Lippert is celebrating

Ten years of Lippert in Europe: a journey of growth, innovation, and international leadership that began in Italy

Lippert is celebrating ten years of operations in Europe. This milestone anniversary celebrates the journey the group started in 2016, when Project 2000, based in Tuscany, was acquired. It was the first step in a growth strategy that led to the creation of one of Europe’s leading hubs for the development and production of components and systems for the caravanning, rail, and marine markets.

Today, Lippert EMEA is one of the group’s key global innovation hubs, with operations ranging from motorhomes and railways to boats. This growth was built on targeted acquisitions, industrial investments, and a constant focus on developing expertise.

A journey that started in Italy

Lippert’s European expansion started in Tuscany and, over the course of the past ten years, has evolved from a single strategic investment into a comprehensive, multi-sector industrial platform. What had been initially thought of as a simple presence on the European market has gradually become a center of expertise, innovation, and development capable of supporting the group’s growth, not only across the continent, and contributing to Lippert’s technological evolution on a global scale.

“When Lippert first turned its sights to Europe, the goal wasn’t simply to gain a foothold in the area” said Michele Checcucci, President of Caravanning & Rail EMEA at Lippert. “The company was looking for innovation, expertise, and products capable of bringing added value to the North American market as well. Project 2000 was just that: a technologically advanced company with a strong culture of quality. It was our gateway to Europe and the starting point for everything that came after”.

It was the first of many acquisitions by the group of specialized companies, such as Metallarte, RV Doors, ST.LA., Lavet, Polyplastic, Lewmar, and Schaudt, all of which contributed to the formation of an increasingly integrated and diversified industrial platform. Today, Italy is still at the core of Lippert’s European operations and is home to a significant portion of its production facilities. The expertise developed at the European plants has contributed significantly to innovation across the entire group, with technologies that are now also being adopted in international markets. In many cases, know-how and solutions are being exported from Europe to North America, confirming the strategic role the region plays within the global organization.

Growth centered on people and corporate culture

Lippert’s growth in Europe is the result of the integration of different companies, skills, and cultures. This process required time, vision, and the ability to build a common foundation of shared values.

“Lippert’s true strength lies not in its facilities or technologies, but in its people”, Checcucci stressed. “Over the past ten years, we’ve seen employees grow in the company, take on international responsibilities, and build careers that would have been difficult to imagine in much smaller organizations. Nurturing talent and creating opportunities for continuous growth remain one of our most important goals”.

Indeed, the focus on people continues to be one of the defining elements of Lippert’s corporate culture, helping to create an environment where innovation, collaboration, and professional development go hand in hand.

Ten years of changes and new challenges

The past decade has been a time of profound changes in the recreational vehicle industry and the markets in which Lippert operates. Industry consolidation, regulatory changes, digitalization, sustainability, and shifts in global supply chains have redefined the competitive landscape.

The challenges of recent years – from the pandemic to the international tensions that have disrupted the global supply chain – have underscored the importance of maintaining a structure that is flexible, resilient, and capable of adapting quickly to market changes.

This experience has further strengthened Lippert’s approach, which is based on business diversification, close relationships with customers, and the ability to invest with a long-term vision.

Looking ahead to the next decade

Today, ten years after landing in Europe, Lippert looks to the future with confidence, having built a solid industrial platform ready to seize new growth opportunities.

“Over the past ten years, we have built much more than just an industrial presence in Europe”, said Lorenzo Manni, Managing Director of Lippert EMEA. “We have created a network of expertise that today allows us to support manufacturers with an increasingly integrated offering, developing products, technologies, and services capable of meeting new market needs. Lippert EMEA’s strength lies in its ability to combine the agility and specialization of our companies with the resources and vision of a global group”.

The tenth anniversary of Lippert’s presence in Europe is not only a time to celebrate the company’s achievements, but also an opportunity to reassert its commitment to its customers, partners, and employees. A journey that started in Tuscany in 2016 and continues today with the same ambition: to develop innovative solutions, create value, and contribute to the growth of the markets in which Lippert operates.