STIHL becomes a member of the innovation ecosystem Maschinenraum

Berlin / Waiblingen

STIHL, a family-owned company based in Baden-Württemberg and known as an internationally active chainsaw and power tool manufacturer, will become part of Maschinenraum. The alliance of around 40 medium-sized companies – as well as university partners and other innovators – is working together on the digital transformation of German Mittelstand. STIHL wants to use the exchange with other members of Maschinenraum to share ideas on how to deal with challenges in terms of employer branding, digitalization as well as new business models.

With the vision of "making it easier for people to work with and in nature", Andreas Stihl founded the company in 1926, which has since developed from a one-man operation into an internationally active chainsaw and power tool manufacturer and now employs more than 19,000 people worldwide. Since 1971, STIHL has been the world's best-selling chainsaw brand. The founder's value proposition continues to shape the family-owned company's culture of innovation to this day. In addition to the constant further development of gasoline and battery technology, STIHL is currently working intensively on future topics such as digital technologies, robotics, the Internet of Things and software - with the goal of making it even easier for customers to work with and in nature.

Evolution instead of revolution - family businesses in transition

"We are in the middle of the process of transforming from a classic machine manufacturer to a digital mechatronics company. Autonomous robotic systems, Big Data and cloud computing - that is just a small selection of topics which concern us. But they make it clear that digitization not only offers potential for the further development of our products, it is also changing our business model and us as an organization, including our corporate culture. Many medium-sized and family-owned companies are currently going through this development. That is why we are very excited about the open exchange with the Maschinenraum members. Whether it's topics like leadership, agile working or innovation management, we don't have to reinvent everything ourselves, but can learn from each other," says Tim Gegg, Head of Digitalization at STIHL.

"It's not without reason that STIHL is the world market leader - the fact that they are now opening up as part of the Maschinenraum membership and deliberately seeking exchange is a great thing. I am convinced that joining Maschinenraum will also provide STIHL with the right momentum to successfully position the company for the future," says Tobias Rappers, Managing Director of Maschinenraum.

About Maschinenraum:

Maschinenraum, a shared innovation ecosystem from Mittelstand for Mittelstand, unites German SMEs and family businesses to boldly shape the future. Around 40 family-owned companies – including Viessmann, Fiege Logistik, Dussmann Service and Paracelsus Kliniken - have already joined Maschinenraum to jointly drive the digital and sustainable transformation of Mittelstand.

About STIHL:

The STIHL Group develops, manufactures and sells engine-powered equipment for forestry and agriculture as well as for landscape maintenance, the construction industry and private garden owners. The product range is complemented by digital solutions and services. The products are basically sold through service-providing specialist dealers and STIHL's own online stores, which will be expanded internationally in the upcoming years - with 41 of its own sales and marketing companies, around 120 importers and more than 54,000 specialist dealers in over 160 countries. STIHL manufactures in seven countries worldwide: Germany, USA, Brazil, Switzerland, Austria, China and the Philippines. Since 1971, STIHL has been the best-selling chainsaw brand in the world. The company was founded in 1926 and is headquartered in Waiblingen near Stuttgart. In 2020, STIHL achieved sales of 4.58 billion euros with 18,200 employees worldwide.