RV Industry News
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| September 2003 | Volume 29 - Number 2 | |
RV Industry News | ||
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Thor to Buy Motor Home Maker for $46 Million
The acquisition of privately held Damon, which generates $200 million in sales annually, is expected to add about 20 cents to Thor's earnings per share in fiscal 2004, the company said in a statement. Damon is the largest U.S. builder of park model trailers, with diesel motor homes accounting for about 20 percent of its shipments, Thor said. Damon's management team is expected to continue running the company following the acquisition, which the companies hope to close on Sept. 2. Reuters Tom Raper RV Takes Delivery of the New T@B Trailer - Unit #1
Richard Florea, President of Dutchmen Manufacturing, presented the first set of keys for the all new T@B Microlite travel trailer to David Bane, President of Tom Raper RV. The presentation occurred on July 2nd, 2003. The T@B has been in development for six months in Bristol, IN and is a modified version of a popular European trailer. Its tear-drop shape and retro look combined with its ultra light weight design has created an entirely new segment for travel trailer called "Microlites." The presentation of the keys represents the completion of the product development stage of the process and the launch of the new product line. According to Florea, "David has been involved with the development of the project from the beginning. His input has given us some great ideas on how to modify this trailer for the North American customer. We are pleased to present the first set of keys to Tom Raper RV and look forward to getting the product to his dealership in Richmond. T@B is a 16-foot travel trailer retailing in the $12,000 - $13,000 range. It weighs only 1250 pounds and can be towed by most passenger cars, mini vans, and trucks. With an overall height of 7 feet 9 inches, the "Microlight" T@B can be stored in a most garages. The T@B’s interior includes a U-shaped dinette that folds down into a spacious 60" x 80" queen bed. It also includes maple storage cabinets, a LP range, sink, and ice box and is available with a furnace, refrigerator, and other options. The T@B will be marketed through a network of independent dealers. In addition to Tom Raper RV, other dealers in all parts of the country have taken on the line. Shipments to retailers are expected to begin the end of this month. Winnebago Intros Sirius Satellite Radio in Most ‘04 Models
A SIRIUS receiver is included as standard equipment on Winnebago Industries' top-of-the-line Ultimate Freedom, while it is optional on the majority of the Company's other Winnebago, Itasca, Rialta and Ultimate brand motor homes. SIRIUS offers over 100 streams of digital entertainment, with 60 commercial-free, original music streams. High orbit satellites deliver crystal clear satellite programming anywhere in the U.S., and the SIRIUS receiver has full scrolling capabilities that show artist names and song titles. This upgrade includes a one-year prepaid subscription on select models. "Winnebago Industries' is excited to make SIRIUS available to our valued customers," said Winnebago Industries' Chairman, CEO and President Bruce Hertzke. "This new system is just one more way we can enhance their RV lifestyle experience." "SIRIUS is excited to partner with Winnebago Industries, a proven technology leader in the RV industry," said Joseph P. Clayton, President and CEO of SIRIUS. "We believe that our commercial-free music and premium programming will perfectly complement the needs of Winnebago Industries' motor home buyers." RVDA Helps Recognize New Take Pride in America Exec. Director Interior Secretary, Other Recreation VIPs Join in Event
RVDA's Mike Molino, RVIA President Dave Humphreys, Maryland RVDA President David Ramsey of Brooks Ramsey RV, and ARVC President Linda Profaizer joined Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton and other recreation industry VIPs to recognize Marti Allbright, the new Executive Director of Take Pride in America at a special reception in Washington on July 17. Ramsey provided a new Tiffin motorhome to serve as a special backdrop for the event and demonstrate the RV industry's support for Take Pride in America. Organized by the American Recreation Coalition (ARC), the event drew a wide cross section of outdoor recreation leaders. Allbright was named to her position on June 27th by Interior Secretary Gale Norton and is responsible for leading the Take Pride partnership initiative that will increase volunteer service on America's public lands and connect more Americans to their outdoors legacy. Allbright previously served as Secretary Norton's transition chief of staff in the early days of the Bush Administration after spending two years as General Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, serving as Colorado's Chief Deputy Attorney General under then-Attorney General Norton, and spending nearly 20 years in private practice. RVDA will announce more opportunities for dealers to participate in this exciting public service project in the coming months and offers a special thanks to David Ramsey and Brooks Ramsey RV Center for their outstanding effort to help make this event a success. RVDA, RVIA, and ARVC are Charter Partners in Take Pride in America. Dometic Corporation Acquires Taylor Made Environmental, Inc.
TME is the leading manufacturer of air conditioning products for the marine industry marketed under the brands Marine Air, Cruisair and Condaria. Their product range also includes refrigerators under the brand name Tundra, Grunert refrigeration and Sentry battery charger systems that are sold mainly to the pleasure boat industry worldwide. "The acquisition presents new opportunities for Dometic to strengthen our position in the pleasure boat industry," according to Dr. Sven Stork, CEO, Dometic Group. "Along with the SeaLand acquisition in January 2002, we are able to create a more comprehensive product offering to our marine customers." "The acquisition will have no immediate effect on current business relations with TME. Our intent is to build upon the strengths and successes of both companies," said Stork. "Taylor Made Environmental builds on our presence in the marine industry," said John Waters, president of Dometic’s North American operations. "This an excellent fit for both companies. The purchase will provide greater resources for research and design and presents growth opportunities for Dometic in the marine industry in conjunction with our SeaLand Sanitation Systems." Frank Marciano, president of Taylor Made Environmental, said, "While we have been proud to be members of the Taylor Made Group, we are very excited to join the Dometic organization." Headquartered in Gloversville, NY, The Taylor Made Group, Inc. has 94 years of experience as one of the recreational marine industry’s largest, most diversified suppliers. Other companies in The Taylor Made Group include Taylor Made Products, Taylor Made Systems, and Taylorbrite LLC. The company has 17 facilities in the United States, Canada, the Republic or Ireland, the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia and New Zealand. Employing more than 1,100 associates, its products are distributed through a worldwide distribution network. Dometic’s international offering within the RV and pleasure boat industry includes refrigerators, air conditioners, stove tops, awnings, generators, lights, windows and doors as well as sanitation systems. TME is Dometic’s third acquisition since the separation from Electrolux was completed in January 2002. In January 2003 Dometic acquired MIKO, Germany’s leading manufacturer of lighting systems for RVs. Lazydays Announces Lifesaving Defibrillation Program
Each year almost 250,000 people suffer cardiac arrest and only about 5 percent of them survive. Cardiac arrest is a condition in which abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias cause the heart’s electrical impulses to suddenly become chaotic. When this happens, the heart stops abruptly, and the victim collapses and quickly loses consciousness. Death usually follows unless a normal heart rhythm is restored within a few minutes. Defibrillation, which means delivering an electric shock to the heart, is the only known treatment to restore the normal rhythm. For every minute defibrillation is delayed, the victim’s chances of survival go down 7-10 percent. According to a company spokesperson, concern about being able to ensure quick defibrillation caused them to set up a defibrillation program with AEDs. “We have a large employee population in a complex facility that is difficult for the EMS system to reach quickly, so we worked with the American Heart Association to set up our program,” said Deborah Dube. AEDs now on the market are safe and easy to use, making it possible for non-medical personnel to be trained to provide rapid defibrillation. More and more companies are taking this step since legislation providing limited liability for non-medical AED users was passed in the state recently. The American Heart Association recommends that any facility in which large groups of people congregate consider establishing a defibrillation program. This is especially true in high-security companies, high-rise buildings, gated communities, sprawling manufacturing plants and remote sites. It is estimated that establishing these defibrillation programs could help save as many as 50,000 lives per year. Largest Gathering of RVs on Earth! The snowbirds are marking their calendars for the 2004 show schedule in Quartzsite, Arizona. This tiny desert hamlet bursts at the seams when the tens of thousands of RVers converge on Quartzsite for the big rock & mineral shows and the numerous swap meets and flea markets that take place there each winter season. One of the largest and most popular venues each year is the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show that takes place in the 45,000 square foot, "BIG TENT", just South of Interstate 10 on State Highway 95. The dates for the 21st Annual Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show are January 17th through January 25th. There is no charge for admission or parking at this huge show that now ranks as one of the largest consumer RV events in the country. The attendance for the 2003 show was estimated at well over 150,000 and the numerous RV related exhibits included the "who’s who" of the RV Industry. There were several hundred new and used RVs on display along with a dozen service bays offering immediate installation, repairs & service on many of the items that were exhibited at the show. The 2004 show looks like it will be even bigger with exhibit space selling at a record pace. For more information call 800-969- 5464 or visit www.quartzsitervshow.com. Louisville Show Space Drawing Sets Record Allocations for exhibit space at the National RV Trade Show in Louisville have topped 680,000 square feet, well ahead of the 670,000 square foot record of 2001. Space was assigned to 81 manufacturers and 283 suppliers during the July drawing at RVIA headquarters in Reston, VA. By mid-July, all 800 supplier booths were sold out, bringing the net square footage occupied by exhibitors to 764,700. “We anticipate an extremely busy year for the National RV Trade Show,” said Show Chairman John Beaver of Thor Industries. “Every available square foot of exhibit space has now been assigned and will provide dealers with virtually every RV product, amenity and component available, not to mention numerous new products that will make their debut.” Dealers attending the National RV Trade Show can also take advantage of a variety of programs and seminars beginning with the Outlook 2004 Breakfast on Tuesday morning, December 2nd at the Executive West hotel. Hosted by RVIA Chairman of the Board Claire Skinner, the event features reports on the state of the industry, the first year of the Phase III Go RVing national advertising campaign and successes resulting from RVIA’s proactive public relations efforts. Sales and product seminars will be offered throughout the three-day show. RVIA Coast to Distribute PocketMail to RV and Boating Industries PocketMail Group Limited (ASX:PKT), a leading provider of value-priced e-mail services, today announced that The Coast Distribution System, Inc.. has added the PocketMail Composer handheld mobile email device and service to the line of products it wholesales to RV and boating retailers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Until now, the PocketMail product was primarily direct-marketed to consumers. PocketMail is a low-cost, easy-to-use, mobile e-mail service that enables users to send and receive e-mails, fast and reliably, using the handleld Composer and a phone. Fleetwood to Appeal Temporary Injunction Order Requiring End of Its Use of Coleman Mark Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: FLE), the nation's leader in recreational vehicle sales and a leading producer and retailer of manufactured housing, announced today that its subsidiary, Fleetwood Folding Trailers, Inc., intends to appeal the temporary injunction order issued August 18, 2003, that requires it to stop using the "Coleman" mark. The Fleetwood entities are engaged in litigation against The Coleman Company, Inc., and related Coleman entities in connection with a dispute over the use of the "Coleman" brand name. Fleetwood Folding Trailers first licensed the Coleman brand name in 1989, when Fleetwood Enterprises purchased the business from The Coleman Company. The Kansas District Court ruled that, until the litigation is concluded, the Fleetwood entities and all related parties are temporarily enjoined from any ongoing use of the "Coleman" mark. While the appeal is pending, the Fleetwood entities fully intend to comply with the temporary injunction. The Fleetwood entities intend to request an expedited hearing regarding the appeal. Notwithstanding the outcome of the appeal, Fleetwood Folding Trailers intends to vigorously pursue its claims against The Coleman Company, Inc., due to what it believes was Coleman's wrongful termination of the license agreement. Also, Fleetwood Enterprises intends to vigorously pursue its rights received at the time of the 1989 purchase of the Coleman business to prohibit Coleman from using the "Coleman" mark in the recreational vehicle market. The trial regarding these matters is currently set for December 2003. "Even though we are disappointed with the District Court's temporary ruling, we believe that the ultimate decision will find that Coleman improperly terminated the license agreement," said Larry Marsh, a 33- year Coleman folding trailer veteran, and now Fleetwood's vice president and general manager for the Somerset, Pa., operation. "We have been operating in substantially the same manner since Fleetwood Enterprises acquired our operation in 1989. We intend to continue to manufacture and sell the highest quality family of folding trailers." Siemens VDO Automotives Trading & Aftermarket Division Changes Name Siemens VDO Automotive Corp.'s Trading & Aftermarket division has changed its name to Service & Special Solutions and restructured its North American management team in order to provide a higher level of value to the customer. The name change is intended to better characterize the scope and nature of the group’s business activities and respond to aggressive growth objectives and a sharper customer focus. “We want to grow our North American business three-fold over the next four years," Siemens VDO Automotive Corp. Service & Special Solutions-North America Vice President Wolfgang Winzer, "We will focus on adding new products, developing strategic business relationships with other companies and actively seek viable acquisitions in order to increase our offerings. In addition to new products, we also intend to expand the breadth, coverage and availability of our current product lines.” Along with the name change, a new divisional management structure was implemented with corresponding updated personnel assignments. The United States is Siemens' largest market in the world, with 11 of Siemens' worldwide businesses headquartered here and annual sales of $21.5 billion in fiscal 2002. The Siemens companies in the U.S. employ approximately 70,000 people in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Corporate headquarters for Siemens' U.S. businesses are located in New York City.
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