PHOTO COURTESY OF WINNEBAGO
“ For drawer sides , we buy baltic or Russian birch , which has a nice , clean white look , and is easy to machine .”
REX ENNEN
Over the years lauan has held its own against other materials as the preferred choice .
“ If we need to shape the edges on cabinet and interior components , we ’ ll use banak , a South American hardwood ,” says Ennen . “ For drawer sides , we buy baltic or Russian birch , which is low cost , has a nice , clean white look , and is easy to machine .”
“ For years , a decade at least , we ’ ve tried to find alternative materials . The Achilles heel for other options is either its weight , because its got so much resin in it , or it absorbs moisture and water and becomes like wet cardboard .”
Stable materials are crucial for RVs , Ennen says , because of the climate extremes they may endure within short periods of time .
“ People might start out in northern weather that ’ s 10 below zero , and the next day the RV may be parked in Arizona , where inside temperatures can reach 130 degrees .”
No matter where people go , it ’ s obvious Winnebago wants them happy and comfortable .
IW
JAYCO GOES FURTHER WITH SMART SOURCING
“ We ’ re the third largest producer of towable RVs in North America ; we ’ ll build around 35,000 units this year ,” says Sid Johnson , director of marketing for Jayco . “ Almost all of our products have wood cabinetry and other wood components , especially in the interior .”
Thin lauan plywood is critical to Jayco ’ s construction process , as a structural base for the fiberglass and aluminum skins that make up the company ’ s RV exteriors . It ’ s also used in interior paneling and cabinet panels . Other imported woods Jayco uses include : banak , from Brazil , in cleat stock for cabinets , bunks and dinettes ; okoume , from China , in plywood roof decking ; favara , from Brazil , in plywood roof decking ; and lumbercore , from Brazil , in stiles and rails .
“ There ’ s no question that imported woods help us provide better products for our customers at a better cost ,” “ It ’ s something that I think will continue to expand as other products become available down the road . We ’ ll be taking advantage of those opportunities .” ■
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