(Virginia
Beach, Va.) STIHL Inc., manufacturer of the world's
largest selling brand of chain saws, dedicated its
newest facility today. The 60,000-square-foot guide
bar production plant represents an investment of
$25 million and the latest in emerging technology
and is the first time the manufacturer has produced
its guide bars the in the U.S. Hans Peter Stihl,
chairman of the supervisory board of STIHL AG, and
son of STIHL's founder, Andreas Stihl, pushed
the ceremonial "start button” to bring
the plant to life.
Mr. Stihl, speaking to dignitaries, employees and
trade and local media, was proud of the U.S. plant's
growth. "In 1974, we began with less than 50
employees in a small 20,000-square-foot warehouse
in the Airport Industrial Park. We have now grown
to more than one million square feet of manufacturing
and administration space in Virginia Beach with more
than 2,000 employees nationwide. This extraordinary
growth is unprecedented within our global manufacturing
efforts."
Mr. Stihl was joined by Fred J. Whyte, president
of STIHL Inc., who commented on the company's
reputation for innovation and quality, "The
hallmark of STIHL has always been innovation and
a never-ending pursuit of manufacturing excellence.
What you see here in this building is representative
of the very best STIHL has to offer. A vision that
through the efforts of our engineers and manufacturing
personnel has become a reality, and another first
for STIHL."
Whyte also indicated that with North America as
one of STIHL's largest markets, manufacturing
guide bars in the U.S. would create efficiencies
advantageous to its operation and create more jobs
locally.
Peter Mueller, executive vice president of operations
for STIHL Inc., added. "This facility is the
most highly automated guide bar plant in the world.
Several STIHL technology patents are part of our
guide bar process, and even the machines themselves
are designed and patented by STIHL. From the special
alloy used in manufacturing to the 100% inspection,
this guide bar plant represents the very latest in
STIHL technology and processes."
In addition to the commitment to technology and
quality, the company is committed to socially responsible
environmental stewardship in its products and manufacturing
processes. As an example, the company cites the new
guide bar facility roof, which, according to Dan
Beck of Beck Roofing in Norfolk, Va., is the largest
privately-funded green roof in Virginia.
"It's a good use of space in that it
puts more than 56,000 sedum plants on the roof to
make it a ‘living' roof, which cools
the building in the summer and retains heat in the
cooler months, lowering energy usage.”
The green roof reduces energy consumption and costs,
extends roof life, improves sound insulation and
decreases stormwater runoff.
STIHL is the only chain saw manufacturer to produce
its own guide bars and saw chain. The original guide
bar facility is located in Waiblingen, Germany, and
saw chain manufacturing is based in Switzerland.
STIHL's Virginia Beach campus now includes
eight buildings on three parcels of land that total
over 83 acres.
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