NAIROBI, Kenya, April 13 – Power tool manufacturer STIHL Group has announced a Sh100 million investment to manufacture accessories locally.
It develops, manufactures, and distributes outdoor power equipment for forestry, agriculture, landscaping, construction, and cleaning.
This is part of the firm’s goal to localize product development in the East African region.
STIHL East Africa Managing Director Francois Marais says the firm has partnered with local firms that include Proteq Automation Ltd. and Tippers and Trailer Limited to make the accessories for the region.
“STIHL continually demonstrates its world-leading competence with innovations designed to improve functionality, ease of product use, environmental protection, and health and safety at work,” Marais said in a statement.
“Our products are synonymous with quality, we have instructed the companies to adhere to our quality standards in a bid to ensure that STIHL remains top of quality,” he added.
STIHL East Africa product development officer Daniel Mandellah listed some of the accessories that will be made locally, such as agricultural machinery attachments and spares, dealer shop systems, as well as bolts and nuts for various machines and water pump accessories, among others.
“Customers today are looking for life-time support and services – and when it comes to the latter, accessories supply plays a crucial role. With local supply, we will never have to worry about spare parts,” he explained.
Midway through last year, the German firm launched new products on the market to enable smallholder farmers to adopt mechanization in a bid to increase their productivity and income.
The range of products available in the East African market include tillers, water pumps, brush cutters, tea pruners, earth augers, and concrete cutters.
Others include high-pressure cleaners, vacuum cleaners, chainsaws, and other handheld tools made specially for the regional market.
