The STIHL Group is stepping up its battery strategy, with new plans to manufacture battery-operated tools for professional users at its headquarters in Waiblingen, Germany. A new production facility will be set up at STIHL Plant 2 in Waiblingen-Neustadt and is set to begin operations in 2024. "Almost 20 percent of all STIHL tools sold worldwide are battery-operated," says Michael Traub, Chairman of the STIHL Executive Board. "Battery is our fastest-growing market segment and is an area of development that we continue to invest in significantly. By establishing a new battery-operated tool production facility, we are laying the groundwork to remain a leading player in the battery market." Martin Schwarz, STIHL Executive Board Member for Manufacturing and Materials, adds: "The decision to manufacture battery-operated tools in Waiblingen is a clear commitment to our production site in Germany. We are expanding our production capacities for battery-operated tools and ensuring that our international manufacturing network can effectively absorb rising demand."
Innovative STIHL battery-operated technology since 2009
The STIHL success story with battery-operated tools began in 2009 with the launch of STIHL's first battery-operated products: the STIHL HSA 65 and STIHL HSA 85 hedge trimmers. STIHL - which produces the tools and also the corresponding battery packs and chargers - has been continuously developing its battery technology for optimal output, performance, and weight. Now the STIHL product range includes more than 50 battery-operated tools for private consumers and professionals.
STIHL develops the tools, battery packs, and chargers in-house in its development center at the Waiblingen headquarters. The innovative battery technology from STIHL has always been at the cutting edge of development. Case in point: the TSA 230, the world's first ever battery-operated cut-off machine. The latest innovations from STIHL include the STIHL MSA 300 professional chainsaw, the most powerful battery-operated chainsaw currently available on the market. STIHL developed the AP 500 S battery pack especially for this tool. The pack offers outstanding performance at a low weight, as well as double the number of possible charging cycles, which significantly increases battery life span compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries.
A large number of STIHL battery-operated products are currently made in Austria by STIHL Tirol, as well as in the U.S., Germany, and China. The list of production sites will soon also include Romania, where STIHL is currently constructing a new production site for electric and battery-operated products.