Camper importer gets industry 'seal of approval'

MDC Campers has become the first RV importer to obtain RVMAP accreditation from the Caravan Industry Association of Australia. 

The big Brisbane-based business, which has sold more than 25,000 camper trailers and hybrid off-road caravans and pop-tops in Australia since 2005 and recently opened its first retail outlet in the USA, achieved the significant milestone after submitting its application more than 12 months ago.

However, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, RVMAP badges will initially only be affixed to MDC models that have been assembled at MDC's main Brisbane facility, with the accreditation process still to be completed at MDC's Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide assembly plants.

Launched around eight years ago and normally reserved for Australian RV manufacturers, RVMAP is an auditing and accreditation program for caravan, motorhome and camper trailer manufacturers. The CIAA receives a fee for each RVMAP badge affixed to an RV, as well as an annual membership fee from each RVMAP-accredited company.

“We are incredibly excited and proud to be the first off-road camper trailer and hybrid caravan importer to display the RVMAP badge on our products,” MDC boss Vaughan Hindley said. 

“As a company, MDC has always strived to provide the best possible products to market for the benefit of our customers, so achieving RVMAP accredited status really allows us to genuinely demonstrate this commitment." 

CIAA CEO Stuart Lamont, who recently visited the Brisbane operation, said RVMAP accreditation is "not handed out lightly, with ongoing evidence of a business’s commitment to supplying product which complies with relevant Australian Design Rules and other Federal construction compliance regulations required to be RVMAP accredited”.

"To obtain RVMAP accreditation, an extensive review of product and processes must be completed to the satisfaction of the RVMAP team of compliance engineers, over several inspections," he said.

While the industry audit scheme has its critics, the CIAA says it has helped reduce the number of caravan defects and non-compliance issues within the industry, with more than 3000 RVMAP audit files opened up in the past four years alone.

“As Australia’s largest distributor of imported RV product, it was encouraging to see the effort being taken by the team at MDC to make sure their products are supplied to the market in accordance with Australian regulations," Lamont said.  

The largely Chinese-built campers and caravans that roll out from MDC’s Brisbane facility will carry the RVMAP 'International' badge, indicating to buyers that the products originate from off-shore.

MDC is also one of few RV-related businesses in Australia to boast an ISO 9001 quality certification.

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