After eleven years in his father’s company, Alfred Kärcher established his company in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt in 1935. Alfred Kärcher’s limited partnership develops innovative hot air blocks for heating aircraft engines. Engineering previously attracted attention with safe, economical industrial furnaces.

After the war the company was kept in trust for a short period. Alfred Kärcher tinkers with the idea of selling the company, but then, with 40 employees, begins producing goods for the pressing needs of the post-war years: At first ovens and carts are produced for the population in need. Later, for the reconstruction of destroyed cities, hot concrete formations and fresh air heating units for drying buildings, which are also used for heating halls, tents and stables. The number of employees increased to 141 by 1948.

After the death of Alfred Kärcher, his wife Irene takes over the business. With foresight it orients the company towards “cleaning” as a basic need. She has been awarded the Federal Cross of Merit for managing her business. The trade magazine “Handelsblatt” posts posthumously Irene Kärcher as the first woman in her “Famous Hall”.

The early 1970s are the time of change for Kärcher. The era of the steam generator, formerly a substantial revenue driver, is coming to an end. In 1974 the management decided to take a bold step and focus on high pressure technology for professional users and no longer offer all other product groups. At this stage the color of the machinery changes from the final blue to the world famous Kärcher yellow.

In 1980 Kärcher begins his cultural sponsorship with the cleansing of the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. Since then, more than 140 cultural monuments around the world have been cleared. In the same year there is a change in the strategy of “cleansing” as a basic need. The product focus has been adapted to the new agenda and initially transferred to transportation and building applications.

In 1986 Kärcher set the standard in the professional field with the launch of the BR 450 floor cleaning machine. It has innovative wheel brush technology, which is used today in over 50% of all machines in the global market. The internal development of cleaning dryers lays the foundation for one of the most important business segments today.

The first vacuum filler, ICC 1, marks the entry into the new “municipal equipment” business segment. Attend carriers in various performance classes, which are also used for winter service, maintenance of green areas or wet cleaning.

Work on 284 passenger columns and 88 pilasters of St. Peter’s Square colonnades in Rome as part of our cultural sponsorship initiative takes nine months. With a total area of 25,000 square feet, it is by far the largest building cleaning project ever and gets an entry in the Guinness Book of Records.

In North America Kärcher manages to become the market leader in the field of high pressure cleaning and cleaning of textile floor coverings by taking on two competitors. From 2011 further purchases serve to bring specialized knowledge to companies, for example in the field of municipal cleaning or industrial cleaning requirements.

Water delivery is the focus of the garden business segment. In 2007 Kärcher enters this market with 22 pump models for private households. In addition to pumps, today the range also includes hoses, firearms, sprinklers and watering systems.

With the introduction of the first vac window, the WV 50, Kärcher closed a gap in the market and successfully installed a window cleaning machine. So far, the vac window has more than 21 million satisfied customers.

Since 2011 Kärcher has sponsored SOS Children’s Villages with its technology and expertise. As a collaborative partner, we help create a happy home for disadvantaged children and young people around the world.

Another change in corporate color. Since 2013 the cars for professional use have been anthracite, not yellow. This makes it easier to distinguish them from products for private users, which are still yellow. Anthracite also adapts to more discreet environments and is less susceptible to dirt.

With Connected Cleaning, the Kärcher Fleet and Kärcher Manage fleet management systems are merged. Combined by software, these modules generate effective synergies: manual cleaning and machines, operation sites, operational planning, reporting and services – the entire infrastructure of the cleaning fleet can be controlled.

In 2018 Kärcher receives for the second time the German marketing ward – unique in the history of this award. Mimi acknowledges the successful work of the brand of the last 10 years. An integrated marketing concept and the use of relevant marketing tools and technologies are crucial to pricing.