Full battery power

The year 2010 heralded a new era with the launch of the first STIHL battery-powered chainsaw in the trade. Suddenly, cutting firewood and felling trees was possible with a battery-powered saw. But the STIHL MSA 160 was just the beginning. The STIHL Group is now launching the MSA 300, the world’s most powerful battery-powered chainsaw for professionals, thereby opening a new chapter in this technology.

“Performance, weight, and reliable STIHL quality.” These are the principles that guide the development of new products as project manager Georg Heinzelmann says: “Cutting performance is second to none, and our customers can feel the saw’s quality the moment they pick it up. Users can also feel that the saw is more capable than ever.” The newly developed electric motor and the built-in electronics accelerate the chain up to the speed of the STIHL MS 500i, reaching 30 meters per second – higher than any other battery-powered saw to date. “In combination with the electrical power of three kilowatts, the saw enables users to achieve a completely new dimension, particularly when cutting in noise-sensitive areas,” says product manager Marvin Jentzsch. The range of applications extends from selective felling, pruning, and bucking medium-sized trees to building with wood. The machine is designed to meet the heightened requirements of professionals in gardening and landscaping, in municipalities, and in forestry – applications that require tools to be ergonomic, robust, and durable – without being impacted by rain or wet conditions.

The STIHL MSA 300 introduces other important features that are relevant for professionals. “An antivibration system reduces vibration during even the most intense applications,” explains Georg Heinzelmann. The saw also features an air filtration system that STIHL has now used for the first time in battery-powered tools. It protects the machine from contaminants over extended periods, even under very demanding conditions. “The improvements in comfort and convenience are rounded out by redesigned controls with expanded settings,” emphasizes Jentzsch: The MSA 300 features an electronic control and message cockpit with an LED display, allowing the user to keep an eye on the saw status and chain brake information at all times.

To ensure that the tool really runs like a well-oiled machine, the MSA 300 comes with an oil pump standard, and the feed rate can be adjusted to suit the job at hand, meaning that the volume of oil can be reduced to a minimum for simple pruning work, for example. By contrast, the maximum feed rate ensures high performance for tough jobs, such as tree felling. The MSA 300 C-O version of the machine has an LED display that notifies the user when there is a low level of chain lubricant remaining in the tank. It also indicates when the filter needs to be cleaned.

The international manufacturing network comes into play during the production of this saw, as is the case with many STIHL products, and highlights a real STIHL strength. The housing for the new oil pumps come from ZAMA and STIHL China, the fan wheel comes from Brazil, and other components come from STIHL’s magnesium diecasting plant in Germany’s Eifel region and its in-house plastics production site. Final assembly of the whole motor block takes place at STIHL Tirol, in Langkampfen, Austria. In this way, our customers benefit from the STIHL Group’s coordinated manufacturing and global collaboration.