Dream comes true for businessman (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Unique caravan attracts 'phenomenal' response

1:10pm Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in News By Barbara Jordan

A DREAM has come true for an imaginative businessman.

Steel entrepreneur Phil Daniels has developed a unique caravan which slides out at the side to create extra space, at the touch of a button.

His £1 million manufacturing facility and showroom at Widnes Waterfront, has created 30 jobs.

The workforce is set to grow to 100 as more admin, sales, production and management staff are recruited.

Dad-of-three Phil Daniels, managing director of Eterniti Caravans, said: “In traditional vans, the living space can be very narrow.

“With three children and two adults, there is not a lot of room to move around.”

He adapted an American slide-out design by making the caravan much lighter to comply with UK weight towing restrictions.

The Mayor and Mayoress launched the new company as the caravans were unveiled at the NEC Motorhome and Caravan Show.

Neil Boulton, commercial director, said: “I have been in the caravan industry for 18 years and I have never experienced anything as big as this. The response has been phenomenal.

“I am unbelievably excited. We’ve designed everything around the family.

“We’ve secured the patent for the whole of Europe for the next five years.

“The slide out creates an extra five square metres of space meaning you can do so much more inside.

“We want to deal with customers directly so we want people from all over the country to come to Widnes.

“We are promoting the area as there is so much to see and do here.”

Mr Daniels’ first business in steel sheet stockholding, Eterniti Steels, founded 10 years ago, is the largest independent company in the UK.

He and his wife, Esther, are involved at The Foundry Church in Lugsdale Road, Widnes.

They have set up a charity, Eterniti Christian Ministry to help deprived children, which will be partly financed by the caravan company.