History of STIHL Inc.

Learn about the more than 50-year history of STIHL Inc. as a top producer of legendary outdoor power equipment in America.

1970 - 1974

  • STIHL Incorporated opens for business in leased facility (1974)

1975 - 1979

  • First U.S. sales office opens (1975)

  • STIHL Inc. Manufacturing Plant I and Administrative Offices (121,000 square feet) open (1976)

1980 - 1984

  • Addition to Manufacturing Plant 1—including Tool and Die Shop, Crankshaft Heat-Treating, and Plastics Department—complete (1980)
  • Plant II (173,000 square foot) opens (1983)
  • Establishment of STIHL Inc. apprenticeship program (1984)

1985 - 1989

  • STIHL Inc. launches the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® series on ESPN (1985)
  • Production of the one millionth chainsaw in Virginia Beach (1986)
  • Introduction of STIHL Inc. line of protective apparel and accessories (1986)

1990 - 1994

  • Fred Whyte named President of STIHL Inc (1992)

1995 - 1999

  • 100th birthday of Andreas STIHL (1996)
  • Introduction of STIHL 029 Super FARM BOSS® chainsaw (1998)
  • Introduction of FS 120 / FS 200 trimmers (1998)

2000 - 2004

  • Introduction of STIHL HomeScaper Series™ (2000)
  • New Employee Services building opens (2000)
  • Addition to Raw Materials Warehouse/Manufacturing (72,000 square feet) complete (2001)
  • Introduction of revolutionary STIHL 4-MIX® technology and Precision Series™ hand tool line (2001)
  • Introduction and application of the STIHL Easy2Start™ recoil starting system (2003)
  • Introduction of the STIHL MM 55 YARD BOSS®, an innovative, multi-task yard care system (2003)
  • Third phase of manufacturing expansion (175,000 square feet) complete (2004)

2005 - 2009

  • Launch of the STIHL Marketing Advantage Program, allowing independent STIHL servicing dealers to compete with big box retailers (2005)
  • New guide bar production plant (60,000 square feet) opens (2007)
  • STIHL Inc. becomes the number one selling brand of gas-powered handheld outdoor power equipment among U.S. landscape professionals¹ (2007)
  • STIHL Inc. recognizes 1,000th certified Gold Level service technician (2008)
  • STIHL Inc. becomes the number one selling brand of gas-powered handheld outdoor power equipment in America² (2009)

2010 - 2014

  • Production of 50 millionth unit in the U.S. and Built in America campaign debuts (2012)
  • Introduction of the world's first battery-powered cut-off machine—TSA 230 STIHL Cutquik® (2014)
  • STIHL Inc. celebrates 40th Anniversary in U.S. (2014)

2015 - 2019

  • Independent retail network grows to 9,000 servicing dealers nationwide (2015)
  • STIHL Inc. apprenticeship program first in Virginia to receive German American Chamber of Commerce IHK certification (2015)
  • STIHL Inc. welcomes new President Bjoern Fischer (2016)
  • Introduction of STIHL Battery System, a complete line of consumer and professional battery products (2017)
  • First STIHL Inc. battery product, BGA 56, produced in the U.S. (2017)
  • Introduction of STIHL Inc. pressure washer line (2017)
  • STIHL Inc. rolls out largest product launch in company history (2017)
  • Construction begins on new $25 million, 80,000 square foot administration building (2018)
  • STIHL Inc. produces 75 millionth unit (2019)
  • STIHL Contra—the legendary chainsaw—turns 60 (2019)
  • STIHL Inc. announces collaboration with Sara Bendrick, licensed landscape contractor (2019) (2019)
  • Construction finalized on new $25 million, 80,000 square foot administration building (2019)

2020 – Present

  • STIHL connected launch (2020)
  • STIHL Inc. announces GTA 26 battery-powered garden pruner, first of its kind in the U.S. market (2021)
  • STIHL Inc. launches new battery-powered professional KombiMotor (2021)
  • Hearts of STIHL program launches to support America’s State Parks (2021)
  • STIHL Inc. announces the launch of the 135 Platform (2021)
  • MS 500i launched as first chainsaw on the worldwide market with fuel injection technology (2021)
  • STIHL Inc. announces “Made in America” marketing campaign (2022)
  • STIHL Inc. welcomes four new members to Executive Council: President and CEO Terry Horan, Vice President Finance Uwe Hirsch, Vice President Sales and Marketing Chris Keffer, and Vice President Human Resources Melody Doleman (2022)
  • STIHL Inc. launches gas-powered zero-turn line (2022)
  • Battery pack assembly begins in Virginia Beach manufacturing plant (2022)
  • Guide bar facility expansion announced—adding 26,000 square feet, totaling 86,000 square feet (2022)
  • STIHL Inc. manufacturing has a record-breaking production year (2022)
  • STIHL Inc. announces the dedication of Fred J. Whyte auditorium in admin building (2023)
  • STIHL Inc. named #30 (out of 500) on Forbes Best Midsize Employers list (2023)
  • Guide bar facility expansion completed (2023)
  • Chris Keffer named President of STIHL Inc. (2023)
  • STIHL becomes the number one selling brand of battery-powered handheld outdoor power equipment among landscape and tree care professionals in America³ (2023)

¹“Number one selling brand” is based on 2007-2023 syndicated and commissioned surveys conducted by Irwin Broh Research of the U.S. professional landscaper market.
²“Number one selling brand” is based on syndicated and commissioned surveys conducted by Irwin Broh Research among U.S. professional landscapers, as well as independent consumer research of 2009-2023 U.S. sales and market share data for the gas-powered handheld outdoor power equipment category combined sales to consumers and commercial landscapers.
³“Number one selling brand” is based on 2023 surveys conducted by Irwin Broh Research of the U.S. professional landscaper and tree care markets.