STIHL

STIHL Power, not just for professionals

STIHL is the manufacturer and distributor of leading outdoor power equipment. The STIHL name has stood for revolutionary technology and innovative ideas ever since the firm as founded in 1926. Throughout our 85-plus year history that has made STIHL the name for state-of-the-art engineering, the STIHL brand is known round the world today for quality and service. In more than 160 countries their products are helping people at work - and that has made STIHL the world's leading chain saw brand

STIHL's excellent international market position and its successful business growth are primarily due to three critical factors:

• Its self-imposed standards to manufacture technologically advanced products of the very highest quality. STIHL invests more in research and product development than any of its competitors in the field and launches numerous new products every year.

• Its policy to sell its products exclusive through servicing dealers who are in a position to provide the customer service necessary for its high quality outdoor power equipment.

• Its efficient, worldwide sales and distribution organisation.

A trip down memory lane

STIHL started out as one man with a vision. Now the STIHL Group provides jobs for more than 7800 people, including 370 designers and engineers. As a company, they have over 35 000 dealers in more than 160 countries and, due to the excellence of their product and craftsmanship, STIHL has become the preferred choice of many professionals and hobby gardens worldwide.

The humble beginnings of STIHL started in 1962 when a representative from the factory in the then West Germany, came to South Africa to establish a dealership here. One of his calls was on Motor & General Supplies (Pty) Ltd where it was an unenviable task to try and persuade a conservative management to take on the STIHL franchise in South Africa.

After taking over the reigns of the STIHL division at Motor & General in October 1982 the division continued to grow and strengthen its position in the market. The then range of STIHL professional chainsaws quickly gained respect in the competitive professional market. The introduction of STIHL Oilomatic chain principle further improved STIHL's image locally and fast became a respected chain.

Today STIHL sells in excess of 2.5 million power heads throughout the world every year, ranging from chainsaws, brush-cutters, trimmers, cut-off machines, blowers, sprayers to hedge-trimmers. The SA marketing subsidiary is a fully integrated member of the STIHL group. This means that the South African operation benefits from the know-how, experience and international importance of the STIHL company. STIHL is the world market leader in chainsaws and almost every third chainsaw sold in the world comes off its production lines.