Officials with Ariens Co. recently announced an agreement to sell the company’s Stens and JThomas aftermarket parts lines to Arrowhead Engineered Products of Blaine, Minn., in a deal expected to be complete by the end of 2016.

According to Ariens CEO Dan Ariens, the move is a “strategic decision that allows the company to continue to re-invest in the original equipment manufacturing business.” Ariens Co. acquired Stens in 1995 and JThomas in 2008.

Ariens noted that the company has recently invested in automated manufacturing technology while continuing to invest in R&D to promote new product introductions. There are also plans to develop a new e-commerce platform for Ariens Co.’s niche outdoor supply brands Gempler’s, AW Direct and Ben Meadows.

Arrowhead Engineered Products is a global distributor of rotating electrical parts and their components, plus a supplier of aftermarket replacement parts for a wide variety of motorized vehicles, across the power sports, outdoor power equipment, ag and industrial, marine, and heavy-duty and automotive end-markets. With locations in North America, Europe and Asia, Arrowhead serves more than 10,000 customers every day.

Arrowhead CEO Jim Wisnoski says the acquisition supports the company’s mission to “always be our customers’ first choice for critical replacement parts. We are excited for the combination of our two organizations to continue providing exceptional service to our customers.”

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