Lippert : Built for the Journey Ahead

Whether on the road or on the water, Lippert enhances all outdoor recreation adventures. We celebrate the company’s 70th anniversary with Ryan Smith, Group President, and learn more about how it continues to push the possibilities of products and services.

BUILT FOR THE JOURNEY AHEAD

With a legacy of quality and innovation since 1956, Lippert has been setting the tone for improving the customer experience since its very first product seven decades ago.

As a leading global manufacturer and supplier of highly engineered products and customized solutions dedicated to shaping, growing, and bettering the recreational vehicle (RV), marine, automotive, commercial vehicle, and building products industries, Lippert is an industry stalwart continuing to make waves in the ever-growing sector.

“We’ve built our reputation on an innovative culture, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and a strong commitment to enhancing the customer experience,” introduces Ryan Smith, Group President, who we last spoke to in November 2024.

“It’s those guiding principles that have positioned Lippert as a trusted partner to both original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and aftermarket customers.”

For the broad array of aftermarket segments the company serves, it supplies best-in-class products designed to enhance recreational pursuits, regardless of whether they’re winding down the road or splashing on the water.

Offering everything from powerful towing technology and automated RV leveling systems to boating furniture and one-of-a-kind shade solutions, Lippert proudly merges strategic manufacturing capabilities with the strength of its dedicated team to provide unparalleled customer service, award-winning innovation, and premium products to each individual industry and person it serves.

“Headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, we support customers across North America, Europe, and Africa with more than 140 manufacturing and distribution facilities and approximately 14,000 team members worldwide,” details Smith.

The Lippert team is dedicated to always thinking about its customers’ next journey, proudly pushing the possibilities of its products and services to better people’s time spent outdoors, whenever and wherever, for years to come.

WHERE TRADITION MEETS TRANSFORMATION

Guided by three generations of family leadership, with CEO Jason Lippert at the helm, the company has seen exponential growth since its inception, having evolved into a confident industry pioneer.

“Lippert’s roots as a family-led organization continue to shape the expectations we operate under today. Family-led leadership instills a long-term view; you do not build for the next quarter – you build for the next generation,” Smith expands.

“You invest in your people, open doors to opportunity, develop leaders from within, and never lose sight of your responsibility to the community.”

For Lippert, this philosophy is not just words – it shows up inside its facilities each and every day. Many of the company’s leaders started on the production floor and understand the work because they have put in the time and effort required to succeed. This sort of credibility builds trust, and trust is what influences overall performance.

Ultimately, the company is driven by a culture of caring and focused on serving people by developing their personal and professional growth. Guided by its core values and leader qualities, Lippert actively empowers its team members through a variety of initiatives, including individual goal setting, listening sessions, engagement surveys, operational improvement programs, health and well-being initiatives, community impact events, and more.

This directly aligns with its mission of making lives better by developing meaningful relationships while continuously shaping the business as a force for good.

“Our growth, resilience through market cycles, and ability to innovate trace back to that foundation. We have remained disciplined in putting people first and building a culture of ownership,” Smith explains.

“When leadership is grounded, visible, and accountable, the organization moves with clarity and confidence, and that foundation continues to guide us as we grow.”

CRAFTING A RESILIENT FUTURE

With over 140 manufacturing and distribution facilities located throughout North America, Africa, and Europe, Lippert supplies a broad range of highly engineered components for leading manufacturers of RVs, automobiles, watercraft, and prefabricated homes.

The company also operates in adjacent markets, such as hospitality, transportation, construction, and agriculture.

Currently, Lippert finds itself in a particularly thrilling time within the industry.

“Manufacturing is more exciting than ever; we’re witnessing a true resurgence in American manufacturing. Investment in domestic production is rising, supply chains are strengthening, and skilled trades are back in the spotlight,” enthuses Smith.

At the same time, Lippert is operating in an unprecedented era as artificial intelligence (AI) moves from concept to reality across the business. Specifically, the company is focusing its AI efforts on enhancing the customer experience, streamlining service interactions, delivering faster answers, and resolving issues more efficiently than ever before.

“At Lippert, we see this moment not as a dichotomy, but as a powerful convergence. The renewed push for US trades and the rapid rise of agentic AI are not competing forces – they represent a meaningful juxtaposition of human craftsmanship and intelligent systems, each strengthening the other,” Smith insights.

The company is leaning into this convergence thoughtfully and responsibly. As it explores how agentic AI can support its manufacturing environments alongside its customers, Lippert remains firmly grounded in the skill, discipline, and pride of its workforce.

The company maintains the mantra that technology expands capability and craftsmanship ensures excellence.

“This is where tradition meets transformation. It’s not human versus machine – it’s human expertise amplified by intelligent systems, working together to build a stronger, more resilient future for American manufacturing,” asserts Smith.

REPUTATION FOR SUCCESS

There are a plethora of ways in which Lippert has continued to differentiate itself from the competition over the past 70 years.

Primarily, it is through the proudly established culture and team members who dedicate themselves to the success and innovation of the company on a daily basis.

“Hands down, our people and the way we invest in them are how we set ourselves apart,” Smith highlights.

“Our purpose as a company is to make lives better through meaningful relationships with our co-workers, customers, and communities. That purpose drives how we develop and support our team every single day.”

Lippert builds leaders from the inside out. Through intentional leadership development frameworks, it reinforces core values such as honesty, integrity, trust, and genuine care for people. The company’s commitment does not end on the clock; it invests in people as individuals, supporting who they are out of work just as intentionally as who they are in it.

Every team member completes an annual Leadership Action Plan that includes both personal and professional goals, because the company recognizes growth outside of work directly impacts performance inside of it.

“We also listen deeply. Our CEO conducts regular listening sessions across the organization, and we respond with actionable, measurable steps. This is not lip service; it’s a disciplined commitment to following through,” dictates Smith.

Lean manufacturing programs such as Lippert’s Just Fix It (JFI) further empower Lippert’s team members to raise their hands and improve what is in front of them without waiting for permission. Innovation happens at the grassroots level because people feel valued, heard, and capable of driving meaningful change.

Such ownership ultimately shows up in the experience customers have with Lippert’s products. Innovation pushes capability forward, while quality ensures those innovations perform consistently in the real-world environments customers depend on.

“You can buy machines, you can buy automation, but you can’t buy a culture where people feel known, respected, supported, and encouraged to grow. That is the real differentiator,” Smith prides.

A TRUE RESURGENCE OF US MANUFACTURING

As the US approaches its 250th year of independence, Lippert is celebrating the spirit of freedom in two powerful ways – by empowering adventure and honoring the craftsmanship that makes it possible.

“There is nothing more American than open highways, mountain air, and families gathered under a wide sky. The ability to explore this country, move freely across it, and build memories in its landscapes is part of what independence represents,” celebrates Smith.

Lippert’s products are designed to make those experiences better by helping customers travel farther, stay longer, and explore the outdoors with confidence and comfort.

At the same time, the company recognizes that this freedom to explore is built on something deeper. It is built on skilled trades.

“Through our Rooted in Trades campaign, we are shining a light on the welders, fabricators, designers, and technicians whose work forms the backbone of American manufacturing. Their craftsmanship makes innovation real, and their skill turns raw materials into products that power outdoor living,” Smith explains.

Rooted in Trades is more than just an initiative for Lippert – it represents the company’s wider commitment to the future of hands-on careers and its desire to help the next generation of skilled tradespeople find their path, connect with mentors, and build lasting careers.

Celebrating 250 years of independence is not about a single moment for Lippert; it’s about honoring both the journey and the people who make the journey possible.

By pushing the possibilities of its products while championing the tradespeople behind them, the company is living out that spirit every day.

COMMITMENT TO DURABILITY

Alongside the 250th anniversary of the US, Lippert is commemorating 70 years of its own successful operations.

For the company, this celebration is less about looking back and more about reaffirming who it is and what it stands for in the industries it serves. It’s also about honoring the trust partners have placed in the business for decades and committing to being an even stronger innovator and steward for the next generation.

“Our legacy is not simply that we’ve been in business for 70 years – it’s that, for 70 years, we’ve helped power the experiences that matter to people. From time on the water to miles on the road, our products have quietly supported moments of connection, exploration, and opportunity,” prides Smith.

The best way Lippert knows how to honor this milestone is to keep building. The company is doubling down on product development, advanced manufacturing, and leadership development to ensure it continues delivering innovative solutions that enhance experiences and ultimately do good in the world.

At the same time, Lippert’s legacy extends beyond products; it lives in the communities where it operates.

“As we mark 70 years, we are placing renewed emphasis on community engagement, supporting local initiatives, and investing in the people and places that have supported our growth. Being a good corporate citizen is not separate from our mission – it is central to it,” Smith declares.

“70 years is a milestone, but more importantly, it’s a reminder of our responsibility to keep innovating, keep investing in people, and keep making a positive impact in the industries and communities we serve.”

WHERE INNOVATION AND QUALITY INTERTWINE

To continue its decades of success and growing international footprint, Lippert is currently engaged in a strategic expansion into the broader transportation space.

“While we have strong roots in the RV and marine industries, we are intentionally growing our presence in commercial and specialty transportation, where safety and reliability are absolutely mission-critical. They quite literally keep the world moving, and we see a clear opportunity to contribute at a higher level,” expands Smith.

The company resides as a leading manufacturer and supplier to myriad industries due to its diverse capabilities, unwavering commitment to quality, and world-class solutions that meet the unique demands of each sector and company.

With its extensive manufacturing capabilities, Lippert serves industries and specialized sub-sectors beyond its core product offering. Whatever the requirements, Lippert’s team is ready to work together to provide a customized solution tailored to each client’s needs.

“Our focus is on delivering engineered solutions that perform consistently in demanding environments and raise the bar for safety and dependability,” Smith highlights.

“At the same time, we are accelerating game-changing innovation across all segments by bringing in engineering expertise from outside our traditional industries.”

Talent and perspective from other highly engineered sectors help Lippert rethink durability, systems integration, and manufacturing processes. The company is not merely content with incremental improvement – it is combining deep industry roots with a fresh technical perspective to position the company as a leader in both transportation and recreation.

“That’s how we continue to innovate, strengthen safety and reliability, and build products that make a real difference in how people travel, work, and explore,” affirms Smith.

COMMITTED TO CARING

For Lippert, every decision rests on whether or not it’s improving the lives and experiences of its people and the surrounding communities.

The company prioritizes innovating and rethinking the possibilities of its products and services, fostering and building relationships, and highlighting social impact initiatives to serve the areas in which it lives, works, and plays.

These priorities can be directly observed through Lippert’s five pillars, which comprise culture, innovation, quality, safety, and leadership.

“For us, the five pillars are not separate initiatives – they are a single integrated foundation that supports everything we do and anchors how we make decisions, invest, and grow,” Smith details.

“It starts with culture; if you get culture right, everything else becomes possible.”

Lippert asserts that when team members feel valued, developed, and trusted, they innovate more freely, take ownership of quality, and prioritize safety without being told. Culture creates alignment and resilience during market cycles, building leaders who think long-term rather than quarter-to-quarter.

From that cultural foundation, innovation and quality become natural outcomes rather than forced objectives. The company continually asks how it can improve the customer experience, simplify complexity, and build products that last. Innovation introduces new capabilities, while quality ensures those capabilities perform consistently over time.

“When those two disciplines work together, they ultimately translate into a better customer experience. Innovation pushes what’s possible, and quality ensures those ideas deliver dependable performance in the real-world environments our customers operate in,” expands Smith.

For Lippert, safety reinforces that discipline, both within the company’s facilities and in the products it brings to market, whilst leadership sustains it.

As the company grows, strong leadership ensures it scales without losing who it is at the core and remains focused on doing the right things the right way.

“Our continued growth is the result of anchoring ourselves to these principles and allowing them to guide our strategy. When you align culture, innovation, quality, safety, and leadership around a shared purpose, you build more than products – you build trust, which drives sustainable growth,” prides Smith.

CULTURAL JOURNEY

Approximately 10 years ago, the leadership team at Lippert recognized the crucial role of its front-line team members and the impact a company can have on its people, the surrounding community, and the world as a whole.

The company then committed itself to creating a winning team culture that would inspire other businesses to make positive changes and improvements as well.

One of the primary ways in which Lippert has been enabling a better workplace experience for its team is through the Lippert Academy of Leadership.

The academy builds upon the leadership development fundamentals the company worked hard to embed in its daily activities, serving external businesses, non-profits, and individuals with a variety of programs and offerings. These include on-site training and leadership development programs, executive coaching, speaking engagements, and in-house leadership development experience.

Ultimately, the Lippert Academy of Leadership is human-centered, mission-driven, and performance-focused. Its mission is to come together with other organizations that are on a leadership and culture journey in order to help make their businesses a force for good.

Building and sharing what Lippert has learned over its seven decades of business success, the academy’s primary goal is to help others establish a self-sustaining model of leadership and culture by creating their own internal resources dedicated to stewarding their vision and mission.

Specifically, what is offered in the leadership program is a red carpet roll-out, where on-site experiences enable participants to see behind the curtain by touring facilities, speaking with leaders, and engaging with Lippert’s internal leadership and executive teams.

Additionally, a consortium membership provides access to an exclusive leadership community for executive leaders at any stage of their cultural journey. This annual subscription offers academy coaches, content, and on-site support.

There are also memorable keynote speakers who provide customized, unforgettable experiences for events and are experts in keeping audiences engaged, educated, and inspired.

As Lippert has grown, evolved, and refined its own leadership training and development programs, it recognized that offering this program was a prime opportunity to take some of that knowledge and expertise to support the leadership, culture, and business goals of other organizations.

MOVING WITH CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE

Looking after its employees and promoting the next generation of Lippert team members is not only important to the company’s longevity, but central to who it is at its foundation.

“You can have strong supply chain partnerships and advanced manufacturing capabilities, but none of it works without engaged, capable team members,” Smith asserts.

“Our team members are the engine behind everything we do. The quality of our products, strength of our customer relationships, and pace of our innovation all start with our people. The goal is for people to see a future at Lippert, not just a job.”

With over 14,000 team members spread across North America, Europe, and Africa, the company has proven time and again that by putting people first, the possibilities are truly endless.

Lippert believes its business can be a force for good in the world if leaders take hold of their responsibility to create a culture that cares for people and allows them to grow into their best selves. As the company sparks the heads, hearts, and hands of team members, it hopes to inspire the purpose and passion that lead to high performance in both business and life.

“Leadership development is a big part of this goal. As we expand into transportation and continue innovating in the RV and marine industries, we need leaders who understand both our legacy and where we are headed,” states Smith.

“We invest in training, mentorship, and real opportunities to step up and lead. Growth only works if your people grow with you; if we continue to invest in them in the right way, the next 70 years will be even stronger than the first.”

DRIVING MEANINGFUL CHANGE

Those at Lippert proudly live the outdoor lifestyle and are constantly pushing to enhance the customer experience by offering superior, innovative products made by trusted and reliable brands.

However, the company recognizes the only way to ensure the outdoors continue to be enjoyed for generations to come is to implement sustainability initiatives and a mindset that encourages their growth.

This can be observed through Lippert’s ever-evolving mission to put real resources behind culture, philanthropy, and sustainability, underscoring its commitment to making business a force for good in the world.

As an industry leader in the outdoor recreation space, the company is dedicated to driving positive environmental and social change. It acts boldly to understand, manage, and mitigate its environmental impact across value chains while bringing innovative, energy-efficient products to market. This is in parallel to the company’s efforts to reduce energy consumption, water usage, and waste generation.

A passion for environmental stewardship and resource conservation is at the core of everything Lippert does. Since its inception in 1956, the company has committed itself to being a strong manufacturing partner and responsible corporate citizen.

Lippert believes in the power of sustainable materials and production processes to shape a better future for its team members, community, and the environment.

In alignment with leading global standards, such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the company is actively taking concrete steps to protect the environment.

For example, it continuously invests in eco-friendly practices, strives to establish new benchmarks in corporate sustainability, especially in packaging, and works to improve its recycling and sustainability programs every year.

Through adherence to internationally recognized standards, Lippert ensures transparency and accountability in its efforts to create positive change in the long-term.

EMPOWERING ADVENTURE

Lippert has proven itself to be dedicated to creating transformative social change. From student mentorship to park clean-ups and corporate sponsorships, the company supports organizations and causes that make its surrounding communities a better place for all.

“We believe in using business as a force for good in the world. Our corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts are simply how we live that out,” details Smith.

Through initiatives like Lippert Cares and seRV™, Lippert’s team members actively serve in their neighborhoods, from environmental efforts to supporting local non-profits.

Given the company’s connection to outdoor recreation and transportation, protecting the environments and communities where people live, work, and explore is a natural extension of its mission.

“We are also deeply committed to student mentorship and workforce development. By partnering with schools and trade programs, offering plant tours, internships, and hands-on mentorship, we are helping build the next generation of skilled professionals. That investment strengthens both our company and the industries we serve,” Smith explains.

At its core, Lippert’s CSR approach is about stewardship. If it wants to enhance experiences and do good in the world, that responsibility extends beyond its products to local communities and individuals because, at Lippert, everyone matters.

Ultimately, caring about people is at the core of the company’s sustainable strategy. It provides the resources necessary to support team members’ holistic well-being, empowering them to reach their full potential regardless of where they are.

Additionally, the company takes a collective impact approach to fostering shared value generation. Recent targeted efforts to support this include updating its policies, increasing diversity on the board of directors, and the formal addition of board oversight of sustainability.

STEWARDSHIP FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

Equally as crucial to the continuation of Lippert’s success and innovative future prospects are its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives.

Since the company’s inception, it has strove to create a name for itself as a strong manufacturing and corporate partner for its team members, customers, community, and the environment.

Its sustainability approach was first inspired by the company’s passion to protect and invest in the regions it calls home, having evolved over time to represent more holistic ideologies and goals. Lippert has since worked to incorporate various sustainability practices and processes into all facets of its business operations.

At the production level, the company aims to protect the environment and save resources by using sustainable materials and reducing the environmental impact of its production process.

It emphasizes using environmentally friendly materials and processes wherever possible, alongside consistently improving and evolving its pre-established programs to best suit current research and ESG goals.

In Lippert’s day-to-day business operations, it has become cognizant of natural resource usage and waste generation, having started to track such data in order to establish a concrete baseline that will enable the company to set realistic targets while searching for added process efficiencies.

This inclusive ideology and goals also directly align with the company’s belief that everyone matters. To achieve this, it has made strides to improve retention, encourage physical and mental health, and provide resources to support team members and their loved ones. While Lippert acknowledges it is still early in its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) journey, the company is massively proud of the magnitude of its achievements in such a short period of time and actively celebrates its plans for the future.

THE BACKBONE OF AMERICAN MANUFACTURING

As a global leader in supplying engineered components to the outdoor recreation and transportation markets, Lippert is confident that its innovative culture, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and dedication to enhancing the customer experience enable it to be a reliable partner for both OEM and aftermarket customers.

Business partners proudly invest in Lippert for myriad reasons, such as the company’s 67 percent growth in towable RV content since 2020, 11 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2015 to 2025, and 90 percent historical conversion of robust operating cash flow.

The company is also proud to call brands like CURT, Ranch Hand, Furrion, and others its own – names that its customers trust for quality, dependability, and service.

Lippert thrives on innovation, and building customized solutions that fall outside of its traditional product lines is standard procedure for the team. No matter the industry, Lippert finds and builds personalized solutions.

This dedication to success can be traced back to the very beginning of the company’s journey seven decades ago. Founder Larry Lippert used his grit and determination to lay a strong foundation that has enabled the company to develop a plethora of innovative technologies and improve industry processes.

His vision, integrity, hard work, and valuation of team members continue to inspire and guide Lippert today.

A LEGACY BEYOND PRODUCTS

As Lippert looks ahead, one of its biggest priorities is sharpening its focus. Having built meaningful scale over the years, the company is now being more intentional with where its bets are placed.

That means prioritizing the segments and product categories where it can truly differentiate, especially in transportation and highly engineered solutions.

“We are also focused on simplification; as organizations grow, complexity can creep in. Over the next year, we are working to streamline processes, align teams more tightly, and ensure we are operating with clarity and speed,” informs Smith.

Another priority for Lippert is strengthening integration across its portfolio and connecting its capabilities more seamlessly so customers experience Lippert as a cohesive, solutions-driven partner rather than a collection of individual products.

“Ultimately, the coming year is about discipline and momentum – being thoughtful about expansion, intentional about execution, and confident in where we can lead. If we do that well, growth will follow as a result, not just as a target,” Smith proudly concludes.

Regardless of whether a customer is embracing the freedom of the open road or feeling the breeze across their face as they jet across the water, Lippert is here to reliably and securely provide premium products designed to make outdoor recreation activities fun, safe, and accessible for generations to come.

70 years of enabling outdoor journeys down, and with many more to come, Lippert is primed to lead the way.

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