(July 11, 2017) MILWAUKEE — Employees at Briggs & Stratton Corporation's Murray, Ky., plant recently hit a major milestone: producing their 85 millionth small engine. The Kentucky plant began making Briggs & Stratton engines in 1985. Over time, the plant has grown to employ over 900 workers and produces more engines than any other Briggs & Stratton facility.

"To make 85 million engines at Murray is an accomplishment that gives us great joy because it represents so much of what we do and believe in every day," said Rick Zeckmeister, vice president of engines marketing and planning at Briggs & Stratton.

"It means that our dedication to innovation, excellence and the American workforce continues to come together into a product that our customers value and trust will help them get their outdoor work done."

As the world's leading engine designer and manufacturer for outdoor power equipment, 109-year-old Briggs & Stratton cites American manufacturing as a key to its success. Briggs & Stratton makes 85 percent of its small engines in the U.S. of U.S. and globally sourced parts. That American production is not just important to Briggs & Stratton, it's also important to communities and consumers. Many studies have shown that given the choice, consumers would rather buy American-made goods. In fact, over 70 percent of outdoor power equipment owners indicated that they prefer to buy products that are made in the U.S.A.

Employees at the Kentucky facility produce vertical-shaft engines for outdoor power equipment and are responsible for many stages of the design, production and assembly process. These engines then go onto lawn mowers and other outdoor power equipment used daily in the U.S. and around the world.

"There's a lot of pride that goes into the products we make," said Dave DeBaets, vice president of global engine operations at Briggs & Stratton. "The quality and quantity of engines we've produced at this facility alone is another example of the leadership Briggs & Stratton has in U.S. manufacturing."

The manufacturing site, located at Murray is one of the four Briggs & Stratton engine manufacturing plants in the U.S. and one of eight overall U.S. manufacturing facilities.