Design Verification and Low-Volume Production for RV Industry
The Challenge
The Recreational Vehicle (RV) industry was already experiencing significant growth prior to COVID-19, but travel bans and other restrictions has driven the industry to new heights. The extra demand meant that supply chains were stressed, but the industry is traditionally very slow to adopt new technologies.
THOR Industries is the sole owner of operating subsidiaries that when combined, represent the world’s largest manufacturer of RV’s. With a significant product portfolio and a variety of customization options available, individual parts are often produced in small batches. This increased the overall part count, adding additional stress to the supply chain in an already difficult time.
The Solution
THOR Industries Innovation Development Center formed a collaborative partnership with Henkel to test various designs, workflows and materials. Parts for a seat belt assembly were optimized for 3D Printing and were tested ofr quality and safety. Ultimately, LOCTITE 3D 3172 HDT50 High Impact and LOCTITE 3D 3843 HDT60 High Toughness meet THOR Industries’ high standards. With Henkel’s assistance, the workflow was validated from design to final production.
Benefit
- Reduced lead time from 90 days to 30 days
- Cost reduction from $10,000 to $7,000 (compared to outsourced machining)
- Keep Intellectual Property in-house
- Allows for further product iterations
- Allows for future part consolidation
Developed Together with
