Ferris Bought by Simplicity Manufacturing

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Dec 10, 1999 by Dickinson, Casey J

MUNNSVILLE - Simplicity Manufacturing, Inc., a Port Washington, Wisc.-based manufacturer of yard-care equipment, has agreed to purchase Ferris Industries for an undisclosed price. Ferris' revenue for 1998 was nearly $25 million, according to Troy Blewett, manager of corporate communications for Simplicity.

Ferris' operations will remain in Munnsville and no jobs will be lost, according to officials at both companies.

The purchase of Ferris gives Simplicity a line of commercial lawn-care equipment to complement the company's line of residential products. Simplicity will continue to market mowers under the Ferris name through independent dealers.

"The commercial market is the fastest growing in the outdoor-powerequipment industry," says Blewett.

David A. Ferris, chairman of Ferris Industries, Inc., attributed the sale to the increased demand for the company's products and a corresponding need for increased production capacity. Ferris will remain with the company as a consultant and hold the title of chairman emeritus. James Wier, president and CEO-elect of Simplicity, will become president of Ferris. Blewett says Simplicity will support Ferris' innovative developments with capital and management.

"Ferris is quite well-known in the industry for its innovation," he adds.

Ferris Industries recently received a U.S. Patent for its IS independent-suspension system. The company is the first to equip a riding lawnmower with independent suspension. The IS system gives riding-mower operators greater control and comfort, allowing them to mow faster. The faster mowing speed results in greater productivity for lawn-care contractors and shorter periods of noise and disruption for their clients.

Ferris introduced the IS system on its ProCut Z commercial riding mower in 1998. The company sold 1,800 units last year, compared with 900 units per year prior to the introduction of the IS system. Blewett says Simplicity may add the technology to other mowers in the companies' product lineup.

Founded in 1922, Simplicity manufactures riding lawnmowers, lawn and garden tractors, woodchippers, tillers, and snowthrowing equipment. The privately held company employs approximately 500 and had annual revenues totaling $120 million last year. Simplicity products are sold through a worldwide dealer network.

Ferris began in 1909 as a manufacturer of dairyfarm equipment. The company abandoned the dairy business and entered the commercial lawnmower market in 1985. Ferris produces a full line of walkbehind and riding mowers sold through a nationwide network of 500 dealers. The company employs 120 at its Munnsville plant.

Blewett says that Simplicity has no plans to move either company's manufacturing operations, and any expansion of Ferris' production will occur at the Oneida County plant.