Stihl, a century of successes and innovations
The German company celebrates its centenary on the great 'stage' of EIMA International. The German company's strategy is to become the leader in the battery-powered equipment segment by enhancing traditionally powered equipment, such as the MS 500i Centennial Edition chainsaw
Stihl Italia will also be at EIMA International 2026. This is no small detail, as the German company that controls the Cambiago (Milan) branch attaches great symbolic value to its participation in the event, which is part of the initiatives with which the group celebrates the centenary of the company, which was founded in 1926. Stihl Italia's return to the Bologna exhibition center demonstrates its desire to strengthen its presence in the region and consolidate its rapport with professionals, retailers, and partners in a particularly significant year for the history of a leading brand in the market of motorized equipment for lawn care, agriculture, and forestry. The group, which has its headquarters in Waiblingen, near Stuttgart, has production companies in 8 countries (the eighth plant was recently inaugurated in Oradea, Romania), 44 sales and marketing companies, around 120 importers and 55,000 specialized retailers in over 160 countries. It currently employs approximately 20,000 people with a consolidated turnover of over EUR 5.3 billion.
Participation in EIMA International 2026 will be a key moment in the Italian branch's centennial celebrations: a renovated exhibition space containing a special outline of the company's history and a broad overview of the latest technological innovations will showcase the brand's evolution. The goal is specific: to achieve a leadership position in the global battery market. The percentage of battery-powered products is steadily increasing, exceeding 25%, with countries like Germany and Switzerland already approaching 60%. At the same time, Stihl continues to lead the way in high-quality, fuelled by a fuel mixture equipment such as chainsaws, where it has held world leadership since 1971. "We want to maintain this dual track - says Michael Traub, head of the Stihl Board - continuing with a virtuous balance between gasoline and battery-powered equipment". Staying on the subject of fuels, Stihl continues to offer MotoMix – an alkylate-based fuel capable of reducing CO2 emissions compared to standard traditional fuels.
On the product front, in addition to presenting the latest solutions in the high-performance battery segment the company's centenary will be celebrated with the MS 500i Centennial Edition, a limited-edition chainsaw with an attractive design and an atypical black color. This version pays homage to one of the group's iconic machines, the Stihl MS 500i, the world's first electronically fuel injected chainsaw, with a Stihl 2-Mix engine and HD2 air filter. The device utilizes sensors to measure air pressure, internal and external temperatures and transmit the information to the control unit. After detecting the values, the system is able to optimally determine the quantity of fuel and the ignition timing. "Our return to Eima International after more than 15 years," states Giulio Franceschi, marketing manager of Stihl Italia, "is a source of great pride for us. By participating we are renewing our commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainability, celebrating one hundred years of history while looking ahead to the challenges of the coming decades".
