Engineering for caravan construction

Annalena, 27 years old, has been with REHAU since 2013 and is part of the Polymer Fluid Solutions team, which deals with various hose and system solutions. As a development engineer, she continually keeps an eye on current market trends and developments as well as customer requirements. What do hose solutions have to do with caravans and to what extent does this travel trend occupy Annalena's professional life?

Engineering for caravan construction

People behind REHAU: Annalena Gareis

Annalena, would you say that caravanning is THE new means of travel?

Whether caravanning is "THE means of travel" par excellence is a question everyone will have to answer for themselves. What is clear, however, is that simple, uncomplicated travel by camper is becoming increasingly popular. The increasing demand can be observed not only recently, but is instead a long-term trend. Above all, the proximity to nature, the feeling of freedom and independence are among the decisive motives for this boom.

Our REHAU expertise can be found in many industries. What exactly does REHAU produce in the caravan sector?

We at Polymer Fluid Solutions supply various caravan manufacturers and system suppliers with our solutions in the field of hoses approved for drinking water for cold and hot water supply in motor homes. We also have suitable products in our portfolio for filling the water tank and draining the waste water. Our colleagues from the furniture sector are responsible for the right flair in the interior.

Is the increasing caravanning boom already noticeable for REHAU?

Due to the increasing volumes in customer orders, the trend is also noticeable for us. In addition, some customers are already forecasting further growth for the coming years. In any case, we are monitoring this growing market very closely in order to be able to respond to the coming challenges in a targeted manner. Requirements derived from customer dialogues are already being incorporated into the development of appropriate hose systems. Among other things, the market launch of a new product is imminent.

What requirements do our solutions in the caravanning sector have to meet?

The demands on our hose systems in this area are very high. Our products must be able to withstand a wide variety of situations that arise when traveling, such as extreme heat or cold. Even more important, however, is that our products meet the high normative requirements so that they can be installed in vehicles. As you can see, we are faced with a number of requirements here that have a major influence on the development of our solutions.

What are the current trends in the caravanning sector?

In the past, traveling by motor home was considered rather "stuffy." But caravanning has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially among the younger generation. Here, the motto is: compact and practical. Therefore, the front-runners are vans and panel vans, which can also be used in everyday life. The pop-up roof on camping buses is also in vogue. Along with the younger target group, smart motor homes and travel gadgets are also becoming increasingly important.

In which markets or countries is this trend particularly strong?

This trend is noticeable throughout Europe. Overall, demand and the total number of new registrations continue to rise. Some individual markets stand out due to special situations. In Germany, in particular, caravanning is more popular than ever before. Not only is demand for new and used vehicles on the rise, but recreational vehicle rentals are also on the rise. The pandemic is making individual travel even more attractive. For many people, caravanning is becoming a "safe way to vacation", which is adding to the positive trend.

Are you yourself a fan of caravanning vacations?

As an adventurous person, I am very open-minded toward any kind of vacation. The feeling of freedom and complete independence also make a caravan vacation interesting for me. The closeness to beautiful nature, getting to know new cultures and the feeling of relaxation can be experienced without restrictions on this type of vacation. Nevertheless, I am a person who finds active vacations, backpacking, long-distance and city trips just as appealing. As the saying goes – it's all in the mix.

Our last question to finish: Where did your last vacation trip go?

My last vacation was a hiking and wellness vacation in beautiful Austria. The restrictions due to the pandemic did not make traveling easy last year. Despite all that, I am in good spirits about the possibility of a vacation this year as well.

Thank you for the interview, Annalena!