"We have decided to bring forward the launch of our online shop planned for Spring without further delay, in order to offer our customers a point of contact for STIHL gardening tools, accessories and other STIHL products despite the comprehensive restrictions in the retail trade," says Norbert Pick, Executive Board Member Marketing and Sales, at STIHL.

On the new website, customers will receive the same expertise and professional service as when buying in a specialist shop. Those who have their tools delivered at home and want to put them directly to use will find the appropriate instruction videos and articles on the new site. There is also a section with project ideas and tips for your garden - from proper lawn care to DIY projects. Customer service is also available by telephone or e-mail for queries about the tools.

Strengthening the specialist trade right now

"Our specialist trade partners are fully integrated into the new e-commerce experience," Pick continues. With every purchase in the new STIHL online shop, the customer receives a recommendation for a nearby specialist dealer. Wherever the current situation permits, our representative can be consulted as usual, offering advice and professional service. "For providing these services, the local dealer receives a remuneration from STIHL at the time of purchase. In this way, we are strengthening the position of the local specialist dealer". Further services such as online purchase and in-store pick up as well as instruction and guidance from the specialist dealer will be added soon.

The new website with the official online shop is now available at stihl.de.

At its meeting on 17 December the supervisory board of STIHL AG appointed Martin Schwarz (44) executive board member manufacturing and materials as of 1 January 2020. Martin Schwarz joined the STIHL Group in 2012 as head of the technology, special machinery, central and factory planning division. He reports directly to the executive board chairman, Dr. Bertram Kandziora, who will in future take over development and implementation of company strategy in addition to his overall responsibility for business development. The executive board chairman‘s responsibilities therefore encompass development of strategy and company, strategic projects, digitalization, corporate communications, group quality management and internal auditing.

Executive board chairman Dr. Kandziora joined the STIHL Group in 2002 as the executive board member responsible for manufacturing and materials. He was appointed as board spokesman in 2003 and has been executive board chairman since 2005. Since his joining, the family-owned company has experienced strong growth. Revenue increased from €1.5 billion to €3.8 billion, the worldwide workforce grew by 10,000 to more than 17,000 today, and the number of STIHL subsidiaries throughout the world has almost doubled.

The changing market environment, customer behavior and distribution channels create both opportunities and strategic challenges. STIHL's key market is in a state of transition. A considerable share of the hitherto dominant gasoline powered products is being complemented and in some cases supplanted by battery powered products. Accompanying this is a significant increase in the number of competitors and new distribution channels, including eCommerce. The STIHL advisory and supervisory board chairman, Dr. Nikolas Stihl, said: "With the new executive board organization we have optimized the individual areas of responsibility. The executive board chairman can now focus on strategic issues and further boost company development. In this way we are taking account of growth in the STIHL Group and the increasing need for transformation."

From 1 January 2020 the enlarged executive board of STIHL AG thus comprises the executive board chairman Dr. Bertram Kandziora as well as Karl Angler (Finance and Information Systems), Anke Kleinschmit (Research and Development), Norbert Pick (Marketing and Sales), Dr. Michael Prochaska (Human Resources and Legal Affairs) and Martin Schwarz (Manufacturing and Materials). "We greatly appreciate the work of our executive board members and are pleased that we have been able to fill the manufacturing and materials post with an outstanding and well-prepared executive from within the company", said Dr. Nikolas Stihl.

Affirmation of the Swiss location
"In constructing the new building, the company is reaffirming its confidence in the Wil and Bronschhofen location, which we are very pleased to see. The connection between STIHL and Wil has a long history behind it. The company has been here for more than 45 years, creating and maintaining jobs and constantly investing in the future," said mayor Susanne Hartmann. Stefan Kölliker, member of the governing council, added: "STIHL is an excellent training company that offers young people a range of training and further education opportunities. I am delighted that STIHL is giving local young people great educational opportunities by providing nine apprenticeship-based career paths." The three-story entrance building which is being constructed on Hubstraße 100 in Wil will have a gross floor area of approximately 2,700 square metres. The canteen spaces will be located on the ground floor and first floor. This will provide plenty of space for catering to STIHL employees and STIHL dealers, 2,000 of whom come from all over the world each year to visit the chain plant. The rest of the building will contain a reception area, a training room for dealers and visitor groups, meeting rooms, offices and a room for handing over young children to and from the childcare facility when shifts change. The access road to the plant's site will also be redesigned. The entrance building is slated for completion in mid-2021.

Energy-efficient new building
In recent years, the STIHL chain plant has implemented an array of environmental protection measures and increased energy efficiency. These include heat recovery from compressors, the use of geothermal energy and improved insulation. These optimisations also have positive effects on the new entrance building. The new building will be connected to the production building's heating system, which will make it possible to use waste heat from the production facilities as a source of energy. This means there is no need for an additional boiler. "This enables us to operate the new building in a highly energy-efficient way," Joachim Zappe said.

STIHL saw chain production as a success factor
The STIHL chain factory has been part of STIHL's global manufacturing network for 45 years. The saw chains are exported to 160 countries around the world. Steadily growing demand has led to the constant expansion of the Swiss location in recent years. In 2008, for example, a second chain plant was established in Bronschhofen. It has since been expanded to cover 10,000 square metres. In 2013, a new logistics building was constructed on the site, and employees have had their own multi-storey car park since early 2018. The STIHL chain plant was founded in 1945, and initially employed six workers. Now, around 950 employees work in the STIHL chain plants in Wil and Bronschhofen. STIHL is currently the only chainsaw manufacturer in the world that develops and produces a range of saw chains in-house in addition to producing the powerhead and guide bars.

Caption
At the ground-breaking ceremony on 16 October 2019 from left: Daniel Fuchs (Architect), Joachim Zappe (Managin Director STIHL Kettenwerk Schweiz), Dr. Bertram Kandziora (Chairman of the STIHL executive board), Hans Peter Stihl (Honory Chairman of the STIHL Advisory and Supervisory Board), Dr. Nikolas Stihl (Chairman of the STIHL Advisory and Supervisory Board), Benedikt Würth (member of the governing council Kanton St. Gallen), Stefan Kölliker (member of the governing council Kanton St. Gallen) and Susanne Hartmann (Mayor of Wil).

Modernisation for employees and specialist dealers
Bjoern Fischer, President of STIHL Inc., noted: "After 45 years of growth and expansion in Virginia Beach, we are looking forward to a continued positive economic environment for our successful, modern manufacturing operations in the city." This new building will improve the company's administrative and operational efficiency, meaning that we can serve our network of more than 9,000 STIHL specialist dealers and their customers even more effectively." One of the facilities STIHL Inc. created in the course of the building measures is a state-of-the-art training centre for STIHL dealers with an outdoor area that provides space for practical training sessions and product tests. Other developments include a STIHL Concept Store, which contains a contemporary sales space, and a chainsaw helix art installation showcasing more than 30 STIHL chainsaws from various points in the company's history, which goes back over 90 years.

Close connection between STIHL, Virginia Beach and Waiblingen
STIHL Inc., based in Virginia Beach, was founded in 1974. It now employs more than 2,100 workers and is a major component in the global STIHL sales and manufacturing network. The United States is STIHL's most important market. The cities of Virginia Beach and Waiblingen, where the STIHL Group's headquarters are located, have been closely interconnected for many years. Regular student exchanges take place between Tallwood High School and Staufer Gymnasium as well as between Cox High School and Salier-Gymnasium, all financially supported by STIHL. There are also close links between the two areas' fire departments and artists' groups. Virginia Beach and Waiblingen have been Friendship Cities since 2017.