STIHL Inc., a global leader in outdoor power equipment, proudly celebrated its 50th anniversary of U.S. manufacturing operations on Oct. 10, 2024. The Virginia Beach, Va.-based company is also making news for its expanded investment into battery-powered tools, with more than 84,000 square feet dedicated to battery manufacturing in America.

A statement released Oct. 8 by the company noted that the conversion to battery-powered tools continues to be the leading trend in the outdoor power equipment industry, and the fastest-growing market segment. The company reported that, through 2025, STIHL Inc. will have invested over $60 million towards battery manufacturing, including the production of battery-powered blowers, pruners, trimmers, and multi-attachment tools, as well as the assembly of over five different battery packs to power those units at its state-of-the-art Virginia Beach, Va. factory.

The expansion of the STIHL battery-operated product and service portfolio is in full swing, noted the company update. 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 84K square feet of warehouse space to battery tool manufacturing in 2023.

“In producing our battery products here in the United States, we prioritize excellence, leveraging our vertically integrated manufacturing processes to ensure the highest quality standards,” said STIHL Inc. President and CEO Chris Keffer.

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. The company further reported that 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.

“STIHL’s legacy in the United States is a testament to the enduring relationships we’ve cultivated over the past five decades," said 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,” he added.

Company History

A company statement noted that 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. reports it continues to invest in U.S. operations and the expansion and development of its STIHL Dealer network, presently comprising more than 10,000 authorized local U.S. STIHL Dealers across the country.

STIHL Inc. has steadily expanded its Virginia Beach operations to 1.4M 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.

Since its inception in 1974, the STIHL Inc. campus evolved from a single 20,000-square-foot rented warehouse to well over 1.5 million square feet of manufacturing and administrative space on more than 150 acres. In Virginia Beach, as a result of record sales over several years, operations expanded by nearly 50 percent, resulting in over 1,000 new U.S. manufacturing jobs since 2020.

The U.S. affiliate of the global STIHL Group, STIHL Inc. exports to more than 80 countries around the world, and the majority of STIHL products sold in America are made in America, according to the company. STIHL products are for distribution in the U.S. only. The company supports multiple nonprofit organizations, including the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), National Association of Landscape Professionals, America’s State Parks, the American Green Zone Alliance, among others.