Forest River expansion in works.

GOSHEN, IN -- After thousands of layoffs in the heart of RV manufacturing country, a bit of blue sky is brightening the employment picture. RV builder Forest River says it will be hiring new workers for two of its Indiana plants.

Forest River foresees the need of 120 employees at its Millersburg plant, and 40 more for its operation at Middlebury. To help grease the ways, the RV firm is looking for property tax breaks and state initiatives for both these locations, and one other Elkhart County plant in Goshen. County officials will take up the topic of tax breaks next month.

If Forest River has its way, it says it could end up adding as many as 445 new jobs.

Forest River RV helping out with Toys for Tots

Mishawaka, Ind. -- The holiday season is well under way for Toys for Tots, and in Indiana, they just received a big shot in the arm as employees at Forest River RV have donated nearly $18,000 worth of toys to Toys for Tots this year. Employees from Forest River RV rolled up in one of their RV's Friday at the Meijer on Bremen Highway in Mishawaka.

The company says employees pitched in $17,800 hundred this year for the Toys for Tots program.

Angie Garza, Human Resource Manager, explains how this yearly tradition is something everyone looks forward to because they know it's going to a great cause, "I have two children of my own and so...to see them open up something they really wanted to maybe be able to help some other family get something their child really wants it's a great feeling."

The RV full of toys arrives Saturday morning at the Toys for Tots site at the Concord Mall in Elkhart.

SOURCE:WNDU.com

Forest River to debut futuristic Aviator travel trailer

Forest River Inc. will introduce its luxury Aviator travel trailer at this week's National RV Trade Show. “When we sat down to design the Aviator over a year and a half ago, we wanted to bring to market a luxury travel trailer that would revolutionize this industry. Low maintenance, customer friendliness and a unique look were the criteria we used in developing this product,” said Kevin McArt, general manager for the new unit.

Features in the Aviator include an aerodynamic front cap with integrated windshield, contoured composite sidewalls and a maintenance-free fiberglass roof. The RV is entirely wood-free. “Not only is the absence of wood material a strong environmental commitment, but the implementation of aluminum and composite materials add higher strength tolerances and are impermeable to moisture,” noted McArt.

Aviator is also the first RV unit in any segment to introduce Smart Technology, a system that uses a Sony tablet computer. “We’ve assembled a system of familiar components that when combined together deliver unparalleled access to information, entertainment and ease-of-use for our customers,” said Cody Schade, regional sales manager for the Aviator.

According to Schade, Mobile Onboard Smart Technology (MOST) allows customers to share a direct service link not only with the dealer network but also with Forest River. It provides a personal, interactive guide including how-to videos and tutorials, troubleshooting, and any question a customer may encounter on set-up, appliances, or other features.

SOURCE: Forest River news release and RVtravel.com.