Coachman TOP of the League
23/09/2006
Caravan Club Quality and Reliability Survey Report.
In a recent survey carried out by the influential and highly respected Caravan Club, the Coachman Caravan Company outperformed all other UK volume caravan manufacturers for quality and reliability and also recorded the highest improvement rating amongst its UK competitors.
The in-depth survey, sent out randomly to 10,000 Caravan Club members, measures the respondents’ overall satisfaction with their caravans and compares ratings between 1999 and 2005. Reporting on the key outcomes of their survey, the Caravan Club states that “ �of the larger volume makers Coachman showed by far the best improvement record to reach over 90%, a score which really deserves a medal for consistent improvement.”
Coachman also scored a 6.9% overall improvement rating between 2002 and 2005, putting the company way ahead of any other volume UK manufacturer and confirming it as the only UK maker attaining a level of performance on a par with the leading imported caravans.
Caravan condition on delivery was also one of the issues addressed by the survey. Coachman achieved top spot amongst volume makers for damage-free interiors and also outperformed other UK manufacturers in terms of the quality and functionality of doors, locks and interior cupboards.
Commenting on the survey results, Jim Hibbs, Managing Director at Coachman Caravans, said: “This is excellent news for everyone at Coachman. The Caravan Club’s survey demonstrates that our commitment to meticulous attention-to-detail at every stage of the design and manufacturing process alongside our ongoing investment in research, development and manufacturing technology are really paying dividends. Customers know they can buy a Coachman caravan, and buy British, with total confidence.”
The outcome of the survey is the latest in a long line of industry accolades for Coachman. At last year’s Annual Caravan and Outdoor Leisure Show at Earl’s Court in London, Coachman won the ‘Tourer of the Year’ award for its’ leading model the Laser 590/4, which also won a ‘Best in Class’ award along with the company’s Pastiche 470/2 model. In February this year, at the NEC National Boat Caravan and Outdoor Leisure Show in Birmingham, Coachman came first in two of the four 2005 Caravan Club Design Awards.
A £2.2 million investment in the Coachman factory in Hull including major expansion, reorganisation and resourcing is now nearing completion. The extension will increase production capacity, enabling the company to enter new markets and meet the high demand for its products well into the future.
Latest News
22/05/2008
Coachman’s first apprentices reach milestone.
Coachman Caravans’ first ever apprentices have completed the preliminary phase of their apprenticeship programme.
This formal programme is designed to last three years in total and to give the apprentices a fully rounded knowledge of each department in the Coachman factory, by following a detailed programme of practical work.
21/05/2008
Jim Hibbs (Managing Director) - What I’ve Learned …
In the Summer 2008 edition of The Business (the magazine produced by the NCC for its members) the following interview with Rob Ganley appeared. Rob asked Jim many questions including “If I wasn’t in the industry now?” and “What’s my motto?” To see the answers to these and many more, please read on.
24/04/2008
Local builder appointed to complete final stage of Coachman’s extension
Coachman Caravans, one of the UK’s leading caravan manufacturers, has appointed local building contractor, John Thompson Developments Ltd, to complete the final phase of their £3.5 million factory extension.
