Our mission is to be the premier supplier of high-quality turf equipment, utility vehicles, golf cars and tractors delivering superior performance for our customers while also working to be environmentally conscious.
Our heritage goes back to the late 1700s when Robert Ransome moved his ironmongery and foundry business from Norwich to Ipswich to set up a new foundry manufacturing cast-iron plough shares. In 1832 he built the world’s first commercial lawnmower under licence from the inventor, Edwin Budding. Exhibited at The Great Exhibition in Hyde Park in 1851, the 16” Budding cost £6 5s while the 19” version could be bought for £6 15s.
For over 180 years we have been at the forefront of the professional groundscare industry and have introduced numerous innovative products over that period of time. In 1902 we were the first company to power a ride-on mower using a petrol engine; one of the first was sold to Cadburys to maintain their Bournville sports ground. In the early 1930s we introduced the first mower to be powered by electricity; the 20” version of the Ransomes Electra weighed three hundredweight and was supplied with 50 yards of cable!
During the Second World War we built parts for Spitfires and also produced munitions casing in our foundry. Moving forward to the mid-1960s we introduced the Motor Triple, with one centre-mounted and two front-mounted cylinders, the forerunner of many ride-on triplex mowers that are used by local authorities and contractors today.
In 1974 we introduced the first hydraulically driven ride-on mower, the Motor 5/3, beginning a trend that continues to this day. In the 1980s we expanded into the USA, purchasing Wiscounsin Marine, which eventually became Ransomes Inc to take advantage of the lucrative USA and Canadian markets.
In 1998, Textron – a multi-industry conglomerate based out of Rhode Island and owners of Jacobsen, a manufacturer of golf course mowing equipment and E-Z-GO, the world’s largest manufacturer of golf cars – purchased Ransomes and merged it with Jacobsen and changed the name of the Ipswich business to Ransomes Jacobsen.
With a heritage stretching back over 180 years, we have built a legacy of precision craftsmanship, legendary quality of cut and unmatched expertise. Dedicated to delivering perfectly groomed turf, our equipment is used on some of the finest turf areas around the world. Today we build mowers to maintain prestigious championship golf courses, sports stadia, parks and large open spaces, sports pitches, local authority green spaces and much, much more.
Recognised for our high quality, competitive products and the most comprehensive range of turf care equipment in the business, we distribute a wide range of products under the Jacobsen, Ransomes, E-Z-GO, Cushman, Smithco, Turfco, Ryan and Iseki brands.
This is complemented by our commitment to the environment, where we are probably the most fastidious manufacturer in the industry. We are still the only turf equipment manufacturer to be accredited with ISO 14001 certification, , the international standard for environmental management.
