New Possibilities for the RV’s Industry Market

James Witty, the new President of Brianza USA Corp., speaks after the Open House in Elkhart: “The demand of flat grp laminates for the recreational vehicles’ industry is steady, but we’re ready for new challenges” Words Andrea Cattaneo

Brianza Plastica, a leading European company in the production of grp flat laminates, is investing a lot of efforts in broadening its presence in the American market. In fact, last June, Brianza USA Corp., expanded its workforce and James Witty, equipped with extensive sales and leadership experience, as well as in-depth understanding of RV manufacturing industry, took over as president.

After the Open House fair in Elkhart, we met James Witty and asked him few questions: read the interview below, to discover more about the nowadays trend of the grp flat laminates’ market.

Aboutcamp BtoB: Recently, you have visited the Open House RV Dealer Show in Elkhart, what are your impressions? In your opinion, what is the trend of the RV industry nowadays?

James Witty: Yes, I visited the Open House in Elkhart last September, and I had the chance to talk with some leaders within the RV industry; they seemed to me very positive about the future of the market. The demand of grp laminates for recreational vehicles is steady and now it is the perfect time to study new solutions for our clients.

Aboutcamp BtoB: In view of the feedback after the Open House and the expanding market, how is Brianza Plastica facing this eventual change?

James Witty: Brianza Plastica has recently decided to expand its workforce here in the US: now, we have more employees, a new Territory Sales Manager and Plant Manager, and we are creating a team stronger than ever before. Previously, I have been involved in sales, forecasting, business strategy, training as well as general management of sales and technical support. We are aware of the growing market and, thanks to our good-quality products, we are ready to welcome new customers and opportunities, as well as facing important challenges.

Aboutcamp BtoB: How has it been going introducing Brianza to new clients?

James Witty: I have been working for Brianza USA Corp. for seven months now, and the OEM’s feedback is absolutely positive. Thanks to my past experience in the RV industry, I have developed positive relationships with RV OEM Executives. This is a relationship-based industry and I feel blessed that I’ve got the relationships I have: they were built on a foundation of honesty and hard work. I’ll always do whatever is needed to make it happen for my customers and I think they know that. These relationships have allowed me the opportunity to have already met with many decision makers within RV. The message has resonated, and I believe our hard work will bear fruit shortly. I also believe that the reputation of the parent company in Italy, based on over 60 years of experience in the production of high-quality grp laminates, is helping me to build with old and new clients a solid relationship.

Aboutcamp BtoB: You have told us that the workforce of Brianza USA Corp. has expanded, can you tell us more about your relationship with the parent company in Italy?

James Witty: We get in touch with the parent company daily: I believe that the dialogue and the exchange of ideas and opinions with our colleagues in Italy is crucial. Our contact person is Andrea Bollani, Export Area Manager, who has visited us several times. Every time is a precious occasion to meet our clients and to study together new products’ solutions to offer a better and more satisfying service to the costumers.

Aboutcamp BtoB: How do you see Brianza Plastica in the next ten years?

James Witty: I am very positive about the future of Brianza Plastica and Brianza USA Corp. We will expand and reach important sales volumes in America as we have done throughout Europe and abroad. We have the right product, process, and people. There are definite differences in fiberglass than my previous experience. For one it’s a longer process with much more testing involved. I feel extremely comfortable with how hard we are striving for excellence on a daily basis. The narrative of “fiberglass is fiberglass is fiberglass” has to be a thing of the past. I want to provide the best looking and performing fiberglass product in the market. I want Brianza fiberglass to be a selling advantage. Luckily for me, our product backs up that viewpoint.

Brianza Plastica is one of the most important European companies in the production of fibreglass laminates, with over 60 years of experience in the sector. On the strength of its success and consolidated presence in the European market as a preferred supplier of semi-finished products for the automotive market, specifically in the field of recreational and commercial vehicles, in 2014 Brianza Plastica established its own subsidiary in the United States, Brianza U.S.A. Corporation, located in Elkhart, Indiana. The choice of Elkhart as the location for the company’s commercial outpost in America was not random: Elkhart is widely known as the “RV Capital of the World” because it is home to numerous major manufacturers of recreational vehicles. In particular, Brianza Plastica is able to provide the demanding market with flat grp panels produced using two different technologies: discontinuous cold laminating and continuous hot laminating. The products which belong to the Elycold family are made by discontinuous lamination and, thanks to the cold polymerisation of the material, the fiberglass is nearly invisible in the final product. On the other hand, the composite materials of the Elyplan grp laminates reach the highest possible polymerisation during the continuous hot laminating process and the result is perfectly flat and excellent quality fiberglass panels. All Brianza Plastica fiberglass laminates are produced using the finest raw materials and are light, hail and UV resistant, waterproofing, corrosion, and strong impacts resistant. Among the most widespread Brianza Plastica’s products in the US is worth mentioning Elycold Standard and Elyplan Super HF.