AL-KO gets Halls of Fame honour

RV accessories giant AL-KO has joined Australia’s biggest caravan builder Jayco as an inductee into the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame.

An initiative of the Victorian Government, the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame recognises sustained contribution to manufacturing excellence in Victoria.

AL-KO Australia’s managing director, Sven Mannfolk, said he was delighted to see the company inducted.

"AL-KO has a long history of success and is committed to continuing its manufacturing operations in Australia," he said. 

"At a time when many others are scaling back their operations with the threat of cheaper imports, AL-KO has recently invested in a new multi-million dollar Recreational Vehicle Technology Centre, creating jobs and exports."

AL-KO was one of seven companies inducted into the 2013 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame at an awards ceremony in Melbourne recently. It joins past winners such as Toyota, Kraft, Visy, Bluescope Steel, Masterfoods as well as Jayco Corporation.

AL-KO Australia has a history spanning back to 1946, when Hornby Engineering commenced producing axles in South Melbourne.

In 1988 the German AL-KO Kober Group acquired the company, completing a new 10,000 square metre Victorian facility in 2005.

Following two decades of growth, in 2012 AL-KO further expanded its facilities at Dandenong South with the addition of the ISO 9001 accredited AL-KO Recreational Vehicle Technology Centre.

This purpose-built facility is home to local production of AL-KO’s innovative new Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system for electric-braked caravans, as well as AL-KO motorhome chassis and Sensabrake brake actuation system for large boat trailers.

The AL-KO ESC has a worldwide patent and strong export potential, particularly to the high volume US market.