Stihl unveils new products for 2021

Oct. 25, 2020

From battery-powered equipment to the latest upgrades in gas-powered chainsaws, Stihl, Virginia Beach, Va., unveiled new products for 2021 during a virtual product media event Oct. 20-23.

The company highlighted a new Stihl 135 professional battery series, a commercial-grade battery package. All products feature an onboard battery slot and weather-resistant design, allowing users to keep working with less downtime, the company says. The 135 platform is assembled in America with many of the same drive and cutting components used in the company’s gas-powered products.

Among the line of battery-powered products introduced include:

Stihl KMA 135 R KombiMotor — features performance comparable to the company’s gas-powered units with the same attachment compatibility. Fourteen attachments provide professional landscaping crews with a way to complete a wide range of jobs.

Mike Poluka, product manager, battery-powered products, said the 135 series platform can be a good addition to an equipment rental fleet.

“The list goes on and on for the different applications and one power head to track and maintain in your rental fleet of equipment,” Poluka said. “One of the major benefits with battery-powered equipment, aside from the low noise and ease of use, is there is no gas or oil to mix with these products. For customers renting these out, they don’t have to think about mixing gas and oil.”

Stihl FSA 135 and FAS 135 R Trimmers — The battery-powered trimmers feature brushless motors and the same drive and cutting components used in the company’s professional gas trimmers.

Stihl HTA 135 Pole Pruner — The product extends up to 13 ft.

Stihl HLA 135 family of hedge trimmers — The products offer two short-shaft (K) designs as well as one long shaft length design which can extend the user’s reach up to 60 in. The K versions are available with either a fixed or 145-degree adjustable cutting head.

The company also introduced two gas-powered chainsaws.

Stihl MS 400 C-M Chainsaw – features the industry’s first chainsaw with a magnesium alloy piston, according to John Allen, product manager, chainsaws. Allen said the piston provides a better power-to-weight ratio. The chainsaw is built with the company’s M-Tronic™ engine technology to deliver low-emission, fuel-efficient performance under most operating conditions.

“If you’re running on a cold day, a hot day, the M-Tronic technology adjusts the carburetor so the chainsaw provides peak performance for the end user,” Allen said.

The chainsaw is designed to tackle jobs such as tree felling, bucking, and delimbing.

Stihl MS 500i Chainsaw – Allen said this saw was launched in July. The company’s third-largest chainsaw, the 25-in. bar and chain product features the company’s electronically-controlled fuel-injection technology. providing impressive acceleration and no choke for easier starting, Allen said.

“If a landscaper has a large tree to cut in a customer’s yard and they don’t have a chainsaw big enough in their fleet, I can see them renting this chainsaw for a few days,” Allen said. “Renting is a great way to have a large, professional saw like this.”