STIHL sales subsidiary in Dieburg celebrates 40th anniversary and inauguration of the new logistics center

The STIHL sales subsidiary in Dieburg celebrated its 40th anniversary and the inauguration of its new logistics center with 300 guests on September 25. The investment of more than 25 million euros for the new building is the biggest of its kind in the history of STIHL’s German sale subsidiary. Hans Peter Stihl, general partner, stressed at the celebration: “The inauguration of the new logistics center is visible evidence of our success on the German market. I expect our growth curve to continue rising in Germany, too.”

The new buildings are scheduled to start operations in spring 2010. Norbert Pick, managing director of STIHL Vertriebszentrale AG & Co. KG, thanked the staff for their great contribution to the company’s success and pointed out: “Our new logistics center creates an important prerequisite for the competitiveness of the STIHL sales subsidiary. We have confirmed our commitment to Dieburg as a base and help secure local jobs.” The building work was completed without accidents, within budget and on time. The gross useful space of the logistics center is about 25,000 square meters. The conveyor system for order-picked goods has a total length of 1.2 km.

District administrator and city council welcome the investment
District administrator Alfred Jakoubek expressed his pleasure about the decision: “In showing its commitment to Dieburg, STIHL has made an important contribution towards the long-term security of the jobs here. Particularly in these difficult times for the economy, this decision is a positive signal for the eastern part of our district and helps strengthen Darmstadt-Dieburg as a business location.”

Wolfgang Schupp, Dieburg town councillor, said: “The town of Dieburg is very pleased about STIHL’s decision in favor of Dieburg as a base and we are happy that this decision was made before the economic crisis. The rapid progress of the building work has been remarkable. And the town of Dieburg is doing its part, too: Planning for the traffic roundabout in the Gewerbestrasse is well advanced. It is planned to have the new traffic roundabout ready to coincide with the logistics center’s start of operations in spring 2010.”

STIHL grows in 2009 – against trend in the industry
Going against the trend in the industry as a whole, STIHL’s turnover on the German market has developed positively in the first three quarters of the current year and is slightly above that of the same period last year. “Especially in difficult times, customers put their trust in STIHL and VIKING – well-known and time-proven brands. People want to invest their money in quality products that keep their value,” explained Hans Peter Stihl.

In expanding its logistics facilities the STIHL sales subsidiary has prepared the way for further growth, which is to be achieved with new products, new technologies and continuing customer orientation. STIHL is the market leader in chain saws and cut-off machines in Germany. With its range of gasoline-powered lawn mowers, VIKING is one the top brands among specialized servicing dealers and is striving to become the number one. Measured in terms of sales volume, the German sales subsidiary is the second largest in the STIHL Group and the largest in Europe. In 2008, it achieved a turnover of some 230 million euros. The products are sold exclusively through authorized servicing dealers.

(Voucher copy requested.)

Caption:

Hans Peter Stihl and Norbert Pick open the new logistics building.
The new logistics building in Dieburg.

Photograph: STIHL (Reprint free of charge/voucher copy requested)