Flat Out: Engineering Practical Order Since 2001
We solve tangles, inefficiency, and clutter with practical design.
Our Mission: Operational Order for Every Setup
Our mission is to eliminate the friction of complex, cluttered setups. We achieve this by applying practical design expertise and an intense focus on user experience to ideas generated by real-world use. We bring superior, space-saving products to market that deliver Operational Order: giving our customers across the RV, Trade, and Entertainment sectors more time, more space, and ultimate peace of mind.
The Legacy: Solving a Frustration, Building a Brand
Flat Out started with a classic motorhome problem and a clever Aussie solution. When Peter and Lenie Van Mill, the original founders, couldn't find a tidy, reliable way to store their bulky hoses and leads, they designed a new solution. The Flat Out Multi-Reel was born in 2001.
Their invention, proudly Australian-made, set the tone for everything that followed: gear that works, lasts, saves you time, and packs away like a dream. That legacy of practical, high-quality innovation remains the cornerstone of our brand today.
Zoe Van Mill: Leadership, Culture, and Legacy
In 2017, the reins passed to Company Director Zoe Van Mill. Her professional journey began with a foundation in Computer Science and Mathematics (Monash University), teaching her logic and efficiency. This analytical mindset was further honed through entrepreneurship, including building and selling a successful web design company in her twenties, before scaling and ultimately owning Flat Out International.
Zoe's leadership style is defined by her passion for people. She has consciously built a workplace culture that everyone loves being a part of, which translates directly into our reputation for outstanding customer service. While she continues to leverage her technical aptitude to guide product development—ensuring every item is safe, compliant, and highly functional—her ultimate purpose is the building of a positive, lasting brand legacy.
Whether Zoe is fostering a vibrant team culture, creating educational videos on caravan plumbing, or simply ensuring every customer interaction is positive, her ultimate goal is the same: to reduce complexity for others and ensure every experience with the Flat Out brand is defined by trust and excellence.
Driven by Real-World Use
We are committed to continuous product refinement, and much of our innovation is driven directly by customer feedback. We believe the people using our products every day often have the best ideas. This is why every feature, from the self-draining nature of our sullage hose to the compact stacking of the Multi-Reel, is a direct solution to a real-world frustration shared by our community.
If you've ever faced a complex setup—whether it's wrestling a tangled lead on a stage, maximizing storage in your RV, or tidying bulky hoses after a job—we want to hear about it. Many of our best accessories originated from these very conversations. We see your frustrations, and we're on a mission to fix them.
Practicality, Quality, and Our Future
Our commitment to practical innovation means we are continually refining our products based on the challenges you face. We are proud to support Australian manufacturing whenever we can and are actively expanding our reach into the USA and other global markets. Our focus remains singular: designing essential gear that works, lasts, and makes your life easier.
Join us, we're just getting started!
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In this video, you can meet product designer Peter Van Mill. This video was made in 2007 so product dimensions and tips are a little out of date, but we feel it's nice for you to see the inventor himself demonstrate the products.
