Why the JB Group is spruiking silicone

Water leaks leading to internal damage are a major problem in the Aussie caravan industry, with manufacturers addressing the issue in all sorts of ways including conducting various leak tests at the end of the build process.

However the Melbourne-based JB Group, which owns a number of local RV factories pumping out caravans and motorhomes for brands including JB, New Age, Traveller and Paradise, is working hard to prevent any problems in the first place.

It's partnered with industry specialist Siegel Adhesives to provide an assurance or warranty of sorts against water leaks on its locally-built RVs. To help spread the message, the latest JB Group manufactured RVs now sport a 'Siegel Assured' badge on the side of the 'van.

“We are always looking for ways to raise the standard of our manufacturing and improve our end customers' ownership experience," explained JB Marketing Manager, Wayne Coleman.

"Partnering with great suppliers is an integral part of this process. When the opportunity to work with Siegel to further improve our caravan and motorhome sealing methodology arose, we knew we were onto a winner.

"We have so much faith in the program, we proudly put Siegel Assured badges on our 'vans so customers can be confident they are choosing a van free of leaks.”

Siegel Adhesives has both Australian and overseas manufacturing facilities, and supplies a variety of bonding agents to JB Group factories in Victoria and Queensland, while it also advises factory staff in the correct application.

“Adhesives and sealants are an integral part of modern RV manufacturing. Adhesives are more important than fasteners in bonding most of the caravan together," explained Siegel Adhesives CEO Charles Reynolds.

"This includes joining the floor to the chassis and holding the floor, walls and roof together. And of course, sealants are so vital for keeping water and dust out. It’s not unusual for a 'van to have more than 100-150kg of adhesives/sealants go into the manufacturing process.

“It’s important to have great sealants and adhesives to deliver the best results," he continued.

"It’s equally critical to ensure the correct product is used in each part of the 'van manufacturing process and applied correctly. We believed we could help improve how this whole dynamic works. And where could be a better place to start than with one of the major RV manufacturing groups in the country?”

Siegel is so confident in its product that it provides a 25 year material warranty.

“We use the highest quality raw materials sourced from Europe and manufacture right here in Australia. While we have just launched the Siegel Assured program, we have been supplying the Australian caravan industry for five years, and we are seeing great results with our product," he said.

“We provide adhesive/sealing solutions for many industries, including the food industry. Food processing demands the highest systems and standards; focusing on ongoing training and auditing to prevent contamination, etc. We believed we could help bring this same discipline to the dynamic RV manufacturing industry," Charles explained.

"We work closely with the various JB manufacturing facilities to set up systems and procedures to ensure only the correct product is used in each stage of the process. We also conduct training on the optimum procedures for using the product.

"This is not a set-and-forget situation. We conduct bi-monthly walk-through audits to ensure our standards are maintained.”

Charles reckons the Siegel training yields further benefits.

“In an effort to play it safe, RV manufacturers tend to overuse adhesives/sealants," he said.

"When we consistently demonstrate best application techniques, they can save as much as 30% in materials. This can take 30-40kg of weight out of a van, and we are doing our bit to save the planet by reducing material usage.”

While Siegel is working closely with the JB Group, the Siegel Assured program is open to other local RV brands including Titanium Caravans, Design RV, Sunseeker Caravans, and Essential Caravans, as well as other Aussie manufacturers keen to plug any gaps in their quality control processes.

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