16/10/2026
We were at Caravan Live in Freiburg! Talk and live conversion at VAN WORLD included
VAN WORLD at the caravan live trade fair — What’s there to see?
Caravan Live is a major caravanning trade fair in south-west Germany. It takes place in the truly beautiful city of Freiburg, at the exhibition centre. Around 150 exhibitors were in attendance this year, showcasing motorhomes, caravans, campervans, accessories and travel destinations.
VAN WORLD is part of this trade fair and made its debut in 2025. It immediately became a favourite with many visitors. By 2026, it had already grown significantly: more customised vans, more specialist exhibitors, a dedicated stage for expert talks and a demonstration area where live customisation took place every day. The focus is on DIY van conversions, specialist companies, creative solutions and direct interaction.
👉 Perfect for DIY fitters
👉 A great place for anyone who wants to customise their camper van
👉 A place to gather initial ideas and get advice on ready-made fittings
Our PLATTENLADEN team simply couldn’t miss it. 🙂 I was there for three days with Lilli. We had great conversations, an exciting time, lots of inspiration and a presentation on stage.
Which aspects of campervan conversions are most commonly underestimated? What do you need to bear in mind when converting a van?
On the VAN WORLD stage, I spoke about the aspects of campervan conversions that are most frequently underestimated:
- How can I reduce the weight of my van conversion without compromising on stability or appearance?
- Which materials are really suitable for building furniture in a van?
- What are the key considerations when planning to ensure that the payload is still within the limits in the end?
I’d brought along some of our multiplex panels as well as some new products – naturally, I've prepared myself beforehand. I knew that this event would bring people together who do their own van conversion and already know exactly what we’re talking about. And meeting face-to-face is quite different from sharing your experiences via videos. You can demonstrate a lot of things and see them first-hand, which made the questions and discussions afterwards all the more detailed and interesting.
Van conversion live: Floor panel with cork core. Queenply. Our new ceiling panel.
Van conversion live: Floor panel with cork core. Queenply. Our new ceiling panel.
A highlight for many visitors was the live conversion, which was on display throughout the exhibition. A van was being converted right there on site – with:
- Floor panel Queenply with cork core
- Queenply side panelling
- Ultralight 3D Ceilling panel
Anyone who wanted to could follow every step up close. Anyone who needed advice could get it straight away.
🛠️ How is a cork flooring panel installed in a van?
🛠️ How do I fit side panelling neatly to the vehicle body?
🛠️ What do I need to bear in mind when fitting a ceiling panel?
These kinds of questions can be answered much better and more clearly right there at the vehicle than in any manual. The live dismantling demonstration really did add real value.
Knowledge of fitting work doesn’t belong behind locked workshop doors
This is precisely the idea behind VAN WORLD. It’s not just a place to see ready-built vehicles. It’s where people come together – whether they’re fitting out their own vans, having them professionally fitted out, developing components, or have just started with a first sketch for their van conversion. Here you can:
- View vehicles up close
- Compare solutions and talk to developers
- Questioning details
- Talk directly to like-minded people and share experiences
💯 And that, after all, is the essence of the van scene: sharing experiences rather than keeping them to yourself.
Black Forst Vans: The people behind the idea of VAN WORLD
You might be wondering who came up with the brilliant idea for VAN WORLD? It was initiated by Black Forest Vans, one of our partners.
The team designs and builds bespoke vehicles, refits existing campervans, rents out their own vans and runs workshops to support people who want to fit out their own campervans.
Through their rental business, the team gets to see how their conversions perform after thousands of kilometres of real-world travel.
Such a creative team! It's really joy to work with!
Back to VAN WORLD 😉 The aim of this section of the exhibition is not to place as many vans as possible into a single hall. It is about:
➡️ creating a place where experiences are shared.
➡️ placing different concepts next to another and give them scope to develop.
➡️ providing a space for discussions from which the idea for one’s own project then emerges.
May thanks to Black Forest Vans for letting us be part of this.
What makes the VAN WORLD so special?
What a mix! A meticulously planned, bespoke conversion sits right next to a van that someone has built themselves, putting in a lot of their own effort on a tight budget. Equipment manufacturers meet people who are just trying to work out how big their water tank actually needs to be. And what starts as a simple question about a straightforward storage solution suddenly turns into a discussion about weight, ergonomics and everyday life on the road.
👍 It is precisely this diversity that makes this trade fair so valuable. Whether you’re a professional, a DIY enthusiast or an absolute beginner, everybody could benefit. And we’re no exception, by the way.
Our personal verdict:
Caravan Live was a real highlight for us, Lilli and me. We saw lots of conversations and made new contacts. And the live installation demonstrated how our cork floor panels, Queenply side panelling and the new 3D Ultralight ceiling panels look once fitted.
Thanks to everyone who came along, listened and joined in the discussion.
Are you currently planning your own campervan conversion? Do you have any questions about lightweight construction and lightweight panels? Do you need more information and tips on building furniture or about our multiplex panels? Feel free to get in touch!
Further information:
External links:
Best regards!
