About Stens

Stens is a parts company. Serving OEMs in supplying outdoor equipment parts, such as air filters, bearings and blades. The origin of Stens goes all the way back to 1957 when Jim Stenftenagel started a lawn mower sales and service dealership in Jasper, Indiana. Twelve years later in 1969, recognizing first hand the need for a good Midwestern parts supplier for quality replacement power equipment repair parts, Stenftenagel officially entered the parts business.

The first Stens parts catalog featured just 500 parts and was published in 1970. It was not until 1983 that Jim and his son Charles, who joined his father in business in 1973, decided to dedicate their total effort to the replacement service parts business. Jim Stenftenagel purchased a 92,000 square foot facility on 6 acres in downtown Jasper to provide much needed space for expansion. This new attention and focus paid large dividends. Sales increased over 400% over the next 6 years.

In the 1990s Stens' Jasper facility was expanded to approximately 100,000 square feet, providing much needed additional office and warehouse space. In October of 1995, the Ariens Co., one of the world's premier manufacturers of consumer outdoor power equipment, including lawnmowers and snow throwers, agreed to purchase the Stens Corporation. Since that milestone, a close working alliance has been forged between Stens, Ariens and Gravely International, which is also a wholly owned subsidiary of the Ariens Co.

Stens now benefits from the resources and knowledge of both a terrific consumer outdoor power product company and an outstanding commercial power equipment product company.

Also in the 1990's Stens opened its Harrisburg, PA and Charlotte, NC distribution centers. The Charlotte, NC distribution center moves 2 years later to Atlanta, GA. In December 1997, Stens purchased the assets of Foley Belsaw PLP of Rochester, NY. Stens acquired the PLP parts distribution, the Kwik Fix brand of packaged parts. During this period of growth and expansion Stens opened the Dallas, TX and Kansas City, MO distribution centers.

From the year 2000 and onwards Stens celebrates its 30th anniversary, and opens their Visalia, CA and Stevens Point, WI distribution centers. Stens added an industrial contruction rental replacement parts division. Stens then publishes the first full four color replacement parts catalog. The Stens Jasper warehouse and office facility moves to a new company owned facility. Also during this time, Karcher chooses Stens to be their U.S. distributor for their pressure washer parts.

Stens has multiple divisions; their Dealer Division where over 50,000 power equipment dealers served worldwide; their Distributor Division which is a customer group that serves power equipment dealers in geographic regions where Stens is not customer direct; and finally their Export Division where globally, Stens has been exporting products for more than ten years and is currently exporting goods to over 60 countries.

The Stens worldwide presence continues to grow through the combined efforts of the Ariens, Gravely and Stens International Marketing Departments.

Stens guarantees its parts 4 times longer than most original equipment manufacturers (OEM). Stens Corporation guarantees that any Stens goods shall be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service for ONE FULL YEAR from the date of purchase by the consumer end user. Most OEM warranty is only 30-days or a three month warranty. Stens stands behinds its parts for four times as long! See warranty details at the Stens.com website.

Aftermarket parts myth: Using aftermarket parts to repair or maintain equipment could void the equipment’s warranty. Some OEM manufacturers within our industry are using strong language and signs advising against the use of anything but OEM original parts. This tactic is leading many mechanics and businesses to believe that the use of non OEM aftermarket parts can void the warranty on a piece of equipment.

Aftermarket parts truth: A written warranty on consumer power equipment can NOT be voided because an aftermarket service part was used to repair or maintain that piece of equipment. A manufacturer CAN NOT stop you from using aftermarket parts in the repair of its products or of any other manufacturer’s products. Unless you are specifically performing a repair that you will file a warranty claim with the manufacturer, we recommend that you use high quality Stens aftermarket parts. Read the full aftermarket parts article here. Stens company information and history courtesy of Stens Corp, www.stens.com
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