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| European Press Conference GAFA 2006, Cologne |
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| VIKING - 25 Years of Innovation for the Garden Well on the way to becoming the leading brand in Europe. |
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Cologne, 3 September 2006. VIKING is consistently gaining market share in the highly contested European garden machinery business. Convincing functionality, superior technical solutions and distinctive ergonomic design fulfil our market promise to millions of satisfied customers day after day. For years, VIKING has pursued the strategy of being a premium brand manufacturer, despite growing competition in the lower price segment. VIKING deliberately distances itself from competitors with cheap products because a favourable price/performance ratio is the decisive factor for discerning customers.
Founded in 1981 and a member of the STIHL Group since 1992, VIKING, with its head office in Langkampfen/Kufstein (Austria), produces lawn mowers, ride-on mowers, garden shredders, grass trimmers, hedge trimmers, hedge cutters, blower units and tillers. Innovation, quality, competence and a lifelong obligation to its customers are the driving forces behind VIKING's success. VIKING gardening tools are available exclusively from service-oriented dealers. One of the largest partner networks in Europe (approximately 10,000 dealers) ensures that customers receive a competent service right on their doorstep. What began in 1981 with the first garden shredders has progressively developed into a complete range of 'professional standard' appliances for garden work. Today, VIKING enjoys an excellent reputation as an innovative and service-oriented supplier among dealers and customers throughout Europe, as well as in independent product tests in the media. By adopting a rigorous premium strategy it has been possible to continuously improve the position and image of the brand. Excellent growth potentials are also being opened up by additional efficiency improvements, continuous investment in new products and the wide range of products for dealers in cooperation with the STIHL sales organisation. |
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 Dr. Nikolas Stihl, Managing Director, VIKING GmbH Original photo (jpg-file, 1.340 kB) |
 Wolfgang Ebbecke, Managing Director, STIHL France Original photo (jpg-file, 363 kB) |
 Norbert Pick, Managing Director, STIHL main sales office in Germany Original photo (jpg-file, 1.622 kB) |
 The new VIKING 5 Series lawn mowers bring a higher level of convenience to lawn care. In addition to tried and tested technology and stylish design, the eight premium lawn mowers of this series impress with many sophisticated features, which make mowing particularly easy. Original photo (jpg-file, 816 kB) |
 Designed for professional use, the new 7 Series lawn mowers impress with optional 48 or 53 centimetre cutting width, robust construction, powerful engine performance and many ergonomic equipment features. Original photo (jpg-file, 2.401 kB) |
 The new GE 250 S and GE 260 S electric branch shredders are equipped with a special blade (patented sandwich blade unit in Z-arrangement, which pulls in the branches automatically, quietly and with little kick-back) for the processing of woody material. Original photo (jpg-file, .1272 kB) |
 The HE 810 hedge trimmer has a blade which is laser-cut and diamond-ground on both sides and is 60 centimetres in length. In order to meet the high demands of professional users, a reduction gear and VIKING 3-stage switching system is accommodated in the robust housing. Original photo (jpg-file, 3.032 kB) |
 The handy, lightweight and relatively quiet BE 600 PLUS blower and vacuum unit with electric motor for vacuuming and sweeping leaves, grass cuttings and needles. When vacuuming, the turbo wheel shreds the leaves, reducing them to about one twelfth of their original volume. Original photo (jpg-file, 2.629 kB) |
press release (doc-file, 94 kB) press release + photos (zip-file, 12.985 kB) |