LCI Industries B.V., an Amsterdam-based subsidiary of RV supplier Lippert Components Inc. (LCI), has made a definitive agreement to acquire Polyplastic Group B.V., a manufacturer of acrylic window and door products headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Polyplastic is a leading window supplier to the European RV, or caravan, industry. LCI expects to close the transaction by January 2020.
Once the transaction has closed, this acquisition of Polyplastic will accelerate LCI’s expansion into the European recreational vehicle, trailer, supermarket and e-mobility vehicle window market, and allow it to introduce Polyplastic’s acrylic window products to its customer base throughout North America.
RV window growth
LCI has a long history of producing windows for its core customers in the recreational vehicle, heavy equipment, bus and trailer industries in North America. In recent years, LCI has expanded its window offerings into additional markets and geographies through several strategic acquisitions. This process began with its acquisition of Sessa Klein S.p.A in 2017, which grew LCI’s operational capabilities to include highly engineered window systems for both high speed and commuter rail. In 2018, LCI acquired Taylor Made Group, allowing LCI to expand into the marine window market throughout North America and Europe. LCI’s recent acquisition of Lewmar Marine in 2019 further grew LCI’s product lines and manufacturing capabilities in the marine market, which includes marine windshields, patio doors and sunroofs.
“We are extremely excited to add Jan Peter and the rest of the Polyplastic team to the LCI family,” LCI CEO and President Jason Lippert says. “By adding Polyplastic’s acrylic windows to our product lineup, coupled with the continuation of its long-standing history of excellence, LCI’s ability to service the European caravan industry is set to reach an all-time high. Polyplastic’s lightweight acrylic window and sunroof solutions also grant us access to several other great industries and markets in Europe that we could not have previously entered without this technology. I’m excited to see how Jan Peter and our current European team led by Jim Menefee, Michele Checcucci, Peter Tierney and Joerg Reithmeier, strategic consultant for LCI, will be able to grow LCI’s footprint in the European caravan industry and beyond.”
Polyplastic was founded in 1952 to produce acrylic as a lightweight alternative to glass, says Jan Peter Veeneman, owner and CEO of the Polyplastic Group and son of the company’s founder. He will remain CEO of Polyplastic after the acquisition by LCI is complete.
Veeneman says, “For our next phase, I’m convinced that LCI, including Jason Lippert and his team, holds the same values as Polyplastic, which is well known for cooperation with its customers. It is exciting to be joining a professional family of companies that can help provide synergies, new products and innovation.”
LCI Vice President of Operations for Europe Jim Menefee says, “Our caravan team in Europe has admired the business and products of Polyplastic for a long time. The addition of this business, and its great people, leadership and innovation, will extend LCI’s European product line even further into the caravan space. I am excited to work with such a talented leadership team in Europe and look forward to the growth to come.”
