GOSHEN, Ind. -- Lippert Components and Kinro Inc., subsidiaries of Drew Industries Inc., a leading supplier of components for recreational vehicles (RV) and manufactured homes, have launched a new effort to expand their sales of aftermarket RV products. Bob Mater has been hired to head up this operation as director of RV aftermarket services.  

"Many of our existing RV products, including doors, windows, mattresses, upholstered seating, leveling devices, suspension products, slide-outs and other accessories, have significant aftermarket potential," said Jason Lippert, CEO of Lippert Components and Kinro. "Bob Mater is a true veteran, with 18 years experience in the RV and trailer aftermarket, and he is a great choice to lead this new effort. Our current RV aftermarket sales of $13 million only scratch the surface of this opportunity. We believe we can profitably expand our sales into this market by devoting a talented team, as well as a separate facility, to focus strictly on gaining additional aftermarket business through RV dealers and wholesale distributors. This effort is another in a series of many steps we have taken over the years to continue to increase both our sales and profits."

Scott Mereness, president of Lippert and Kinro, added, "Many of our RV components now include features that were not available on new RVs just a few years ago. As a result, our online 'e-store,' where these new products are available for purchase, has recently gained quite a bit of attention from dealers and wholesale distributors, as well as from RVers. This success has given us enough insight about the potential aftermarket demand for our RV products for us to be confident that an additional focus on this market should be well worth the effort."

Lippert Components and Kinro Inc. supply a broad array of components for RVs and manufactured homes, including chassis, chassis parts, RV slide-out mechanisms, axles, upholstered furniture, mattresses, windows, doors and thermoformed products.