EverRide Commerical lawnmowers

Auburn Consolidated Industries, Inc. (ACI) first opened its doors 80 years ago in Auburn, Nebraska, under the name Auburn Machine Works, Inc. Founded as a blacksmith and machinery repair business, Auburn Machine Works achieved its first great success in 1948 with the invention of what is believed to be the first continuous chain type trenching machine.

The construction of a 30,000-sq. ft. manufacturing facility soon followed for designing and producing trenching equipment for companies such as Ford, International Harvester, John Deere and Massey Ferguson. By 1956, the company employed 40 full-time workers.

The company that began as a simple blacksmith shop grew into a 165,000-sq. ft. modern fabrication and assembly factory featuring laser-cutting, robotic welding and powder paint technologies—and earned a number of quality awards, including Deere & Company’s top “Partner” status and New Holland’s prestigious Qualitas Award. ACI also exceled in employee satisfaction. With a strong commitment to workplace safety and health for their employees, ACI was recognized by the Department of Labor for achieving 20 consecutive years of excellence in SHARP—the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program. ACI is the first and only company to achieve such an honor.

ACI purchased Great Dane Commercial Mowers in September, 2005 and moved the manufacturing of Great Dane products and the John Deere Quik-Trak product family to its Auburn, Nebraska facility. ACI added the stand on unit to their line which proved to be very popular.
In November, 2007 the Ariens Company purchased the assets of Auburn Consolidated Industries and opened the doors as Ariens Company - Auburn Operations. The Ariens Company will continue to make the EverRide and Great Dane product lines at the facility in Auburn, Nebraska. The Ariens Company is a family owned business out of Brillion, Wisconsin. Dan Ariens, fourth generation president, plans to continue with the same value system as set by the Skaggs