Elkhart County's Jayco recalls more than 200 workers to increase RV production

Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly

Middlebury-based Jayco Inc. announced it is increasing production and has recalled workers.

The recreational vehicle manufacturer said in a statement Wednesday it has recalled or hired more than 200 workers because of "higher than anticipated levels of incoming orders."

Jayco CEO Derald Bontrager said in the statement market conditions are improving, dealer inventories are very low and retail incentives for dealers forced the order increase. He also said 2009 will end better than expected and sales are expected to increase substantially next year.

The order backlog is the company's largest in more than two years, according to the statement.

Total recreational vehicle wholesale shipments have increased 138 percent in 2009 through September, according to data from the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. More than 17,000 units were shipped in August and September, a massive increase from January, when only 7,300 units shipped.

The August and September numbers are not as high as the monthly totals in early 2008, before the financial crisis began. More than 23,000 RV shipped in every month through June, including more than 30,000 in March and April.