In the months leading up to its receivership, Erwin Hymer Group North America was shipping a new line of tow-behind camping trailers with critical components that weren’t yet certified by the Canadian Standards Association.
This story by James Jackson originally appeared in Waterloo Region Record.
Documents filed in court by Erwin Hymer receiver Alvarez and Marsal state the running gear on the Touring trailers (including the axle, brakes, hitch and the breakaway device that activates the trailer’s brakes if it comes loose from the tow vehicle) had not yet been tested for Canadian Standards Association (CSA) compliance before dozens were shipped to RV dealers across Canada and U.S.
“This standard provides a testing procedure for defining a minimum level of structural adequacy and performance capability for running gear used under trailers, sectional homes, and mobile homes,” the CSA states on its website.
Transport Canada requires all trailers meet this standard, according to documents filed in court by the receiver.
Cambridge-based Erwin Hymer Group North America went into receivership on Feb. 15, terminating about 850 employees in Cambridge and Kitchener.
The receiver also reported “quality issues with respect to the manufacturing of these trailers,” but did not elaborate on what those issues are or how it became aware of them.
Alvarez and Marsal estimates 125 Touring trailers are located at Erwin Hymer facilities, another 20 are on dealer lots in Canada, and 40 more are on dealer lots in the U.S., but it said in the documents that it is “not aware of how many Hymer Touring’s are owned by retail consumers.”
It’s also not clear if those units sent to dealers were ever intended to be sold or if they were only demonstration units.
The U.S. Department of Transportation does not require trailers to meet the CSA standard, but the RV Industry Association does require trailers to meet the standard in order to bear its own certification mark, according to the receiver.
Alvarez and Marsal did not respond to interview requests and the CSA declined to comment, citing a confidentiality agreement with its clients.