Company History

On May 17, 1956, Lippert Components, Inc. (LCI®) was founded as B&L Industries. Together, Larry Lippert and Don Baldwin formed B&L Industries. Don and Larry began manufacturing galvanized mobile home roofing, creating a product called Duratop. Detroiter Mobile Homes and Redman Industries were B&L’s first customers. In 1957, Don sold his shares of B&L to Larry. The strong foundation laid by Larry led LCI to develop many innovative technologies and improve industry processes.

Towards the beginning on the decade, LCI struggled to pay bills and expansion projects were temporarily put on hold. In an effort to rebuild existing plants and to fund additional expansions, Larry entered into a deal with William “Bill” Redman. Bill’s son, Donald Redman, became managing partner of B&L Industries, alongside Larry, in exchange for cash to rebuild the plants and to fund additional expansion. Shortly thereafter, B&L Industries expanded into Pennsylvania, Kansas, Georgia and Michigan. B&L’s corporate office moved into a larger building in Alma, MI, the old Alma Products building. In 1964, Larry bought out Donald Redman and once again became sole shareholder of B&L Industries.

B&L Industries expands to Syracuse, Indiana.

B&L Industries of the Carolinas is founded.

B&L opens plants in Bonham, Texas and Bear Creek, Alabama. Larry’s son, Doug Lippert, becomes Plant Manager of B&L’s Syracuse, IN facility.

Larry worked to aggressively expand LCI in 1969, acquiring several manufacturing companies: D&H Tops, a manufacturer of Formica counter tops, Coachmen Draperies, Spreads by Cynthia, Comfo Sleep, maker of mattresses for housing, and C&B Manufacturing, which would eventually became LCI of Florida in Clearwater. These acquisitions would be crucial to attaining Skyline’s manufactured housing business decades later. The names of the aforementioned businesses would soon disappear, along with B&L Industries, to be replaced by Lippert Components, Inc. (LCI®).

LCI begins selling its non-steel related businesses and closes both Comfo Sleep and Spreads by Cynthia in an effort to refocus on the steel industry.

LCI continues to expand within Florida, opening an additional plant in Ocala. A joint venture is formed with Riblet Industries, combining forces in North Carolina and Kansas to maintain profitability for both companies within those states.

Riblet Industries becomes a publicly-traded company, forcing LCI and Riblet to divide their assets between the two companies. With the flip of a coin, it was decided that Riblet would own and operate the facility in Burton, Kansas and LCI would own and operate the Henderson, North Carolina facility. This division would prove to be instrumental for LCI’s future growth: In many ways a sheer stroke of luck, North Carolina would soon after become a major hub for the manufactured housing industry. Clayton Homes and Oxford Homes became major players in the manufactured housing industry, boosting LCI’s sales to all-time highs. This began a kind of “golden age” in the manufactured housing industry. With the business now thriving, LCI further expanded into Kingston, Tennessee.

Doug Lippert becomes CEO and President of LCI. LCI opens a second division in Harrisburg, North Carolina and relocates the Bonham, TX plant to Alvarado, TX. In 1977, after Larry’s retirement from the business, LCI acquired Farmville Manufacturing, a maker of axle hubs in Cordele, GA. Additionally, LCI of Indiana relocates to Nappanee, IN.

The manufactured housing industry experienced meager productivity increases during the early 1980’s, and as a result, LCI’s business slowed. An energy crisis and tight governmental monetary policy caused the manufactured housing industry to all but tumble. Through it all, LCI managed to stay afloat.

LCI expanded into Eatonton, Georgia and acquired the business of Horton Homes. Horton Homes became LCI’s largest customer at that time, taking sales from $30 to $40 million annually.

LCI acquired the assets of Riblet Industries, their largest competitor within the manufactured housing industry at the time. This acquisition led to expansions in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and Wisconsin. Doug Lippert formed a long-lasting relationship with Jim Miller, VP of Purchasing for Skyline. Skyline would quickly become LCI’s largest customer, allowing LCI to supply all of their manufactured home chassis, chassis parts and galvanized roofing products. By the end of 1988, LCI’s sales grew from $45 to $80 million annually.

Hurricane Andrew devastated families in and around Homestead, Florida, requiring 18,000 FEMA housing units to be built for misplaced families. LCI was called upon to provide chassis for the 18,000 FEMA units. 10,000 of those chassis were needed immediately. LCI teams rallied around the effort, operating three shift, 24 hour days for an entire year. With the sharp increase in demand, LCI’s facility in Florida increased chassis production from 15 to 55 chassis per day. LCI’s ability fluidly increase production capacity and to produce such a high number of chassis caught the eye of Drew Industries, a New York-based holding company that would eventually acquire LCI.

LCI acquired Winn Industries, expanding into Fitzgerald, Georgia. In 1995, LCI opened its second Indiana plant in Goshen.

LCI took a major step in vertically integrating the company with the acquisition of Continental Stamping, a Goshen-based steel parts fabricator. This acquisition helped LCI gain better quality control for the various steel parts for its chassis production.

1997 was a big year for LCI in many ways. Seeing a need for diversification, a young Jason Lippert, the son of Doug Lippert and grandson of Larry Lippert, received the green light from management to start a travel trailer chassis line in McAdoo, Pennsylvania. As fate would have it, this would become the single largest turning point in the company’s history. LCI is acquired by Drew Industries, a long-established investor in the manufactured housing and RV markets. Having acquired Kinro decades earlier, the LCI acquisition further strengthened Drew’s portfolio in the manufactured housing and RV industries.

LCI expands its RV operations into Berkley Springs, West Virginia.

LCI becomes an international company with the opening of a facility in Lindsey, Ontario in Canada.

LCI acquired We-Shape and expanded its RV Chassis product line.

LCI acquired Coil Clip, manufacturer of fabricated steel parts in Boaz, Alabama. Keeping pace with the growing RV industry, LCI acquired three Indiana-based RV chassis manufacturers: Quality Frames in 2001, We Shape in 2002 and ET&T in 2003. Drew Industries purchased Better Bath, adding plastic thermoformed kitchen and bath components to the growing portfolio.

Doug Lippert stepped down as CEO of LCI and handed the torch to his son, Jason Lippert. Jason became LCI’s third generation of leadership.

Doug Lippert stepped down as CEO of LCI and handed the torch to his son, Jason Lippert. Jason became LCI’s third generation of leadership.

LCI acquires Zieman Manufacturing, its largest purchase to date. Zieman Manufacturing added boat, small watercraft and equipment trailer production to LCI’s growing list of production capabilities. The acquisition also expanded LCI’s operations into the west coast of the U.S.

LCI acquired LTM Manufacturing, marking LCI’s entry into the RV accessory market. Today, LCI is known as the industry leader in RV accessory and component innovation.

LCI Acquired Venture Manufacturing, increasing manufactured and residential housing chassis capabilities and capacity in Howe, Indiana.

LCI acquired HappiJac, a manufacturer of numerous patented RV products such as bed lifts, slide-outs, camper jacks and tie down systems. LCI also acquired Steelco, a manufacturing company that held numerous slide-out patents.

LCI began manufacturing Coach Step products, adding motorized entry steps to the list of capabilities.

Trailair, an industry leader in ride improvement components, was a major acquisition for LCI. The Trailair brand products include the Equa-Flex® rubberized equalizer, the Air Ride Pin Box and the Center Point Air Ride Suspension system.

LCI acquired Extreme Engineering and began building specialty trailers for high-end watercraft, further expanding marine trailer capabilities.

LCI Acquires Seating Technology, marking LCI’s entry into the RV Interiors market with a variety of custom RV furniture and mattresses, allowing LCI to begin producing comfortable and durable RV furniture and mattresses to OEM’s custom specifications.

LCI acquired JT’s RV Accessories and began producing JT’s Elephant Pads, Strong Arm Stabilizers and Digital Levelers – products that dramatically reduce rocking and promote better rest and a more enjoyable camping experience.