Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
No, it’s not your imagination. Hancock sidewalks through the downtown area are immaculately groomed lately.
Ariens has selected the city as a testing ground for snow removal equipment. The Wisconsin manufacturer is famed for its bright orange paint scheme, and is considered one of the leaders in the industry. Houghton County Commissioner Glenn Anderson says they have staff living locally and are operating out of two sites.
Ariens was founded almost ninety years ago with only four employees in Brillion, Wisconsin. It now boasts a staff of around 1,500 people, and has workers in parts of northern Europe, including the United Kingdom and Norway.
The snow blower market is strongest in the Midwest, according to industry estimates. Around 43% of United States sales occurred in the region for the 2021 model year, designated as May 1st, 2020 to April 30th of this year. Minnesota ranked first in the country when measuring sales by state. Wisconsin was second and Michigan third. Given the device’s popularity and the impressive winter conditions here, testing in the area is a no-brainer.
