STIHL

What they do

STIHL makes power tools for forestry, landscaping, construction and gardens. Chainsaws are the products most associated with the name, but the range also covers brush cutters, hedge trimmers, blowers, cut-off machines, robotic lawnmowers and the protective clothing that goes with them.

The company was founded by the engineer Andreas Stihl in Stuttgart in 1926 and marked its centenary in 2026. It is headquartered in Waiblingen, east of Stuttgart, and describes itself as a family-owned business and a global market leader in its field.

Why it matters

Andreas Stihl's early work on motorised saws helped mechanise timber felling, which had long relied on hand tools. The chainsaw became a basic tool of forestry worldwide, and STIHL built its brand on durability and a dealer network that sells and services its machines.

The current shift is from petrol engines to batteries. Tighter emissions and noise rules, especially in cities, are pushing professional users towards cordless tools. STIHL's interchangeable battery systems, which power many different tools from one pack, are its answer and a test of whether an engine specialist can lead in electric equipment.

Products to know

• Chainsaws: petrol and battery models for professional forestry and home users.
• AP battery system: a professional cordless platform with batteries shared across many tools.
• iMOW: robotic lawnmowers for private gardens.
• Brush cutters and cut-off machines: tools for landscapers and construction crews.

The German angle

STIHL belongs to the dense cluster of engineering firms around Stuttgart, alongside automotive and machine-tool makers that share suppliers and skilled labour. Most of its core components are still developed in the Waiblingen area.

Family ownership has given it a long view. The company also links its name to social commitments through the Eva Mayr-Stihl Foundation. Like most German manufacturers of its kind, it trains its own technicians and mechanics through the dual apprenticeship system.