BRILLION, Wis. – American-owned Ariens purchased a majority shareholding of Countax, the Oxfordshire, United Kingdom-based ride-on mower manufacturer. The agreement was reached with Countax Managing Director Harry Handkammer, who will remain as managing director of the company.

“We are committed to reinvigorating Countax and see opportunity for growth,” says Ariens President Dan Ariens. “Countax will also give us a European base of operations from which we can grow other segments of our current business in that part of the world.”

The family-operated Ariens Company currently sells lawn maintenance equipment and snow throwers under the Ariens brand across the European Community, Central Europe and the Nordic countries.

Countax will continue to manufacture their range of ride-on mowers, both the Countax and Westwood brands. Countax employs 130 people in Oxfordshire and currently sells products in the U.K., Germany, France and the Netherlands through independent equipment dealers. The company will also maintain distribution of the ECHO, Bear Cat and Shindaiwa brands in the U.K. Visit www.countax.co.uk for more information.

Ariens recently signed an agreement with W.W. Grainger, a supplier of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products serving businesses and institutions in the U.S. The company will supply select outdoor power equipment products under four brand names.