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
Industry Wins Black Hills Appeal of Reduced Harvest
Officials with the Black Hills Forest Resources Assn. (BHFRA) have prevailed in an appeal of a 2021 decision to drastically reduce future timber harvests on the Black Hills National Forest. In February 2021, the Forest Service (FS) Rocky Mountain Research Station in Fort Collins, Colo., issued general technical report (GTR) 422. The report detailed timber inventory assessments and projected growth rates that…
American Truckers Cite Fuel Prices, Drivers
American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), recently released its 18th annual top industry issues report, identifying the leading industry concerns including fuel prices, driver shortage, truck parking, driver compensation, the economy and for the first time, speed limiters…
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