Steve Bullman

Timberwolf, an Alamo Group Company, is delighted to announce the asset purchase of GreenMech’s Brand and IP, a well-regarded manufacturer of wood chippers based at Alcester, UK. Since its founding in 1993, GreenMech Ltd has sold its chipper range across the world and is recognised for their vertical integrated manufacturing and key engineering innovations, of note is the “Safe Trak” wood chipper used in the highways and rail sector. In addition to purchasing the rights to GreenMech’s brands and IP, Timberwolf has acquired GreenMech GmbH and GreenMech SAS. These new European sales and technical support hubs will support Timberwolf’s strategic intent to become a leader in the European Forestry and Tree care sector. Chris Perry, Timberwolf’s Managing Director, stated “Although competitors for many years, Timberwolf and GreenMech have been built on similar values. This purchase will strengthen Timberwolf not only from a product perspective, but also our sales channels as we welcome colleagues into the business from UK, France and Germany.” GreenMech products will continue to be manufactured at the facility in Alcester for on-going supply to existing dealers and distributors. Jonathan Turner, GreenMech’s Managing Director advises “This consolidation allows our manufacturing team to focus on further investment and development in our facility ensuring a continued supply of GreenMech heritage woodchippers to the market.” All enquiries: Guy Marshlain, Timberwolf Sales and Marketing Director [email protected] +44 (0) 7840 096 467

STIHL has introduced a range of new additions to its professional personal protective equipment, designed to deliver outstanding comfort, protection, and mobility for forestry workers and arborists. Spanning the FUNCTION, DYNAMIC and ADVANCE collections, the latest additions combine durable materials, ergonomic designs and high-visibility details to ensure users stay safe and comfortable in all conditions. FUNCTION STIHL’s FUNCTION range introduces the CORE collection, a water-repellent jacket and chainsaw trousers, designed for occasional chainsaw users. The new FUNCTION CORE Chainsaw Trousers feature Design A, Class 1 classification, protecting against chain speeds of up to 20m per second. They are available in a regular fit and two-way stretch material for maximum comfort. The new FUNCTION CORE trousers pair with the FUNCTION CORE Jacket, which is new to the same range. Providing market-leading durability, the design offers a relaxed fit, with lightweight and tear-resistant polyester. Black stretch fabric adorns its elbow and side areas for maximum comfort. The range is complemented by the new FUNCTION Active Chainsaw Boot, which also provides Class 1 cut protection and EN 20345 S3 certification. DYNAMIC Available in three variations, the new DuroTEC Cut Protection Trousers can be purchased with Class 1 or 2 protection levels and in Design A and C offerings, providing a suitable option for professionals facing a range of working conditions. All versions offer a regular fit and stretch zones, with a water-repellent finish and kidney protection for maximum comfort. They also feature waterproofing at the lower part of the leg and provide robust abrasion protection. To match, the DYNAMIC DuroTEC Jacket is durable and flexible. Like the trousers, the garment boasts a water-repellent finish and features abrasion-resistant zones. For added comfort, the jacket also offers four-way stretch material and ventilation openings. ADVANCE New to STIHL’s premium ADVANCE PPE range, designed for professionals who need high-performance protective clothing, are the ShellTEC Jacket and ADVANCE FlexTEC trousers. Offering a slimmer fit compared to the DYNAMIC and FUNCTION ranges, the ADVANCE FlexTEC trousers are Class 1 certified and are available in Design A and Design C. With tick protection around the ankles, plus robust, waterproof and thorn-resistant fabrics around the knees and lower legs, the designs offer an ergonomic fit and breathable comfort. All with advanced four-way stretch zones and kidney protection. The perfectly matched ShellTEC Jacket is a lightweight and durable option, with wind and waterproofing in strategic places. Its ergonomic fit, integrated stretch zones, and ventilation openings combine to offer freedom of movement and maximum comfort. All trousers across the new FUNCTION, DYNAMIC, and ADVANCE ranges offer multiple pockets, waistband loops for attachment to braces, and are made from recycled material. STIHL’s range of jackets feature Velcro at the cuffs and a smartphone pocket on the chest as standard. For more information on STIHL’s PPE ranges, visit www.stihl.co.uk or contact your nearest STIHL Approved Dealer.

Team GB return from Milan with their heads held high after delivering a new national record time at the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Team World Championship, the pinnacle of international logger sports. Eighteen teams from around the world went head-to-head in front of a packed Allianz Cloud Arena on Friday to compete for the World title. The team format involves four athletes from each country completing four of the TIMBERSPORTS® disciplines in a relay, in heats against other nations. The unstoppable Australian team were the ones to beat after cruising to victory in 2024, and they didn’t falter as they delivered their 10th Team World Championship title to defend their crown in front of the excited audience. And the British athletes were also happy with their performance after a weekend full of firsts for the team. They had the perfect preparation when they secured a record time in the Time Trial before the start of the main event, finishing all four disciplines in just 59.58 seconds, the first time the team had achieved it in less than a minute. The Time Trial effectively seeds the teams and determines who gets drawn against who in the main competition, so a great time is essential for a favourable draw. Unfortunately for Team GB however, they were drawn against Team Canada in the Round of 16, after the Canadian team received a 15 second penalty in the Time Trial, putting them in 12th position. Once the competition proper started, Team GB were ready to go and delivered another solid performance in the Round of 16 with a time of 1.04:67. Initially it seemed like they were going to be beaten by Canada who secured a 57.24 seconds, however, judge Andy Hall confirmed that they had received a 15 second time penalty for cutting an incomplete disc on the Single Buck and the British team’s disappointment turned to celebration! In the Quarter Finals, Team GB were then drawn against another heavyweight team in New Zealand. Featuring some of the fastest athletes in the world, Team New Zealand haven’t finished outside the top four since 2016 and are the only team to have taken the World title from the Australians in the last ten years. The GB athletes knew they would have their work cut out for them and were prepared to give it their all, including the British team’s first female athlete Rachel Ferrington, who was picked over Graham Turner to represent GB on the Stock Saw for the Quarter Finals. It was the first time a woman has competed in the Quarter Finals of the Team World Championship, and the team knew it was a risk to change the team line-up partway through the competition but as the current holder of the Women’s World Record on the Stock Saw, Ferrington has form for delivering blistering times when it’s needed. This time it wasn’t to be though; just as the whistle blew for the start of the heat, Ferrington’s chainsaw cut out as she picked it up. She kept her cool and restarted it, but the same happened again. On the third time of asking, Ferrington managed to get a complete cookie but the time lost just couldn’t be made up by the rest of the team, and ultimately New Zealand were victorious leaving the British team finishing the competition in 7th place. However, the team were proud of how they performed overall and securing a new National record demonstrated how they had improved compared to last year’s 13th placed finish. “I’m really proud of the team’s improvement over the last year, and whilst we’re obviously disappointed not to finish higher, getting a new National Record is unbelievable. Knocking out Canada is something we’ll also remember for a long time,” said Glen Penlington, the British Team captain.

Investment: €125 million to establish STIHL’s European Competence Centre for the production of battery packs and battery-powered tools Scale: 47,000 square metre facility on a 147,000 square metre site — capacity of up to 1.8 million battery packs and 1.7 million tools by 2028 Employment: Approximately 700 jobs to be created by 2028 Network: Romania plant becomes the eighth STIHL production country worldwide, serving as the European hub for STIHL battery-powered products The STIHL Group has officially opened its first battery-only production site in Oradea, Romania. The investment of €125 million marks a major milestone in the company’s transformation toward battery technology and strengthens its European manufacturing footprint. The new facility becomes STIHL’s European centre of competence to produce battery packs and battery-powered tools, adding a key hub to the Group’s global network. Designed as a core element of the Group’s international production network, the site will play a central role in meeting the growing demand for battery-powered products across European markets. Construction began in March 2024 and was completed in less than 18 months. The factory will gradually ramp up operations to reach an annual capacity of 1 million battery packs by 2026. By 2028, output is expected to rise to 1.8 million battery packs and 1.7 million battery-powered tools. Production initially focuses on battery-powered blowers and AP battery packs from the professional STIHL range. Over time, the portfolio will expand to include additional battery-powered equipment such as brush cutters, chainsaws, and other tools. The new facility has 47,000 square metres of operational space on a 147,000 square metres site. The plant is equipped with flexible multi-product production lines and a high degree of automation, integrating Industry 4.0 principles that ensure digital traceability, optimised processes, and outstanding operational efficiency. Expansion of global network to drive future growth Battery technology has become a major growth driver for the company. Today, more than one in four of all STIHL products sold worldwide are battery-powered. The company aims to increase this share to approximately 35% by 2027 and to about 80% by 2035, a clear reflection of the accelerating transformation in the industry. “The new plant in Oradea expands our global network and strengthens STIHL’s position in the fast-growing battery segment. It is a vital addition that will secure our long-term competitiveness in Europe and support our customers with high-performance products developed and built for professionals and demanding consumers worldwide,” said Dr. Nikolas Stihl, Chairman of the Advisory and Supervisory Board. The decision to build the new plant in Oradea reflects STIHL’s strategy to strengthen its European footprint and to locate production close to key markets. The city offers excellent logistical connections, a modern infrastructure, and access to a highly qualified workforce, ideal conditions for sustainable industrial growth within the European Union. During the opening event on October 15, 2025, Prime Minister of Romania, Ilie Bolojan, emphasised the national significance of the investment: “The STIHL factory in Oradea is not merely an economic investment. It is a powerful signal that Romania can be a reliable partner, a competitive industrial destination, and a place where things can be done well to European standards. This investment represents jobs, cutting-edge technology, a genuine transfer of know-how, and positions Romania at the heart of an industry undergoing continuous transformation. I thank everyone who contributed to this project, the STIHL team, local authorities, technical partners, and all those who worked on site day after day. It is the result of a shared, responsible effort.” Continuing this point, Florin-Alin Birta, Mayor of Oradea Municipality, highlighted the importance for the local economy: “The fact that an international group such as STIHL has chosen Oradea for an investment of this magnitude confirms the city’s attractiveness and its strong development direction. The Oradea City Hall consistently supports investments that bring added value to the community, aware that a dynamic economic environment is the engine of prosperity. Our goal is to strengthen Oradea’s position as a city open to innovation, performance, and collaboration with reputable investors. “Through major projects such as the STIHL factory, we demonstrate that sustainable development and competitiveness can go hand in hand, transforming Oradea into an increasingly attractive industrial and technological hub at both regional and European levels.” The success of the Oradea project is also a story of people and partnership. Thanks to the close cooperation between STIHL experts from Germany, the local management team and regional partners, the new plant was completed efficiently and on schedule. This joint effort not only created a modern production facility but also laid a strong foundation for the company’s future in Romania. The organisational setup of the new site was overseen by Dr. Robert Feulner, Managing Director of the newly founded ANDREAS STIHL Power Tools S.R.L. “The new Oradea plant reflects both technological excellence and strong local collaboration. We feel very much at home here and are impressed by the professionalism and commitment of the people in this region. It’s clear that choosing Oradea was the right decision for STIHL’s future.” Recruitment and training are progressing steadily. The plant currently employs around 135 people and will reach approximately 700 employees by 2028. STIHL aims to become one of the most attractive employers in the region, offering long-term career opportunities, modern working conditions, and a corporate culture valued by nearly 20,000 employees worldwide. State-of-the-art manufacturing plant The Oradea plant combines advanced production technology with a strong focus on sustainability. Flexible, multi-product assembly lines allow the site to adapt quickly to different battery models and tool types. A high level of automation and the integration of Industry 4.0 principles ensure digital traceability, data-driven quality control, and high operational efficiency. Sustainability was a central design principle from the very beginning. The facility has been certified by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) with the gold standard, recognising its energy-efficient construction and use of renewable energy systems. The combination of photovoltaic and a geothermal system significantly reduces fossil fuel use. During the day and under favourable weather conditions, the plant can generate renewable energy to cover its internal electricity demand. Biodiversity goals were also taken into account, as the factory features green roofs, more than 250 newly planted trees, and the preservation of an existing forest area within the site, ensuring a balanced coexistence between industrial activity and the surrounding environment. For more information, please visit www.stihl.co.uk.