Good reactions to latest generation of robotic mowers

STIHL continues to develop and expand the iMOW robotic mower concept introduced last year. It also recently launched a new lawn mower line. "The mowers are reliable and do what they are supposed to do.

There are six models of the iMOW robotic mowers; three basic and three deluxe versions. The iMOW5 is suitable for lawns up to 1,500 m2, iMOW6 for lawns up to 3,000 m2 and iMOW 7 for lawns up to 5,000 m2. These basic models come in the familiar STIHL colors of gray and orange and can work on slopes up to 40%. With an upgrade kit even up to 45%. The deluxe variants iMOW 5 EVO, iMOW 6 EVO and iMOW 7 EVO come in anthracite and can handle slopes up to 45% as standard, even up to 55% with upgrade kit. The mowers' mulching system shreds grass and distributes it over the lawn as fertilizer. The iMOW robotic mowers are equipped with three freely rotating blades in a Disc-Cut system. All sides of the blades are used and the cutting disc rotates both left and right.

Reactions from the market to the iMow robotic mowers are positive, says STIHL product manager Bernd de Cauwer. "Professional users had been waiting for the new generation of robotic mowers for some time. Last January, we asked a number of dealers in the Benelux about the reactions they received to the new STIHL robotic mowers. The reactions were unanimously positive: the mowers are reliable and do what they are supposed to do."

That does not mean they are sitting still at STIHL: work is in full swing to further develop and expand the iMOW package. For example, the existing entry-level robotic mowers will be given an iMOW jacket in 2025. De Cauwer: "We are also developing machines for professional sports fields, based on the iMOW 7 EVO. These can cut even shorter, up to a minimum grass length of 20 mm. In fact, professional sports require a grass height of 20-25 mm. Therefore, we are developing a variant of the iMOW 7 EVO that can also handle the high density and grass thickness of a sports field. Thereby, the mowing must be done in acceptable cycles, so that training can simply be done on the fields."

In addition, STIHL is looking at the software on which the mowers run. Updates are constantly being made, making the app work more and more intuitively. To give the line a more modern look, it will soon be possible to have the light-striping in the robots change color.

For the consumer market, STIHL introduced a new walk-behind mower line consisting of 15 machines in early 2024. Gasoline (RM) and battery (RMA) variants are available in different cutting widths and with or without variable drive. The line consists of a 2-series and a 4-series. The entry-level 2-series models have a steel chassis; the 4-series models feature a form-fitting and colorfast plastic cutting deck. All mowers in the RM(A) series have a comfort handlebar, an easy-access collection bucket and offer a 4-in-1 mowing function: grass catching, rear discharge, side discharge and mulching.

De Cauwer: "Starting in April, most of the models in the new line will be available at our dealers. For most of these mowers, this is a further development of existing mowers. These were given a new and modern look and the operation is more user-friendly and intuitive than before."