Karcher

History

After graduating from the Technical University of Stuttgart in 1924, Alfred Kärcher (1901–1959) joined the family business, which sold industrial cooking and washing equipment in Bad Cannstatt, a district of Stuttgart. In the following years, he began developing devices such as electric immersion heaters and combustion furnaces for industrial use, laying the foundation for his own company. In 1935, he founded Alfred Kärcher Limited Partnership in Bad Cannstatt. Due to space constraints, 120 employees moved to Winnenden in 1939, where the company’s headquarters remain today. By the late 1940s, Kärcher was producing items like stoves, handcarts, and trailers for civilians. The company also manufactured concrete formwork heaters and air heaters for post-war reconstruction. From the 1950s to the 1970s, Kärcher focused on producing steam generators for industry and construction, while cleaning technology became the company’s main revenue stream later. On September 17, 1959, Alfred Kärcher passed away at age 58 from a heart attack. His wife, Irene Kärcher (1920–1989), took over the business, increasing revenue by 70% in the first year. By 1962, Kärcher had opened its first sales office outside Germany, near Paris, followed by branches in Austria and Switzerland. In the 1960s and 1970s, Kärcher expanded into the global market, producing toys, catamarans, and construction formwork before focusing on high-pressure cleaners in 1974. That year, the corporate color changed from blue to yellow, and the first international factory was opened in Brazil. From the late 1970s, Kärcher began cleaning historical monuments worldwide. In 1984, it launched its first high-pressure cleaner for home use. After Irene Kärcher passed away in 1989, management was taken over by the existing executive team. Alfred and Irene Kärcher’s descendants remained involved in supervisory roles. During the 1990s, Kärcher entered the commercial floor-cleaning and municipal equipment sector. The company launched household appliances like vacuum cleaners and steam cleaners. In 2003, Kärcher introduced its first fully autonomous consumer cleaner and later expanded into gardening with pumps and watering systems. By the end of 2011, Kärcher acquired the former Pfleiderer factory in Winnenden, nearly doubling its operational space. In 2022, Kärcher released Kira, the first autonomous vacuum and mop for professional use.