STIHL Group has unveiled plans for a new €125 million manufacturing site for their electric and cordless power tools, that they say will significantly enhance their battery-powered product manufacturing capacity.
Set for completion in 2024, the company says the new 147,000m2 facility in Oradea, Romania, will create 500 new jobs in the local area and expand their international manufacturing network. In an official statement they say this will strengthen the "flexibility and resilience" of its supply chains.
The statement continued, "The new manufacturing facility has been designed with lean production in mind and will utilise the latest technology to maximise the productivity, efficiency and sustainability of the plant in line with STIHL Group’s climate and carbon footprint targets. In addition to the production halls, the site will also comprise offices, a cafeteria, and break rooms for employees."
Martin Schwarz, STIHL executive board member for manufacturing & materials, said, “Battery-powered products represent the fastest-growing market for STIHL at the present time. We expect demand for these products to continue rising faster than any other category in the years ahead.
“This means that our Tirol plant, which currently manufactures a large portion of our battery-powered range, will one day reach the limits of its space and capacities. The new location in Romania will add to our global manufacturing network and keep us in the best possible position to continue supplying our customers with battery-operated products in the future."
Today, the STIHL Group has production plants in seven countries: Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the United States, Brazil, China, and the Philippines, with facilities opening soon in China.