Karcher offers solutions to a very wide range of cleaning problems with its high-pressure cleaners, vacuums and steam cleaners, sweepers and scrubber dryers, pumps for the home and garden, truck and car washes, cleaning agents, dry ice blasters, drinking water and waste water treatment plants as well as water dispensers. Initially Alfred Kärcher 
concentrated on developing, manufacturing and selling heating systems. His idea of using hot water instead of steam for cleaning resulted in the advent of the first European hot-water high-pressure cleaner. Following Alfred’s early death in 1959, his wife Irene took on the responsibility of running the company, which had grown considerably by that time. In 1974, Irene together with the board of management took a momentous decision in the company’s history: To concentrate entirely on cleaning technology. Kärcher has remained a family-owned company to this day and is thus able to take long-term decisions and follow them through – irrespective of the changing fortunes of the stock markets. This strong and stable basis has created an international enterprise with 45 subsidiaries and a staff of some 7,000 all over the world.
The company takes its social responsibilities very seriously and remains committed to traditional values. One of them is the company’s claim to engineering excellence, quality and a firm endeavour to improve still further. Innovation is Kärcher’s most essential growth factor. At least 80% of all products sold by Kärcher have been developed within the last five years.
