Andreas Stihl AG & Company is a manufacturer of chainsaws and other handheld power equipment for the outdoors that is headquartered in Waiblingen, Baden-Württemberg. The company was founded in 1926 by Andreas Stihl, an important innovator in early chainsaw design and production. The company is one of the world's largest sellers of chainsaws and is the only chainsaw manufacturer to make their own saw chains and guide bars.
The company also produces various models of trimmers, blowers, cut off saws and equipment.
Stihl Incorporated, the company's American manufacturing arm, operates their Virginia Beach complex. Manufacturing began at the Virginia Beach Facility in 1974 with the assembly of the 015 chain saws. Andreas Stihl AG is a privately held company owned by the descendants of Andreas Stihl.
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Stihl Parts by Category
Air Filter Cover
Air Filter
Pre-Filter
Annular Buffer
AV Buffer Mount
Apparel
Arborist Equipment
Attachment
Bar Nuts
Bar Oil
Battery Blower
Battery Chainsaw
Battery Trimmer
Battery Weed Eater
Bearing
Belt
Belt Cover
Belt Pulley
Blade
Blade Guard
Blade Adapter Kit
Blower Straps
Blower Tube
Brake Band
Brake Handle
Brushcutter Blade
Bucking Spikes
Bushing
Carburetor
Carburetor Parts - Walbro
Carburetor Parts - Zama
Carburetor Parts - Zama
Carburetor Gasket
Carburetor Adjustment Tool
Chainsaw Case
Chain Adjuster
Chain Brake Parts
Chain Catcher
Chainsaw Bar
Chainsaw Chain
Chainsaw File
Chainsaw Sharpener
Chainsaw Tools
Choke Parts
Clothing
Clutch Assemblies and Parts
Clutch Assemblies and Parts
Clutch Cover
Clutch Drum
Connecting Rod
Crankcase
Crankshaft
Cut Off Saw Blade
Cylinder and Piston Kit
Cylinder Gasket
Decompression Valve
Deflector
Edger Blade
Engine Pan
Exhaust Gasket
Flywheel
Flywheel Key
Flywheel Puller
Fuel Cap
Fuel Filter
Fuel Line
Fuel Mix
Fuel Tank
Fuel Tank Vent
Gas Cap
Gas Can
Gaskets
Gasket Set
Gear Head
Gearbox
Grease
Grommet
Hand Saw
Handle
Hat
Hedge Trimmer Blades
Ignition Coil
Ignition Points and Condenser
Leg Wear
Lubricant
Maintenance Kit
Muffler
Muffler Gasket
Needle Bearing
Nuts
Oil Cap
Oil Line
Oil Pump
Oil Seal
Piston
Piston Rings
Primer Bulb
Pulley
Quick Connect
Rear Handle
Rim Sprocket
Rope
Safety Equipment
Saw Chain
Scabbard
Shroud
Spark Plug
Spark Plug Boot
Spikes
Sprayer
Spring
Sprocket
Sprocket Cover
Spur Gear
Sqrench
Strarters and Starter Parts
Starter Handle
Swtich
Tank Housing
Throttle Cable
Throttle Handle
Throttle Rod
Tools
Top Cover
Top Handle
Trigger
Trimmer Deflector
Trimmer Line
Trimmer Head
Water Kit
Water Pump
Wrap Handle
History
Andreas Stihl designed and hand built the first chainsaw back in 1926. The saw was electric powered, and weighed in at 140 pounds. The Stihl name soon became popular, and also became synonymous with professional grade chainsaws and would soon become the number one selling chainsaw company in the entire world, a title that the company retains to this day. Stihl growth was slow initially, as the chainsaws hit the market about the same time as the Great Depression; with manpower cheap, and old crosscut saws proven, there were no need for power saws. The early saws were very heavy, and often needed two men. Some outfits had a wheeled generator which had a power cord to run to the electric saw. Stihl saws saw service with the Wehrmacht particularly in Eastern Europe and Russia, where timber was cut for defensive positions.
After the war the availability of cheap, strong aluminum, better designs, and more powerful engines meant that the Stihl saw came into its own. The name of the saw that was proving itself was called the Stihl Lightning perhaps with a model designation of 07S. In the 1960s the "Old Man" John Schmidt, owner of Northern Seed & Tractor Company, just north of Pittsburgh, told my father Raymond Schmidt founder of Raymar Inc. in Morehead City NC, that he just ordered 40 new chainsaws. The previous year that company only sold four Clinton chainsaws. Having established a foot hold in America the reputation of dependability propelled Stihl to the top of the market. In 1971 Raymar Inc. opened in Morehead City, NC which was McCulloch (a yellow colored American made chainsaw) country. The area was pulp-wood industry oriented. It only took the sale of ONE Stihl Chainsaw for everyone else to want one also. Many improvements to design led the "chainsaw" to become a homeowner tool. Automatic chain oiling. anti-vibration handles, electronic ignition, chain brakes are some of them. Not only was the stronger aluminum a component but injected magnesium was used for even greater strength and lightweight. In the early 1970s there were few models of Stihl chainsaws available. With a model number related to cubic inches, rare for a German design. there was a standard & a heavy duty the 040 & 050 with super saws of 070 & 090. Improvements led to the 041 & 051 and with anti-vibration came the 041AV. A new style lighter weight saw was introduced the 030AV, the 031AV etc. The finest light-weight top handle saw ever produced before plastic was the 020AV[citation needed]. Its reputation among fire fighters and tree trimmers was so renown that demand for the saw continued even after mass-production ceased. Four employees would take all the parts and assemble them by hand averaging 10 saws per day. However they did command upwards of $600 while other small saws were selling for a third of that. The new style of the 031 was made into an 045 that out-cut the 051 so the 051 got a soup-up to an 075 about 110cc. The 045 was hopped up to an 056 with a Super a Magnum and a Magnum II before it was over. Also, there was an 08S 56cc which was a chainsaw but also a powerhead, remove bar & chain, that would power tools such as brush cutter, post hole digger, cut-off saw etc. The experience with injection molding was applied to a new material, plastic. The plastic injection system at the factory in Virginia Beach is run round the clock so the mold does not clog. Batches a plastic plugs are tested for quality before use with weather chamber that simulates hot & cold and saws are dropped from a height to see if bending or breakage occurs. The presses used for this operation are rate at 385 tons.
In the mid-1970's STIHL expanded the company by building manufacturing plants in Brazil and in the United States. Due to the new plants, a new product demand emerged, which STIHL was more than happy to meet. Much of the demand stemmed from the construction and landscaping markets; they needed products designed especially for these markets, that also had the quality of the STIHL name behind them. Along with the professional markets, STIHL designed a number of homeowner use equipment, like blowers, line trimmers, cut off saws, edgers, and chainsaws. In 2008, the newest addition to the STIHL production family is a plant located in Qingdao, China.
Stihl, Incorporated, is the American branch of the Stihl family. The company bought land in Virginia Beach, VA, and began construction of the facilities in 1974. Along with the manufacturing side of the company, there are also warehouses and administration buildings in the complex.
Stihl Dealers
Stihl products are sold, and repaired through a network of thousands of dealers in the United States alone. These dealers are trained by Stihl, Inc. extensively on the products and the features that they offer. Stihl, Inc also trains the dealers on how to properly test and repair the units. This extensive dealer network allows STIHL to sell products without being associated with the "Big Box" stores that don't offer the same personalized attention or repair and maintenance shops.
Additional information and source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stihl