High-performance products that are precisely tailored to the diverse needs of our customers – in both the gasoline and battery segments. At the core of this is the clear ambition to achieve dual technology leadership. Grand statements raise expectations. But how is this technically feasible? And more importantly: Do the products meet our customers’ needs?
Challenges Meet Opportunities
Since the summer, our construction product portfolio has featured three new cut-off machines designed to address these exact needs.
The STIHL TSA 300, a battery-powered cut-off machine for 300-millimeter cutting wheels, is compact, powerful, and emission-free, making it ideal for use on construction sites or in landscaping and garden maintenance.
Two new gasoline-powered cut-off machines, the STIHL TS 710i and TS 910i, feature pioneering engine technology to complement the rest of the range. The STIHL TS 910i stands out as the most powerful cut-off machine in its class.
“The new models are equally effective problem solvers with enormous potential.”
Horst Otterbach Product Manager for Construction Equipment
“The new models are by no means in competition with each other,” says product manager Horst Otterbach. “They’re actually equally powerful problem solvers with tremendous potential.”
The STIHL TSA 300 particularly excels in gardening and landscaping applications, as well as in many tasks in urban areas, which are often carried out in close proximity to residential neighborhoods.
It delivers efficient results with its emission-free drive, quick cutting times, and exceptional cutting quality. “Thanks to the reduced-noise cutting wheel, it’s also very quiet,” says Otterbach. “That is a big advantage, especially when working in noise-sensitive areas.”
The STIHL TS 710i and TS 910i models are used when more power is required and the tasks are more demanding. Both gasoline-powered cut-off machines are equipped with STIHL injection technology and are designed for use with reduced-emission e-fuels.
The handheld STIHL tools offer enormous power with easy handling and set new standards in their class worldwide. “Cut-off machines with gasoline and battery power perfectly align with our strategy to expand market leadership in the cut-off machine segment,” explains Otterbach.
BETTER BATTERY POWER
Cutting performance, durability, and versatility – STIHL’s proven cut-off machines with combustion engines remain indispensable for many kinds of work. However, in many applications, particularly in gardening and landscaping, the new battery-powered STIHL TSA 300 provides significant advantages for customers.
“The cut-off machine is an indispensable tool in everyday construction and landscaping work.”
Max Dopatka Product Developer of Battery-Powered Cut-Off Machines
INNOVATIVE MATRIX ASSEMBLY
Forward-looking and versatile. The new TSA 300 not only enhances the product portfolio with innovation but also establishes new standards in assembly design. The state-of-the-art, flexible assembly system for the TSA 300 seamlessly integrates the strengths of manual assembly with the benefits of automation, achieving optimal efficiency. The new structure is also highly flexible. Six different battery product series will be manufactured on it by 2028.
IMPROVED CUTTING
“A cut-off machine is a vital tool in everyday construction and landscaping work,” says developer Max Dopatka. Battery-powered cut-off machines are his “baby.” The primary focus when using this device is not continuous cutting at maximum power but rather short, precise cuts where cutting performance, accuracy, and smooth handling are essential. Precision results are especially important when working with high-end building materials.
Gardening and landscaping companies also often work in noise-sensitive residential areas. “This is where the STIHL TSA 300 comes into its own, especially in combination with the reduced-noise cutting wheel,” says Dopatka.
The STIHL TSA 300 also features exceptionally low vibrations at the grip points thanks to its EC motor, ensuring both comfortable and highly precise operation.
CUT-OFF MACHINE TSA 300
The EC motor is also impressive in terms of noise emissions, as it runs much more quietly than a gasoline engine.
However, a substantial portion of the noise emissions from a cut-off machine originates from the cutting wheel. “That’s why we not only developed a new powerhead but also put a lot of work into the cutting wheel,” Dopatka explains.
The goal was to develop a wheel with the lowest possible noise emissions.
The result is impressive indeed: The STIHL D-SB90N cutting wheel reduces noise emissions by an average of almost ten decibels, thanks to its innovative multilayer design. “This will halve the noise pollution, which will be greatly appreciated not only by customers, but also by those in the immediate vicinity of the construction site.”
GASOLINE POWER REIMAGINED
The example of the STIHL TSA 300 shows the advantages and wide range of applications for battery-powered products. Gasoline technology remains indispensable for the power class above five kilowatts, particularly in the construction industry.
To provide our customers with the very best tools in this area and beyond, STIHL aimed for maximum gains in performance with a compact design when developing its new gasoline-powered cut-off machines. “At the same time, we prioritize maximum efficiency and low exhaust emissions,” explains developer Stefan Merkle.
The result is that STIHL’s two new products, the STIHL TS 710i and TS 910i, are the world’s most powerful cut-off machines. They demonstrate just how efficiently modern two-stroke engines can work. This is made possible by combining STIHL injection technology with a stratified scavenging engine for the first time ever.
Product Developer for Gasoline Cut-Off Machines
FUEL INJECTION – A UNIQUE TECHNOLOGY
The revolutionary STIHL injection system ensures effortless starting in all operating conditions while delivering exceptional performance, consistently lower weight, and rapid acceleration. Injection technology is an advanced technique that uses electronic controls to inject the fuel directly into the engine. The first STIHL product with injection was the TS 500i, followed by the MS 500i chainsaw.
NEW PATHS AND CHALLENGES
This novel combination made it possible to meet stringent requirements for both power and efficiency — and to do so in an economically feasible modular system.
The development team overcame many challenges before the products were ready to enter series production. They broke new ground in the process and developed a brand-new flywheel concept, among other innovations. Both the engine and the flywheel are currently unique on the market.
The extreme conditions under which cut-off machines operate, such as high dust loads, required creative solutions. It´s an intersection of two distinct worlds: finely detailed injection technology and the rough, rugged, and demanding environment of a construction site.
“For the anti-vibration system and dust filter, we were able to build on established and proven systems from existing models. When it came to other aspects, we had to come up with fresh solutions,” Merkle says, describing the development process, which involved many disciplines across several countries.
CUT-OFF MACHINE TS 910i
HIGH LEVELS OF VERTICAL INTEGRATION
Like almost all STIHL products, the new gasoline-powered cut-off machines feature high levels of vertical integration. Merkle provides some examples: “To make the engine as efficient and eco-friendly as possible, we needed to harness the full advantages of the gravity casting process in our production of cylinders and pistons. That’s why manufacturing expertise and value creation go hand in hand here.”
