Langkampfen, 12 January 2026

The world’s best-selling chainsaw brand celebrates its anniversary. What began as a one-man operation in a Stuttgart workshop in 1926 has since become a global standard for battery- and gasoline-powered equipment in forestry, landscaping and residential use. The family-owned company STIHL, rooted in the tradition of gasoline-powered products, consciously pursues a dual strategy today. This Waiblingen-based global company sees great potential in battery technology – and its future in dual technology leadership. 

“Any company that reaches the grand old age of 100 hasn’t got there by relying on tradition alone,” says Dr. Nikolas Stihl, Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Advisory Board of STIHL. “It can only stay successful for a century if it knows its roots, while also recognizing when it’s time to start a new chapter. With that in mind, our anniversary is not just a time to look back, but also a moment to recognize the strength that comes from our combination of heritage, engineering expertise, and the courage to innovate.”

From 1993 to 2011, Nikolas Stihl also served as Managing Director of the STIHL Group’s Tyrolean production and development site. The STIHL Tirol site in Langkampfen focuses on garden tools and became a wholly owned subsidiary of STIHL in 1992, initially operating under the name VIKING. 

This approach is underlined by the company’s slogan: “Built for Nature. Trusted since 1926,” which honors STIHL’s roots. Right from the start, the company has manufactured revolutionary products designed “to make working with and in nature easier” for forestry workers, as founder Andreas Stihl (1896–1973) once put it. This maxim still reflects the company’s commitment to care for and protect nature.

Products for dual technology leadership

The company’s stated aim is to achieve a leading position in the global battery market. The proportion of battery-powered products at STIHL is steadily increasing, now comprising one in four STIHL products sold. Battery-powered tools are particularly popular in Western Europe. In countries such as Austria and Germany, sales of STIHL battery-powered products already exceed 60 percent. At the same time, STIHL continues to invest in the long-term viability and sustainability of its high-quality gasoline-powered products, which remain an integral part of the STIHL product portfolio. “We have been the world’s best-selling chainsaw brand since 1971, and we intend to build on this success,” says Michael Traub, Chairman of the STIHL Executive Board. “STIHL stands for quality products, regardless of the power source.” 

The coexistence and synergy of gasoline and battery technologies, and the pursuit of dual technology leadership, will also be reflected in the products the company is launching during the anniversary year. The STIHL MS 500i Centennial Edition gasoline-powered chainsaw is not only a tribute to the company’s engineering expertise, development capability and passion for innovation. Featuring an elegant black anniversary design, this limited-edition model will be available exclusively from selected specialist dealers.

Extensive celebrations and diverse stories

The anniversary year will include a range of activities and initiatives. Customers worldwide can look forward to attractive promotions and special offers. On the dedicated anniversary website 100.stihl.com, STIHL presents a rich collection of stories from its first 100 years and offers insights into both the present and the future. The platform invites visitors to discover the company’s defining values and innovations from fresh perspectives. Many of these stories are being shared for the first time and provide new insights even for long-standing STIHL enthusiasts.

About STIHL
The STIHL Group is an internationally active global market and technology leader. As a family-owned company committed to sustainability, STIHL has been making it easier for people to work in and with nature since 1926. We inspire our customers with innovative battery-powered and petrol-powered tools for forestry and agriculture, landscaping, the construction industry and private households. Our global network includes production companies in eight countries, 44 sales and marketing subsidiaries, around 120 importers and over 52,000 specialist dealers worldwide. Since 1971, STIHL has been the world’s best-selling chainsaw brand. The Group’s headquarters are in Waiblingen near Stuttgart, Germany. In 2024, STIHL employed 19,732 people worldwide and generated revenue of 5.33 billion euros. For more information about the company, please visit www.corporate.stihl.com.

Information about STIHL Tirol
STIHL Tirol GmbH, based in Langkampfen, Austria, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the STIHL Group. The company manufactures battery-powered products and serves as the Group’s centre of excellence for ground-based gardening tools, which are both developed and produced on site. In 2024, STIHL Tirol employed 927 people.

Built for nature. Trusted since 1926.
For 100 years, STIHL has been at home in nature. This centenary is a tribute to all those who shape the world of STIHL day after day, whether working in forests across the globe, caring for urban environments, tending beautifully landscaped gardens, or developing and manufacturing new STIHL products. Discover their stories and projects: https://100.stihl.com/

STIHL Tirol GmbH
Mag. Christian Dag
Hans Peter Stihl-Straße 5
A-6336 Langkampfen
Tel.: +43 (0) 5372 6972 267
E-Mail: christian.dag@stihl.at