STIHL has officially opened its first battery-only production facility in Oradea, Romania, marking a significant milestone in the company's shift towards battery technology.
The €125 million investment establishes STIHL's European centre of competence for battery pack and battery-powered tool production. The 47,000 square metre facility will reach an annual capacity of 1 million battery packs by 2026, rising to 1.8 million battery packs and 1.7 million battery-powered tools by 2028.Construction was completed in less than 18 months, with the plant initially focusing on battery-powered blowers and AP battery packs from the professional STIHL range. The portfolio will expand to include brush cutters, chainsaws and other tools.
Today, more than one in four STIHL products sold worldwide are battery-powered. The company aims to increase this to approximately 35% by 2027 and about 80% by 2035.Dr. Nikolas Stihl, Chairman of the Advisory and Supervisory Board, said: "The new plant in Oradea expands our global network and strengthens STIHL's position in the fast-growing battery segment. It is a vital addition that will secure our long-term competitiveness in Europe.
"The facility features state-of-the-art production technology with flexible multi-product lines and Industry 4.0 integration. It has been certified gold standard by the German Sustainable Building Council for its energy-efficient design and renewable energy systems.
The plant currently employs around 135 people and will create approximately 700 jobs by 2028.For more information, visit www.stihl.co.uk.
