Inaugural ‘RV Component Expo’ Kicks Off in Shipshewana

SHIPSHEWANA, Ind. – The inaugural RV Component Exposition kicked off Wednesday at the Michiana Event Center in at 455 East Farver Street, Shipshewana, Ind., with almost 50 Tier 1 RV component manufacturers, fabricators, raw material suppliers, assemblers and manufacturing equipment suppliers gathered to showcase products key to RV OEMs.

The three-day show continues today and runs through Friday.

The event was spearheaded by Rock Run Industries to open a venue to the wide variety of non-retail component makers usually dealing only with RV purchasing agents, specifying design engineers, product development managers, manufacturing process engineers, and plant and operations managers.

“Most of these companies are not represented at the RV Hall of Fame Supplier Show,” said Trevor Nice, sales manager for Silvercraft exhibiting at the show. “We just supply the OEMs. Anything from PET to honeycomb flooring to sidewall materials for the smaller OEMs that don’t have their own lamination equipment and processes. This show is a great idea for those more involved in the manufacturing process. We are trying to spur product development in conversations with the OEMs.”

The show organizer, Brandon Esh, with Rock Run Industries, builders of a wide array of steel and aluminum components and the largest exhibitor at the show, went into more depth of who the show will attract and the value therein. He said the organizers set the times of the three-day event to the same times the RV industry builds, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help attract the right attendees.

“Anybody from sales through production who can get excited about the advantage these components can deliver to influence its design,” stated Esh. “Product engineers who can see how these suppliers can inspire better solutions and RV products is who we are after. Anybody involved in the design or the manufacturing process of the RV will benefit from attending this show. Today (Wednesday) we have a lot of sales people here interested in how they can formulate an advantage. Thursday and Friday as many of the local manufacturing plants shut down for the week, we expect much of the production management in attendance.”

He said preregistration is going well and it only costs $10 at the door.  

“We have a lot of the big name brands for Forest River coming,” added Esh. “The Winnebago people are coming and we have some Thor brands in the mix. Like Rock Run Industries that started as a chassis manufacturer, these are many of the components that no one sees or recognizes as a brand, but absolutely need to be there.”

He said Rock Run makes about 90% of the RV outdoor kitchen components for the RV industry. The company is debuting a 20-foot-plus, twin axle ice fishing trailer with a hydraulic drop-down frame as an example of the component innovation at the show.

From wood working suppliers, to canvas, flooring, unique bedding, electronics, solar power and a plethora of metal fabricators, this first RV Component Exposition is made for RV design and manufacturing brainstorming and product improvement.

RV Component Expo Exhibitors:

Register here for free or $10 at the door.

For more information, please visit rvcomponent.com

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