THETFORD & SPINFLO

They are global brands in the leisure vehicle industry, but Nigel Hutson discovered even more about Thetford and Spinflo on a visit to the UK factory

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These days, the name Thetford is usually at the top of the list when you think of leisure vehicle appliances, and that’s no surprise when you consider that 99% of toilets fitted to mainstream UK leisure vehicles are by Thetford, as are 96% of cookers and 58% of fridge/freezers.

Thetford toilets and fridges are manufactured in the Netherlands, but sinks, hobs, ovens and full cookers are produced here in the UK, at the company's factory near Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

I recently visited to learn more about the history of the company, and to see various products being manufactured.

Beginning with spinning

Back in the 1960s, a Sheffield ophthalmologist, Dr John Wilkie, acquired a Spinflo machine to ‘play’ with as a hobby. As the name implies, the Spinflo machine basically spins sheet metal at high speed, while tooling forms the shapes.

Dr Wilkie found that by using this method, consistent accuracy could be achieved, especially in forming bowls, which he later began to supply to the caravan industry. Then in 1975, Spinflo Limited was founded.

Within a short time, Spinflo Limited went on to manufacture a two-burner hob and grill. Over the next couple of decades, there were many developments - combination hob/sink/ drainer units, four-burner hobs and eventually full cooker units, among others, which Spinflo produced initially for the leisure vehicle market and later for the marine sector. In 1996/1997, the firm exported its first products to Australia.

At the turn of the millennium, Spinflo opened its powder coating plant, with the enamel plant following shortly afterwards in 2003. Spinflo was a great success story, so much so that it caught the eye of Thetford BV in the Netherlands, which acquired Spinflo Limited in 2005.