Making the daily work of many generations of craftsmen easier, faster and safer - that has always been the aim from the year the company was founded in 1925 until today. The 100-year success story of the tool manufacturer began in 1925 in Esslingen am Neckar. Albert Fezer and Gottlieb Stoll set up their own company to repair stationary woodworking machines. Their passion for the trade soon gave rise to an innovative strength that resulted in unique products that are still trusted by the trade today.

In Exchange with experienced Craftsmen

Fezer & Stoll becomes Festo, later Festool. In cooperation with experienced craftsmen, all products are developed to meet the requirements of the trade. Gottlieb Stoll's principle that “the tool must come to the workpiece and not the other way around” laid the foundation for success, leading to a breakthrough with the first portable chainsaw in the early 1930s. At the same time, another user-oriented development was launched on the market with the first SB 126 portable circular saw for carpenters. The tedious work with the hand sanding block was replaced by the first so-called “skidder” at the beginning of the 1950s. Festool thus creates a new industry standard that makes the brand even better known.

Pioneering pProducts come onto the Market

Because the health of craftsmen is a key concern for the responsible tool manufacturer, Festo is adding a world first to the slide: an efficient extraction system that actively extracts the sanding dust. The guide rail, which has become an integral part of everyday work around the world, is also considered groundbreaking. Further pioneering products are launched on the market, including the Rotex in 1979, the world's first geared random orbit sander, which combines the three functions of “coarse sanding”, “fine sanding” and “polishing” in one device. The Systainer, initially developed in 1993 as recyclable packaging, also writes a success story, to which Festool adds another highlight at LIGNA 2025 with anniversary editions of mobile tool storage.

Solutions that change the Trade for good

In 2000, the owner family separates the power tool division from the Festo company and continues to run it as an independent company under the name Festool GmbH. The Festool brand becomes a permanent fixture in the international power tool market. Further products and system solutions are created that have a lasting impact on the trades and win awards for outstanding ergonomics and product design, such as the Domino wood joining system (2006), the Planex LHS 225 long-neck sander with adjustable vacuum suction (2008), the CSC SYS 50 cordless circular table saw in Systainer format and, most recently, the EcoActive exoskeleton, which actively supports tradespeople, as visitors to LIGNA 2025 will be able to see for themselves.

Pioneering rRole in hHealth Protection and occupational Safety

In 2013, Festool was also the first and only provider to introduce a free three-year warranty package that includes wear parts and theft protection. The tool manufacturer also continued to expand its pioneering role in the area of health and safety at work: Clever technologies such as SawStop-AIM, KickbackStop or the Vibration Control System contribute to greater occupational health and safety in the trade when sawing, drilling or sanding.

Gratitude for 100 Years of Festool

“We can be really proud of the fact that many of our products and innovations have shaped the work of professional craftsmen over the past 100 years,” says Barbara Austel, Chairwoman of the Festool Supervisory Board and granddaughter of company founder Gottlieb Stoll. “Above all, however, we want to say thank you on the occasion of our anniversary: thank you to our employees and all the many customers who have accompanied us on our journey.” For over five decades, company founder Gottlieb Stoll was the formative force. And yet he always emphasized for his company: “This is the work of many hands! Our success is the achievement of all of us.”

Around 80 Percent of all Festool mMachines are manufactured in Germany

Sascha Menges, CEO of Festool GmbH, emphasizes in particular the appreciation of employees and customers: “Our company has always stood for innovative strength and for working with our customers to create ever better solutions for professional craftsmen. This is the DNA of Festool and our more than 2600 employees. Without them, this success story could not have been written.” The success story also includes a commitment to the German location with headquarters in Wendlingen: “We develop in Wendlingen. We manufacture around 80 percent of all Festool machines in Germany. This is a key anchor of our success,” says Menges.

Strong Impetus for the fFuture

With almost 900 patents and more than 60 iF Design Awards, Festool is now one of the market leaders in the carpentry, timber construction and painting segments. For Barbara Austel, the 100th anniversary is a great occasion to look back with gratitude and forward with optimism: “Our history is family history, company history and also a piece of the history of the trade. Seeing tradition as strong roots from which something new can always grow - that has always been our strength. That's why our anniversary also provides a strong impetus for the future: Welcome to the next 100 years!” The entire anniversary year will be celebrated together with all employees at the international locations - and of course with Festool customers at LIGNA 2025 in Hanover. They can look forward to “Limited Editions”, exclusive editions of selected products that particularly characterize the company's history and are offered in strictly limited editions. There will also be many other products on show in Hanover, such as the HKC 55 Li EBI-PlusSCA cordless circular saw, the OSC 18 VECTURO cordless oscillator and the KA 65 Plus CONTURO edgebander.