

for this category, proving 

that consumer appetite for 

them continues to grow. The 

most robust growth rate for 

the sale of new motorhomes 

in the European market was 

registered in Austria, with 58 

per cent sales growth and sales 

of 4,691. Slovenia was the 

runner up in this regard, with 

35.7 per cent sales growth and 

422 motorhomes sold; Finland 

in third place with 32.8 per 

cent sales growth and 2,634 

motorhomes sold. In the largest 

market in Europe, Germany, 

sales of motorhomes increased 

4.3 per cent, while in second 

largest market France they 

increased 23.5 per cent. 

Despite the huge success of 

the motorhome, caravans are 

still enjoying relative success 

too. A total of 78,094 new 

caravans were sold in the 

European market in 2021. In 

this sector as well, Germany 

was the sales leader, with 

24,718 new caravans sold – 

which, however, represents 

a decline of 15.2 per cent 

relative to the prior year. 

Sales growth was achieved in 

all other European markets, 

however, in a number of cases 

in the double-digit range. In 

The Netherlands, sales were 

up 22.6 per cent with 8,521 

caravans sold; in Austria sales 

rose by 16.2 per cent with 

1,160 caravans sold; and Spain 

registered a sales increase 

of 14.1 per cent with 1,926 

caravans sold. 

* Some figures estimated by ECF, 

correct as of 14 January 2022. 


CIAA STUDY THE DETAIL 

NATIONAL CARAVAN AND CAMPING VISITORS 

Overnight Trips (000) 

10K 

5K 

0K 

January 

February 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September 

October 

November 

December 

January 

February 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September 

October 

November 

2020 2021 

Reality bites after COVID 

sugar hit in Australia 

Despite the boost that camping and caravanning has received in Australia due to 

the pandemic, members of the industry are still uncertain and lacking confidence 

about a bright long term future, that’s according to a survey conducted by the 

Caravan Industry Association of Australia. 

P 

■retty much everyone 

in the camping, 

caravanning and RV 

industry can agree that the 

COVID-19 pandemic has been 

somewhat of a double-edged 

sword. On the one hand, the 

hobbies have never been more 

popular with many folks forced 

to try their hand at them or 

at least to bring forward their 

long-term life plans about 

buying an RV. On the other 

hand, the disruption to global 

supply and manufacturing, and 

the ever-changing government 

rules and restrictions have 

made planning for the future 

extremely difficult for many. 

In Australia, the extremes of 

these highs and lows have 

been felt in a more severe way 

than most other countries on 

Earth. The country had some 

of the harshest and longest 

lockdowns, but it also reported 

surging interest in camping and 

caravanning as many Australians 

found themselves stuck in their 

own state or region, let alone 

just in their own country. To 

truly gauge the feeling of the 

industry, there really is only one 

way: talk to them. That’s exactly 

what the Caravan Industry 

Association of Australia has 

done with its January 2022 

Business Conditions Report. 

The body surveyed 157 industry 

players throughout January 

including caravan parks, 

dealerships, RV manufacturers, 

RV importers, repairers, 

OEMs, industry suppliers and 

consultants, rental companies 

and land lease companies to get 

a better understanding of how 

the industry feels and how it 

believes it will perform in the 

post-pandemic era. Here, we 

have accumulated some of the 

most interesting findings, which 

clearly show that not everyone 

has a rosy view of the industry’s 

future and that we must all work 

hard to overcome the challenges 

we face, and the challenges we 

are yet to face. To check out 

the report for yourself, visit: 

caravanindustry.com.au 


THE DETAIL CIAA STUDY 

Data: Caravan Industry Association of Australia 

NATIONAL RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PRODUCTION 

2K 

January 

February 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September 

October 

November 

December 

January 

February 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September 

October 

November 

December 

Units 

0K 

2020 2021 

HOW DID YOUR BUSINESS TREND IN DECEMBER QUARTER 2021? 

General business conditions: 

Total sales/revenue: 

Profitability: 

32% 28% 39% 

Orders/bookings received: 

41% 24% 36% 

Cost of materials: 

30% 29% 41% 

Cost of overheads: 

44% 29% 27% 

91% 8% 1% 

81% 18% 1% 

Expectation of the performance of the 

Australian economy over the next six months: 

n Stronger – 3% 

n Slightly stronger – 15% 

n Same – 32% 

n Slightly weaker – 29% 

n Weaker – 22% 

34% 34% 34% 

COVID-19 impact on business 

n Business is still being negatively impacted – 51% 

n Business about the same as pre-COVID – 10% 

n Business is better than pre-COVID – 39% 

22% 

3% 

15% 

41% 45% 12% 

Level of supply chain disruption 

29% 

32% 

n Severe disruption – 41% 

n Disrupted a fair amount – 45% 

n Disrupted a little – 12% 

n Not disrupted at all – 2% 


ITALY DOING BUSINESS WITH... 

DOING 

BUSINESS 

WITH... 

Photo: Kenny Leys/Unsplash 

Italy 

Italy has a strong history of manufacturing in the automotive history, and so it is 

with leisure vehicles and camping too. This is a country of plentiful opportunities 

for import, export, OEM and much more – you just have to know where to look. 

I 

■n Europe, Italy has to 

be considered one of 

the most significant and 

important markets when it comes 

to the camping and RV industry, 

both from a manufacturing and 

production standpoint, as well 

as from a consumer standpoint. 

The country probably only comes 

second to Germany in terms of its 

importance in the industry, with 

a wide range of manufacturers 

and brands who call it home. 

The country’s well-documented 

history in the automotive industry 

has transferred across to leisure 

vehicles too, with Italy home to 

some of the oldest names in the 

European market including Laika, 

Mobilvetta, Wingamm and Rimor 

to name but a few. The country is 

also home to a huge network of 

campsites, covering every kind of 

holiday from city sightseeing to 

mountains to beautiful beaches 

– Italy is a country that has it all 

when it comes to camping. 

As you would expect, Italy has 

followed many of the general 

trends the rest of Europe has 

been in the camping industry: a 

steadily growing market that was 

given a considerable shot in the 

arm when the pandemic occurred. 

The country experienced an 

increase of 11.92 per cent of new 

motorhome registrations in 2021, 

as well as a 1.97 per cent increase 

in new caravan registrations. 

Demand for motorhomes and 


DOING BUSINESS WITH... ITALY 

campervans is outstripping that 

of caravans quite considerably in 

Italy, like in the rest of Europe, 

but the general trend for both 

is upwards. Italy can, of course, 

satisfy some of this demand itself 

thanks to its large number of 

manufacturers, but about 80 per 

cent of the RVs produced here are 

actually exported, so on the Italian 

campsite you will see brands from 

all over the world and not just 

from Italy. 

PASSION AND DESIGN 

It might seem like a cliché to say 

that things made in Italy are highdesign 

and made with unrivalled 

passion, but with camping vehicles 

and equipment, you have to say 

this is probably true. The country 

has been responsible for some 

intriguing developments and style 

moves in the industry over the 

last decade including examples 

such as Wingamm’s fiberglass 

monocoque designs and Laika’s 

technological innovations. But the 

stylish design and great ideas are 

not only limited to the vehicles 

themselves – Italy has a host of 

OEMs that make high-quality 

fittings, fixtures and accessories 

for the industry. Examples include 

Blucamp, Fiamma and Mobil Tech. 

Italy is also the home of American 

RV accessory giant Lippert’s main 

subsidiary company LCI Italy 

SRL. This showcases that Italy not 

only has the right raw materials 

and experience as a manufacturing 

nation, but also that it has the right 

talent pool to make quality RVs 

and components. 

BRIGHT FUTURE 

The future of the industry in 

Italy certainly looks bright. It has 

ridden the wave of challenges 

brought about by the pandemic 

and is managing the remaining 

materials shortages fairly well 

too. You only have to look at the 

100,000-strong attendance of 

the country’s leading caravan 

show Salone del Camper back 

in September to see that the 

appetite is strong here. This is 

being backed up by cohearent 

thinking by the industry, headed 

up by the Associazione Produttori 

Caravan e Camper (APC), which 

works very closely with the Italian 

government to ensure that this 

form of tourism gets the right 

backing and support. It is currently 

in discussions with government 

officials to ensure that the caravan 

and motorhome industry in the 

country has the right infrastructure 

and support in place to help it 

capitalise on the surge of interest it 

is experiencing. It has been holding 

positive talks with the Ministry of 

Tourism in Rome, which include 

discussing the creation of new 

infrastructure for campers around 

Italy, changing regional laws to 

make them more friendly to 

motorhome users and also working 

on issues such as parking and rest 

areas for leisure vehicle users. The 

ultimate aim of both the APC and 

Italy’s Ministry of Tourism is to 

ensure that Italy can fully capitalise 

on promoting camping tourism to 

both domestic and international 

holiday makers and that the 

country has the right facilities to be 

able to accommodate them. 

FACT FILE 

Capital: Rome 

Population: 60,300,000 

Dialling code: +39 

Prime Minister: 

Mario Draghi 

Official languages: 

Italian 

Time zones: GMT+1 

Currency:Euro 

Internet domain: .it 

ECONOMY IN FOCUS 

$2.2 trillion 

GDP (USD) 

$38,100 

GPD per capita (USD) 

4% 

GDP growth 

9% 

unemployment 

TOP IMPORT PARTNERS: 

Germany 

France 

China 

Netherlands 

Spain 

TOP EXPORT PARTNERS: 

Germany 

France 

USA 

Spain 

▲ Camping in Italy offers some stunning locations, including the Dolomites National Park. 

UK 



Photo: Mobilvetta 

ECONOMY IN FOCUS 

Italy is among the largest 

and most developed 

economies in Europe – the 

country experienced a quite 

amazing transition from 

largely agricultural before 

the Second World War to a 

very advanced player in the 

Eurozone and beyond today. 

The country is a significant 

manufacturer in Europe, 

particularly with regards to 

machinery and automotive 

products. This is a key reason 

why it is such an important 

player in the leisure vehicle 

market. Realistically, 

Germany is the only country 

ahead of Italy in Europe in 

this respect, and so it could 

also be said for our industry. 

Despite the success 

and growth that Italy has 

enjoyed in recent decades, it 

is not without its problems. 

There is a great unevenness 

when it comes to the share 

of wealth – a very definite 

north south divide still exists 

in the country, especially 

when you examine 

the GDP per capita. Its 

unemployment rates are 

quite high compared to the 

average in Europe, but this 

figure should be regarded 

with some caution as Italy 

is a market with a very high 

percentage of casual work 

that is not officially recorded. 

Italy was one of the 

country’s worst hit by the 

pandemic when it first came 

to Europe in early 2020, and 

in some regards it is still 

recovering economically 

and physiologically from this 

trauma. 

WHO’S WHO 

In all honesty, it’s very hard to summarise the key players in the Italian market into such a small space. The 

country has many significant manufacturers and brands – not just of leisure vehicles and tents – but also many 

parts and OEM products as well. Italy is a country worth taking some serious time to research before you 

approach it from a business point of view – the number of potential partners is numerous. 

Photo: Laika 

LAIKA 

Founded in 1964, Laika is perhaps one of Italy’s most famous names when it comes to 

motorhomes. The company is based in beautiful San Casciano just south of Florence and still 

builds its motorhomes there to this day. The brand is often described as dolce vita on four 

wheels. It has been a part of the Erwin Hymer Group since the year 2000. 

www.laika.it 

MOBILVETTA 

A part of the Trigano Group, Mobilvetta still places emphasis on exclusivity, elegance and 

uniqueness in its motorhome range. Still made in Italy, the Mobilvetta range is inspired by 

territory and tradition throughout Europe and makes the most of high-quality materials and 

the style and design that Italy is well known for. 

www.mobilvetta.it 



FERRINO 

With roots dating back to a paint shop in Turin in 1870, Ferrino is now regarded as a leader 

in outdoor clothing, gear, and camping equipment. Some of its achievements have been 

hugely significant in the history of exploration, and today it creates products using advanced 

fabrics and technologies as well as being a keen promoter and supporter of environmental 

and sustainability issues. 

www.ferrino.it 

ASSOCIAZIONE PRODUTTORI CARAVAN E CAMPER 

The Associazione Produttori Caravan e Camper, or APC, is the main organisation in Italy for 

the camping and caravanning industry. It supports and promotes the development of ‘made 

in Italy’ RV culture by launching, developing and maintaining relationships with institutions, 

organisations and businesses at both national and international level. It is a great place to 

start if you want to know more about the market here. 

www.associazioneproduttoricamper.it 

RIMOR 

Driven by the determination to produce high-quality motorhomes, Luano Niccolai founded 

the Rimor brand back in 1978. Since then the company has gone on to become a wellknown 

name in motorhomes and campervans in Italy. The company promises that its vans 

offer a safe and secure home-from-home that is inspired by the places that campers love 

around Italy. Rimor vehicles are known for sleek designs that shout ‘made in Italy’. 

www.rimor.it 

ROLLER TEAM 

Also a part of the Trigano group, motorhome maker Roller Team is based the picturesque hill 

town of San Gimignano in Tuscany. The company has become an iconic name throughout 

Europe, and one that is well-known for producing leading technology and manufacturing 

techniques on its leisure vehicles. It is also known for keeping its prices fair and accessible to 

campers of all different budgets. 

www.rollerteam.it 

WINGAMM 

Wingamm calls itself the only remaining independent Italian motorhome manufacturer 

and also claims to be the only one that mass produces compact and luxurious, premium 

quality motorhomes with fibreglass monocoque. The company has roots dating back to 1977 

and believes it offers unique manufacturing techniques that hardly any other leisure vehicle 

producer uses. 

www.wingamm.com 

C.A.M.P. 

Concezione Articoli Montagna Premana, or C.A.M.P. has a history dating back to 1889 and 

is now a huge supplier of camping and outdoor gear to more than 80 different countries 

around the world through its three main brands Camp, Cassin and Camp Safety. The 

company is led by the fourth generation of the Codega family – descendants of the original 

founder Nicola Codega – and believes it has a true understanding of mountain culture. 

www.camp.it 

BRUNNER 

With more than 60 years of experience in the industry, Brunner is a producer of camping 

accessories of all kinds and is known throughout Europe. Everything from cookware 

to coolers, chairs to awnings – Brunner makes a very wide range of equipment and 

its catalogue is legendary in its size. The company is ever-present at camping shows 

throughout Europe. 

www.brunner.it 

SHOW BUSINESS 

There’s no doubt that 

Italy’s biggest and most 

significant event for the 

camping and caravanning 

industry is the annual 

Salone del Camper, which 

is held in September each 

year at the Fiere di Parma 

in the northern Italian 

city of Parma. This year 

the show will take place 

from 10 to 18 September 

and each year attracts 

hundreds of exhibitors 

and thousands of visitors 

– it claims to be the 

second largest exhibition 

of its kind in Europe, 

presumably behind 

Düsseldorf’s Caravan 

Salon. The show is broadly 

organised into four key 

areas: caravan and camper, 

shopping, accessories and 

routes and destinations, 

offering something for 

holiday makers and the 

industry. The show takes 

advantage of modern 

advancements such as 

an official app, online 

exhibitor lists and a web 

magazine. To learn more, 

head over to 

www.salonedelcamper.it 



A BIG CAMPING COUNTRY 

ITALY MARKET STATS 

7,342 

New RVs registered in 

Italy in 2021 

11.9% 

Increase in RV registrations 

in 2021 compared to 2020 

33.88% 

Increase in production 

by Italian RV 

manufacturers in 2021 

Italy is a country with camping opportunities at 

every corner – the European camping index ACSI 

has almost 900 campsites and campgrounds listed 

in its directory, which should tell you something 

of the pastime’s popularity in the country. There 

are likely far more sites than this in total within 

Italy’s boundaries. And there’s something for 

campers of all tastes – stunning coastline, quanit 

hillside medieval towns, mountain escapes and 

impressive human history – Italy really does have 

an awful lot to offer tourists. Because of this, 

there have been several projects and campaigns 

in the country to promote sustainable camping 

to tourists. Motorhoming and caravanning are 

great ways to explore a country with freedom, but 

education is required to help especially newcomers 

to understand how to tread lightly and not 

spoilt the country’s natural beauty. 

To help with this, associations 

and governing bodies in 

the industry have been 

working together with 

local authorities 

to help install better infrastructure for leisure 

vehicles, such as installing new temporary parking 

areas and renovating existing ones. According to 

the Associazione Produttori Caravan e Camper 

“a camper parking area, in fact, has the ability to 

attract new relevant tourist flows, promoting and 

enhancing the knowledge of the territory and the 

discovery of its naturalistic and historical-cultural 

beauties”. Moves like this are deemed necessary 

to help Italy handle the increasing numbers of 

both domestic and international tourists who 

are coming to the country each year for camping 

holidays, with that number expected to continue 

increasing in the next few years as the COVID-19 

pandemic begins to fade. 

80% 

Of Italian made campers 

are exported to 

other markets 

Photo: Matej Klic/Unsplash 

100,000 

Visitors to 2021 edition of 

Salone del Camper 

in Parma 

400 

Number of accredited 

journalists who 

attended Salone del 

Camper in 2021 



INSIDER 

INSIGHT 

SIMONE NICCOLAI, President of the Associazione Produttori Caravan e Camper (APC) 

“The very positive trend of 

motorhomes was strongly 

confirmed in 2021, a sign that 

the motorhome is increasingly 

becoming a modern and 

glamorous tool for enjoying free 

time. The camper manufacturers 

have enhanced the production 

capacity of the factories, present 

mainly in Tuscany, but also 

in Abruzzo and Umbria, also 

carrying out an important 

number of new hires, as well as 

the supply chain, thus generating 

employment in the territories. 

The difficulties in the supply 

of some materials by the supply 

chain has considerably slowed 

down the production capacity 

of our companies, forcing us, 

in many cases, to postpone the 

delivery of campers due to lack 

of materials, primarily base 

chassis. 

“The other critical issue we 

are facing is the rise in the prices 

of raw materials and energy 

that we are trying to absorb 

as much as possible. However, 

we are confident that, in the 

course of 2022, the situation can 

normalize, allowing our sector to 

cope with the sustained demand 

for campers arriving from Italy 

and other EU countries. 

“Despite the logistical 

difficulties that our industry is 

experiencing, we are convinced 

that the camper industry 

represents a trend in constant 

progression because it has to 

do with the requests and needs 

of the new company: time 

free, family, desire for freedom, 

closeness to nature, culture. 

And today all this is possible in 

a camper, with a high level of 

comfort.” 


THERM-A-REST COMPANY PROFILE 

50 years of sleeping 

under the stars 

Its sleeping mats have become synonymous with adventure and providing the daring 

with a comfortable home-from-home in the most inhospitable places, but what’s the 

real story behind Therm-a-Rest. On the event of its 50th anniversary, we investigate… 

W 

■hen one of your core 

products is lavished 

with praise such as 

being “one of the five best 

outdoor inventions of all time” 

and named among “the most 

influential gear of all-time”, you 

know you are onto a winner. 

But even the most optimistic 

entrepreneur probably wouldn’t 

predict that that winner would 

lead to the company still being 

a leader in its field after 50 

years of operation. That’s the 

significant milestone that wellknown 

and loved camping and 

outdoor sleeping brand Therma-Rest 

has reached in 2022. 

Jim Lea, one of three Therma-Rest 

founders, invented the 

first self-inflating sleeping pad 

in 1971. A year later, in 1972, 

Therm-a-Rest was founded 

by Jim Lea, John Burroughs 

and Neil Anderson - three 

former Boeing engineers from 

Seattle, Washington. Inspired 

by a foam gardening pad, the 

three founders set their sights 

on a more comfortable night at 

camp and forever changed how 

we experience the outdoors. 

1972 marked the beginning of 

a five-decade run of industry 

firsts including: the launch of 

the Z-Rest ultralight sleeping 

mat, NeoAir technology that 

delivers the best warmth the 

weight ration on the planet, 

and sleeping bags with smart 

features such as Toe-asis and 

ThermaCapture insulation. 

“When I think about 

Therm-a-Rest 50 years from 


COMPANY PROFILE THERM-A-REST 

1971 

In the quest for a better night’s rest 

under the stars, Jim Lea, Neil Anderson 

and John Burroughs created their 

first self-inflating mattress for their 

outdoor adventures. After seeing great 

promise in the product, the trio formed 

Cascade Designs. 

1975 

The US patent office awards Cascade 

Designs a patent for the Therm-a-Rest 

– another sign to the founders that 

they had created somethings special. 

1986 

Therm-a-Rest brought the ultralight 

and ultra-durable RidgeRest mattress 

to market. Three years later in 1989, 

Therm-a-Rest introduced the slightly 

lighter and more compact Z-Rest [now 

the Z Lite and Z Lite Sol] to the line. 

▲ Therm-A-Rest is the go-to sleeping brand for outdoor fanatics. 

now, I imagine a brand that is 

continuing to lead the industry 

in terms of innovation and 

technology, but I also imagine 

a brand that is more committed 

than ever to its people and 

planet,” said Erik Flink, VP of 

marketing at Therm-a-Rest’s 

parent company Cascade 

Designs. 

“As a company we need to 

commit directly and indirectly 

to creating opportunities for 

more people to experience the 

outdoors, including boosting 

diversity in the outdoors. We 

also have a strong commitment 

to be stewards of the 

environment, in both the gear 

we make and the conservation 

organizations we partner with. 

This is about creating something 

bigger than us. It’s about 

affecting change and leaving 

the world a better place than we 

found it.” 

Therm-a-Rest will be 

celebrating its milestone 

birthday throughout 2022 with 

new gear launches, giveaways 

and donations to its favorite 

conservation and advocacy 

organizations. The celebration 

kicked off with an Instagram 

giveaway that ran through 

January 28. One lucky winner 

won two Therm-a-Rest sleep 

systems by posting a photo or 

video showing off how they 

were #SleepingRad with Therma-Rest. 

For more information 

about future giveaways, visit 

Therm-a-Rest’s Instagram. 

You can learn more about this 

innovative company at 

www.thermarest.com 

1995 

2009 

2011 

2020 

Therm-a-Rest builds an in-house 

Cold Chamber to accurately test the 

R-value of its sleeping pads and the 

warmth ratings of its bags. The inhouse 

testing facility is the only one 

of its kind owned and operated by an 

outdoor gear manufacturer. 

Therm-a-Rest introduces the gamechanging 

NeoAir technology, the 

single greatest innovation in outdoor 

sleep comfort since the original 

Therm-a-Rest pad. The patented 

technology delivers the best warmthto-weight 

ratio in sleeping pads today. 

Sleeping bags were re-introduced to 

the line along with many new design 

features including ThermaCapture 

technology, Toe-asis foot warmer 

pockets, Zoned Insulation and 

SynergyLink Connectors. 

WingLock and TwinLock valves are 

developed to make the inflation and 

deflation of sleeping pads faster and 

easier than ever. 


TEST SUPERSPRINGS INTERNATIONAL 

The indestructible 

upgrade 

Tough, durable, long-lasting – these are all words we’d like to have associated with 

our products. But how many companies in the RV industry have actually proved it? 

SuperSprings International puts its money where its mouth is by testing its 

products to the limit and beyond. 

W 

■e all test our products 

before they are released. 

Often it is a legal 

requirement, but it’s also very 

important for the integrity of 

your brand and company. You 

have to ensure that your products 

will perform for their intended 

target market, and perhaps even 

over-perform, depending on 

your standards. Overperforming 

is something that innovative 

suspension provider 

SuperSprings International 

(SSI) prides itself on. Not only 

are its products made in the 

USA by a team of highly skilled 

experts, but they have tested 

them to the extreme. Heard 

that before? Sure, you have, but 

we’re not sure you will have seen 

anything like the SuperSprings 

International torture test. To 

make sure that the company’s 

SumoSprings could offer 

unrivalled shock absorption, 

dampening, reduction of sag, 

body roll and sway drive after 

drive, they set about creating 

a test that subjected them to 

things you would never wish on 

your worst enemy. 

SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL 

So, where do you start when 

you are essentially trying to 

destroy one of your products? 

It turned out that a drill was 

a good place, according to 

SSI. They used a power drill 

to drill holes right through a 

set of SumoSprings over and 

over again. Not content with 

that, they then decided to drive 

some screws and a screwdriver 

through them to result in some 

serious punctures. The microcellular 

polyurethane they are 

made from is incredibly tough 

stuff, but it can still be stabbed 

and drilled. Now with a thirst 

for destruction, the SSI team 

went at the SumoSprings with 

a hunting knife and made 

a series of further cuts and 

punctures. After that, it was 


SUPERSPRINGS INTERNATIONAL TEST 

time for some water damage 

– the springs were thrown into 

a lake time and time again to 

ensure they had been given 

the full flooded treatment. 

So far, so destructive. On 

the drive back from the lake, 

the SumoSprings were tied 

to the back of the truck and 

literally dragged along the 

highway and several gravel 

roads. If the SumoSprings 

were a real-life torture victim, 

their secrets would be spilling 

out of them by now, but this 

prisoner was staying tightlipped. 

Time to bring out the 

big guns. And by big guns, 

we mean flamethrower. That’s 

right, Mr. SumoSprings’ next 

treatment was to be licked 

by 3,000ºF flames. Despite 

catching fire and a little 

cosmetic damage, the springs 

were still standing tall. This 

made the SSI team angry, so 

in retaliation, they crushed the 

springs under the full weight 

of the truck by driving over 

them. Despite having several 

tonnes of truck parked on its 

face, the SumoSprings seemed 

to taunt: “That all you got?”. 

It was time to get serious. The 

SumoSprings were marched out 

into the woods and were placed 

in the sights of a hunting rifle. 

After taking several shots, the 

springs were then subjected to 

being blasted with Tannerite. 

A TRUE REBEL 

After the gruelling afternoon 

of punishment that had been 

inflicted on the SumoSprings, 

you would think that there 

wouldn’t be much left to test, 

but you’d be wrong. Sure, there 

were some battle scars, but these 

smart suspension solutions still 

seemed ready to fulfil their 

primary purpose in life: making 

the journey better. They were 

fitted to a Ford truck in the SSI 

garage and then they headed 

out on to the open road to see 

how they fared. If the SSI team 

weren’t wearing a thin layer of 

sweat, dirt, and gunpowder, then 

they would have been none the 

wiser about what SumoSprings 

had been through. They 

performed exactly as if they had 

just come off the production 

line – a quite remarkable feat. 

In a comparison test with a 

new set, the only difference was 

aesthetic, the two sets mirrored 

each other’s performance 

in reducing rear-end sag, 

decreasing vibration, stabilising 

sway and softening harsh 

rebounds. SSI had proved that 

the confidence they have in one 

of their flagship products was 

well founded and could well be 

a significant reason why they are 

proving such a popular add-on 

to RVs around the world – both 

with the industry and end users. 

And if, by some unbelievable 

feat of misuse or accident, 

someone does manage to break 

their Sumo Springs beyond 

repair, SSI offers a lifetime 

warranty on the products. How’s 

that for peace of mind? 

Learn more online 

about SumoSprings and all 

SuperSprings International’s 

other great products at: 

superspringsinternational.com 

PLAY VIDEO * PLAY VIDEO * 

WATCH: See how the 


team completely punished 

a set of SumoSprings in 

a torture test and then 

rigged them up on a truck 

to see how they performed. 

Spoiler alert: they rocked it! 


SHOW TIME NEC SHOW REVIEW 

All photos: David Guest 

The show is 

back on the road 

After a COVID-enforced break of two years, the UK’s biggest celebration of camping, 

caravanning and motorhomes finally returned to Birmingham this February, and 

Camping Trade World was there to bring you the latest news, trends and insights. 

I 

■t was easy to tell that it 

had been a while since 

the British camping 

and caravanning industry had 

experienced a proper gettogether. 

There was tangible 

excitement in the highly filtered 

and air conditioned air of the 

National Exhibition Centre 

(NEC) in the UK’s secondlargest 

city Birmingham as 

the Caravan, Camping and 

Motorhome Show made its 

triumphant return after two 

years away. In the time since 

the last February edition of 

the show, the UK and the 

rest of the world has been 

through a global pandemic and 

the interest in camping and 

caravanning has never been 

higher. Camping Trade World 

was cruising around the show 

floor for two of the six days 

that the show was on, among 

more than 350 exhibitors 

including manufacturers, 

distributors, dealers, retailers, 

clubs, associations, tourism 

boards and more. There was 

also well in excess of 100,000 

people attending the show over 

its duration – this despite the 

organisers limiting the number 

of tickets each day, and each day 

being a sell-out in advance of 

the show beginning. Another 

indicator that the appetite 

for this event had only grown 

stronger in its absence. 

In the build-up to the show 

John Lally, CEO of organisers 

NCC Events said that “strong 

ticket sales are a clear indication 


NEC SHOW REVIEW SHOW TIME 

SHOW IN NUMBERS 

27,538 

Steps taken in two days 

at the show 

305 

Photos captured 

▲ The show was an unmissable event for the camping and RV industry, and also for the public. 

of pent-up demand– we know 

that not only are there a lot of 

new buyers coming into the 

industry, but many of the core 

market of caravanners have held 

off upgrading their outfits.” – 

and so it proved to be. 

IN STOCK IS THE NEW NEW 

This show is well-known for 

being the launchpad for new 

models, new brands, new 

concepts and new undertakings 

by brands and companies, but 

with the problems in the supply 

chain having a fairly strong 

effect on the industry, this was 

not quite business as usual. In 

many cases, having products 

in stock (particularly leisure 

vehicles) was as good as a new 

launch for many visitors simply 

looking to grab a piece of the 

action in this fast-growing 

hobby. That’s not to say that 

there wasn’t anything new – 

the Camping Trade World 

team was impressed with new 

launches from brands including 

Bailey, Auto Sleepers, Avtex, 

WildAx, Chausson, Coachman, 

Mobilvetta, Dometic, Snow 

Peak, Vango and Zempire to 

name just a few. But the general 

trend from the show that we 

picked up was less focus on new 

and more focus on just happy to 

be here. And that vibe certainly 

bodes well for the future of 

the industry – the thirst for 

camping remains high. 

Indeed, this can be seen 

across the UK industry as 

a whole. The Camping and 

Caravanning Club, one of 

the UK’s major camping 

membership organisations 

and campsite chain owners, 

recently reported that its 

Easter bookings for 2022 were 

already 33 per cent ahead of 

bookings made in Easter 2019. 

The Club anticipates a 68 per 

cent increase in campers to the 

south-east of England, and 88 

per cent more pitching up at 

its Club Sites in East Anglia. 

Meanwhile Scottish Club Sites 

are expecting an increase of 126 

per cent while in Wales that 

figure is 180 per cent. 


Check our pick of six 

of the most interesting 

things we saw on the 

show floor at the NEC 

11m 20s 

Of video on our YouTube 

channel about the show 

£57.20 

Spent on coffee (very 

important) and food (less 

important) 

£89.99 

Spent on a new 

backpacking tent 

(extremely important) 

0 

Brushes with Omicron 




Truma keeps its cool 

A Grande day out 

Truma took the opportunity 

of being at the return of the 

UK’s biggest camping and 

caravanning show to give its 

range of smart refrigerators a 

debut in the country. Already 

sold in the US and Europe, 

this was the first time UK 

consumers had been able 

to have a close-up look at 

the range that features dual 

refrigeration and freezer 

internal compartments, USB 

charging points, versatile inner 

baskets, smart Bluetooth app 

control and a robust design 

that’s available in a huge 

range of sizes. Initial feedback 

among UK consumers was 

good, with this type of product 

proving popular with campers 

of all types. 

www.truma.net 

Bailey made a big statement 

at the show with a huge 

presence (especially in light 

of the absence of some of 

its major rivals), and one of 

its main reveals was the new 

Alicanto Grande caravan. 

This new two-caravan range 

features the single axle 

Lisbon and twin-axle Porto 

layouts – both of which are 

8ft wide giving great living 

and sleeping space. The 

two vans are packed with 

cutting-edge technology 

from around the industry 

including AL-KO chassis 

and stabiliser, Alde central 

heating, Thetford dual fuel 

hob, and Dometic 133 litre 

tower refrigerator to name 

just a few. Besides the 

technology, a real effort has 

been made to improve the 

on-board style of the van with 

smart furnishings and neat 

touches like a changeable LED 

lighting system for the living 

room area. 

www.baileyofbristol.co.uk 



Helinox puts its back into it 

Korean camping furniture 

brand Helinox is enjoying 

a steady growth curve in 

the European market – it 

recently reported that it had 

experienced 50 per cent 

growth in the region in 2021. 

Much of this growth has 

come from the company’s 

unwavering focus on 

innovation and high-quality 

technology – something that 

has been expanded for 2022 

with the launch of a high back 

version of its hugely popular 

Chair Zero. It allows campers 

to continue to enjoy maximum 

comfort with minimum weight 

– a feature that is particularly 

popular with caravan and 

motorhome users looking to 

keep their load weights down. 

www.helinox.eu 


Isabella expands awning offering 

Danish awning expert Isabella impressed us with its brand-new 

freestanding drive-away campervan awning the Air X Tension. 

This awning lets campervan users expand their living area by 

8.25sqm with plenty of headroom and the option to zip out two 

of the sides to transform it into a sun canopy with fixed screen 

panel. 

The awning boasts quick set-up and pack-down times thanks 

to its air tubes that feature a single inflation point. There will 

be two versions of the Air X-Tension, one for the Volkswagen 

California and one for other vans including Citroen Spacetourer, 

Toyota ProAce Verso, and Crosscamp to name just a few. 

www.isabella.net 

Omnia cooking up success in the UK 

Swedish stovetop oven brand Omnia is enjoying rapid 

growth in the camping market and that was fully evident 

at the NEC with one of its UK partners Brown & Bird 

Co enjoying a successful event. A simple yet ingenious 

design, the Omnia oven gives you the power to cook 

things evenly thanks to the combination of the pan, base 

and lid providing heat from both above and below. It 

can be used on pretty much any heat source with the 

exception of induction stovetops and is fast-becoming 

a hit with campers around the world. It is perfect for 

cooking meals or even baking and is available with a wide 

range of accessories including thermometers and cook 

books. 

Omnia’s Gustaf Lunden (pictured right) took time out 

to speak with us about the company’s growth in the UK 

market, which it is hoping to continue with an replicate 

around Europe and the rest of the world. 

www.omniasweden.com 





Dometic brand is a Front Runner 

Avtex tunes into market 

dominance 

South African provider of 

roof racks, load bars, and 

other storage products Front 

Runner Vehicle Outfitters was 

acquired by Dometic last year 

and this was the first showing 

of its products in the UK. 

The company provides a full 

range of products that work 

in an ecosystem that allows 

you to take the adventure 

with you in your vehicle. The 

range is extensive including 

durable and secure storage 

boxes, sturdy bike racks, slide 

out folding tables and other 

furniture, and even camping 

cutlery. Every item can be 

easily and safely secured to 

Front Runner roof rack of your 

choice, and the company also 

produces roof tents and other 

great camping accessories 

too. This one is sure to 

become a well known brand 

in the UK. 

frontrunneroutfitters.com 

Long regarded as one of the 

pioneers in the sector of incaravan 

and in-motorhome 

entertainment, UK firm Avtex 

took the opportunity of the 

show to reveal a brand-new 

range of fully smart TVs as well 

as a 5G ready Wi-Fi antenna 

system. The new TVs boast 

incredible image quality, a 

viewing angle that is perfect 

from almost every degree 

and a range of built-in and 

downloadable apps including 

Netflix, Prime, Now TV, 

Disney+, YouTube, Alexa and 

more. The 5G antenna utilises 

the latest technology and 

allows users to stay connected 

wherever they roam. 

www.avtex.co.uk 

The Opus showcase 

British trailer tent expert Opus continues to grow its market 

share, and with products like the Full Monty Air Opus, it’s no 

surprise. This inflatable trailer tent features an awning that can 

expand the number of sleeping berths up to an amazing 10. It 

also features a host of extras including LED lighting, thermal 

roof lining, microwave, portable toilet, fresh water carrier and 

waste water carrier. The jewel in the crown is the optional movie 

package that includes a high-quality projector and screen so 

campers can enjoy a family movie night. 

www.opuscamper.co.uk 



Raleigh redesigns E-bike range 

After first launching its E-bike range in 2019, legendary cycling 

brand Raleigh has reworked the collection for 2022 with a new 

in-frame Bosch PowerTube for its Motus Tour and Motus Grand 

Tour models. Continuing this focus, the new range consists of 

five different models. Available across 10 different colourways, 

the range now offers riders of all different ages, abilities and 

personality types something that feels tailored for them. As 

well as the ability to choose between a wide range of colours, 

product specs and gearing systems, all three models come in 

either crossbar or low step designs. 

www.raleigh.co.uk 

The ultimate everyday use campervan? 

Keeping it clean with Alde 

The Alde AquaClear UV-C is a final stage water disinfection 

unit providing efficient, non-chemical, extra low voltage water 

disinfection designed specifically for caravans and motorhomes. 

Alde AquaClear UV-C provides a layer of safety to the water 

supply, focused on removing harmful viruses and bacteria. 

Alde AquaClear UV-C is a water disinfection system that cleans 

the water with UV light generated from special LEDs. In 

addition to being free from active chemicals, LED has several 

other advantages. It is robust and shock resistant, maintenance 

free and has a low energy consumption. 

www.alde.se 

When one of the UK’s longest-standing campervan and 

motorhome manufacturers releases a vehicle it calls ‘the 

ultimate’ in any category, we should all probably pay attention. 

That’s what happened at the show when Auto-Sleepers revealed 

its new Air campervan, based on the Ford Transit. With a wide 

range of features that make it perfect as a normal vehicle in the 

week and campervan at the weekend, the Air has a huge range 

of standard attributes including touchscreen entertainment 

system, sat nav, speed sign recognition, rear view camera, 

parking sensors, power fold mirrors and more. The van can 

sleep four people thanks to the SCA roof bed and also features a 

Dometic portable toilet, Webasto ambient heating, fridge, twohob 

burner, grill, cold water shower point and fresh and waste 

water storage tanks. 

Auto-Sleeper sales and marketing director, Dave Williams, told 

us: “Auto-Sleeper van conversions are renowned for delivering 

class-leading luxury models with enviable residual values in the 

industry. This stunning new camper is no different and delivers 

premium specification with safety and essential features as 

standard compared to others in its class.” 

www.auto-sleepers.com 



A breath of fresh air 

With the growth of the 

campervan market and 

the trend for campers 

seeking smaller leisure 

vehicles that they can use 

as their everyday vehicles, 

there comes challenges 

for manufacturers. These 

campers still want the same 

levels of comfort – and 

thanks to the new Telair 

clima e-Van air conditioner, 

they can. This new launch is 

the smallest roof-mounted 

air conditioner available on 

the market at just 71cm by 

23cm, and is an ideal solution 

for campervans and smaller 

campers. It provides silent air 

cooling and warmth and uses 

an R32 gas refrigerant has 

been used as it has the lowest 

Global Warming Potential 

(GWP 675) that is currently 

found on air conditioners for 

vehicles, with a 70% reduction 

in environmental pollution 

power, compared to gases 

that have been used to 

date. It can be operated by 

supplied remote control and 

also features a multi-function 

blue LED light that can be 

switched on and off via the 

remote. 

www.telecogroup.com 


Snow Peak debuts at show 

Tools for the job 

A new name to take to the show floor at this triumphant 

return for the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome event was 

Japanese camping and camping furniture brand Snow Peak. 

The company has been steadily growing its presence in the 

UK market in the last few years with its focus on minimalist 

Japanese design, high-quality products and branding that 

stands out from the crowd. The brand’s stand was certainly busy 

throughout the event, with its cookware range in demand. 

www.snowpeak.co.uk 

Best known for its power tools, Worx used the event to 

showcase some of its innovative products that have scope in the 

camping market. Examples include its mini Cube Vac vacuums 

and pressure washers, both of which work using its universal 

rechargeable batter system. This foray represented a successful 

dip of its toe into the water for Worx, and it revealed it has plans 

to launch more products that target camping and lifestyle 

needs from 2023 onwards. 

www.worx-uk.com 



Solbio marches on 

If you’re an avid reader of Camping Trade World you’ll already 

know lots about Solbio, but if not you really need to check it 

out. It’s a completely natural, multi-purpose fluid that’s ideal 

for leisure vehicles. You can use it in the toilet, the waste tank, 

the waste water tank and it doesn’t contain any nasty or smelly 

chemicals. Each small pack contains up to 40 doses so you can 

head out with confidence that your next camping trip will be 

much kinder to the environment. 

www.getsolbio.com 

Masters of travel 

It was never going to take long for this to happen. After being 

acquired by Swedish leisure vehicle brand Kabe, UK caravan 

brand Coachman revealed its first ever motorhome range: the 

Coachman Travel Master. Billed as motorhomes that have been 

designed to offer a level of quality and comfort synonymous 

with the Coachman brand, the Travel Master range will 

comprise three Mercedes-Benz-based motorhomes. Classleading 

specification comes as standard. 

www.coachman.co.uk 

Enter the Red zone 

A specialist in stand-up paddle boards, dryrobes and waterproof 

luggage, Red was another popular stand at the NEC. The 

company has benefitted from the van life movement and also 

the younger demographic that has been attracted to camping 

in recent years who want to use the hobby to easily access other 

hobbies such as watersport. This is a brand going places, and 

the camping market will be a big part of that. 

www.red-equipment.co.uk 


NORBERT VAN NOESEL INDUSTRY VIEWS 

Putting the 

customer first 

The leisure vehicle industry has been on a roller coaster ride of worrying 

lows and never-before-seen highs in the last few years, but through it all 

Thetford hasn’t forgotten the core values that got it where it is today. 

The company’s marketing manager Norbert van Noesel explains all… 

■The main Thetford 

“ 

value is being customer 

focussed. In every 

choice we make we put the 

customer’s interest first.” It’s 

an easy thing for a company 

to say, but when it comes from 

the marketing manager of 

Thetford, one of the leisure 

vehicle industry’s bestknown 

suppliers of sanitation 

products, refrigerators and 

other accessories, you have to 

take the words seriously. This 

is a company with a strong 

following and many admirers, 

both within the industry and at 

the end user level. 

Norbert van Noesel (pictured 

right) continues: “We always 

ask: what customer values can 

we create? What customer pains 

can we take away and what 

customer gains can we support? 

We are continuously in close 

contact with our customers, 

both on the OEM side as on 

the aftermarket side. We fully 

believe that in the end it’s about 

the interest of the end-user. 

▲ Thetford produces a wide range of cleaning and toilet fluids that are longstanding favourites among campers. 


INDUSTRY VIEWS NORBERT VAN NOESEL 

Therefore we have an initiative 

called Thetford Friends. This 

is a wide group of end-users 

that signed up to be informed 

first hand on interesting 

developments and to be 

consulted on relevant RV topics, 

by joining surveys or by testing 

products. Market research is 

often the start for our new 

product development.” 

The leisure vehicle industry 

has long been one that is built 

around community – the whole 

basis of camping is one of 

like-minded people sharing 

time together – the industry 

follows this lead. By creating 

Thetford Friends, Thetford is 

seeking to recreate that feeling 

you get on a campsite when 

you pitch up next to a group of 

people and end up sharing views 

and experiences together. The 

company uses these experiences 

to help influence not only its 

product development, but how 

it conducts its business. 

STRENGTH IN ADVERSITY 

Of course, like every business, 

Thetford faced challenges at 

the start of 2020 when the 

COVID-19 pandemic hit. 

The challenges our industry 

has faced have been unique 

– instead of poor sales and 

shrinking of business, the 

demand and power of the 

industry was only emphasised. 

Norbert explains: “The 

Covid-19 pandemic emphasized 

once more the relevance 

of our RV market. People 

realized that the best way to 

go on holidays, is to go in your 

own, safe bubble. Although 

we are climbing out of the 

Thetford Timeline 

1963 

1968 

1973 

Thetford founded 

Introduction of the Porta Potti 


New European and production location founded in 

Etten-Leur in the Netherlands 

1988 

1988 

1993 

2002 

2003 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2011 

2013 

2013 

2021 

Invention of the cassette toilet and introduction of 

Aqua Rinse 

The Dyson-Kissner-Moran Corporation acquired 

Thetford 

Introduction of C200 cassette toilet 

Introduction of absorption fridges 

Five million Porta Pottis sold worldwide 

Acquisition of Temca 

Acquisition of Spinflo 

First sales office and warehouse opened in Australia 

Three million cassette toilets sold worldwide 

New generation of Porta Pottis launched 

500,000 absorption refrigerators sold 

First warehouse and sales office opened in China 

Private equity firm Monomoy Capital Partners 

acquires the company 

▲ Thetford’s Porta Potti, one of camping’s great inventions. 


NORBERT VAN NOESEL INDUSTRY VIEWS 

▲ One of Thetford’s most recent innovations is the iNDUS smart sanitation system, debuted last year. 

“Our first goal is always to offer products that work, that do the job 

they are meant to do. And, within this scope we will always search 

for ways to do this in the most sustainable way.” 

THETFORD MARKETING MANAGER – NORBERT VAN NOESEL 

pandemic situation, we believe 

that some of these values will 

remain. The ambition to travel 

independently in or with your 

own house on wheels, will stay 

after Covid-19. This is a huge 

opportunity for the total RV 

market to our believe. 

“Our biggest challenge 

has been to meet the huge 

demand in our market, to be 

able to supply our customers, 

both OEM and Aftermarket, 

in time. Our main project 

was called ‘meet the demand’ 

and for that reason we even 

postponed innovations or new 

product introductions. This 

also underlines our customer 

focussed company value. 

At first the challenge was 

mainly to have enough labour 

available in our factories. We 

acquired several hundreds of 

people. Meanwhile, like many 

other companies, our biggest 

challenge is to have the right 

materials available.” 

Navigating that initial swell of 

interest in camping and leisure 

vehicles is really just the beginning 

for the industry. Many companies, 

Thetford included, believe this 

boom in the camping industry 

will continue for many years to 

come, perhaps not with the same 

ferocity, but certainly larger than 

ever known before. You only have 


A lot happened for Thetford 

in 2021 and, with this end-ofyear 

video, they share their 

journey with you. 

to look at stats about newcomers 

to the hobby to understand this is 

no flash in the pan. 

“We believe the current boom 

in camping will continue,” says 

Norbert. “To make sure it will 

continue, we basically need 

to do two things. First, as a 

market we need to deliver what 

we promise. Offer the right 

experience and don’t stretch 

delivery times too much. Of 

course, deliveries of materials 

and e.g., chassis are currently 

not supporting this. Secondly, 

we need to make sure we attract 

a new generation of RV-users, 

e.g., by lowering entry levels, 

further develop rental and 


INDUSTRY VIEWS NORBERT VAN NOESEL 

sharing platforms and explain 

basic things that are obvious for 

the experienced RV-users.” 

SUSTAINABLE MINDSET 

Thetford has long been regarded 

as the number one company 

when it comes to RV sanitation, 

with products like its famous 

Porta Potti and cassette toilet 

being the headline acts. It is 

also well-known for toilet fluids 

and maintenance additives, 

and in the last 15 years it has 

grown its portfolio in cooking 

appliances and refrigerators too. 

Thetford has grown to become 

one of the market leaders in all 

of these fields, particularly with 

the launch of its compressor 

refrigerator range. These days, 

you’d be hard pressed to find a 

leisure vehicle that hasn’t got 

some kind of Thetford influence. 

But, like many companies in the 

RV industry, Thetford has being 

paying closer attention to how 

it can become more sustainable 

and also help its customers 

to enjoy camping in a more 

sustainable way too. 

“Sustainability is an 

important topic society wide 

and therefore for sure also in 

the RV industry,” says Norbert. 

“Our first goal is always to 

offer products that work, that 

do the job they are meant to 

do. And, within this scope we 

will always search for ways to 

do this in the most sustainable 

way. An example is our 

concentrated additive range. 

The same number of dosages 

in a smaller bottle leads to less 

use of plastic for the bottles, 

less packaging materials, and 

less transport. A truck that 

must drive 3 times with our 

traditional Aqua Kem Blue, 

only must drive once with our 

Aqua Kem Blue Concentrated. 

And by introducing our new 

T2000 series with compressor 

refrigerators, we actively 

support the electrification trend. 

▲ It’s rare to find a campsite without Thetford products in use. 

Thetford will keep investing in 

new solutions, both for OEM’s 

as for Aftermarket.” 

Another great example 

of Thetford’s commitment 

to the environment is its 

contribution to the Solar Team 

Eindhoven project to create 

a self-sustaining house on 

wheels back in 2021. Thetford 

contributed to this project of 

Technical University Eindhoven 

by providing expertise and 

products for cooking, cooling, 

and sanitation in a revolutionary 

solar-powered motorhome. 

THE CRYSTAL BALL 

And so, what of the future for 

this giant of the RV industry. 

Keen observers will have seen 

the news that Thetford was 

acquired by private equity firm 

Monomoy Capital Partners at 

the end of 2021, after previously 

being owned by The Dyson- 

Kissner-Moran Corporation 

since the late 1980s. What will 

the change in ownership mean 

for Thetford? “Basically, no big 

changes are to be expected,” 

reassures Norbert. “Just our 

ambition to grow will be 

supported more intensively.” 

It’s always tricky to get 

specifics from companies when 

talking about future plans, but 

with Thetford and its steadfast 

commitment to putting the 

customer at the heart of 

WHO ARE YOU? 

Company: Thetford 

Corporation 

Founded: 1963 

About: An expert in RV 

sanitation products and 

other accesories 

Location: Head office: 

Etten-Leur, Netherlands 

Location: North America 

office: Ann Arbour, 

Michigan, USA 

CEO: Stephane Cordeille 

www.thetford.com 

everything it does, specifics 

aren’t really required. 

Norbert concludes: “Our aim 

is to offer RV-users a total piece 

of mind, before, during and after 

their journey. This always starts 

with listening to the end users. 

Like we stated before: What 

customer values can we create, 

what customer pains can we 

take away and what customer 

gains can we support. To offer 

the best convenience we can. 

Innovation will be key in this 

process. In that perspective 

we expect to see iNDUS, our 

new smart sanitation system, 

growing. iNDUS offers more 

convenience, more hygiene, and 

more freedom to the end users. 

But also, in cooking appliances 

and refrigeration there is still a 

lot of customer value to gain.” 


COMPONENTS SECTOR SPOTLIGHT 

SECTOR 

SPOTLIGHT 

Components 

What would the world of leisure vehicles be without the many, many 

companies that produce smart and essential components that help 

them function? As you’ll see in our spotlight on the components sector 

here, we’d be in a very sorry place indeed. 


SECTOR SPOTLIGHT COMPONENTS 

A 

■motorhome, caravan, 

or any other camping 

vehicle for that matter, 

is only as good as the sum of its 

parts. Without the fridges, the 

gas or electric hobs, the batteries, 

the heating systems, the water 

pumps, the on-board technology, 

even the panels that the floor 

and walls are made from, then 

leisure vehicles and RVs would 

be nowhere. Modern campers 

desire home-from-home comfort 

more than they ever have done 

in the past, which has pushed 

the many, many makers of these 

various components and parts to 

become ever-more innovative and 

smarter about the way they do 

things. Whether that’s a fridge 

door that can open both ways, a 

battery that can be taken apart 

and repaired to help it last longer, 

a super lightweight wood material 

that reduces the overall weight 

of the vehicle, or suspension 

springs that completely eliminate 

sway and improve handling – the 

world of components is working 

hard to improve the overall 

camping experience. 

In many ways the huge 

network of components and parts 

companies that exist in the RV 

industry are the heartbeat of it. 

Many of the big-name brands 

that consumers are familiar with 

wouldn’t be able to produce their 

vehicles without a whole array 

of companies that consumers 

have possibly never heard of. 

Some companies simply make 

components that are then used 

by the big leisure vehicle brands, 

others work extremely closely with 

the brands to make custom-made 

products that help enhance new 

vehicles and offer new experiences 

to campers. Having a close working 

relationship with these kinds of 

companies is no bad thing at all. 

For a long time, components 

companies operated on a strict 

B2B basis – there is no need for 

an end consumer to be able to buy 

motorhome doors, for example. 

But more and more, the companies 

that make the essential parts of 

caravans and motorhomes are 

starting to nurture their own 

brands and grow their reputation 

in the industry as a whole. Look 

at companies like Thetford, 

SuperSprings International, 

AL-KO and LIONTRON as 

examples – brands that the average 

camping consumer will be more 

aware of than they would have 

been before. This is partly because 

as well as OEM work, they also 

offer their products for aftermarket 

fitting. It is also because they have 

become better at marketing, to the 

point where consumers know and 

recognise the brand names when 

they are listed in the features of 

a particular leisure vehicle – for 

example, seeing that a motorhome 

has been made with Vöhringer 

wood panels could be a selling 

point for some consumers as they 

are more aware about the process 

of how they are made. This is partly 

a sign that the worlds of B2B and 

B2C are overlapping more than 

before, but also a sign that end 

consumers are more well-informed 

than they ever have been. 

For you to make the most of 

the world of these components, 

the best thing to do is to cast your 

net far and wide and consider 

all options. At a time like this 

when many companies are either 

chopping and changing suppliers, 

or seeking new ones who can 

better meet their needs, there are 

opportunities for new partnerships 

at every corner. 

THE STATISTICS 

300+ 

Brands exhibiting 

components and OEM 

services at Caravan Salon 2021 

10-20 years 

How long an RV lasts on 

average according to a study 

of more than 50,000 RVers. 

300,000 

The miles an average RV 

could cover with regular 

maintenance of the 

components 

Global interest in Google search term ‘OEM’ & ‘components’ for caravans in the last year 

100 

75 

50 

25 

Global interest in Google search term ‘OEM’ & ‘components’ for RVs in the last year 

100 

14 MAR 

2021 

75 

50 

25 

4 JUL 

2021 

24 OCT 

2021 

Key: OEM components 

13 FEB 

2022 

Key: OEM components 

9 

The number of 

components and 

accessories companies 

Dometic acquired in 2021 

US$2.7b 

Annual sales of American 

RV components expert 

Lippert 

65k² 

Manufacturing space that 

wood panel maker Vöhringer 

has in Germany alone 

14 MAR 

2021 

4 JUL 

2021 

24 OCT 

2021 

13 FEB 

2022 


COMPONENTS SECTOR SPOTLIGHT 

▲ The companies that make the on-board technology in RVs are growing their consumer-facing presences in terms of marketing. 

More and more we are seeing products that are made from more environmentally 

friendly materials, or that have been designed to make camping more eco. 

TRENDING 

Seen as a trend across the wider 

camping and RV industry, 

sustainability is also a key 

trend picked up by component 

producers and OEMs. More 

and more we are seeing 

products that are made from 

more environmentally friendly 

materials, or that have been 

designed to make camping 

more eco – examples include the 

LIONTRON LiFePO4 batteries 

that can be maintained by the 

user to prolong their lifespan, or 

solar panels that allow campers to 

harness the natural power of the 

sun. The eco message is one that 

is not only important to tap into 

the current tastes of consumers, 

but more and more companies are 

realising their responsibilities as 

producers of things. 

Sustainability is one of the 

newer trends, but some other 

long standing ones remain 

as important as ever. Making 

things as lightweight as possible 

remains a key factor for many 

campers, especially with a new 

demographic of younger campers 

whose driving licences may 

require them to drive vehicles 

under 3,500kg. This trend can 

be seen in everything from the 

chassis leisure vehicles are built 

on, to the walls and doors that 

make them, to the accessories they 

have on board, and even on simple 

items like furniture and cool boxes. 

Almost juxtaposed to the 

idea of keeping everything as 

light as possible, another thing 

modern campers demand is 

home comforts and technology. 

They don’t want to give up the 

mod cons they have at home 

even when they are out on the 

campsite. Because of that, we are 

seeing advances in the on-board 

technology inside leisure vehicles, 

examples include mobile phone 

apps to control aspects of their 

vehicle, mobile Wi-Fi units and 

internet-connected TVs, smart air 

con units that are more efficient 

than ever before, and smart 

driving technology such as sat nav 

and lane detection. 

The modern-day RV is 

becoming increasingly more 

complicated and advanced due to 

these trends, which also means 

that maintenance becomes a 

more important issue. With more 

technology on board, there are 

more parts that could feasibly go 

wrong. However, in some cases, 

this technology can actually 

eradicate certain maintenance 

steps or make problems easier to 

diagnose and fix. The sustainability 

thread means that a lot of this new 

technology is being made to be 

future proof, so it can be upgraded 

and expanded and ultimately have 

a longer lifespan. 

BUSINESS CONNECTIONS 

As you would expect, there are 

an awful lot of companies that 

make components and parts for 

motorhomes, caravans and RVs. 

It would be almost foolish of us to 

think we could cover them all in 

one feature, however here we have 

curated a list of some of the key 

brands in the industry that cover 

the main aspects and categories 

of components. If you don’t find 

a company that could become a 

potential partner, then perhaps 

you will discover a product 

category that widens your outlook, 

and makes you look deeper into it 

to find one that could. 


SECTOR SPOTLIGHT COMPONENTS 

BRANDS & COMPANIES 

Alde 

www.alde.se 

Fiamma 

www.fiamma.it 

Nobilpan 

www.nobilpan.it 

Teleco 

www.telecogroup.com 

AL-KO Vehicle Technology 

www.alko-tech.com 

Froli 

www.froli.com 

Polyplastic 

www.polyplastic.nl 

Thetford 


Alu-Line 

www.alu-line.de 

Intergrated Gas Technologies 

www.igt-lpg.com 

REICH 

www.reich-web.com 

Truma 

www.truma.com 

Airxcel 

www.airxcel.com 

HELLA 

www.hella.com/caravan 

Reimo 

www.reimo.com 

Vöhringer 

www.voehringer.com 

Baldacci 

www.baldacci.it 

Horrex 

www.horrex.nl 

REIMS 

www.remis.de 

Webasto 

www.webasto-comfort.com 

Changzhou Joel Plastic 

www.czjoel.com 

CTA 

www.ctapomezia.it 

Dometic 

www.dometic.com 

FAWO 

www.fawo.de 

Konrad Baur 

www.kbaur-gmbh.com 

LIONTRON 

www.liontron.com 

Lippert 

www.lci1.com 

Moscatelli 

www.moscatelli.it 

Scalabros 

www.shopscalabros.com 

SOG Systeme 

www.sog-systeme.de 


www.supersprings.com 

Technoform 

www.tecnoform.com 

*Note: We know this isn’t every 

company that deals in RV and 

camping components on the 

planet, but we hope you can make 

a meaningful business connection 

through it. If you feel we’ve missed 

you out, contact us today to talk 

about editorial opportunities. 

▲ SuperSprings International has shown the power of great branding for a product that could be considered not too exciting. 


PEGGY PEG COMPANY PROFILE 

▲ Peggy Peg Innovative Systems is a family owned and run business with many years of expertise. 

The future of 

pitching up 

Every now and then, you come across one of those products that makes you think ‘why 

has no one thought of this before?’ – that feeling is only amplified when it’s a product 

category you thought had no innovation left to give. Enter the world of Peggy Peg. 

I 

■t might seem like 

the most simple and 

unimportant of tasks 

but pegging out your tent or 

awning properly is still a hugely 

important part of camping. 

Different types of ground can 

make it tricky to hammer the 

same traditional style pegs in, 

and without correct pegging, 

you can end up with structural 

problems in your tent and 

awning that cause everything 

from annoying flapping in the 

wind to the sinking of your 

unit. While these problems may 

have only seemed like minor 

inconveniences to the average 

camper, to German couple 

Brigitte and Achim Reinhold 

they became the seed of an idea 

to form a business. 

“Our enthusiasm led us to 

develop our Peggy Peg brand,” 

says Brigitte. 

“We created a wide range of 

products to enhance the camping 

experience for everyone. Really 

good product ideas come when 

everyday life and innovative 

spirit meet. When developing 

our pegs, we always had the 

following key characteristics in 

mind: they should be stronger, 

lighter, easy to spot, adjustable in 

height, durable, and innovative.” 

Screwing instead of 

hammering - the idea wasn’t 

new to tent pegs, but what it 

has evolved into since Peggy 

Peg Innovative Systems was 

founded is unique in camping 

accessories worldwide. Pegs 

that are brightly coloured in the 

distinct blue and orange colours 

of the brand, vastly lighter 

than traditional metal pegs and 

designed to work with tools to 

make getting them in and out of 

any ground type very easy. The 

couple didn’t stop at just pegs 

though, they created a wide 

range of accessories all designed 

to work as part of a system that 

makes camping easier and more 

enjoyable for all. 


COMPANY PROFILE PEGGY PEG 

WHO ARE YOU 

Company: Peggy Peg 

Innovative Systems GmbH 

Location: Neudrossenfeld, 

Germany 

Products: Innovative plastic 

pegs for tents and awnings 

that incorporate screw-in 

designs, secure plates and 

extremely easy use. 

▲ Clockwise from top: Peggy Peg HQ; showing at Caravan Salon; the famous screw peg design. 

VERSATILITY AND 

PERFORMANCE 

The heart of the Peggy Peg 

brand is its screw peg – available 

in seven variations, the pegs 

cover every soil type including 

soft, loose sand, mud, wet grass, 

meadow, dry ground, compact 

sand, rocky/gravel, and tough 

grounds. The pegs have different 

lengths to help with this and 

each has a height-adjustable 

system with blue hooks – this 

means the pegs don’t need to 

be screwed all the way into the 

ground, giving you increased 

flexibility. 

The pegs may only stick out 

halfway, but with the blue 

hooks, they will provide the 

best grip. The same heightadjustable 

principle applies 

with the company’s Peg&Stop 

pegs, which have a continuing 

thread instead of the rings from 

the orange pegs. Their orange 

lock nut applies pressure onto 

anything you want to fix down, 

and as soon as the peg grips, 

the lock nut is simply tightened 

downward. 

Another smart innovation 

is the Fix&Go system. This 

system allows campers to peg 

down accessories, such as an 

anchor plate for awning legs to 

be connected to or a TieStrap, 

and then quickly and easily 

take down awnings or other 

accessories without unpegging. 

The pegged plate or other 

accessory will still be there 

when you return. 

BIG VALUES AND BIG VISION 

Peggy Peg naturally has a 

strong presence in Germany, 

but also in the Netherlands, 

Italy and Australia too. It has 

big ambitions to continue 

to grow in the international 

market after enjoying a hugely 

successful Caravan Salon show 

in Düsseldorf despite the 

restrictions of the pandemic. 

There are plans a foot to expand 

in the UK and USA. Brigitte 

explains: “This year, our primary 

goal will be to bring our 

company back into the UK. We 

have always been represented 

here. In fact, the company was 

even founded in the UK and 

later underwent a merger to the 

German company. 

“After our English partner 

retired, the new partnership 

did not work out as well as we 

thought. However, it seemed 

realistic to set another foot into 

the country again with more 

team members. 

“We will have a UK webshop 

with a direct fulfiller in the UK 

providing our B2B and B2C 

customers with low shipping 

rates and fast shipping of 

their orders. We will also be 

represented on the NEC in 

Birmingham this fall, and 

companies and people will be 

able to talk to us directly and 

see and feel our whole Peggy 

Peg range.” 

With investment in product 

development, expansion of its 

team and a major upgrade of its 

webshop with added video and 

photo content that can be made 

available to B2B clients, Peggy 

Peg is a family-owned company 

with growth in its sights. Could 

you be its next partner? 

Other: The company was 

born out of passion from 

German campers and is 

still a family owned and 

run business. It combines 

an innovative approach, 

striking marketing and 

great effectiveness of its 

products for campers. 

Contact: 

+49 9203 918240 

service@peggypeg.net 

www.peggypegs.de 

How does Peggy Peg 

work? Watch the videos to 

find out 




BRANDING BECOME A BETTER BUSINESS 

BECOME 

A BETTER 

BUSINESS 

Getting branding right 

Your brand is perhaps the single most important factor in the making or breaking of your 

busines. But how much time do you take ensuring all aspects of it are aligned? 

Our marketing guru has some tips to help you build and maintain a better brand. 


BECOME A BETTER BUSINESS BRANDING 

I 

■t is estimated by 

marketing experts that the 

average person is exposed 

to anywhere between 5,000 and 

10,000 adverts per day. Brands are 

all around us, they encircle us, and 

they fight for our attention on an 

almost minute-by-minute basis. 

So, just how in the world do you 

go about making your brand the 

one that people resonate with? The 

one that they notice? The one that 

they become a fan of? Naturally, 

there is no simple answer to this 

question, but how you think 

about your brand can have a big 

effect on its overall perception 

and performance. For branding 

is much more than just have a 

nice logo or a snappy slogan, it 

is the entire way in which you 

present your products or services 

to your customers. Branding is 

important in every word you 

type, every photograph you take, 

every social media post you make, 

even the people you hire – it is 

everything you do as a company. 

So it is something you should 

think analytically about and 

something that you should review 

on a regular basis to ensure that 

everything you are doing is true to 

your brand and its ideals. 

LOOKS TO KILL 

One of the core aspects of 

your brand is the logo. This is 

something you should definitely 

spend some serious time, money 

and effort on to get right as it will 

(hopefully) become iconic and 

memorable in the minds of your 

customers. With most successful 

logos, simplicity is key. Think 

of examples like Nike with its 

famous swoosh, or McDonalds 

with its unmistakeable golden 

arches. These are logos that have 

almost transcended the brand they 

represent and come to represent 

the fields within which they 

operate (sport and fast food). Of 

course, as a camping brand you 

are probably not going to reach 

that level of notoriety but think 

about every aspect of your logo 

and what it means. What shapes 

or imagery do you want to depict 

and what do they mean? Do sharp 

corners say something different 

than smooth curves? Colour too 

is important because colours have 

connotations in the minds of 

customers. Red can seem more 

official, more commanding, more 

direct. Colours like green evoke 

feelings of calm and nature, blue is 

more neutral, yellow too. Should 

your logo have your company or 

brand name on it? Or is it strong 

enough to not need it? Perhaps 

you could create multiple versions 

for different scenarios. In the 

camping and caravanning world, 

some of the best logos out there 

keep things clean and simple, but 

also have the option to appear 

without the brand name. Think of 

German caravan and motorhome 

brand Knaus – it can appear with 

name and logo, name alone or logo 

alone and most people recognise 

it. Another great example is Swift 

from the UK, with their logo 

also displaying the bird that the 

company is named after. One of 

STAT’S AMAZING 

$1.8bn 

What the BBC is said to 

have paid for its logo design 

15% 

Of small businesses 

would pay over $1,000 

for their logo 

$35 

The amount the original 

Nike logo is said to have 

cost in 1971 

35% 

Of brands use blue in their 

logo, making it the most 

popular colour 

¾ 

Estimated number of 

brands who use a sans serif 

font in their logo 

▲ Nike’s swoosh logo is so iconic that it can be used without the name appearing very easily. 

1366 

The year in which the 

Stella Artois logo was 

created, the logo is largely 

unchanged today 


BRANDING BECOME A BETTER BUSINESS 

▲ Branding is everywhere you look, including in our industry. We worked hard on our branding to ensure it was recognisable, and 

so did caravan and motorhome brand Knaus. 

caravanning’s most iconic brands 

is Airstream, and again, the logo 

can be seen with or without the 

word Airstream. The logo of the 

trailer with an A worked into it 

is a fantastic example of a brand 

confident in what it is. 

THE GOOD WORD 

It might not seem it, but the 

words you use to communicate 

your message are a hugely 

important part of your brand too. 

You should have a strong idea of 

the kind of language you want to 

use when relating to your products. 

It might be that you choose 

to only use positive language: 

saying “this tent will perform” 

rather than “this tent won’t let 

you down”. It might be that you 

always say something about one 

of your particular products in 

a particular way: for example, 


always describes its SumoSprings 

as “zero-maintenance” and that 

they “make the journey better”. 

Repetition like this can help 

people associate positive feelings 

and connotations with your 

product and your logo. Clarity 

also helps with the words you 

write or say about your company 

– don’t overcomplicate things as 

that may lead to confusion and 

negative feelings about your brand. 

Another great thing to consider is 

rather than talking about what you 

do all the time, talk about how the 

brand will benefit the customer. 

So instead of “we designed this 

to be durable” you could try “you 

can count on this to last you a 

lifetime”. Whatever you choose to 

say about your brand, remember 

that it is a hugely important part 

of the overall feeling you give off. 

CONSISTENCY IS KEY 

One of the absolute key things 

about any branding you carry 

out as a company is consistency. 

Without that, then your message 

will never resonate. Think back to 

that stat at the very start of the 

article: if your branding is one of 

5,000 someone sees in one day, 

then it has to be the same every 

time someone sees it or they will 

never remember it. This is why it’s 

so important to spend some time 

ensuring that the branding is right. 

Conducting focus groups, surveys 

and other market research is a 

great way to discover if consumers 

see your brand the way you want 

them to see it. But whatever logo, 

words, adverts, or overall style you 

go for, it has to have consistency 

over a prolonged period to have 

anything like the desired effect. 

REBRANDING 

Most strong brands tend not to 

change too much over the years. 

Some of the most longstanding 

brands have barely changed in 

hundreds of years, but even the 

biggest and best-known names 


BECOME A BETTER BUSINESS BRANDING 

▲ BP, GAP and Starbucks are three global brands that have experienced differing degrees of success when refreshing their logo 

designs –in the case of GAP, the fashion brand quickly diverted back to the old logo after some poor feedback. 

require a tweak from time to 

time. The two horse logo of 

denim company Levi’s is iconic 

and has hardly changed since its 

first use in the 1880s, however 

the company does have a more 

modern logo type – the white 

text on the red tab background 

– that it introduced as a slight 

rebrand much more recently. 

This kind of rebrand is known as 

complimentary, because it goes 

alongside the older branding. 

Some companies decide to have 

a complete change, with differing 

results. In 2000, oil company BP 

paid a small fortune to change 

its logo from a traditional shield 

design with upper case BP 

inside it to a more eco-friendly 

flower shape with lower case 

bp alongside. It’s questionable 

as to whether this one worked 

– for one, oil companies can 

never truly be perceived as green 

by consumers, for another, the 

rebrand was horribly timed with 

the oil spill disaster in the gulf 

in 2010, which heavily damaged 

its new brand that was still 

trying to find its feet. Another 

famous perceived failure is that 

of clothing giant Gap. In 2010 it 

reviled a new logo that featured 

a clean sans serif font and moved 

the traditional navy square to 

become an accent to the text. 

Without wanting to sound harsh, 

it bombed. It was released as a 

surprise to the public and was so 

heavily criticised, Gap went back 

to their original design within 

just a few days. 

More successful examples can 

be seen with coffee chain giant 

Starbucks – they cleaned up their 

logo in 2011 and decided that 

it no longer needed the words 

Starbucks Coffee on it because it 

was so iconic. This one worked, 

as the siren design and green and 

white colour scheme is so iconic 

that people just saw the change as 

a small modernisation. 

If you are considering a 

rebrand of your own, then drastic 

changes very rarely work if you 

are already well known. If you 

are still an emerging brand and 

your new branding speaks your 

message more clearly, then you 

may succeed with this approach. 

But if you already have a strong 

customer base built on your 

existing brand, then a slight 

revamp or modernisation is 

probably all you can get away 

with. Like anything though, 

always be critical in your thinking 

about why you feel the need to 

change your brand. What will 

the change do? What message 

are you trying to get across? Will 

the change be worth the expense? 

A rebrand for the sake of it is 

perhaps one of the worst mistakes 

you can make as a company and 

could cost you money and your 

reputation you’ve worked so hard 

to build. 



EUROPEAN INNOVATION AWARD SPECIAL 



The results of the annual European Innovation Awards have been 

revealed, naming the best and brightest products and service launched 

in the caravanning world in the last 12 months. Here’s a rundown of the 

companies and brands who claimed the prestigious accolade. 

OVERALL CONCEPT WINNERS... 

CAMPER 

Malibu Generation M 

CARAVAN 

Adria Alpina 

VAN 

Sunlight Cliff RT 

EQUIPMENT 

Truma Cooler Battery Pack 

CATEGORIES 

INTERIOR DESIGN 

EXTERIOR DESIGN 

AUDIENCE FOCUS 

MARKETING & PR CAMPAIGN 

TECHNOLOGY 

LAYOUT 

SAFETY 

VEHICLE EQUIPMENT 

INNOVATIVE VEHICLE RELATED EQUIPMENT 

SUSTAINABILITY/ENVIRONMENT 

INNOVATIVE STARTUP 

BLOGGERS FAVOURITE 




BÜRSTNER 

LYSEO GALLERY 

Described by Bürstner habitat interior 

designer Tatjana Weelbaum as a 

‘gentlemen’s club style’, the Lyseo Gallery 

has brought a certain level of pizazz to 

motorhomes. As well as luxurious fittings and 

furnishings that offer a home-from-home 

feel, the Lyseo Gallery’s large roof living space 

can be lowered to make the motorhome 

more streamline and fuel efficient for travel 

www.buerstner.com 

BEACHY 

CARAVAN 

If you’ve been an avid reader of Camping Trade World over 

the past year, you’ll already be well versed with the Beachy. If 

not, then it’s about time you got more acquainted with this 

stripped back caravan from Hobby that invokes the feeling 

of a weekend spent among 

the sea, surf and sand. 

Designed to be affordable 

and offer a style that stands 

out from the crowd. 

www.beachy.de 

ALPHATRONICS 

ONE SATELLITE SYSTEM 

According to Alphatronics, the ONE is all about 

integration and convenience. This one-cable solution 

can allow you to operate a host of your caravan or 

motorhomes digital entertainment options with one 

remote or through the ONE app. In combination 

with an OCS-compatible Alphatronics TV set, you can 

control everything centrally via the TV menu. From 

the alignment of the SAT antenna to the channel and 

volume. Conveniently using a single remote control. 

www.alphatronics.de 

KNAUS 

E.POWER DRIVE 

The Knaus E.Power Drive is the first fully 

electric motorhome from the company, built in 

cooperation with motorsport and engineering 

expert HWA AG. Based on a Knaus Van Ti 650 

MEG Vansation, this fully equipped, four-seater 

motorhome performs at up to 180 kW and can 

travel at over 110 km/h. It also features a Range 

Extender helps to keep it on the road longer 

between charges. 

www.knaustabbert.de 




TRIGANO 

CHAUSSON 660 

Layout is always one of those awards 

that’s hardest to win – in a world of everincreasing 

choices and customisability, 

how do you make something that stands 

out? Chausson managed it with their 660 

motorhome layout that includes two access 

doors, a modular U-shaped lounge that can 

comfortably host up to eight people, and a 

glass interior wall to separate. 

www.chausson-camping-cars.fr 

MAMMUT 

EVOLUTION 

Strong yet sensitive, the AL-KO MAMMUT 

manoeuvring system enables smooth 

and precise manoeuvring of single-axle 

caravans up to a maximum weight of 2.5 

tonnes or tandem axles up to three tonnes. 

Now this smart product also has a weight 

detection system to determine the weight 

within five minutes with a tolerance of less 

than five per cent. 

www.alko-tech.com 

CARAWARN 

FLEX 

The CaraWarn Motorhome Turning Assistant FLEX 

monitors the blind spot next to the vehicle and offers 

a flexible monitoring range of up to 20 metres, so 

that the entire length of the vehicle, as well as in 

front of and behind the vehicle, can be monitored. 

This allows cyclists to be detected much earlier and 

even at higher speeds. The system also includes a 

highly effective break-in alarm with multiple cameras 

and larger monitoring range than ever before. 

www.carawarn.de 

HYMER 

BACKRACK+ 

This modular designed rear rack for either 

a Fiat Ducato or Citroën Jumper van 

can help users easily store spare wheels, 

bicycles, skis, additional luggage and 

much more, and can be bought with a 

wide range of accessory components to 

really customise it. It has a load capacity 

of 80kg and keeps the area around the 

towbar of your vehicle clear for use. 

www.hymer.com 




THETFORD 

POWERPODS 

Thetford’s new PowerPods Blue and Bio 

are toilet maintenance products that offer 

either toilet cleaning power or more ecofriendly 

toilet cleaning, depending on which 

you choose. PowerPod Bio utilises microorganism 

technology to make toilet cleaning 

less harmful for the environment while 

PowerPod Blue offer the power of Thetford 

liquids but in pod form. 


LIONTRON 

LIFEPO4 BATTERY 

With a capacity that is almost twice as much as traditional 

VRLA batteries, LIONTRON’s LiFePO4 batteries can be 

discharged to 100 per cent. This means that a 200Ah battery 

can be replaced with a 100Ah battery, vastly reducing the 

weight of what you need to carry in your leisure vehicle. They 

can also survive as many as 3,000 full cycles, by which point 

they will still have about 80 per cent of their original power. 

It is reasonable to expect them to be able to deliver another 

7,000 cycles after that. 

www.liontron.com 

WOMO 

TECH-CH BIKE CARRIER 

Offering custom-made two-bike carriers, Womo 

Tech CH has tactfully dropped itself into a hole 

in the market that we never knew needed filling. 

The strong and sturdy metal carrier can be made 

to securely hold two bikes and then easily insert 

them into the garage of your motorhome or 

other leisure vehicle, so you can transport them 

to the campsite with ease. No more precariously 

strapping bikes to the roof or back of a vehicle. 

www.womo-tech-ch.jimdosite.com 

HYMER 

GRAND CANYON S 

CROSSOVER 

Hymer really made everyone sit up and take notice 

with its CrossOver version of its Grand Canyon S 

campervan. Featuring a stylish and rugged look, 

the van is suitable for off-road driving thanks 

to suspension lift, four-wheel-drive, and allterrain 

tyres, while the comprehensive standard 

equipment includes solar panels to help campers 

stay off-grid for up to 10 days at a time. 

www.hymer.com 



WEINSBERG 

EDITION [PEPPER] 

The extremely popular Weinsberg Edition [Pepper] has a 

whole new dimension now that two versions of it are available 

with Mercedes-Benz Sprinter base vehicles thanks to a new 

cooperation between the Stuttgart-based motoring giant and 

Weinsberg’s owner Knaus Tabbert. Weinsberg offers these 

vehicles in versions with 3.5 and 4.2 tonnes of permissible total 

weight. The vehicles also feature a comprehensive range of 

driving assistance and safety systems as standard, which can be 

added to on request. 

www.weinsberg.com 

PROQ 

FLATDOG PORTABLE BBQ AND 

MULTI-TOOL 

New for Spring 2022, ProQ Barbecues and Smokers has launched 

the Flatdog portable barbecue and the Multi-tool, which it 

claims will change the game of outdoor cooking. The Flatdog is a 

portable charcoal grill with a space-saving design that folds down 

as thin as a laptop, and easily converts to a high-spec barbecue 

with ample grilling space for up to 12 people. The ProQ Multi-tool 

incorporates BBQ tongs, a spatula, grill fork and bottle opener, 

transforming effortlessly between functions. Portable and easy 

to use, the Multi-tool is designed for travel and packing light, 

without any compromise to functionality. 

www.proqsmokers.com 

OUTWELL 

BIRCH SLEEPING BAGS 

The Birch sleeping bag range from Scandinavian camping 

expert Outwell brings choice and comfort to campers no 

matter when or where the adventure takes you. The Birch, 

Birch Lux and Birch Supreme offer three insulation weights 

in a mummy profile that is carefully designed to balance 

comfort with performance. Length and width are larger than 

the norm to allow freedom of movement that you wouldn’t 

normally get in a mummy sleeping bag. 

www.outwell.com 

SNOW PEAK 

FIELD FIRESTARTER 

The Field Firestarter from Japanese camping brand Snow Peak 

is a handy set to help you get a campfire started in no time. The 

main ingredient is quick-igniting paraffin which is safe and will 

keep the fire burning for longer. The sachets are supplied in a 

stainless steel case for safe and convenient storage and transport. 

www.snowpeak.co.uk 



ROBENS 

YUKON SHELTER 

Inspired by the simple wood refuges used to explore the 

Scandinavian countryside, the Yukon Shelter offers a base 

that can be taken wherever the adventure leads. The 

spacious shelter sleeps four and has a sewn-in groundsheet, 

plus mesh inner door and vents for bug-free living. The 

useful porch is protected by a versatile front wall panel that 

provides huge access, wide views out and the ability to 

balance ventilation, privacy and weather protection. 

www.robens.de 

JACK WOLFSKIN 

TRAVELTOPIA DUFFLE 65 

A multifunctional and eco-friendly duffel that doubles as a 

backpack, the Jack Wolfskin Traveltopia Duffle 65 features an 

entirely new technology inspired by nature: a PFC, PVC and 

solvent-free synthetic wax coating mimicking beeswax. The 

odourless and non-sticky treatment, called “Wax Weave“ tested to 

be 10 times more water-resistant than conventional alternatives 

and, unlike natural wax, it never wears out. 

www.jack-wolfskin.com 

NEMO EQUIPMENT 

MOONLITE RECLINING CHAIR 

Made from recycled materials, the Moonlite Reclining 

Chair from Nemo Equipment is a must-have for campers 

who value comfort and light weight. The adjustable seat 

means that more campers can find more comfort with this 

chair, while the high-quality, durable frame ensures it can 

accompany you on trip after trip. The chair is quickly and 

easily folded up for transport or storage when not in use. 

www.nemoequipment.com 

SUPERSPRINGS INTERNATIONAL 

SUPERSPRINGS 

SuperSprings are a unique and patented self-adjusting suspension stabilizing 

system for vehicles with rear leaf springs, designed to level loads and reduce 

body roll. SuperSprings provide users extra load support and reduce body roll 

without compromising ride quality. They are manufactured using a variety of 

different sized springs to support multiple applications. All SuperSprings are 

manufactured in the U.S.A. from SAE5160H high grade, shot peened steel. 

www.superspringsinternational.com 


www.campingtradeworld.com

Camping Trade World – Issue 07

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