Our history
30 years of VIKING
1981
Founding of VIKING in Kufstein, Austria. Production of its garden shredders was expanded continuously under Managing Director Heinrich Lechner.
1984
Three years after foundation of the company, VIKING began the development of its own line of lawn mowers.
1992
Following incorporation into the STIHL Group, "the global market leader for motorised saws", the company completely renewed its gardening power tool range.
1993
Dr. Nikolas Stihl, the grandson of the STIHL company founder, becomes the first Managing Director of VIKING.
2001
In September 2001, only 4 km from the old company location, the new VIKING Competence Centre for Gardening Tools was opened, as a consequence of the old factory "bursting at the seams". Since then, the specialist for gardening power tools presents itself in a new, functional and attractive building.
2006
VIKING looks back at a 25-year success story. What began in 1981 with the first garden shredders has progressively developed into a complete range of ‘professional standard' machines for garden work.
2007
Expansion continues – construction phase II of the VIKING headquarters is complete.
With the expanded Competence Centre, conditions are being created for the company to manoeuvre even more effectively in the market in the future.
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2011
In April 2011, Peter Pretzsch will assume the position of Managing Director at VIKING, replacing Dr. Nikolas Stihl. Dr. Stihl will move to the parent company STIHL in Waiblingen (Germany).
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Today
The new motto for the VIKING brand is "Love your lawn". VIKING is a premium brand which produces and sells lawn mowers, robotic mowers, lawn tractors, scarifiers, garden shredders and tillers. Consistent development of high-quality products and good marketing techniques in collaboration with the STIHL Group have made VIKING a leading company in the gardening power tool sector.