Seeing what’s new overseas

From new hedge and string trimmers to pole pruners, Stihl offered a sneak peek at its newest equipment that’ll hit the U.S. market in the coming months.

Ahead of its appearance at Equip Exposition in October, Stihl hosted its biannual media event at its headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. The day began with board members and new CEO Michael Traub leading a press conference with local and international media. Credentialed attendees at the event went on to have the chance to try out Stihl’s newest equipment and walk through the company’s new Brand World, an interactive museum housed at Stihl’s main facility. Stihl also took others yet – including Lawn & Landscape magazine – on tours of the company’s battery manufacturing plant, a largely automated warehouse and one of its dealerships.

But Traub punctuated the main point of the day by telling media that Stihl aims for 80% of its products to be battery-powered by 2035. It’s no surprise then that 18 of the company’s 20 new products coming to the U.S. this year are electric. Some will arrive in the U.S. as early as this fall.

Traub called this an “innovator’s dilemma,” as Stihl has been a world leader in producing gas-powered products. He adds that Stihl will certainly still produce gas-powered equipment, especially chainsaws for operators out in the field for long periods of time. Traub mentioned forestry and tree care professionals in particular, as they’re often far removed from nearby spots to effectively charge their equipment.

Still, he sees equipment trending toward battery power and cordless tools. Stihl revealed its latest additions to its equipment lineup earlier this month at the event.

TRIMMERS. The FSA 200 is a battery-powered, cordless brush cutter that Stihl says generates the same power as its gas-powered brush cutters. Its mowing circle diameter stretches to nearly 18 inches when using a line, but it does so without generating loud noise. Motor speed can be adjusted easily on the operating handle, which is a bike handle system, and the tool can be used in most conditions, including rain. The FSA 200 can also be used with various Stihl attachments like steel tools or plastic blades. Its estimated run time with the line is 20 minutes and 45 minutes with the metal tool.

It’s part of the Stihl AP cordless system, which features 30 other tools, and is recommended for use with the AP 500 S battery. It’s available this winter and the unit’s MSRP is $649.99. The FSA 200 R is also available this winter and its MSRP is $599.99.

The FSA 120 cordless brush cutter is similarly designed though intended for use with smaller green industry cleanup jobs or owners of larger properties, falling closer in the prosumer lineup than the FSA 200. It offers two cutting speeds and is available with both a bike handle and the FSA 120 R loop handle. Additional accessories and add-ons are available for the FSA 120 like they are for the FSA 200.

The FSA 120 is available this fall with an MSRP of $399.99. The FSA 120 R’s MSRP is $349.99.

Stihl also debuted its FSA 80 and FSA 80 R, which is specifically designed for gardeners and homeowners. The FSA 80 features the bike handle while the FSA 80 R does not. The new FSA 30 is also designed for occasional trimming and edging for the homeowner.

The HSA 30 and HSA 40 cordless hedge trimmers are designed for homeowner use. They’re available this fall.

CORDLESS KOMBIMOTOR. Stihl’s KombiMotor is a multitasking landscaping system that allows for a variety of attachments, though previous iterations of the KombiMotor drive unit were gas-powered. The new KMA 120 R offers the same quick coupling that other KombiMotors provided with 12 different attachments. These include brush cutters, edgers, hedge trimmers and blowers, among other options.

The electronically controlled motor offers variable speed controls and offers lower noise while the work gets done than its gas counterparts. All batteries in the Stihl AP cordless system lineup work on the KMA 120 R. It weighs just under eight pounds.

The KMA 120 R is available this fall with an MSRP of $329.99.

For gardeners and homeowners, Stihl debuted its KMA 80 R.

CORDLESS POLE PRUNERS. Stihl revealed its new cordless pole pruners, the HTA 160 and HTA 150. The HTA 160 is the most powerful pole pruner in Stihl’s product line, reaching cutting heights of up to 13 feet off the ground with a light magnesium gear box, ensuring the user will have less strain while operating from down below. Its gauge bar on the chain sprocket cover helps position the pruner at the right height, while a molded-on branch hook helps remove loose cuttings from the tree.

© Jimmy Miller

The HTA 160 features a Rollomatic E Mini or Stihl Light 01 guide bar with cutting length of 11.8 inches and Stihl’s ¼-inch Picco Micro 3 saw chain. It has an ergonomic handle with an LED display, and the oil levels in its tank can be viewed at any time through a semitransparent view.

The HTA 150, which is design for forestry work, is equipped with the Stihl Advance X-Tree forestry harness, a hollow axle and a lightweight shaft to ensure an operator’s comfort for longer use. The attachment cuts with the Rollomatic E Mini guide bar and the Stihl 3/8-inch Picco Micro Mini saw chain. It reaches up to roughly 6.5 feet long.

With the AP 300 S battery, both the HTA 160 and HTA 150 can run for about 70 minutes. They’re available this winter. The MSRP for the HTA 160 is $699.99 while the HTA 150 runs for $669.99.

AND MORE. Stihl also debuted two new gas-powered saws, though they’re designed more with the construction worker in mind. The TS 710i and TS 910i are now the two most powerful cut-off machines in Stihl’s lineup, producing 5.2 kilowatts (TS 710i) and 6.2 kilowatts (TS 910i) to cut through mineral or metals.

Through Stihl’s ElastoStart and sensor controlled fuel metering, these saws are easier to start and can be stopped at the press of a button. The cut wheels have diameters of 13.7 inches and 15.7 inches, respectively, and feature a four-point antivibration system. Their electronic fuel injection systems are designed to optimize engine performance.

The TS 710i and TS 7910i will be available in U.S. markets this summer.

Stihl also showcased its robotic mowers – the iMow series now includes the iMow 5, iMow 5 Evo, iMow 6, iMow 6 Pro, iMow 7 and iMow 7 Pro. The mowers will be available to the U.S. market this summer. All of the mowers can be used for homeowner and commercial landscapers alike. The mowers cut through grass with the Disc Cut blades and can be controlled with the My iMow app. They’re designed to handle slopes up to 45% and mowing range depends on the machine purchased. Those robotic mowers arrive in the U.S. this spring.