Avan doubles caravan production

Victoria’s Avan has just doubled the size of its current Avan caravan production line to keep up with demand, which currently stretches out to 12 months ahead and even more on some models.

The duplication work took place over the recent Anzac Day long weekend, with everything removed from the main Avan production factory before being duplicated with a parallel line that will see literally twice as many Avans leaving the factory by the end of June.

“It’s flattering to have demand stretching that far ahead, but it’s also dangerous, as those who can’t wait can lose their loyalty and migrate to other brands,” said Avan Managing Director, Scott Van Baardwyk, who with his brother Jeff is rapidly expanding the business that purchased Queensland’s Golf campers just over two years ago and has just launched the German Knaus brand in Australia.

‘The other problem is that with such an order bank, we’ve been flat out keeping up with demands and to a degree our designs have been stagnant for more than 12 months. This move gives up the opportunity to introduce many new layouts and ideas we’ve had on the drawing board.”

Although cagey to reveal total Avan production numbers, Scott said the new line would “significantly reduce” waiting times for new models.

Established 21 years ago with four employees by Scott’s parents, Jeff and Marion Van Baardwyk in outer south-eastern Melbourne Hallam, but now expanding rapidly on its current 8.5 hectare site in the light industrial area of rural Pakenham, Avan is now believed to be Australia’s second-largest caravan manufacturer after Jayco, although accurate industry production figures are hard to obtain to confirm this.

The company started by building its unique, hard-wall folding Aliner ‘pop-top- caravans, but has since expanded into pop-tops and hardtop caravans, many of the later with slide-outs – something we can expect to see in increasing numbers appearing on not only new Avan models, but also on larger models in the sister Golf off-road caravan range, Scott Van Baardwyk assured caravancampingsales.

“We’re very good at ‘slides’,” he said “We’ve built literally hundreds for customers so far with a zero failure rate. It’s definitely the way things are going in the Australian industry.”