Delivery time Campers and Caravans is getting out of hand

The trade in camping equipment such as a camper or caravan is currently experiencing long delivery times due to an acute shortage of raw materials and parts. The same applies to the car industry, where there were already too few chips and semiconductors available. Now there is also a threat of a magnesium deficiency. A number of manufacturers explain where these shortages affect the production of campers and caravans.

Magnesium is crucial for producing gearboxes, brakes, seat frames, steering columns, fuel tanks and other parts of a car. China is the main supplier with a market share of around 85% in the magnesium trade. The vast majority come from Yulin, a city in southwestern China. There is currently an energy crisis there. As a result, many factories have been subject to production restrictions. Of the fifty magnesium producing factories, only fifteen are currently in operation. And, in accordance with the wishes of the government, they are also running at half speed. This situation is expected to continue until the end of this year.

Experts previously warned that European stocks of magnesium will run out at the end of November. And when the supply of magnesium stops, the industry will have little choice but to stop production. That could even happen this year. The delivery time of a new car was already two to three times longer due to a shortage of chips and semiconductors, but this will increase even further due to the magnesium shortage. This will also apply to campers that are dependent on the supply of basic vehicles such as the Fiat Ducato. The statements of the most important brands make it clear what this raw material shortage means for the various camper and caravan builders.

Delivery time Erwin Hymer Group

Ron Vermeule, general manager of Hymer Nederland: “There are currently so many uncertainties that we as a manufacturer are confronted with that no good prediction can be given for the coming year. Recently it has become clear that the “Exactly on Time Delivery Principle” so that manufacturers do not have to store anything, is no match for the current problems on the world stage. We will learn from that. For example, 80 to 100 trucks with raw materials and parts arrive at our factory in Bad Waldsee every day. The goods then go directly from the truck to series production. As soon as a single delivery is canceled, production cannot continue. Management in Germany currently expects that we will experience production problems until mid-2023 due to the lack of raw materials.”

Delivery time Adria Benelux BV

Natasja Kwikkers, Adria Benelux Marketing and Sales Operations manager: “The growing demand and popularity of our caravans and campers presents us with a number of challenges. In Novo Mesto, where the Adria factory in Slovenia is located, we are currently busy increasing capacity and improving the quality of our products. However, supplies are not going as we would like to see. The annoying thing is that we cannot have any influence on this as it manifests itself worldwide. We literally have to make do with what we have available. As a result, deliveries to final customers have been postponed in a number of cases. We can only hope that sufficient raw materials will be available again as soon as possible. But this setback could ensure that we remain in this difficult position for a while longer and this will affect the entire industry in addition to the consumer.”

Delivery time Knaus Tabbert AG

Stefan Diehl, Head of Communications and PR Knaus Tabbert: “This setback in the supply of raw materials adds to the problems we are already having in the supply of parts. There are currently around 1000 campers and caravans on the Knaus site in Jandelsbrunn, some of which are missing parts. These can be skylights or windows, but hinges and heaters have the same problem. Don't forget that those cars have already been sold to the various dealers. As a result, there are customers who are eagerly awaiting the delivery of their new camping equipment. The costs of raw materials such as wood or aluminum are also skyrocketing. At Knaus Tabbert we are therefore continuously looking for raw materials for our production and therefore purchase what is available. Unfortunately, the problem occurs worldwide and no one can predict when and how it will be solved.”

Delivery time Carthago Reisemobilbau

Bernd Wuschack, Managing Director Sales, Marketing and Customer Service of Carthago: “Of course, the shortage of raw materials and the unstable supply affect the production of our campers. Conventional planning over several weeks has therefore become virtually impossible and places great demands on the flexibility of our staff. Many incomplete campers are the result of this. Our customers have to wait longer and longer for this. And the current situation is also, to put it mildly, unsatisfactory for our dealers. On the one hand, the new way of going on holiday has a rapidly growing demand. On the other hand, it shows that our dealers have nothing to show or sell. We do our utmost to counter these challenges as best as possible by continuously exchanging information with our suppliers and dealers, but in some cases we cannot prevent an order from being unable to be fulfilled.”

It is hoped that consumers who have ordered a camper or caravan will receive this camping equipment for the coming holiday. Eventually the purchase will show up. But it is advisable to wait until then before selling the current camper or caravan. The delivery time of raw materials and therefore end products has a number of problems, mainly as a result of the Corona pandemic. Unfortunately, manufacturers and dealers cannot change this at all.

A used camper or caravan is of course immediately available, search and find www.camperscaravans.nl