When designing the interior of a motorhome or caravan, there is one constraint that cannot be ignored: space is limited, weight matters almost as much as engine performance, and every component must be mass-produced while maintaining the same quality from the first piece to the last.
For an OEM manufacturer, caravan builder or professional outfitter, choosing a panel supplier is therefore not simply about selecting the material to be used. It means finding a partner capable of integrating into the process that takes the product from the raw panel to the component ready for assembly on the production line.
This is the context in which Filippi 1971’s activity in the RV sector fits, covering both the supply of decorative panels for interior coverings and carcasses and the production of finished furniture components manufactured according to the builder’s drawings.
Two levels of intervention, not just one
As far as decorative finished panels are concerned, Filippi 1971 supplies lightweight plywood, typically poplar plywood, covered with finish papers or other decorative materials in sheet or roll form. These panels become the structural carcasses of the vehicle, interior furniture and covering surfaces. They provide the foundation on which the rest of the interior is built.
But beyond panel supply, there are also custom components and built-in furniture. In this sector, starting from the motorhome manufacturer’s drawings, Filippi 1971 produces finished furniture components ready for assembly, such as cabinet doors, access doors, drawer fronts, sliding doors, furniture side panels, curved elements, bed extensions, extension tables, kitchen and living-area components.
Interior coverings: from panel to carcass
For structural carcasses and interior coverings, the starting point is the decorative panel: a lightweight plywood substrate covered with laminates, melamine paper or roll films such as CPL, Alkorcell, PET and PVC. The combination of substrate and covering is selected according to the required weight, resistance and aesthetic finish of the vehicle, avoiding the need to use different materials for every individual requirement.
The most frequently used starting material in the RV sector is Italian poplar plywood, which we discussed in greater detail in the article dedicated to Italian poplar: characteristics and industrial applications, useful for structural carcasses, interior panelling and complete furniture kits made from this material.
Custom furniture components: from cabinet doors to accessories
On the finished component side, Filippi 1971 covers a wide range designed to meet the very specific requirements of motorhome interiors.
Cabinet doors are available flat or curved, solid or lightweight, with folding or postforming processes and a wide choice of surfaces and finishes. Table and kitchen tops can be solid or lightweight, including folding versions, with solid-wood or laminate inserts. Special components such as curved side panels and shower columns are available in solid or lightweight versions, including large formats, with fire-resistant and water-resistant materials when required. Kitchen and bathroom walls are covered by splashbacks, available up to three metres long and customisable with digital printing or engraving. The range is completed by accessories such as non-slip shower trays in Okoumé plywood or VittEr®, as well as chopping boards and sink covers in VittEr®, an antibacterial and non-toxic material.
What an OEM manufacturer looks for
Those purchasing panels and components for the motorhome and caravan industry – whether an OEM, caravan manufacturer or professional outfitter – evaluate suppliers according to very concrete criteria: series production, precision, repeatability from one batch to the next, components ready for assembly without additional processing, lightweight materials and the ability to optimise the vehicle’s interior space.
Panels available for the RV sector
In addition to decorative panels, Filippi 1971’s range for motorhomes and caravans also includes lightweight sandwich panels, with cores in extruded or expanded polystyrene and poplar faces, designed to balance weight and performance in recreational vehicle walls and coverings.
For interiors requiring resistance to humidity, heat and wear, laminates and HPL compact laminates come into play, also available with customised digital printing, together with VittEr®, a material developed in-house by the company’s R&D department.
Filippi 1971 support for OEM manufacturers
Working from the manufacturer’s drawings rather than from a catalogue of standard panels means integrating into the customer’s production process instead of simply supplying raw materials. This is the approach with which Filippi 1971 supports motorhome OEMs, caravan manufacturers and professional outfitters: from selecting the most suitable panel for the specific function of the component to the series production of elements ready for assembly on the production line.
