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Douglas Dynamics, parent company to the Western and Fisher brands of snow and ice control equipment for pick-up trucks, has acquired Calumet, Mich.-based Blizzard Corp.’s snowplow product line.
“We are excited about the opportunity we see in this product line," says Jim Janik, Douglas’ president and CEO. “We view Blizzard snowplows as high quality and innovative products that enjoy a high level of market acceptance.”
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Likewise, Cal Niemela, Blizzard’s president, says the acquisition “sets the stage for continued growth of the Blizzard brand of snowplows.”
Finalized on Nov. 1, the deal grants Douglas the Blizzard snowplow product line and its intellectual property rights. Blizzard’s Power Plow line was of particular interest to Douglas, says Rick Coolman, Douglas’s director of advertising and communication.
Blizzard’s Power Plow snowplow can expand it plowing width, or increase its carrying capacity, at the touch of a switch. This allows independent operation of each wing and the ability to configure the plow blade into a number of positions to carry more snow.
“Many of the plowers we talk to are intrigued by the power plow,” Coolman says. “There’s a lot of buzz about it in the industry; some in the industry consider (Blizzard’s Power Plow) as good, if not better than the v-plow.”
In a move announced late last week, Douglas acquires the Blizzard brand, which includes truck and skid steer mounted snowplows and accessories. The deal also allows Douglas, headquartered in Milwaukee, to take advantage of the large network of Blizzard dealers located across the U.S. and Canada.
“For the Blizzard customers it’s business as usual,” Coolman says.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed by either group. However, Blizzard plows will continue to be produced at Blizzard’s Calumet facility through 2006, Coolman says. The issue as to where the line will be manufactured after that time is still under review, he says.
Douglas has manufacturing facilities in Milwaukee; Rockland, Maine; and Johnson City, Tenn.
