BRILLION, Wis. — A Japan-based manufacturer has acquired Ariens Company in Brillion.
The company announced it was selling a majority of the family-owned business to Yanmar.
“Strong relationships have always been at the core of AriensCo’s strategy, and we are confident this new partnership with Yanmar is the right next step to position our company as an R&D leader while maintaining the same commitments to quality and longevity that have always distinguished our brands,” said Chairman and CEO Dan Ariens in a release.
According to AriensCo, the family will still have a significant stake in the company and will still lead the operations and strategy of the company from Brillion, where the existing headquarters are located.
“The Ariens family will continue to lead our company’s operations, strategy and culture. Our values, brands, footprint and commitment to building high-quality products that last all remain intact. And Brillion will continue to be our home and our headquarters,” said Ariens in a letter to the community.
The company, which makes lawnmowers and snowblowers, was founded in 1933. It has nearly 1,000 employees in Brillion and over 1,500 total in the U.S., United Kingdom, and Norway.
AriensCo said the industry is changing faster than any point in history.
“Autonomous equipment, battery-powered products, artificial intelligence and global supply chains are transforming what customers expect and what it takes to compete. We have watched our industry consolidate around us, and we made a choice to move boldly forward with the right partner, rather than risk falling behind,” Ariens said in the letter.
Yanmar is known for manufacturing engines, agricultural machinery and energy systems. It was founded over a century ago.
“Together, we will form one of the largest family-owned industrial power equipment company in the world. We will share technology and resources, leverage our combined global reach, and be prepared for what the next 100 years of manufacturing brings,” Ariens added.