About Us
From our founding in the 1920s to our growth in the United States and around the world, STIHL has remained committed to improving the work of those who rely on our tools.
OUR HERITAGE
When company founder Andreas Stihl realized in the 1920’s that people were working in the woods and forests mainly using axes and muscle power, he became preoccupied with one thought: “There must be a way to make working in the forest easier.” The thought grew into an idea, and that idea spawned an invention.
In 1926, Stihl designed and built the first two-person electric chain saw. Its portability revolutionized the forestry industry. Since that first chain saw launched more than 90 years ago, the STIHL name has stood for outstanding innovations, high-quality products and comprehensive service. Today, STIHL is represented in more than 160 countries, and STIHL products make work easier all over the world in professional forestry and agriculture, in landscape maintenance, on construction sites and for the discerning homeowner.
OUR STORY
Recognizing that the U.S. was one of the largest markets in the world, in the 1970’s the Stihl family decided to open a manufacturing facility in Virginia Beach, Va. The location’s close proximity to one of the country’s largest deep-water ports and its ready-to-work labor force made Virginia Beach the ideal location. In 1974, in a rented 20,000-square-foot facility, STIHL Inc. opened its doors with 50 employees assembling one model of chainsaw. Today, over 2,300 employees, working in over 1.4-million-square-feet of operating space, manufacture millions of powerheads a year on the sprawling 150-acre STIHL Inc. campus.
In our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, skilled employees with the assistance of highly automated technology, work together to produce more than 100 models of STIHL equipment through vertically integrated processes and extensive quality assurance checks. These products are then distributed throughout the country through our 11 regional branches and distributors, sold through a network of more than 10,000 authorized local STIHL Dealers and exported to more than 80 countries around the world.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
STIHL believes in the power of supporting its authorized local STIHL Dealers, who not only support their communities but also provide customers with unparalleled purchasing experiences. That’s why STIHL products are only sold through authorized local STIHL Dealers, not big box stores. And with an ever-growing product lineup, STIHL continues to offer one of the broadest ranges of handheld gasoline, corded-electric and battery products in the industry. Our philosophy has always been to build a quality product, sold by quality people. That's why you won’t find STIHL in a big box store — you'll find it on the trailers of professional landscapers, the back of fire and rescue trucks, in the hands of loggers and in millions of consumers' garages and sheds across the country.
This commitment to quality products, produced by quality people, sold by quality Dealers explains why since 2009, STIHL ranks as the number one selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment in America among consumers and professional landscapers.*
* "Number one selling brand" is based on syndicated Irwin Broh Research as well as independent consumer research of 2009-2023 U.S. sales and market share data for the gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment category combined sales to consumers and commercial landscapers.
The American Green Zone Alliance
As homeowners and professionals consider the transition from gas-powered outdoor tools to STIHL battery, the American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) is working to make that transition easier with their certified green zones and field-tested tool certification.
Made in America*
From our factory in Virginia Beach to thousands of dealers across the nation, a majority of our battery- and gas-powered tools are made and sold right here in America.
*A majority of STIHL products sold in America are made in America of U.S. and global materials.
Award-Winning Brand
From new products to overall excellence in manufacturing, STIHL gets a lot of attention and accolades from our customers and the outdoor power equipment industry.
Charitable Donations Committee
We want to support local organizations and individuals engaged in charitable work. Find out how your cause could benefit.
Corporate Timeline
STIHL Inc. has been a leader in legendary outdoor power equipment in America for over 50 years.
Press Office
Visit the STIHL Inc. Media Center to get the latest news and information from the company, see videos of our latest events and products and more.
Contact Media Relations
You can contact us using an online form.
Quality and Innovation
Discover how a commitment to excellence helped our company grow from a producer of a single electrically-powered saw to a world leader in outdoor power equipment.
Improving Product Performance
We will never stop trying to make our products even better for our customers.
Contact STIHL
For more information about STIHL, please contact us at https://support.stihl.com/en-us/write-email/.