The NTP-Stag Expo featured many new products, including Lippert’s cassette solar awning.
Lippert Director of Sales for Aftermarket Exterior Products Matt Clauss said last week was the first time the awning graced a show floor.
OEMs have installed the awning on luxury motorhomes for over a year. Now the Girard GG 750 solar awning is available in the aftermarket.
Clauss said the awnings have been installed by roughly 20 to 25 OEMs, including Tiffin Motorhomes.
Clauss said Lippert was developing some solar-powered products when the supplier bought Girard in 2022. The acquisition accelerated the process.
The company partnered with international solar cell manufacturer Apollo, an Israeli-based firm, to make the awning.
“The partnership has been tremendous,” Clauss said. “Now, we are bringing some solutions to the aftermarket that we think are going to grow the segment.”
According to Clauss, RV roof space is among the biggest reasons Lippert is bringing the solar awning to market.
“There are not a lot of additional solutions,” to addressing roof space, Clauss said, “and we believe bringing this to market now gives us a great opportunity.”
Awning sizes range from 8 feet long to 15-feet-4-inches long. The line features 10 SKUs.
Each awning is 77 inches deep. All awnings feature Apollo cells and run on a 12-volt motor.
“We are showing here for the first time because we are going to start having inventory of this product over the next couple of months,” Clauss said, “as we work with our supplier and begin to build these out.”
According to Clauss, Lippert wants to widen the awning market and handle replacement awnings.
