UPDATE APRIL 2025: After showing a prototype of the next level separation toilet at Caravan Salon Düsseldorf 2024, Thetford’s latest innovation is set to launch in a few months’ time.
Hygiene and convenience
Norbert van Noesel, Marketing Manager at Thetford: “A specific target group shows growing interest in separation toilet systems, encouraged by the arguments of sustainability and discharge flexibility. However, market research (Miios, 2024) highlights significant concerns regarding the hygiene and convenience of the separation systems currently available, indicating that existing solutions may not fully meet user expectations. As the sanitation market leader, we believe we can do better. Our system ensures that there is no visual contact with the waste, it offers optimised leak-free urine storage and discharge, and bad odours can be eliminated from the washroom by an optional ventilator kit with a charcoal filter.” Since Caravan Salon Düsseldorf 2024, months of testing and development have been dedicated to improving and refining the design, bringing it to the point where it can proudly carry the Thetford brand name.
Watch the Separation Kit in action
Thetford will launch a complete Separation Toilet (S-series), as well as a Separation Kit (SK-series), both based on the Thetford C220 and C260 S-version cassette toilets. These models represent over 2,5 million installed cassette toilets in the European market. The SK220 and SK260, will effortlessly transform the cassette toilet into a separation toilet. The full S220 and S260 separation toilets are designed to be installed by OEMs or self-builders, or can be used as a replacement for the Thetford C220 and C260 S-version models. Van Noesel: “OEMs have shown interest but most prefer the flexibility of a separation kit. Since only a specific target group fully embraces the concept of a separation toilet, the widely appreciated cassette toilet remains the standard choice for most OEMs. However, they are pleased that end users now have the option to convert their toilet with a Thetford solution.”
Competitive prices
The new products are going to be offered at highly competitive prices. The separation kits (SK220 and SK260) will have an RRP of just €599 whilst the new complete toilets (S220 and S260) will retail at just €850, prices that are significantly less than those of competitor products. The S220 and S260 are exact replacements for the standard models, requiring no redesign work by the OEMs. Unlike conversion kits currently on the market, those from Thetford include an inner and an outer bowl. This supports easy installation and more stability, retaining the existing toilet base, seat and cover.
Moreover, it offered the opportunity to develop a new blade construction in the bowl. Van Noesel: “Apart from their attractive price points, Thetford’s separation toilets have many unique buying reasons: a patented blade to visually cover waste and support waste separation, an ergonomically optimised bowl, a urine tank with level indicator (mechanical for the 220-series, electronic for the 260-series, using current level indication systems of the toilet), a leak-free connection for optimised discharging of the urine tank, and we offer an optional active vent for those who want the very best user experience. Moreover, our separation toilets are the first RV sanitation products partially made of recycled plastic. This applies to both tanks.”
The optional ventilation kit, available for just €120, features a highly efficient fan that extracts air from the holding tank area and vents it outside the vehicle through an active charcoal filter. Both the S260 and the active vents need electronics. An additional unique buying reason for OEMs is the fact that Thetford automatically handles all necessary certifications.
Consumables
To further enhance the usability of these separation toilets, Thetford will introduce dedicated consumables, including an odour control agent for the urine tank, a toilet bowl spray to keep the bowl clean and hygienic, a drying agent for the solid waste, and bags made out of recycled plastic for the solid waste. These products will be ready in time for the main launch later this year.
Both the S-series and the SK-series will be available to the market from the end of August 2025.
