Kärcher

What they do

Kärcher develops and sells cleaning equipment. For households it offers pressure washers, wet and dry vacuums, steam cleaners, window vacs and garden products. For professional users it makes floor scrubbers, sweepers, industrial vacuums, vehicle wash systems and municipal machines, plus the detergents that go with them.

The company was founded in 1935 by the inventor Alfred Kärcher, who began with heating technology. It is headquartered in Winnenden near Stuttgart and has remained family-owned since its foundation.

Why it matters

In 1950 Alfred Kärcher developed what the company describes as Europe's first hot-water high-pressure cleaner. That product defined the business, and the brand has since become closely associated with pressure washing in many markets.

The firm's strength lies in covering the whole spectrum from a consumer pressure washer to a fleet of commercial cleaning machines. Cleaning is labour-intensive, and as staff shortages and hygiene standards rise, equipment that cuts time, water and chemical use becomes more valuable to building managers, transport operators and cities.

Products to know

• High-pressure cleaners: the signature range, from compact home units to hot-water industrial machines.
• Window vac: battery-powered squeegee vacuums for glass and tiles.
• Floor scrubbers and sweepers: professional machines for warehouses, retail and public buildings.
• Vehicle wash systems: installations for car washes and commercial fleets.

The German angle

Kärcher is another product of the Swabian engineering heartland, where inventors turned workshop ideas into global brands. After Alfred Kärcher's death in 1959, his wife Irene led the company until 1989, an early example of a woman running a German industrial firm.

The family's continued ownership is typical of the region's Mittelstand: decisions are made with the next generation in mind rather than the next quarter. Production and development remain anchored in the Stuttgart region.