CLASSEN – Built To Use. Designed to Last™.

The Classen brand was established in 1973 by Tom and Sylvia Classen who purchased Reds Blacksmith Shop (a repair facility) located in Norfolk, NE. Within a few years, they changed direction to manufacture wrought iron products, reality sign posts, automatic can crushers, and other miscellaneous items. In 1977, the company branched off and also became a structural steel fabricator. By the early 80's, a walk behind core aerator was designed. This was the birth of the Classen turf renovation equipment line. This division eventually became the main focus and the driving growth of the brand. Several aerators, de-thatchers, and turf seeders were included to round out the line. The easy to use and maintain design of Classen brand equipment quickly made the brand a favorite of commercial and rental markets.

In 2004, Schiller-Pfeiffer (now Schiller Grounds Care, Inc.) acquired the Classen brand and its full line of turf renovation equipment. The acquisition of Classen brand products broadened Schiller's market appeal, catapulting the company into the grounds maintenance industry through a dedicated turf care equipment line that has been an established leader in the turf care industry for more than 30 years. Classen equipment includes a complete line of commercial aerators, turf rakes/dethatchers, sod cutters and seeders. Model types include walk-behind, self-propelled, split-drive, tow-behinds, and most recently a stand-on aerator.

Schiller Grounds Care, Inc.

Schiller Grounds Care, Inc. was established on January 1, 2009, the mergence of Schiller-Pfeiffer, Inc., manufacturer of Classen, Little Wonder and Mantis brand gardening, landscaping and turf care equipment and Commercial Grounds Care, Inc., manufacturer of BOB-CAT, Bunton, Ryan and Steiner brand grounds care equipment. The two companies had been affiliated since August of 2006 when Commercial Grounds Care, Inc. was established thru the acquisition of the commercial grounds care division of Jacobsen, a Textron Company. Schiller-Pfeiffer, Inc. was established in 1938 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The new name combines the strengths and assets of both companies.

Schiller Grounds Care employs over 300 people across three manufacturing facilities located in Johnson Creek WI, Norfolk, NE and Southampton, PA. The Pennsylvania facility is also the corporate office. While the new Schiller Grounds Care, Inc. may not have a longstanding history of its own established yet, the equipment brands represented within total 348 years of experience in the green industry. Each brand has its own reputation and its own unique story...