THE International Stihl Media Day began with a press conference in the Burgerzentrum community centre at which the executive board provided an overview of the latest facts and figures.
Chairman Dr Bertram Kandziora reported that the Stihl Group had achieved a turnover of €2.8 billion in the period from January to August 2019, recording growth of 6.1 per cent on the same period last year.
He said: “The increase is mainly the result of stronger demand for higher-priced products. Total unit sales were less dynamic. Nevertheless, we were able to gain further market shares in the gasoline segment.”
Business, he said, had been detrimentally affected by the unfavourable weather conditions in some key regions where there were extremely high temperatures and very little rainfall, in addition to the difficult world economic situation and trade barriers.
“Many dealers still had large stocks from the previous year. Orders for this year therefore tended to be moderate”, he said. “All in all, we have only achieved a slight increase in unit sales in the first half of the year due to the challenging peripheral conditions. The flagging world economy, increasing trade restrictions and a still unclear Brexit outcome are not exactly beneficial for our business.”
Referring to the business outlook, Dr Kandziora said: “In our strategic planning, we are assuming further growth in the long term. In the face of growing competition, a weakening world economy and global trade conflicts, we are only cautiously optimistic about the short term in particular.
“In Germany, Stihl is seeking skilled workers in the areas of electrical engineering/telecommunications, information technology, software/hardware development, battery development and product development. The founding company currently has about 350 vacancies. As far as production is concerned, the company does not expect to hire any new staff in that area in Germany this year.”
Pointing to the increasing significance of cordless battery products (a recurring subject throughout the day) and the period of radical change the forestry tools industry is undergoing, he said: “We have prepared ourselves for this transformation with considerable investments in staff training and in battery technology, electronics and robotics. We will push ahead and optimize this strategy.
“In order to meet the many-faceted needs of our customers as best we can, we will continue to concentrate on a product mix of gasoline and battery-powered tools. We are firmly committed to continuing the development of gasoline power tools and simultaneously accelerating that of cordless products.”
Numerous new products were presented at the conference, including the MSA 220 C-B cordless chainsaw, third-generation MS 261 C-M petrol chainsaw and battery-powered GTA 26 garden pruner.
Delegates were promised a closer look at the new models, but first was a series of guided tours designed to answer questions like: Where are the backpack batteries for Stihl tools manufactured?, How is a Stihl chainsaw made?, and How are Stihl’s guide bars produced?
BATTERIES INCLUDED
The first tour was of Stihl’s new battery production plant, located near the company’s development centre and the competence centre for battery and electrical technology. After donning special clothing to prevent electrostatic discharges that could damage the battery controller, reporters were led around the facility, bearing witness to the significant investment Stihl has made in cordless technology.
Two backpack batteries – the AR 2000 L and AR 3000 L – are produced from individual battery cells on a highly automated line with final quality control and packaging carried out by employees. Only special plastic tools are used, while numerous parts, such as the mount for individual battery cells and the battery hood, are manufactured in Stihl’s own plastic production facility.
The contacts between the battery cells are precisely welded by laser for long service life and, to protect the electronics from external influences – above all from moisture, but also from transport damage – the components are encapsulated with plastic.
QUALITY WITHOUT EXCEPTION
Next up was a trip to plant 2 in Waiblingen-Neustadt, where 15 assembly lines are used to assemble mainly gasoline-powered professional equipment with a power of between 1.3 and 9 hp.
Reporters were led through the assembly of the MS 500i, notable for being the world’s first chainsaw with electronically controlled fuel injection, before it was automatically put into operation and in the ‘adjustment box’, which ensures every chainsaw has been properly tested or ‘warmed up’ before it leaves the factory.
One particularly eye-catching element of the assembly line was is the award-winning ‘green machine’, a collaborative robot installed in 2017 that handles chainsaws for inspection by employees and spares them the strain of having to lift around 10 tonnes of weight per shift.
NEW PRODUCTS
Laid out on the lawns between the buildings at the Bruhlwiesen compound were Stihl’s latest product innovations for 2019/2020, with teams providing working demonstrations.
Of particular interest to forestry professionals were two new chainsaws. The MSA 220 C-B is the most powerful chainsaw in the company’s cordless portfolio and, prior to its demonstration, staff divulged it was the first cordless chainsaw they’d seen make foresters take battery power seriously.
With its high chain speed, it makes short work of cutting jobs and is described as particularly suitable for wood maintenance and constructing with wood as well as felling and processing of small-diameter wood.
Leading its demonstration, Volker Röhlich, technical sales promoter, said: “Design wise, it looks the same as an MSA 200. The secret is somewhere behind the housing – a new electric motor and control unit. Plus, this is the first battery chainsaw that we introduced with a 3/8” Picco chain and bar as standard. It’s our PS3 chain, which is our full professional, full chisel chain that you know from MS 201, 201t, 241, so obviously the focus is for the professional.
“At the same time, that means we need some power to drive it. So along with a new motor and new electronics we have a new battery, the AP 300 S. It has up to 45 minutes’ running time on one charge, delivering not only capacity, but high amperage. That’s what we need to drive this chain up to 24 metres per second. We want to give you an equivalent to an MS 201, performance-wise.”
Yannik Jooß carried out a few cuts with the MSA 220 C-B, showing off its speed and versatility, before the demonstration moved on to the latest incarnation of the MS 261 C-M, boasting improved performance and less weight.
Volker highlighted a number of small additions, including a tinned piston, nickel-plated throttle shaft and solenoid carburettor valve, before focussing in on the most significant change, the new chain and bar combination
He said: “This is a .325” pitch Pro saw chain but with a 1.3 mm gauge on the bar and a narrow chain at the same time. That whole combination will give you a narrower cut compared to the standard we sell at the moment, meaning up to 20 per cent more performance, because a thin cut means less friction in the timber.”
The weight of the machine can be reduced by using the new slim Stihl Light 04 guide bar, which Volker said from spring next year would include a striking design printed digitally along the bar.
He went on to highlight the latest innovations in Stihl’s range of PPE, starting with the Advance X-Vent safety helmet, which now comes with Bluetooth function. Alongside the high noise-reduction value (SNR 27) and comfort, the helmet enables users to make phone calls without having to pick up their phone. Music can also be streamed wirelessly from a smartphone.
“It’s a useful feature for safety,” said Volker, “because if you get a call, you won’t be holding a chainsaw and your phone at the same time.
“It has up to 38 hours’ running time and is rechargeable via a USB cable. Wherever you charge your phone, you can charge this device. It also has a second auxiliary output for people who might connect on walkie-talkies.”
Next up were the new Chaps with all-around leg protection, available in Chaps 360° (black) and Protect MS 360° (orange) versions. Both versions can be put on quickly without having to take off your shoes. Designed to meet the requirements of protection class 2. In addition, when worn with the Stihl Vent high-visibility jacket or the Protect MS cut-retardant and high-visibility jacket, the new all-around leg protection even meets the criteria of protection class 3.
Another interesting innovation, albeit more suited to the domestic market, is Stihl’s GTA 26 garden pruner. Resembling a miniature chainsaw, this innovative, versatile cutting tool will be available from spring 2020. The 10 cm guide bar and chain prunes small-diameter branches and cuts square and round timber.
The tool is supplied with energy by a replaceable 10.8 V rechargeable battery and is part of the new Stihl AS cordless system designed for garden maintenance.
FROM STRIP STEEL TO GUIDE BAR
The run-through of Stihl’s new products was followed by a return to Plant 2 in Waiblingen-Neustadt, where large rolls of strip steel are turned into lightweight three-piece guide bars and robust solid bars. As with engine units and saw chains, the guide bars for all Stihl chainsaws are manufactured by the company itself. Throughout the tour, it was evident how much value the company places on ensuring the perfect interaction of its equipment’s components and high reliability with low wear.
High-quality alloyed quenched and tempered steels are used in bar production. These are rolled into strips, wound on rolls and weigh up to 1.2 tonnes. Stihl uses this steel strip to manufacture guide bars for various applications, with two clearly defined bar types: solid (for rough applications) and a three-part bar with sprocket nose for higher cutting performance and low weight.
The solid bars are cut from the hardened blank using a laser cutting machine to ensure no burrs are produced, as would be the case with punching. To protect the bar head from strong friction and wear, two shaped pieces of Stellite (highly resistant to wear, abrasion and high temperatures) are welded on by laser.
The three-part bar consists of two side plates and a large recessed central plate. These are pressed together in the welding press with up to 20 tonnes of pressure and welded together with electrodes. Precise cooling ensures that the bars are straight and even after the welding process.
At the end of the production line, a high-precision camera system monitors the painted surface, the hole pattern, the dimensions and the sprocket nose. If the system detects an error, the part in question is automatically sorted out.
INNOVATIONS TO COME
At that evening’s dinner in the Stihl R&D Centre canteen, the company’s Head of Marketing and Sales, Norbert Pick, was asked where Stihl gets its ideas. He said: “We look at our customers – not at their eyes, but their hands. We see where they need help. Stihl has always been about making things easier for our customers.”
He went on to speak about the GTA 26 garden pruner as an example of innovating to meet customer needs and about the potential of battery-powered products, the introduction of which has seen Stihl’s product catalogue double.
Anke Kleinschmit, executive board member for development, said the world was just at the start of seeing what battery-powered products could do, adding: “You’re in for quite a few surprises.”
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