Stihl recognized its 40th anniversary of manufacturing in the U.S. with an Oktoberfest-themed celebration during its national sales meeting.
The company got its start in 1974, when fewer than 50 employees assembling one model of chain saw in a rented warehouse. It now manufactures more than 275 model variations, exports to more than 90 countries and employs more than 2,100 nationwide.
“Our initial operation was modest, but through the leadership of the Stihl family, exceptional German engineering and superior American manufacturing, we have grown into the No. 1 selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment in America,” said Fred Whyte, president of Stihl, during the anniversary celebration at the Virginia Beach, Va., headquarters.
Approximately 250 branch and distributor representatives from around the U.S. attended the anniversary celebration.
“What makes me particularly proud about these 40 years is not just that we have succeeded but that we have done so by remaining true to our values,” said Nikolas Stihl, Ph.D., who worked at Stihl as a product manager in the 1990s and now leads the worldwide company as chairman of the Stihl advisory board of Stihl Holding AG & Co.
Whyte, who has led the company through more than 20 record sales years during his tenure as president added: “I’d like to express appreciation to the entire Stihl team who has made our 40-year success story possible. We should all look forward to what the next 40 years will bring for Stihl.”
