Stihl Inc. unveils its first robotic mowers and more at GIE+EXPO 2017

Stihl Inc. made a grand entrance into the robotic mower market with the launch of the iMow during its Dealer Day press conference held in its festive Oktoberfest-themed booth. The Virginia Beach, Va.-based company also unveiled several other new products, as well as held a drawing for its $5,000 giveaway.

The Stihl iMow RMI 422 P and iMow RMI 632 P robotic mowers allow homeowners to enjoy their lawn without having to do any work. These smart mowers will quietly and efficiently mow lawns. They automatically mow on a regular basis and can handle thick, rough grass and slopes up to 24 degrees. Depending on the model used, these mowers can handle from 1/4-acre to 1 acre with a durable, double-sided steel blade, adjustable cutting heights and high-performance Stihl battery technology. They feature automated and customizable features such as intelligent hood sensor (allowing the iMow to work around solid objects), flexible programming, automatic charging and more. It is serviced by specially trained Stihl iMow dealers who will customize it specifically for your yard.

“iMow can be tailored to a homeowner’s lifestyle and schedule, adding customizable convenience to mowing,” said Brian Manke, product manager at Stihl Inc. “The user tells iMow when to mow — while at work, while the kids are at school, at night while sleeping — and then enjoys a great-looking lawn.”

Stihl iMow comes standard with an integrated battery and outdoor docking station. Additional shared features of iMow include:

  • Quiet operation — allowing for the flexibility of early-morning and nighttime use, ideal for noise-sensitive areas
  • Automatic charging — with its intelligent charging system, iMow finds the optimal balance between getting the job done and maintaining battery charge by automatically returning to its charging station and charging at the optimal charge rate as needed
  • Mulching mower functionality — generates significantly less dust than a traditional mower, returns nutrients and moisture back to the soil for a healthier lawn, and is beneficial for air quality and those with allergies
  • An edge mowing option to get a clean cut along the edges of the mowing area
  • Auto-adjust capability — whether manually skipped or mowing schedule is delayed due to weather, iMow compensates, making up lost time later in the week
  • Built-in rain sensor to delay mowing when raining, return to the outdoor docking station until the sensor is dry, and automatically resume the mowing plan
  • Smart safety technology — if someone attempts to lift or tip the iMow, the mowing blade is designed to stop and only resume mowing when manually instructed by the user
  • Anti-theft system with user-chosen security PIN prevents a change in settings and can only be reset by a Stihl branch or distributor
Stihl HSA 25 battery-powered garden shears and accessories

In addition to the iMow robotic mowers, Stihl Inc. unveiled its first-ever battery-powered garden shears (HSA 25) for detail-oriented trimming jobs and performing precise cutting of ornamental shrubs; a residential battery-powered chain saw (MSA 140 C-BQ); a 19-inch battery-powered walk-behind mower (RMA 460); the powerful Stihl BR 700 X backpack blower (64.8 cc) with a light and maneuverable tube; the versatile TS 440 Stihl Cutquik cut-off machine (66.7 cc) for general construction applications and limited-access cuts; and four pressure washers, including two residential models (RB 200 and RB 400 Dirt Boss) and two commercial models (RB 600 and RB 800).

The winner of the drawing for Stihl’s $5,000 giveaway was Matthew Owen of Big Ridge Outdoor Equipment in Brevard, N.C.

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