Ariens Co. will invest more than $9 million to upgrade and expand its product development facility at its Brillion, Wis.-based headquarters. According to Ariens, the new, 45,000-sq.-ft. facility will be constructed in three phases over the next three years. The project is expected to be complete by fall 2018.

The Ariens Company Design and Development Center will include a new engineering and technical center, an industrial design studio, a model shop and prototyping lab and a validation and testing center. It will serve as the company’s center for research and product development, as well as for testing new outdoor power equipment.

“The new center will allow for 24/7 test capabilities, as well as off-season product testing, a significant enhancement for the testing of seasonal equipment,” said Dan Ariens, chairman and CEO of Ariens. “The ability to perform more frequent system and sub-system testing, and new product validation, along with improved work flow, will also contribute to improved products and faster speed to market.”

No additional jobs will be added as a direct result of the expansion; however, the new center will harbor the company’s growth in product development, engineering, testing and industrial design, Ariens adds.

The company also plans to enhance its in-field product testing programs with the addition of a new test and development site in Sebring, Fla. This site, along with the new facility, will help allow technicians to validate new ideas and concepts in an outdoor setting prior to launch, reports Ariens.

Photo: Ariens Co.