The STIHL Group is to expand its international manufacturing network by investing around 125 million euros in the coming years in a new production site for electric and battery-operated prod-ucts in Oradea, Romania. This will enable the family-owned company not only to increase its pro-duction capacities, but also to strengthen the flexibility and resilience of its supply chains. “Battery-powered products represent the fastest-growing market for STIHL at the present time,” says Mar-tin Schwarz, STIHL Executive Board Member for Manufacturing and Materials. “We expect de-mand for these products to continue rising faster than any other category in the years ahead. This means that our Tirol plant, which currently manufactures a large portion of our battery-powered range, will one day reach the limits of its space and capacities. The new location in Romania will add to our global manufacturing network and keep us in the best possible position to continue supplying our customers with battery-operated products in the future.” The newly formed produc-tion company ANDREAS STIHL Power Tools S.R.L., which is set to begin operating in Oradea in mid-2024, will create some 500 new jobs for the STIHL Group in the long term.

Close to key markets and a good infrastructure
The new plant will be built in Oradea’s Eurobusiness I Industrial Park and comprises approximately 147,000 square meters. The contract was signed on June 28, 2022 by STIHL, the City of Oradea, and the Romanian marketing company ADLO Sa., which manages the industrial park on behalf of the city. “STIHL generates a large share of its battery-operated power tool sales in Europe,” says STIHL Executive Board Member Martin Schwarz. “The city’s outstanding links to our key markets, its highly advanced infrastructure, and the strong economic environment were all compelling rea-sons to choose Oradea.” The mayor of Oradea, Florin Birta, is delighted to welcome the company to his city: “STIHL’s new location is a strategic investment in the municipality of Oradea.”

State-of-the-art new building as an investment in the future
The new STIHL plant in Romania will be a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility designed accord-ing to the principles of lean production and is to feature a high degree of digitalization in produc-tion. In addition to the production halls, the site will comprise offices, a cafeteria, and break rooms for employees. STIHL’s plans for the new building also take into account the company’s climate targets and carbon footprint by ensuring a sustainable design and energy-efficient production.

International manufacturing drives success
The STIHL Group has maintained an international manufacturing network for more than 40 years. Today, the company has production plants in a total of seven countries: Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the United States, Brazil, China, and the Philippines. Because the same high standards apply at each location, STIHL can ensure top quality – regardless of the country in which the parts and products are made. The manufacturing network enables STIHL to produce in locations close to the market, act flexibly, and balance out volatility in areas such as supply chains. A large number of STIHL battery-operated products are currently made in Austria by STIHL Tirol. Additional pro-duction locations include the United States, with facilities opening soon in China as well. STIHL also manufactures its own battery packs, especially for professional applications, at its headquar-ters in Waiblingen, Germany, and in Virginia Beach, USA.

Company Portrait The STIHL Group develops, manufactures and distributes power tools for professional forestry and agriculture as well as for garden and landscape maintenance, the construction sector and private garden owners. The product range is complemented by digital solutions and services. Products are distributed through authorized dealers and STIHL’s own online-shops, which will be expanded internationally over the next few years – including 42 sales and marketing subsid-iaries, about 120 importers and more than 55,000 servicing dealers in over 160 countries. STIHL produces in own plants in seven countries: Germany, USA, Brazil, Switzerland, Austria, China and in the Philippines. Since 1971 STIHL has been the world’s top-selling chain saw brand. The company was founded in 1926 and is based in Waiblingen near Stuttgart. In 2021, STIHL achieved a worldwide sales volume of 5.06 billion euros with a workforce of 20,094.

Source: Andreas Stihl
Website: www.stihl.com