Festool Celebrates 100 Years of Power Tool Solutions
Festool is celebrating 100 years of innovation in tools for professional tradespeople in 2025.
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| For the past century, Festool's line of power tools has continued to evolve from the first portable chainsaw in 1927, shown above, to the ExoActive exoskeleton released in 2024, pictured below. |
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The company’s line of power tools has evolved from the first portable chainsaw in the 1930s to the groundbreaking ExoActive exoskeleton in 2024.
“Since 1925, we have revolutionized professional trade work with tools that are built better to help professionals build better,” said Clint Chapman, chief executive officer at Festool North America. “Every new tool we design begins with a customer challenge and a commitment to innovate and build better solutions.”
He said the dedication is part of the company’s DNA.
“We invite tradespeople to join us for the next one hundred years of growth and product evolution,” Chapman said.
Festool will celebrate its anniversary throughout 2025 with limited-edition releases and exclusive versions of select products that have played an important role in the company history.
Passion for the Trades
Festool’s journey began in Germany in 1925 when Albert Fezer and Gottlieb Stoll founded a company to repair stationary wood processing machines. The duo quickly realized their expertise could go beyond repairs, rather they could build better machines. Their dedication to quality and innovation led to groundbreaking products that continue to shape the industry.
Introduced as Fezer & Stoll, the company became Festo, and its power tool division later evolved into Festool. From the start, the company has focused on providing tradespeople with high-quality tools to make work better and more efficient. Through close collaboration with trade professionals, Festool has developed tools and systems tailored to the needs of the trade.
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| From humble beginnings as a tool repair company, Festool has established itself as a name within the power tool industry known for innovation. |
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Following the launch of its breakthrough portable chainsaw in 1927, Festool introduced the SB126, the first portable circular saw for carpenters in 1930, setting the stage for decades of innovation.
In 1966, the company revolutionized sanding with the introduction of the first orbital sander. Use of the sander led to the development of the first dust extraction system. Festool’s guide rail also was unveiled in the 1960s.
The company continued to establish its name in the industry with products like the ROTEX in 1979, the first geared random orbit sander to combine coarse sanding, fine sanding, and polishing in a single tool. The Systainer, a versatile storage, organization and transportation system was unveiled in 1993 and is now available in 185 different versions.
Entering the 2000s, Festool continued to push boundaries with products like the DOMINO wood joining system, the PLANEX LHS 225 drywall sander with adjustable vacuum suction (2008), and the cordless CSC SYS 50 table saw in Systainer format (2023).
Most recently, the ExoActive exoskeleton showcased the company’s commitment to ergonomic advancements.
In conjunction with its power tool solutions, Festool also focuses on health and safety, introducing technologies such as KickbackStop and the Vibration Control System to enhance safety for tradespeople.
“The fact that so many of our products and innovations have left their mark on professional trades in the past one hundred years is something we are really proud of,” said Barbara Austel, chair of the Festool Supervisory Board and granddaughter of founder Gottlieb Stoll. “Primarily, we want to use the occasion of our anniversary to say thank you: thank you to our employees and to the many customers who have supported us through the years.”
For more information about Festool’s 100-year anniversary and the company’s history of innovation, visit: www.festoolusa.com/festool100.
CONTRACTOR SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The December 2024/January 2025 of Contractor Supply magazine is here!
Our cover story, A Diamond on the Rough, visits the family-owned Esch Construction Supply. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, the company sells and services anything that will cut, grind, drill or polish concrete.
Also in this issue are a 2024 STAFDA show report and Industry Updates on Abrasives Discs and Wheels; Grinders and Sanders; Cold Weather PPE and Heaters; Jobsite Lighting and Ladders, Lifts and Scaffolds.
This digital edition, sponsored by BECK AMERICA Inc., is fully searchable and contains live links to every advertiser and new product listing. Click away!
| Read the Articles Read the Digital Edition |
