Miracle Recreation Equipment Company

File:Miracle-Logo.png

Miracle Recreation Logo

Miracle Recreation is one of the oldest commercial playground manufacturers in the U.S. Providing children's playground equipment and amenities for parks and schools, throughout the world.

Claude Ahrens, 1954

The Beginning of Miracle

John Ahrens founded/started Miracle Recreation in Grinnell, Iowa in 1927, after he attended the Texas State Fair. John decided to revolutionize the design of the common merry-go-round after seeing an exhibit for a “Perpetual Motion Machine.” A single person could operate John’s new merry-go-round design. He called this new product the “Miracle Whirl”. From there, John was awarded a patent and created the company known as Ahrens Manufacturing Company.

John eventually passed down this company to his son Claude, in 1940. Claude already owned a very successful hybrid seed corn company but in 1946 he decided to focus his attention on manufacturing and selling the Miracle Whirl. Claude sold his seed corn business, and started Miracle Recreation Equipment Company, formerly known as Ahrens Manufacturing Company.

Claude set up the production for the Miracle Whirl merry-go-round in the Grinnell Glove Factory. Inheriting his inventiveness from his father, Claude worked to improve the design of the Miracle Whirl, redesigning it to replace the wooden platform with a more durable metal one, eliminating the center post and adding tubing handrails for the children to hold onto.

Claude also thought to paint the product with a distinctive candy stripe so the product was clearly identifiable, an idea he carried through to many other products as well.

Almost all of Miracle’s first customers were country schools. The schools bought the Miracle Whirl to entertain their students during recess. During 1947, Miracle’s first year of operation, 900 whirls were sold to schools throughout the state of Iowa.

Soon after, Miracle expanded their product offering to include other playground equipment such as swings, teeter-totters, and jungle gyms. Setting a new standard with the design of the Miracle Whirl, Claude and Miracle Recreation gained patents on their revolutionary designs for numerous products.^{[citation needed]}

The Growth of Miracle

After a fire in the Grinnell Glove Factory, a new facility was built on farmland purchased on the west side of Grinnell. The operation expanded rapidly and Claude soon hired sales managers assigned to specific districts and states. By 1960, Miracle had over 40 district managers covering the entire country and the company had established itself as the leader in the recreation and parks market.^{[citation needed]} Miracle’s moved into the new facility in 1963.

Miracle pioneered the use of fiberglass for slides and canopies which helped to differentiate its products from the competition. Fiberglass also allowed Miracle to create colorful, creative playground components, easily recognizable around the country. Miracle was the first playground manufacturer to use powder coating of steel parts in the late 1960s.

After World War II, Miracle widened their market to include the increasingly popular drive-in movie theaters, selling two smaller versions of carousels that were commonly found at fairs and amusement parks. The first year they sold over 200 carousels, which Claude Ahrens described as his “first big money in the recreation equipment business” for Miracle.^{[citation needed]}

Miracle Carousel 1960

After experiencing a splinter while sitting on a wooden bleacher at a University of Iowa football game, Claude set out to create bleachers made from the fiberglass he used in many of Miracle’s playground items. Creating a new manufacturing process on the fly, Miracle replaced the wooden bleachers at University of Iowa a with fiberglass coverings, saving the university over $60,000.

This new product quickly gained popularity^{[citation needed]} and soon orders were coming in from other large schools such as the University of Michigan and Ohio State. After some adjustments to product materials, seating soon became one of Miracle’s most important offerings.

By 1970, Miracle Recreation Equipment had over 200 employees selling and manufacturing playground equipment and bleachers at facilities in Iowa, California and Virginia.

Fast Food Revolution

Miracle was the first to design and manufacturing playgrounds and sets for the fast food industry. Miracle purchased the Setmaker Company in California, and with the help of Claude’s son, Paul Ahrens, they began creating playground designs for fast food giant McDonald's. Miracle had installed play equipment at over 500 McDonald’s throughout the USA. Together, Paul and Claude developed over 16 patents for their revolutionary designs.^{[citation needed]}

Miracle Switches Hands

Paul Ahrens eventually became President of Miracle in 1972, the same year the company sold 30% of its shares to the public. After facing labor struggles in the 1980s, the company began moving some operations to factories outside of Grinnell, Iowa. Paul announced plans in 1982 to build a new plant in Monett, Missouri.

By 1983 Paul had resigned as chair of the Miracle board and turned the business over to Sharp Lannom. Choosing Sharp for his corporate business views, the decision was made to move complete operations for the company to Monett in 1986; the plant in Grinnell was later closed. Sharp resigned later in 1986, after feeling he had accomplished moving the company and resolving the labor issues. Paul became chairman of Miracle late in 1986. Claude Ahrens had sold all of the stock in the company to his son, giving him controlling interest of the company.

In 1989 Paul lost his battle with cancer. After putting all his possessions as collateral against the company, Claude bought the firm’s shares back private and took over Miracle once again.

By that time, Claude was looking to sell Miracle Recreation Equipment Company. After many successful years of ownership, Miracle Recreation Equipment Company was then sold to PlayPower in 2002.

Miracle Today

Miracle Recreation Equipment Company is today one of the oldest and largest manufacturers of commercial playground and recreational equipment in the United States. Based in Monett, Missouri, Miracle offers made to order products. The company has over 400 employees, over 100 domestic sales consultants, and 40 international distributors.^{[citation needed]}

Innovator

Miracle Recreation holds over 38 patents registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on its playground equipment. See Also Wiki Patents

As an environmentally conscious business, Miracle takes numerous steps to reduce pollution and waste including:

• Recycling damaged plastic molded parts

• Selling unused plastic regrind to keep it out of landfills

• Recycling all steel cutoffs into new steel

• Using rubber mulch from recycled tires

• Slashing waste through improved technology and processes

• Implementing new corrugated, battery and plastic recycling programs

As a company who is constantly looking to shape the future of play, Miracle has developed a number of innovations that have changed the face of the playground industry. These innovations have not only made playgrounds more exciting, but safer as well.^{[citation needed]}

• Anti-microbial paint options that help prevent growth of bacteria and mold

• Mega Tower: A vertical design that offers maximum play within a small foot print

• Versalok? Clamp System – a Miracle exclusive

• Spiral slides up to 12 feet high

• Gator Grip? – for gripping comfort

• Patented Easy-Slide tensioning system for quick, easy removal of stand suns shades and toppers

• Innovative new MiracleTech? security products

Partnership With National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

In October 2009 Miracle Recreation Equipment Company announced they have became a corporate sponsor of The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Pledging to donate more than $250,000 to NCMEC over the next three years. Read full story

External links

• Miracle Recreation Equipment Company - Official Website