[Pictured: 2024 Stihl employees at Virginia Beach, Va., headquarters.]
Stihl Inc., a global leader in outdoor power equipment, is celebrates its 50th anniversary of U.S. manufacturing operations, highlighting five decades of growth, innovation and community impact. Since establishing its U.S. operations in Virginia Beach, Va., in 1974, the company has grown from assembling a single chainsaw model in a 20,000-square-foot facility into a major manufacturer of both gasoline and battery-powered equipment. With more than 2,700 employees and a sprawling 150-acre campus, Stihl Inc. continues to invest in U.S. operations and the expansion and development of its STIHL Dealer network.
“Stihl’s legacy in the United States is a testament to the enduring relationships we’ve cultivated over the past five decades,” said Stihl Inc. president and CEO Chris Keffer. “Our success is not just measured in numbers, but reflects the dedication of our employees, the strong connections with our customers and the community, and the shared growth of our branches and independent distributors who support over 10,000 Stihl dealers nationwide.”
Stihl Inc. has steadily expanded its Virginia Beach operations to 1.4 million square feet of operating space, while pushing the boundaries of precision engineering and high-tech manufacturing. Production surged over the last 50 years and by the end of 2024, Stihl expects to hit the milestone of 100 million units produced. The Virginia Beach facility also manufactures more than 65 million parts and 350,000 miles of trimmer line each year.
“Manufacturing right in the U.S. has not only allowed us to build the highest-quality products, but it has also strengthened our bond with our customers,” said Keffer. “It’s just one of the many reasons Stihl is the No. 1 selling brand of gasoline and battery-powered handheld outdoor power equipment in America among the pros. More importantly, this accolade wouldn’t be possible without the perseverance and dedication of the thousands of Stihl employees over these 50 years.”
The designation “No. 1 selling brand” is based on 2007-2023 syndicated and commissioned surveys and 2023 surveys conducted by Irwin Broh Research of the U.S. professional landscaper and tree care markets.
Boom in battery power
In other news, Stihl announced that through 2025, the company will have invested more than $60 million towards battery manufacturing, including the production of battery-powered blowers, pruners, trimmers, and multi-attachment tools, as well as the assembly of more than five different battery packs to power those units.
The Stihl product range includes more than 80 battery-operated tools for consumers and professionals; almost every fourth Stihl product sold is battery-operated. Thirty new battery-operated products are scheduled to hit the market worldwide over the next two years alone. Stihl aims to increase the share of sales from battery-operated products to at least 35 percent by 2027, with a target of 80 percent by 2035. In support of that goal, Stihl Inc., the U.S. operations for the Stihl Group, converted 84,000 square feet of warehouse space to battery tool manufacturing in 2023.
In 2023, battery unit production accounted for 16 percent of all units produced at Stihl Inc., compared to five years ago when just one battery-powered model, the BGA 56 blower, was assembled in the U.S. What started as one assembly line with less than ten employees grew to over 100 employees dedicated to battery products and battery pack manufacturing. By the end of 2023, battery unit production capacity at Stihl Inc. increased by more than 150 percent year-over-year. A significant increase is expected again by the end of 2024.