MTD Holdings
MTD Holdings, formerly Modern Tool & Die and commonly known as MTD Products, is an American manufacturer and brand portfolio owner specializing in outdoor power equipment.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
MTD Holdings is an American outdoor power-equipment company whose roots lie in Modern Tool & Die, a Cleveland-area tool-and-die business established in 1932 by Theo Moll, Emil Jochum, and Erwin Gerhard. The company began by producing perforating dies and machinery used to form window channels, then expanded into automotive stampings and a broad range of consumer and commercial products. Its early manufacturing experience in metal forming became the industrial foundation for a later move into lawn, garden, and seasonal outdoor equipment. The company entered garden equipment in the 1950s, first making wheelbarrows and then moving into powered lawn equipment. It introduced an 18-inch rotary mower in 1958 and began producing self-propelled mowers, garden tractors, and related equipment in 1959. Snow throwers were added in 1968. Over time, MTD developed or acquired a wide brand portfolio, including Troy-Bilt, Bolens, Cub Cadet, Yard-Man, White Outdoor Products, Remington, Rover, and Robomow. It also manufactured products associated with Craftsman, including lawn mowers and snow throwers sold through the Sears-linked brand ecosystem. MTD's model range has covered residential lawn mowers, riding tractors, zero-turn equipment, snow throwers, engines, handheld garden tools, chainsaws, robotic mowers, and selected commercial turf products. Expansion was driven both by internal manufacturing investment and acquisitions. MTD purchased Sehl Engineering in Canada in 1962, acquired the Cub Cadet line from International Harvester and White Outdoor Products in 1981, and added Garden Way and its Troy-Bilt and Bolens brands in 2001. The company also acquired the North American outdoor-products business of Ryobi in 2000, although the Ryobi outdoor brand was subsequently transferred for use by Ryobi Tools and its parent group. Other portfolio additions included Remington Chainsaws in 2009, Rover Mowers in Australia in 2010, and Robomow, also known as Friendly Robotics, in 2017. MTD was historically majority family-owned and privately held. Its ownership structure began changing in 2018, when Stanley Black & Decker announced an agreement to buy a 20 percent interest for $234 million. The agreement included an option to acquire the remaining interest beginning in 2021. Stanley Black & Decker exercised that option, completing the acquisition of the remaining 80 percent in August 2021. MTD consequently became a wholly owned subsidiary of Stanley Black & Decker. The transaction also aligned MTD more closely with the Craftsman brand after Stanley Black & Decker acquired Craftsman from Sears Holdings, with MTD manufacturing certain Craftsman outdoor products. Today, MTD is best understood as a manufacturing and brand platform within Stanley Black & Decker rather than as a single consumer-facing label. Its principal market role is to design, manufacture, source, and support outdoor power equipment sold under multiple brands and through mass-market, dealer, and commercial channels. Major competitors identified for the company include Ariens, Briggs & Stratton, Husqvarna, John Deere, Stiga, Stihl, and The Toro Company.
History
MTD Holdings originated in 1932 when Theo Moll, Emil Jochum, and Erwin Gerhard formed a partnership to purchase the assets of Modern Tool and Die Company in Cleveland. The initial investment was reported as $4,500. MTD first supplied industrial customers with perforating dies and a rolling machine used in the production of window channels. Employment expanded from 12 workers in 1933 to 60 in 1934. In 1936, the company began producing automotive stampings, including grilles for Graham-Paige automobiles. A major diversification phase began in 1952 with the purchase of a controlling interest in Midwest Industries. This brought pedal bicycles, velocipedes, kiddie cars, and playground equipment into the business. MTD entered garden equipment in 1954 with wheelbarrows and moved into powered lawn equipment in 1958 through an 18-inch rotary mower. In 1959 it added self-propelled mowers, garden tractors, and other powered products. The company entered snow equipment in 1968 with snow throwers. MTD expanded its manufacturing footprint and Canadian presence during the 1960s and 1970s. It acquired Sehl Engineering in Canada in 1962, later developing the operation into MTD Products Ltd. and MTD Canada. Industrial Plastics Company was acquired in 1966, and MTD began making bicycles in 1967. The company purchased the Yard-Man name from Montgomery Ward in 1975. Its bicycle activity included muscle bikes and the MTD SS5 Chopper, introduced in 1969, but the bicycle brand later faded while Columbia continued in the market. The 1980s brought additional plants and important brand acquisitions. MTD opened a large manufacturing plant in Brownsville, Tennessee, in 1980. In 1981 it acquired the Cub Cadet product line from International Harvester and White Outdoor Products Company from the former White Motor Company. Further expansion included the Martin, Tennessee plant and acquisition of Arnold Corporation in 1985, followed by Aircap Industries in 1986. MTD later built a transmission facility in Leitchfield, Kentucky, and formed Commercial Turf Products with Lesco in 1996. During the 2000s, MTD broadened its international and product capabilities. A Hungarian manufacturing facility opened in 2000, and the acquisition of Ryobi's North American outdoor-products business added capacity for engines and handheld garden tools. MTD acquired Garden Way in 2001, obtaining the Troy-Bilt and Bolens brands. Its Ryobi Outdoor Power Equipment division stopped producing products under the Ryobi name in 2003, after which rights to use the name for outdoor products were sold to Ryobi Tools and its affiliated group. MTD also manufactured lawn equipment under the FMC brand for European sales, produced low-end tractors for Toro, and supported Craftsman product programs, including snow throwers using engines sourced from a third-party Chinese manufacturer. Portfolio expansion continued with the acquisition of Remington Chainsaws from Desa International in 2009, Rover Mowers from GWA International in Australia in 2010, and Robomow in 2017. MTD remained a majority family-owned private company until Stanley Black & Decker acquired a 20 percent stake in 2018 for $234 million. The agreement gave Stanley Black & Decker an option to buy the remaining interest from July 2021. That option was exercised, and the remaining 80 percent was acquired in August 2021. MTD is now a wholly owned Stanley Black & Decker subsidiary, supplying a broad portfolio of consumer and commercial outdoor power equipment under several established brands.
- 2021
MTD becomes wholly owned by Stanley Black & Decker
[1]Stanley Black & Decker acquired the remaining 80 percent of MTD, completing its takeover of the company.
- 2018
Stanley Black & Decker buys minority stake
[1]Stanley Black & Decker agreed to acquire a 20 percent stake in MTD Products for $234 million.
- 2017
Robomow acquired
[1]MTD acquired Robomow, also known as Friendly Robotics, expanding into robotic lawn mowing.
- 2010
Rover Mowers acquired
[1]MTD's Australian operation acquired Rover Mowers from GWA International.
- 2009
Remington Chainsaws acquired
[1]MTD acquired the Remington Chainsaws brand from Desa International.
- 2001
Garden Way acquired
[1]The acquisition brought the Troy-Bilt and Bolens brands into the MTD portfolio.
- 2000
Ryobi outdoor-products business acquired
[1]MTD acquired Ryobi's North American outdoor-products business and opened a Hungarian manufacturing facility.
- 1981
Cub Cadet and White Outdoor Products added
[1]MTD acquired the Cub Cadet product line from International Harvester and White Outdoor Products Company from the former White Motor Company.
- 1975
Yard-Man name acquired
[1]MTD purchased the Yard-Man name from Montgomery Ward.
- 1968
Snow thrower production begins
[1]MTD began manufacturing snow throwers, extending its product range into seasonal winter equipment.
Products and positioning
A multi-brand manufacturer and private-label production platform serving mass-market, residential, dealer, and commercial outdoor-power-equipment channels.
Lawn and garden equipment · 1981
Cub Cadet
Cub Cadet is one of MTD's principal outdoor-equipment brands. Its portfolio is associated with riding lawn mowers, lawn tractors, zero-turn mowers, walk-behind equipment, utility products, and other residential and commercial lawn-care machinery. MTD acquired the Cub Cadet product line from International Harvester in 1981.
Residential outdoor power equipment · 2001
Troy-Bilt
Troy-Bilt is a major residential brand in MTD's portfolio, covering lawn mowers, cultivators, tillers, snow throwers, garden equipment, and related outdoor power products. The brand entered MTD through the 2001 acquisition of Garden Way.
Lawn and garden equipment · 2001
Bolens
Bolens is an outdoor-equipment brand acquired by MTD with Garden Way. It has been used across lawn and garden products aimed primarily at residential and value-oriented customers.
Lawn and garden equipment · 1975
Yard-Man
Yard-Man is a long-standing MTD brand acquired from Montgomery Ward in 1975. The name has been associated with consumer lawn mowers, garden tractors, snow equipment, and other residential outdoor products.
Private-label and branded outdoor equipment
Craftsman outdoor power equipment
MTD manufactures selected Craftsman outdoor power equipment through the relationship between MTD, Stanley Black & Decker, and the Craftsman brand. Products have included lawn mowers, tractors, and snow throwers. MTD-built Craftsman mowers have used Sears-associated 247 model prefixes.
Robotic lawn mowers · 2017
Robomow
Robomow, formerly associated with Friendly Robotics, gave MTD a presence in robotic lawn mowing. The acquisition broadened MTD's portfolio beyond conventional engine-powered lawn equipment into autonomous residential garden maintenance.
Lawn mowers · 2010
Rover
Rover Mowers is an Australian lawn-care brand acquired by MTD Australia from GWA International in 2010. It added a regionally established mower business to MTD's international portfolio.
Bicycles · 1967
MTD bicycles
MTD produced bicycles beginning in the 1960s, with a focus on muscle-bike designs. The MTD SS5 Chopper was introduced in 1969. The bicycle activity later declined and the MTD bicycle brand faded, while Columbia continued as a separate bicycle name.
Brand decisions
2021
Complete sale of MTD to Stanley Black & DeckerM&ABackground
Stanley Black & Decker held a 20 percent stake and had an option to purchase the remaining 80 percent of MTD beginning in July 2021.
Action taken
Stanley Black & Decker exercised its option and acquired the remaining ownership in August 2021.
Aftermath
MTD became a wholly owned subsidiary of Stanley Black & Decker and continued operating as a multi-brand outdoor power-equipment business.
2018
Accept a minority investment from Stanley Black & DeckerM&ABackground
MTD was a privately held, majority family-owned outdoor power-equipment company seeking a strategic ownership relationship with Stanley Black & Decker.
Action taken
MTD agreed to sell Stanley Black & Decker a 20 percent stake for $234 million, while granting an option to acquire the remaining interest beginning in 2021.
Aftermath
The transaction established a path toward full ownership and connected MTD more closely with Stanley Black & Decker's broader outdoor-products and Craftsman strategy.
Purchase price for 20 percent stake. $234 million (2018 announcement)
2003
End Ryobi-branded outdoor-equipment productionStrategyBackground
MTD had acquired Ryobi Limited's North American outdoor-products business in 2000.
Action taken
MTD stopped manufacturing outdoor power equipment under the Ryobi brand and sold rights to use the Ryobi name for outdoor products to Ryobi Tools and its affiliated group.
Aftermath
MTD retained expanded production capabilities while the Ryobi outdoor brand moved into a different ownership and operating arrangement.
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