Airxcel’s Elkhart Product Showcase Draws Nice OEM Crowd

RV Business

[embedded content]

Judging by the impressive crowd and general upbeat atmosphere at the opening day of Airxcel Inc.’s annual new product showcase Wednesday (Dec. 8) at the LEX 530 event center in downtown Elkhart, Ind., the Wichita, Kan.-based supplier has clearly been focusing on new RV product development for 2023 and beyond.

And so, evidently, have a bunch of its RV-building clients represented at the two-day showcase.

Airxcel’s Jeff Cowan, right, demonstrates the company’s new Velarium awning to dealers and colleagues.

“The first day was fantastic,” Airxcel Group President Anthony Wollschlager told RVBusiness. “We had significant pre-registrations from various customer teams, all of which attended today. Thursday looks to be just as busy. The feedback that we’ve received on not only our current product improvements and extensions, but on our new product categories where we’re entering into different market segments has been fantastic. So, we’re excited about where we sit today, but more so where we’re going from here.”

“We’ve been doing this (showcase) for nine years now,” added Troy Nusbaum, vice president of OEM Sales. “But this has been our best to date, not only from a content standpoint and number of products that we’re showing, but just from the sheer attendance that we’ve had this year. I’d have to look at the numbers, but my gut tells me we’re up at least 20%, 30% over the number of people we had on the first day last year.”

Among the key new product categories drawing special attention at this year’s showcase were Velarium awnings, Cleer Vision baggage doors, Suburban Stow Away Steps and Aqua-Hot’s Gen 1 forced air and water heating system while Airxcel, a 1,600-employee firm with facilities in Kansas, Tennessee, Colorado, Texas, Indiana, and Italy, also pushed the envelope in its existing Aqua-Hot, Coleman-Mach, CAN, Suburban, Dicor, United Shade, Vixen Composites, MCD, ECI and Maxxair lines with new demand water heaters, electric water heaters, electric furnaces, cooking appliances, air conditioner products and hydronic heating systems.

Cedric Waters, lower left, and other Airxcel representatives explain some of the company’s latest innovations.

What follows is a small sampling of the dozens of products on display:

The Velarium 12V Vertical Arm Awning marks the first offering of the new Velarium awning brand, which will expand to offer slideout awnings and a host of awning accessories.
Cleer Vision Windows debuted its new Baggage Doors, which are constructed from single-piece frames that improve structural integrity and reduce leak points. With a new flange design, Cleer Vision baggage doors are also easier to install.
Suburban debuted Suburban Stow Away Steps, which Suburban Steps come in two widths: 26” to 30” (narrow) and 30” to 36” (wide). The treads have a non-slip surface with slots that allow for rain, dirt, and gravel to fall through to the ground. When the steps are folded in for storage, less dirt and gravel is tracked into the RV.
Aqua-Hot introduced the Gen 1 Compact Forced Air Heating and Water System. The Gen 1 is designed to be a space-saving single appliance that provides a comfortable environment as well as 10 litres of hot water. Warm air flows to the vehicle’s interior spaces through four air outlets, and the Gen 1 is available in three versions – diesel, gasoline or propane – and is specifically designed for recreational vehicles. It utilizes RV-C Open Source intelligence, so it can easily integrate the total control of the unit into the RV’s general control panel.
Dicor launched a new Gunnable Rubber Sealant – basically it was butyl tape but in the form of a gunnable tube. It can be used on skylights, vents, windows and termination rails. It adheres to TPO, EPDM, PVC, glass, metals, aluminum, concrete, wood and some plastics in a mess-free application. It cures to a putty-like consistency and creates an airtight, strong seal that resists degradation.
A new product with huge aftermarket applications is the Smart Control Center from Coleman-Mach. The module is a 24-volt control box that can be installed inside rooftop AC units that will allow a customer to use the residential-style smart thermostat such as a Nest.
MCD unveiled the MCD Cassette Box Awning, an exterior awning with implications for the Class B and toy hauler segments, where it would work over the rear garage door. The unit features an integrated LED light, vibration sensor that automatically closes the awning in high winds.
Vixen Composites displayed its composite flooring options that included a slideout floor with a beveled stainless-steel edge as well as a full floor option for an entire coach. Both products are made of water-proof composite material that is lighter and stronger than competitive products, officials said.

“This is actually the best time right now to do a product showcase like this,” said Airxcel President and CEO Jeff Rutherford, “because when you think about the last two years, a manufacturer did not need to do anything different to sell out its entire capacity because of the strong market, They could build whatever they wanted to build, whether it was new or innovative or not, and they would be successful doing that. Today, now that times are getting tougher, demand for product is a bit more challenging for consumers. Having something new and different and unique than what existed before gives the opportunity for those OEMs to sell something that maybe is different than what they’ve sold in the past.”

Source: https://rvbusiness.com/airxcels-elkhart-product-showcase-draws-nice-oem-crowd/