American-owned Ariens Company purchased a majority shareholding of the Oxfordshire, United Kingdom-based ride-on mower manufacturer, Countax Ltd. The UK manufacturer will enhance the company’s European presence.

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 UK, Germany, France and the Netherlands through independent equipment dealers.