Briggs & Stratton plans to move production for several product lines from its Wauwatosa headquarters to existing facilities in New York State,
the company announced Friday.
Among the products shifting location are lawn tractors, residential zero-turn mowers, snow throwers and pressure washers. The move will happen by the end of August, Briggs said.
The company said the shift would allow for more streamlined production and distribution as the Munnsville, N.Y. and Sherrill, N.Y. facilities are located within 10 miles of each other.
Around 200 union positions and 40 salaried positions will be impacted by the move, the company said. Briggs plans to add 125 jobs in New York State.
The company said it would provide a 60-day notice of the transition to those impacted by the move and employees would remain with the company through the end of August.
Production of standby generators and engine components, along with other support functions, will remain at the Wauwatosa facility.
Briggs said the change is part of its previously announced efforts to strategically reposition the company. In early March, Briggs announced it would look to
sell the majority of its products businesses, allowing it to focus on engines and the application of power.
The company planned to prioritize the sale of its U.S. turf products and pressure washers when it announced the plan. Todd Teske, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Briggs, said on the company’s
most recent earnings call that there was strong initial interest but the coronavirus pandemic had caused challenges in the M&A market. Still, he said Briggs expects to generate more than $200 million in proceeds from its asset sales.
“Whether the market allows for that in the timing that we talked about is a different situation,” he said. “We continue to make sure that we’re going to get paid for the value that we’ve created through that business.”
