Fast-growing Nova opens new factory

Nova has delivered a vote of confidence in the future of the Australian custom-built caravan with the opening of its new $3.3 million factory in the industry’s heartland– Melboune’s Campbellfield.

Built on virgin industrial land acquired in 2010, the new factory at 3000 square metres is 63 per cent larger that Nova’s previous 1900sq.m Campbellfield facility.

With room for up to 20 caravans in various stages of construction on the floor at any time, it offers double the production capacity, with Nova’s General Manager Paul Golding forecasting annual production of 400 caravans a year within two years – up from his prediction of 300-plus this year.

Overall staff levels have also risen from the 50 when they moved into the new building in August this year to around 73 today, with 63 of these people now on the factory floor.

Many of those new vans will be Nova’s Terra Sportz model, which spurred on by Golding’s aggressive marketing of its off-road prowess, has grown to rival the company’s entry-level Revivor as the company’s best seller. Both are built only as caravans in lengths up to 19ft 6in, although the 18ft 6in Revivor remains Nova’s best-selling individual model.

However while the new factory is a-buzz with latest generation CNC cutting machinery, Nova caravans are for the present still built along traditional lines, with Meranti wall and room frames, skinned with either ribbed aluminium or fibreglass, depending on the model.

Full sandwich wall and roof construction used by higher volume builders is on the future wish list if volume predictions are met, according to Golding, with Nova creating a new R&D department within the new facility to look into the future.

Victoria’s Minister for Manufacturing David Hodgett and the CEO of the CIA Victoria Trades Division, Rob Lucas, were both on hand at the opening ceremony to offer their support and tour the factory, with Lucas describing Nova’s investment as “demonstrating confidence in the caravan industry.”

If Golding’s predictions are realised, Nova’s increased output will further swell the $1.4 billion industry’s post-GFC resurgence, with Lucas quoting with 131,000 annual registrations, Victoria’s caravan ‘park’ is the nation’s largest.

While RV market leader Jayco currently turns out two thirds of Nova’s annual production in just a fortnight, the Campbellfield builder’s story is inspirational.

Starting in a small rented shed in 2005, Robert Cataldo, his wife Louise and Golding built 33 caravans in their first year, 100 in the second and by the end of last year Golding estimates they had built more than 1200 Novas.

“The big change for us was when we decided to build a business, not just caravans,” said Paul Golding. “To succeed, you first have to survive!”