The History of STIGA – From Swedish Innovation to a Global Garden Machinery Leader
STIGA is a long‑established European manufacturer of lawnmowers and garden machinery, recognised worldwide for its innovation and extensive product range.
Today, STIGA Group, headquartered in Castelfranco Veneto, Italy, designs and distributes high‑quality lawn and garden equipment to customers around the globe.
A Global Presence
STIGA operates 13 subsidiaries across Europe, including Austria, Italy, the Benelux region, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the UK.
The company now sells products in more than 70 countries, making STIGA one of the most widely recognised names in garden machinery and lawnmower manufacturing.
Swedish Origins and Product Evolution
Originally founded as a Swedish brand, STIGA became known for producing a diverse range of products, including:
- Lawnmowers and garden machinery
- Motorised garden tools
- Snow racers (sleds with a raised seat, steering wheel, and runners)
- Table tennis equipment
- Table hockey games
The company grew steadily thanks to its reputation for durability, innovation, and European engineering.
Major Expansions and Acquisitions
In 2000, STIGA was acquired by Castelgarden SpA following its merger with Alpina Professional & Garden SpA, both based in Italy.
This strategic move marked the beginning of STIGA’s evolution into a major European group.
Later, the company expanded further with the acquisition of the British brand Mountfield, forming the Global Garden Products (GGP) Group.
In 2017, the group was officially renamed STIGA Group, restoring the iconic STIGA brand name at a corporate level.
Key Milestones in STIGA’s History
- 1934 – Stig Hjelmquist founded Firma Fabriksprodukter in Tranås, Sweden — the company that would later become STIGA.
- 1938 – Production of table tennis equipment began. The name changed first to Stigma and then to STIGA.
- 1943 – STIGA started manufacturing complete table tennis kits under its own management.
- 1949 – The company formally adopted the name STIGA.
- 1957 – The first STIGA table hockey game was produced.
- 1958 – STIGA entered the garden machinery market with its first lawnmower.
- 1971 – The company expanded internationally with sales offices opening in London and Helsinki.
- 1976 – STIGA opened a new 18,000 m² factory, inaugurated by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, making it the largest Nordic facility for motorised lawnmower production.
- 1981 – STIGA restructured into three divisions: Sports, Gun and Garden.
- 1994 – STIGA celebrated its 60th anniversary.
- 1997 – The brand operated in around 40 countries worldwide.
- 2000 – STIGA merged with Castelgarden SpA and Alpina Professional & Garden SpA.
- 2000 – Acquisition of the British brand Mountfield, forming the GGP Group.
- 2012 – STIGA launched its Autoclip robotic mower range.
- 2013 – Acquisition of the British brand ATCO.
- 2017 – Launch of next‑generation robotic mowers, expanded battery systems, and side‑discharge lawn tractors. GGP was officially renamed STIGA Group.
From the STIGA website:
"At STIGA, everything we create is taking inspiration from nature and bringing engineering innovation to the world of gardening. This is who we are."
Nature moves
STIGA cares for it
Nature is in continuous, endless movement. It follows its own life cycle, it grows and changes according to seasonality. Each domestic garden is a living environment that brims with life. Nature needs care and respect, and STIGA products work in harmony with it.
We want people to take care of their green patch of planet, their domestic garden. The STIGA innovations are respectful of nature and its seasonal cycle. We are with you in your garden and our aim is to offer a tool for every use.
We are green-fingered engineers
We use high-engineered, designed and precise technology to give customers joyfully simple experiences. That's why we design and build machinery that pairs high performance with effortless usability and longevity.
We work with nature, we don' fight it. We share advice combining mechanical engineering expertise and imagination with technology that enable customers to become experts themselves. We believe in the strength of logic and rationality.
With the heart of gardeners.
Every green space is precious and we make our best to help people grow their ""green finger"".
STIGA surprises, inspires, empowers and solves practical gardening challenges.
We create smart machines that make gardening a delight.
We inspire our customers with ideas to fuel their imagination.
Gardening is a joy and we want to tell stories about it.
We believe in the power of imagination and magic.
