SEPTEMBER 2021

'Not handed out lightly'

Importer awarded caravanning
industry's accreditation key

Pictured, from left, Mr Lamont and Mr Hindley

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ONE of Australia's largest distributors of campers and caravans has been officially recognised by the Caravan Industry Association of Australia.

MDC Camper Trailers & Offroad Caravans is the first off-road camper trailer and hybrid caravan importer to be awarded the peak body's Recreational Vehicle Manufacturers Accreditation Program (RVMAP) key.

From its humble beginnings in 2005, the family-owned business has sold over 25,000 units nationwide from its network of showrooms.

"We are incredibly excited and proud to display the RVMAP badge on our products," managing director 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."

While initially relating to those products emanating from MDC's Brisbane assembly facility, both MDC and the Caravan Industry Association of Australia continue to work towards accrediting units produced from assembly facilities in Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide as quickly as possible as travel restrictions associated with COVID-19 allow RV products to be inspected.

Association chief executive Stuart Lamont was full of praise for the team at MDC, having recently visited its Brisbane operation.

"RVMAP accreditation is not handed out lightly, with ongoing evidence of a business's commitment to supplying products which comply with relevant Australian Design Rules and other Federal construction compliance regulations required to be RVMAP accredited," he said.

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

The Caravan Industry Association of Australia has opened up over 3000 audit files in the past four years inspecting against Federal compliance commitments, while providing advice to RVMAP businesses regarding their compliance obligations.

"With more and more brands and RV products on the market, it is important that consumers have the best possible information available in their purchasing decision," Mr Lamont said.

"With the amount of work undertaken by our team of engineers in assisting RVMAP businesses, it is no wonder they identify nearly four times as many compliance concerns in products supplied by businesses which are not part of RVMAP as opposed to RVMAP accredited businesses," he said.

"As one of Australia's largest distributors of imported RV products, it was encouraging to see the effort being taken by the team at MDC to make sure its products are supplied to the market in accordance with Australian regulations."

Products from MDC's Brisbane facility will carry the RVMAP International badge representing to consumers that these products originate from off-shore.

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