Great Dane standers.. - Machine Underground -Tractor & Commercial Equipment Discussion Forum

MTPockets · 03-06-2008, 02:40 PM

Duc, what's the word on Great Dane mowers? Could this guy be for real? New!! Great Dane Super Commercial Zero-Turn Lawn Mower - eBay (item 310029475783 end time Mar-16-08 06:59:27 PDT)

Those prices definitely kill any local dealers. Last week he had fixed deck, 52" Surfers for ~$4200 w/ supposedly free shipping! A John Deere version of the Super Surfer is like $8K!! (Tax return burning a hole in pocket again !@#$)

Joel

**PaulChristenson** · 03-06-2008, 03:10 PM

If the ebay unit breaks, don't expect the local service company to do handsprings fixing it for you...

Assuming they can stay in business at all...

Currently...Great Dane has a 6 months same as cash followed with 1.9% financing thru their local dealers...so if you want to control your monthly cash flow...it still may be a better deal to go thru your local rep...
Great Dane - Commercial Lawn Mowers for Landscape Professionals

Here is their site...
Great Dane - Commercial Lawn Mowers for Landscape Professionals

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.
General Manager John Skaggs purchased the company's assets in 1976, changing the name to Auburn Consolidated Industries, Inc. That same year, Skaggs formed a partnership with Kubota Corporation, and when he passed away in September 1998, he left ownership as a joint venture between the Skaggs family and Kubota. The Skaggs family purchased the Kubota shares in 2005 to gain 100 percent ownership of the company. Donna Skaggs was ACI's President at that time, and the company continued with the same family values it was founded with: honesty, integrity, respect and appreciation of hard work.
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 family.

**Ducati996** · 03-06-2008, 03:11 PM

This was back in Oct/Nov 2007
Word among dealers is that Auburn Industries, the owner of Everide and Great Dane, has shut down manufacturing and laid off over 100 employees. This could be the end of Everide and Great Dane as stand alone brands.

Nov 2007
It is now official. Auburn Consolidated Industries has shut the doors due to financial problems.
Everide and Great Dane are finished, unless someone buys the company.

I havent heard if someone bought what was left from them since then

**Ducati996** · 03-06-2008, 03:15 PM

Just missed Pauls Posts- I know Ariens was in talks but was it really confirmed they and that great dane will continue on? Its was silent from Nov. on on that subject

MTPockets · 03-06-2008, 03:16 PM

Ahhh. That explains it. I thought the Ariens thing was solid. Apparently not. Still a pretty good deal for home owner service though. It is mostly 'farm equipment' on those machines from how it looks. Who's going to keep making the John Deere Quik-Trak then?

Joel

**PaulChristenson** · 03-06-2008, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducati996

Just missed Pauls Posts- I know Ariens was in talks but was it really confirmed they and that great dane will continue on? Its was silent from Nov. on on that subject

I just got off the Phone: (402-274-8600...then select Technical Support)
with the Service Manager in Nebraska...They are alive and manufacturing...Most of the excutive responsiblities were moved to Ariens HQ, which makes sense...and as an aside, he thinks that the eBay sales is a distributor who was dropped by Ariens...

**emerichsales** · 03-06-2008, 03:36 PM

Yes Ariens did Acquire Auburn.

I believe great dane was owned by JD which sold it to Auburn Consolidated Ind. which did close it's doors, Now Ariens has Acquired Auburn Consolidated Industries.

I have been told it's a good product

Here is one of the links about Ariens & Auburn
EverRide Commercial Lawn Mowers

Kevin

**emerichsales** · 03-06-2008, 03:37 PM

Another Ariens Links AriensÂ® >> Corporate Home >> Our Brands

**Ducati996** · 03-06-2008, 04:15 PM

Thanks guys!

I like wright standers better but thats just an opinion of mine

**emerichsales** · 03-06-2008, 09:28 PM

I have also heard the wright stander is a good machine.

Now you have the Toro Stander. Also looks good!

Kevin