(Virginia Beach, VA) —
STIHL Inc
., manufacturer of the number one
selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment in America*,
will expand its operation by 53,256 square feet at the Virginia Beach U.S.
headquarters. The expansion, scheduled for completion in spring 2012,
represents a total capital investment of $10.3 million and the creation of 52
new jobs.
STIHL Inc.
established its U.S. headquarters in Virginia Beach more than 30 years ago with
less than 50 employees
in a small 20,000-square-foot
warehouse
.
Since then, STIHL has grown into more than one million square feet of
manufacturing
and administration
space
on 89 acres with more than 2,000 employees nationwide.
“Our
Virginia Beach workforce has proven its ability to meet the demands of our
customers, both here and overseas,” said Peter Mueller, executive vice
president for STIHL Inc. “Because of the manufacturing-friendly environment in
Virginia Beach, we are able to compete domestically and globally, ultimately,
allowing us to continue to expand our operations here.”
The
expansion adds 53,256 square feet of additional high performance manufacturing
capacity to an existing building. STIHL’s capital investment includes $4.6
million in new machinery and tools to accommodate growth in the blow molding
operation. The expansion will double the company’s blow molding capabilities
enabling them to manufacture additional blow molded components on site, expand
its line-winding operations for trimmers and relocate welding operations.
The
Virginia Beach
Development Authority has awarded STIHL Inc. an Economic Development
Investment Program grant in the amount of $100,000 based on the capital
investment and number of full-time jobs created.
“STIHL’s continued growth and
success in the city is very impressive,” said Warren D. Harris, director of the
Virginia Beach
Department of Economic Development. “It is one of the largest manufacturing
employers in the region, and we are extremely pleased that this expansion will
bring new high-paying jobs for our citizens.”
For more information on STIHL
Inc., visit http://www.stihlusa.com/.
About STIHL Inc.
STIHL Inc. manufactures the number one selling
brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment in America for homeowners
and professional landscapers*, as well as the number one selling brand of chain
saws in the world. STIHL products are sold through servicing power equipment
retailers from coast to coast – not mass merchants. STIHL products sold through
U.S. STIHL dealers are for distribution in the United States only. For more
information or for the name of a local STIHL retailer, call toll free 1-800-GO
STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit the dealer locator on the STIHL website at http://www.stihlusa.com/.
*"Number
one selling brand" is based on syndicated Irwin Broh Research (commercial
landscapers) as well as independent consumer research of 2009-2011 U.S. sales
and market share data for the gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment
category combined sales to consumers and commercial landscapers.
STIHL is pleased to support the work of Independent We Stand, the Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund
(TREE Fund), International Society of
Arboriculture (ISA), the Tree Care
Industry Association (TCIA), National FFA, Professional Landcare Network (PLANET),
the American Tree Farm System (ATFS),
and the National Association of State Park
Directors.
