Stihl Expands Saw Guide Bar Manufacturing In Virginia
The City of Virginia Beach has announced that Stihl plans to invest $49 million to expand its chain saw guide bar manufacturing facility. The expansion will add 26,000 sq. ft. of space to an existing building, totaling 86,000 sq. ft. upon completion. The project is also expected to create 15 new jobs with an average annual wage of $60,000 to $100,000.
The Virginia Beach Development Authority (VBDA) voted to award Stihl an Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP) grant of $500,000 for the expansion based on job creation and retention, plus capital investment estimated at $49 million. In addition to increasing its footprint in Virginia Beach, Stihl plans to invest in state-of-the-art equipment and add highly skilled positions to its team, including maintenance mechatronic technicians, process engineers, tool and die makers, project coordinators, and machine operators.
“For nearly 50 years, the City of Virginia Beach has created an ideal environment for Stihl to continue to grow our business and offer meaningful careers to over 2,500 current employees in Hampton Roads,” comments Terry Horan, President of Stihl Inc. “We are incredibly proud to be able to continue to expand our Virginia Beach-based manufacturing operations to fulfill the increased demands of our more than 10,000 loyal Stihl dealers nationwide and their customers.”
What started as a 20,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility has grown into a 150-acre campus with 2 million sq. ft. of combined industrial and office space. The new project will allow for a third chain saw guide bar production line to be added, increasing production capacity. Currently, most chain saw guide bar production takes place at other Stihl locations overseas, but this expansion lays the groundwork for additional manufacturing activity to be moved to the company’s Virginia Beach location.
Latest News
Rotochopper Welcomes 120 To Minnesota Demo Day
Attendees and Rotochopper employees alike were excited for the return of Demo Day and the opportunity to gather while seeing Rotochopper’s newest equipment in action at Herman’s Landscape Supplies in Jordan, Minn. This was the 10th Demo Day event for Rotochopper, with 120 people from across North America participating…
OLC Raises College Scholarship Funds
A group of 23 teams and many generous sponsors helped raise more than $61,000 at the 5th Annual Oregon Logging Conference Foundation (OLCF) Clay Target Tournament fundraiser held on September 8, 2023. Proceeds will provide college and technical scholarships to be awarded by the OLCF. “Once again we are very fortunate to be able to hold this fundraiser and at the end of the day, we raised more than $61,000 which will provide financial assistance to the next generation workforce in our industry,” said event chair and OLC Board Member Jeanne Shuttleworth…
WANT MORE CONTENT?
Spanning seven decades since its inception in 1952, Timber Harvesting highlights innovative and successful logging operations across the U.S. and around the world. Timber Harvesting also emphasizes new technology and provides the best marketing vehicle for the industry’s suppliers to reach the largest number of loggers in North America and beyond.
Call Us: 800.669.5613