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Lippert Buys Out Chicago’s Freedman Seating Company

May 6, 2025 By Naseem Muaddi

The Hog Ring - Lippert Buys Out Chicago's Freedman Seating Company

Lippert is making another move in the transportation market—this time by bringing Freedman Seating Company into the fold.

The Indiana-based supplier of engineered components announced it has acquired “substantially all of the business assets” of Freedman, an Illinois company that’s been manufacturing transportation seating for more than 130 years. Founded in 1894, Freedman started in the era of horse-drawn carriages and has grown into a major player supplying seats for buses, rail, delivery vehicles, and more.

For Lippert, this acquisition adds another key piece to its transportation puzzle. The company already has a foothold in this space, supplying glass and window systems for over a decade. And earlier this year, Lippert acquired Trans Air, which makes climate control systems for commercial buses. Now, with Freedman on board, Lippert is positioning itself as a more comprehensive supplier for bus and specialty vehicle manufacturers.

Ryan Smith, Group President of Lippert’s North American OEM Operations, pointed to the long histories of both companies. “Between the two companies, we have almost 200 years combined of family leadership and there’s not too many organizations that can claim that,” he said.

Freedman’s existing operations in Chicago will remain in place “for the foreseeable future,” according to the announcement. That continuity was important to Freedman CEO Craig Freedman, who emphasized that the partnership with Lippert allows the company to grow while staying true to its values.

“They’ve expressed admiration for what we’ve built and want to help us grow it in ways that honor our mission and values,” Freedman said. “This acquisition gives us the opportunity to build on our legacy, expand our reach, and invest even more in our team.”

Andrew Pocock, Lippert’s Executive VP of Building and Transportation Products, said both companies are eager to hit the ground running. “Together, we can provide an elevated experience to our customer partners through our combined product offerings.”

With the addition of Freedman, Lippert continues to expand beyond its traditional markets and deepen its footprint in transportation. For OEMs and municipalities looking for streamlined sourcing and integrated solutions, this latest move could make Lippert an increasingly attractive partner.

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Filed Under: Archive, Industry Trends & Reports Tagged With: Auto Trim, Auto Upholstery, Car Interior, Freedman Seating Company, Lippert

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