Difference GETTING TO IT - Then and now
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difference
THE KÄRCHER MAGAZINE 02 | 2019
GETTING
TO IT
Then and now
MARITIME WHAT WE PLASTICS MAKE
TRADITION STAND ON A COMEBACK
Lobster fishing Interesting facts Recyclates in spray
in Scotland about floors lance production
04
02
LEGAL INFORMATION 03
GET TO IT AND
CREATE NEW THINGS
Facts and figures
02 | 2019
Publisher KÄRCHER is a leading global pro-
06
Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG vider of cleaning technology.
Bernd Rützler, Executive Vice President
Kärcher offers innovative solu-
Corporate Marketing & Brand Management
tions, with high-pressure and ultra
difference
Alfred-Kärcher-Str. 28–40
A LIFE cleaners,
FOR THEvacuum clean-
02 | 2019
D-71364 Winnenden, Germany high-pressure
T +49 (0) 7195 14-0 BIG cleaners,
ers and steam CATCH sweepers and
F +49 (0) 7195 14-2212 scrubber driers,fisherman
The lobster vehicle wash
of systems,
www.kaercher.com
cleaning agents, dry ice blasters, water
Pittenweem
Design, Editing, Creative Direction
and waste water treatment systems
12
Vera Umbrecht, David Wickel-Bajak and water dispensers, as well as pump
Dear readers, Linda Schrödter and watering systems for the home
06 and garden. Solutions include compat-
In this magazine we focus on craftsmanship, Art Direction ible products and accessories, as well
one of the most traditional professions of Britta Raab/Studio Somo TWO WORLDS, ONE GOAL:
as consulting, service and numerous
them all. Our company also has its roots in PERFECTION
Authors digital applications. In 2018, Alfred
craftsmanship, and so Kärcher machines have Craftsmanship and cleaning technology
Alexandra Lachner Kärcher SE & Co. KG achieved its high-
always been used daily in many companies. Mark Stöhr est turnover ever, with 2,525 billion
18
In this edition we also highlight the fruitful Verena Wolff euros. The family-run business employs
relationship of two supposedly opposing part- over 13,000 staff in more than 120
Photographs
ners: collaborations between traditional com- companies across 70 countries. With
Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG
panies and start-ups and how they can inno- NEW ADDITIONS
50,000 services centres worldwide,
Andi Mayr
vate together. Current highlights of the Kärcher range
Martin Baitinger Kärcher offers customers across the
iStock globe a seamless and comprehensive
23
Did you know that when it is recycled, plastic service. Innovation is the most impor-
Illustrations
can make a positive contribution to the sustain- tant growth factor for the company
Julian Rentzsch
able handling of resources and and thereby Kerstin Luttenfeldner/caroline seidler.com and has been an integral part of the
help to solve the global waste problem? On the Paetrick Schmidt/2agenten CAMERA
corporate ROLLING!
culture since the company’s
following pages we show you, amongst other Anne Mair c/o Kombinatrotweiss Around
foundation the world
in 1935: around 90 per-
things, how spray lances for our high-pressure forall
cent of the corporate
products arefilm
five years old
Sources
cleaners are made from discarded airbags. or less. In total, more than 1,000 staff
www.statista.de
24
https://www.welt.de/print-welt/article216681/ at the cleaning machine manufac-
I hope you enjoy these exciting insights and Das-ganze-Gold-der-Welt.html turer work in research and develop-
have fun reading this edition of difference! Bernhard Zehetmair, Deputy Guild Master of the Guild of ment. Kärcher currently holds over
Parquet and Floor Layers (Munich-Upper Bavaria) LET
630 IDEAS
active TAKE FLIGHT
patents.
Innovation in corporate groups
28 and start-ups
28
WHAT AM I ACTUALLY
Hartmut Jenner STANDING ON?
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
of the Board of Management
Interesting facts about the floors
Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG on which we live
34
PLASTICS MAKE A COMEBACK
New products through recycling
35
LEGAL INFORMATION
34
04
Facts and figures 05
GET TO IT AND
02 | 2019
CREATE NEW THINGS
difference
In everyday life we encounter a variety of different
20 METRES
WOULD BE THE EDGE LENGTH OF A CUBE
raw – and other – materials. Where they come from and MADE OF ALL THE GOLD THAT HAS BEEN MINED
where they go – a selection. THROUGHOUT HISTORY.
It is thought that, to date, roughly 155,500 tons
of gold have been mined worldwide – that sounds
180 KG
like a lot, but when melted down it would only
be a cube with an edge length of 20 metres.
We encounter the material most frequently in
elaborate forms – processed by goldsmiths to OF FINE DUST CAN BE EXTRACTED
make jewellery. This share accounts for over half. CONTINUOUSLY WITHOUT CLOGGING
500 KG
Next, some way behind, are works of art, in which THE FILTER.
12 percent of the gold can be found. A small
proportion, roughly 150 tons per year, is used in On construction sites bricklayers, plasterers,
the manufacture of electronic devices. Small joiners and carpenters deal with dust from vari-
OF CHARCOAL: IN THE PAST, 15 DAYS WERE connecting wires for computer chips are in PCs, ous materials: wood, concrete, cement or stone.
REQUIRED FOR ITS MANUFACTURE. washing machines or TVs. In professional cleaning Depending on the size of the particles, they can
one also relies on the use of valuable materials: linger in the air for up to 5 days before they
Charcoal manufacturing is steeped in tradition. for example, diamond particles are processed into settle or, in the worst-case scenario, are inhaled,
Its peak period was from the Middle Ages to the pads that have been tried and tested for grind- which may consequently cause diseases. Dust
start of industrialisation. Charcoal was tradition- ing and polishing floors. The pads are suitable, for is best removed as it is created, using a suitable
ally manufactured from beechwood in many elab- example, for marble, terrazzo, epoxy floors and extractor. Even with the smallest wet and dry
orate production steps. For 500 kilograms of other hard surfaces that can be polished. The fine vacuum cleaner with automatic filter cleaning,
charcoal, a charcoal burner must stack up almost diamond particles, which are only fractions of a 180 kg of fine dust can be extracted continu-
20 cubic metres of chopped beechwood; five days millimetre in size, stick to the fibres, remove the ously without clogging the paper or rot-proof
were needed for this alone. This was followed dirt and ensure an excellent shine. polyester fleece filter. For comparison: almost
by another ten days of waiting for the charcoal- 20 kilograms of household dust accumulates in
ing process to be completed. And at the end? It is thought that roughly two a year in an average household of a industrial
percent of the gold makes its way back into the Western nation.
You can host roughly 3,000 barbecues with ground after many years – in the form of wedding
500 kilograms of charcoal. After the barbecue rings or the gold teeth of deceased individuals.
comes the unpleasant task: cleaning the grill
grate. Good results can be achieved with a steam
cleaner. A round brush with brass bristles at
the nozzle and the power of the hot steam can
easily remove even the most stubborn dirt. The
cooled ashes can be easily vacuumed up using
an ash and dry vacuum cleaner.
06
07
02 | 2019
difference
The lobster fisherman of Pittenweem
A LIFE FOR THE
BIG CATCH
Each day fishermen sail out from the harbour in the small
Scottish village of Pittenweem on the Firth of Forth estuary
on the North Sea coast and catch lobsters and brown
crabs. The work is hard, but nobody here would change
it for the world.
08
09
02 | 2019
difference
When the sea is calm, it is
the most beautiful place in
the world.
Nick Irvine
Every day dozens of lob-
ster traps aregathered,
emptied and filled with
new bait.
B
y the time Nick Irvine finally “No – too many people, not enough after school.” He didn’t inherit this fasci- In winter, the lobsters do not
PITTENWEEM
sets sail in his Vanguard, he has space, far away from my family.” But nation for the back-breaking job from move much
already carried out a huge above all: “I would no longer have the his parents. “But my brother is also a The traps are lowered into the sea at var-
amount of work: he has cleaned sea right on my doorstep.” fisherman. Together, we own five boats,” ious locations. The sonar on board pro-
the ten-by-five-metre catamaran, bought says Nick. vides information about the underwater
new bait at the fish market and checked landscape because it is better to leave
the tank as well as the weather and sea And they go out on the boats almost traps in areas of water where the seafloor
400
charts. He has also already pulled the every working day, in summer and win- is hilly. “This is where the lobsters prefer 5 FACTS ABOUT SCOTLAND
thick rubber boots and yellow water- ter. “We take a break at the weekend,” to move about and they will simply walk
proof trousers over his threadbare cam- he says. Nick has deposited around into our traps,” explains Nick. But this ■■ Scotland is 78,772 square kilometres
in size and its capital is Edinburgh.
ouflage cargo pants and a blue water- 400 lobster traps off the North Sea coast. only happens in summer when the water ■■ “Haggis” is the national dish of Scot-
proof jumper over his thick hoody. LOBSTERS Each day dozens of them are collected, temperature reaches more than ten land, but it is not to everyone’s taste:
ARE CAUGHT BY THE FISHERMEN emptied and filled with new bait – a tir- degrees, even at greater depths. “In win- the classic recipe involves a sheep’s
heart, lung and liver being cooked in
“I can’t imagine having any other life ON ONE DAY IN THE SUMMER. ing job that he completes with his ter, the lobsters all but stop moving,” the animal’s stomach.
than that of a fisherman,” says the crew, Josh and Roger. “When the sea is says Nick. No wonder: at that point the ■■ Scotland has nearly 800 islands,
44-year-old Scot, who has spent his calm, it is the most beautiful place in water in the North Sea is rarely warmer of which 130 are inhabited.
entire life on the Firth of Forth, an the world,” says Nick with enthusiasm. than three or four degrees – the crusta- “Harry Potter” is set in Scotland,
■■
amongst other places.
estuary located on the east coast of Scot- Nick always wanted to be a fisherman However, it is often windy here, it is ceans are in survival mode. ■■ The raincoat was invented in 1824
land, a good hour’s drive away from And that has been his life, his fascina- cool, even when the sun is shining, and by the Scottish chemist Charles
Edinburgh. An office job? “A horrible tion, since he was a young boy. “When the water is rough. “But you get used Everything happens very quickly once Macintosh. In Great Britain this item
of clothing is still often called a “mac”.
idea,” he says. Move to a large city like I was ten or twelve years old, I was to it very quickly.” Nick reaches one of his buoys. He pulls
Edinburgh, Glasgow or Aberdeen? already going out fishing, before and in the rope through a large slot. Roger
Sometimes people wait 10
for us on the quay and 11
buy lobsters straight
from the boat.
02 | 2019
Nick Irvine
difference
Dirt on board can be
easily removed using the
hot-water high-pressure
cleaner. The push sweeper
ensures a clean pier.
and Josh are ready for the cages that area. The traps are stacked here until sell. “That’s also the reason why we spe- boat.” This is not a problem since they cleaner is used, they gleam in a deep
LOBSTERS LIKE THINGS CLEAN
their boss pulls out of the water. They the entire catch from one location has cialised in lobsters and crabs – nothing bring more than enough catch to shore. bottle-green colour. Once the boat is
Fishing is a strenuous affair – and one that
are heaved onto a table and, while Roger been gathered. else is worth the effort.” “Sometimes the traps are so full that clean, Nick turns his attention to the
demands maximum cleanliness: The deck, the uses his trained eye to select the brown the creatures are almost stacked on top pier. He uses a Kärcher sweeper to col-
troughs for the catch, the hull, the ropes and
particularly the traps. Because: Lobsters have
crabs and lobsters that are suitable to go In the summer, the lobsters stack up of each other inside them.” lect the rubbish that is produced when
good eyes. It is an advantage when the cage to the market, Josh takes a handful in the traps loading and selling the lobsters and
3°
has no algae and they can already recognise
the bait from some distance. of dead fish from the crate and stuffs “In the summer we catch up to 400 lob- When Nick finally sets a course back crabs.
them into small bags in the traps. sters a day, sometimes even more,” to Pittenweem, the working day is over
says Nick. This is because the cold North for his two helpers – but the captain After chatting to his fellow fishermen,
They are to be used to attract the crus- Sea at the Firth of Forth is full of these brings the catch to the buyers and starts Nick stops by the small ice-cream stand
taceans. “Once the lobsters enter the shellfish. Each fisherman has their WEST: to prepare the catamaran for the next on the promenade and treats himself
traps because they have seen the fish, spots where they throw out their traps. PITTENWEEM HAS THE SAME day. The harbour houses a professional to an ice cream. He then makes his way
they cannot get back out again,” explains “We don’t get in each others’ way.” LONGITUDE AS MADRID. hot-water high-pressure cleaner from home to his wife and daughter. Time
Nick. Inside, the traps are like a small And they do not need to, because once Kärcher, which makes it a lot easier to to relax. ▪
labyrinth, and the lobsters cannot escape back on shore, they hand their catch clean the deck. “We purchased the
from the rearmost chamber. over to a cooperative that sells the shell- machine as a group, and it was an excel- Video of the lobster fisherman
of Pittenweem
fish on. Selling lobsters straight from the boat lent investment,” he says. Nick cleans www.kaercher.com/difference
While Roger throws the by-catch, such In the summer, even Scottish people are the thick ropes of his Vanguard using
as mussels, starfish or other sea crea- Nick explains that many lobsters and enthusiastic about the precious shellfish the machine, which can heat water
tures, back into the water, Nick gets the crabs are sent directly to Asia and Spain. that the fishermen get from the sea. up to 155 degrees. After a long day at
next trap on board and Josh heaves There, distributors get good prices for “Sometimes, people wait for us on the sea, the ropes are a brownish colour
the emptied cage to the adjacent free catch from Scotland. Fish are harder to quay and buy lobster straight from the but, once the hot-water high-pressure
12
13
02 | 2019
difference
Craftsmanship and cleaning technology
TWO WORLDS,
ONE GOAL:
PERFECTION
Kärcher at home on the patio. Kärcher in buildingclean-
ing. People most often think of these two areas of applica-
tion when it comes to vacuum cleaners, high-pressure
cleaners, etc. But it is hard to imagine everyday life without
many Kärcher products, especially for workshops. Using
the example of a construction site, we show where reliable
cleaning technology matters and why, at the same time,
the focus is on occupational safety and the protection of
health. Also in the spotlight: how, over the last few decades,
the model builder at Kärcher became the prototype engi-
neer, and what traditional and modern craftsmanships there
are all around the world.
14
15
Clean construction trade:
FROM STRUCTURAL
02 | 2019
WORK TO
difference
DREAM HOUSE
Excavation for the floor slabs, of dust are created at this stage, too – such as
concrete, brick or plaster dust – before the bath-
pouring the foundation, building
rooms etc. are ready for use.
walls, covering the roof, complet-
ing all aspects of the interior On the one hand, the fine dust particles get in
the way of the work – if the worker can no longer
fittings: when a building is con- see his hand in front of his eyes, then good qual-
structed, various trades have ity can hardly be delivered. On the other hand, the
fine dust is harmful to the worker’s health as it
to work alongside one another, sits in the lungs. Depending on the region, there
sometimes under tremendous are therefore strict regulations in place in order
time pressure. So it is all the to guarantee the necessary occupational safety.
The technology used should not only effectively
more important that the clean- combat the dust, but also make tough day-to-day in use. For interior cleaning, scrubber driers can hedge trimmers are used. They are much quieter
ing technology used does what work easier and not be an additional burden. then be used – depending on the area – in order and give off no emissions. Depending on the man-
to wet clean the floors with the advantage that ufacturer, they also create much less vibration,
is needed – at all times, reliably The cleaning machine of choice should definitely the loosened dirt is picked up straight away, which is more ergonomic for the operator overall
and even in the toughest of be a wet and dry vacuum cleaner because only the floors are quickly dry again and are therefore and, in particular, puts less strain on the circula-
these machines are able to deal with the mixture safe to walk on. Now and then parquet layers tion. As the machines are very compact, even put-
environments. of dry and wet dirt that workers are faced with are needed again at the very end, for example to ting precise finishing touches to narrow, tucked-
on construction sites. Even with these special vac- seal wooden floors. With this final touch, the away corners of the garden is not a problem.
Important for health and quality: uum cleaners, the filters clog quickly, which is rooms are then more than well swept and there-
wet and dry vacuum cleaners for dealing why models with automatic filter cleaning facili- fore ready for occupancy. Value preservation for tools, etc.:
with dust particles tate uninterrupted work. If lightweight, robust high-pressure cleaners for dealing with
and – where appropriate – battery-powered The icing on the cake in green areas: coarse dirt
One of the greatest enemies on every construc- machines are selected, to which any power tool landscaping and garden maintenance with
tion site is extremely small: dust. And it is every- can be directly connected, then dust becomes battery-powered machines On the construction site, not only workmen and
where. When joiners and carpenters are working a thing of the past. cleaning technology are exposed to high stresses –
on the roof or busy working on the interior con- Depending on the property size, work on the the tools, machines or the scaffolding for the
struction, wood is sawn and cut. Holes are drilled, Final construction cleaning before house is accompanied by the creation of a beau- painting work also withstand dirt and continuous
and the circular saw is only seldom not in use. moving in: vacuum sweepers and scrubber tiful garden. Landscapers arrange lawns, trees, use. It is therefore important that every work-
Dust and chippings fall to the ground and are dis- driers for all situations bushes, etc. often in an artistic manner; flower shop keeps the equipment it uses in good condi-
tributed in the air. As soon as the roof is ready, beds and fountains or ponds are also planned. tion and ensures the longest possible service
the electrician can get to work. In order to lay Despite the tireless efforts of dust control tech- Strictly speaking, cleaning technology hasn’t lost life. Cold and hot water high-pressure cleaners
cables and lines, he must make slots in walls and nology, when all the work is completed, there is out on much here, but related machines certainly of various sizes and performance classes are
floors using a cutter. Fine concrete dust falls still always a great deal of coarse dirt around, have. In order to give the surrounding green exactly the right solution for this job. The water
from the crevices at every stage of the process. such as splinters of wood or pieces of plaster. area the appropriate design, nowadays mostly volume and pressure can be set precisely to
It’s a similar story when the plumber starts the Such loose dirt, in both interior and exterior battery-powered strimmers, chainsaws and the respective requirement so that both gentle
sanitary installations. Drilling and chiselling work areas, can be removed using battery-powered and powerful cleaning can be carried out. ▪
takes place when pipes and lines are installed push vacuum sweepers. If larger areas have
through floors and out into the open. Many kinds to be cleaned, then ride-on or even industrial Find out more about craftsmanship
and cleaning technology:
sweepers are much faster and more efficient www.kaercher.com/difference
16
INTERNATIONAL 17
CRAFTSMANSHIP:
FROM PRAYER BEADS PRAYER BEADS (TURKEY)
02 | 2019
TO GLASS ART MURANO GLASS (ITALY) Turkey has a long-standing tradition
of manufacturing prayer beads. The
C
raftsmanship is as old as the hills There is a simple reason why the classic prayer beads are made up of
and state of the art – because we island of Murano became the epitome 99 individual beads. Every 33 beads
Modern craftsmanship at Kärcher:
difference
of glassmaking: fear. In the 13th cen- are separated by a stopper or flag. The
have enjoyed the gift of creating
tury there was a great fear that the string comes together at the imam,
and designing things with our hands which marks the start and end point.
furnaces of the glass-blowing work-
and using tools since time immemorial. Depending on the quality, production
FROM MODEL
shops in Venice would cause a fire that
Short stories about exceptional handi- would destroy the entire city – hence time varies from one day to one month.
the move to Murano. The master crafts- The beads are made from plastic, wood,
craft products all around the world.
man works like a chemist, whose secret gemstones or other materials.
formulas give rise to a unique mate-
rial. Quartz sand, lime, soda, potash,
BUILDER TO
feldspar and clay are needed.
PROTOTYPE ENGINEER
If you look at the world through the eyes of a prototype
engineer, then above all one thing has changed in the last
30 years: whereas in the past cars or coffee machines were
square, today everything has curves and bevels – almost
to such an extent that people want corners and edges again.
How craftsmanship, technology and design language at
Kärcher have undergone a significant change – a journey
through time.
Sheet metal punch, lathe and cutter, heavy time to implement this CAD data and operate
push machines and all sorts of noise. This the milling machines and lathes accordingly. A
was model assembly at Kärcher around CAM programme was implemented (editor’s note:
30 years ago. Even back then the components of CAM = computer-aided manufacturing) in order
KNIVES (SOUTH AFRICA)
all the products were made as models. After that, to translate the data for the machines to a certain
even today, the model goes to the test workshops extent by using software. Alongside classic trade
The art of forging is thousands of
for assembly so that the developers can identify expertise, it was now becoming increasingly JEANS (USA) years old and very modern. All around
optimisation potential and make improvements. important in model construction to be a qualified the world, forges make knives from
This type of product development has been tried programmer, in order to keep up with all the Modern jeans originated from cotton Damascus or stainless steel with han- LACQUERWARE (MYANMAR)
and tested, which is why the company has always changes, both in the real and the virtual world. trousers, which came to the USA from dles made from wood, titanium or
gold – including in South Africa. The
invested a lot in the process and the individual the area around the Italian city of
Perhaps the best-known artistic goods
Genoa. The pronunciation of “jeans” in award-winning custom knife maker
production steps. In 1997 Kärcher became one of the first compa- Des Horn puts 30 years of experience from Myanmar are pieces of lacquer-
America was heavily influenced by
nies in Germany to purchase a 3D printer. In 1998 the French name for the city – “Gênes”. into every one of his handmade knives. ware, such as tables, trays or caskets.
Very early on, a CNC milling machine was avail- the first components were made and the so-called At the heart of this work are high- The lacquer is mixed with ash and
Today there are many big manufac-
precision folding mechanisms and the applied by hand. Then the objects are
able to the model builders, which allowed them rapid prototyping was born – and with it the turers – and a few factories, for exam-
compilation of the right materials for left to dry for about a week before
to work significantly faster than if they had used transformation from model builder to prototype ple, since 2010 in Detroit. It takes
the handles, as well as the correct heat being polished. The final step is the
roughly four hours and 90 production
conventional milling and filing processes. At engineer was complete. Today the team has treatment of selected steels for the decoration, which is engraved free-
steps are required, in order to make
the start of the 1990s computer-aided 3D design access to four rapid prototyping systems and four a pair of jeans by hand. blades. hand, without using a template. As the
lacquer does not leave much room for
was introduced to the development process (edi- machining centres in order to manufacture sev-
error, the pattern must be right on the
tor’s note: CAD = computer-aided design), which eral hundred components per week for all areas first attempt.
allowed new shapes, curves and bevels to be of the company. ▪
used in the planned products. But now it was
Professional Home & Garden
BD 80 / 100 W CLASSIC Bp LBL 2 BATTERY SET
New push scrubber drier Powerful leaf blower
in the Classic range with maximum mobility
Current highlights
of the Kärcher range
NEW
ADDITIONS Home & Garden Professional
Whether it’s need-based cleaning instead
PCL 4 “ONE” APP SUITE AND PLATFORM
of a fixed cleaning schedule or battery-powered Electric
terrace cleaner
Digital transformation
of building services
devices for independent and flexible work:
Kärcher reacts promptly to the needs of its custom-
ers and develops innovative cleaning solutions
for private users and professionals.Home & Garden Professional Home & Garden Professional
kaercher.com/professional
WRE 4 BATTERY MC 250
Battery-powered Municipal
weed remover vacuum sweeper
CONTROLLED REMOVAL OF LEAVES EASY-TO-USE AND ROBUST:
AND DIRT: LBL 2 BATTERY SET BD 80 / 100 W CLASSIC Bp
■■ Cleaning the area around the ■■ The flat nozzle ensures that ■■ Brush head and squeegee are ■■ The high-capacity battery allows
house is made much easier leaves and loose dirt can be made from hard-wearing alumin- continuous cleaning of up to five
without a power cable getting removed in a controlled manner. ium and are therefore highly hours without recharging.
in the way. durable.
■■ The scraping edge on the nozzle ■■ The machine can be optionally
■■ The 18-volt lithium-ion battery loosens wet leaves and com- ■■ For stubborn dirt or for decoat- equipped with the fleet manage-
can be used in other platform pacted dirt. ing, the contact pressure can ment system Kärcher Fleet.
devices. be increased from 40 to 68 kilo- ■■ The machine offers an economical
grams.
■■ The ergonomic handle makes introduction to the world of floor
the work effortless. ■■ To ensure easy orientation on cleaning.
the machine, all the operating ele-
ments are colour-coded.
kaercher.com/home-garden kaercher.com/professional
Professional Home & Garden Professional Home & Garden
NT 22 / 1 Ap Bp L WATERING SYSTEM DUO SMART KIT
First battery-powered Smart garden irrigation
wet and dry vacuum cleaner from Kärcher with voice control
EFFICIENT AND DYNAMIC REMOVES DIRT THANKS TO ROTATING
COOPERATION: “ONE” ROLLER BRUSHES: PCL 4
■■ Building service contractors can ■■ The apps are intuitive to operate ■■ Specialist for wooden decks ■■ The powerful motor that drives
record and support business pro- and accompany the organisation the roller brushes ensures simple
■■ Dirt such as green algae, moss or
cesses digitally with the apps and provision of analogue ser- work with minimum effort.
leaves can be removed uniformly
and the “ONE” platform. vices in real time.
and efficiently. ■■ The brushes can be exchanged
■■ Order creation, material manage- ■■ Intelligent resource and opera- without using tools so that the
■■ With the adjustable water output,
ment, service provision, invoicing: tional planning that takes real PCL 4 can be used again in no
dirt can be loosened and removed
“ONE” brings all information and time data into account. time to clean smooth stone tiles.
in one step.
participants together. ■■ “ONE” is compatible with Kärcher
software and machines, as well as
products from other providers.
kaercher.com/professional kaercher.com/home-gardenProfessional Home & Garden
22
23
02 | 2019
COMFORTABLE CITY CLEANING: REMOVE WEEDS EFFORTLESSLY AND
MC 250 EFFICIENTLY: WRE 4 BATTERY
difference
■■ The spacious two-person cabin ■■ With a maximum speed of ■■ The 18-volt lithium-ion battery ■■ The aluminium telescopic handle
is very comfortable. 60 km / h, the machine easily guarantees maximum mobility can be adapted to different
moves through city traffic. and can be used in other 18-volt cleaning situations and body
■■ The tried-and-tested machine
lithium-ion platform devices. heights.
control system is operated via the ■■ The machine’s sprung chassis
ergonomic operating panel in the ensures pleasant working ■■ A high-speed brush head ensures ■■ A splash guard protects users and
armrest. conditions. fast and efficient work. the surrounding area from dirt.
■■ The volume of the waste con- ■■ All components relevant for ■■ When the bristle strip is worn,
tainer is 2.2 m³ – the highest in cleaning and maintenance are it can be easily replaced, without
its class. readily accessible. using tools.
kaercher.com/professional kaercher.com/home-garden
Home & Garden Professional
NEED-BASED IRRIGATION:
WATERING SYSTEM DUO SMART KIT
CORDLESS ALTERNATIVE FOR WET AND
DRY APPLICATIONS: NT 22 / 1 Ap Bp L
CAMERA ROLLING!
They live in Spain, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland or Thailand –
people who overcome their daily challenges with Kärcher. For the
new corporate film, the production teamwent on a little trip
around the world and visited, among others, the tuk-tuk driver
Boy Arthinkong in Bangkok.
■■ The watering system can be easily ■■ The Kärcher Home & Garden app ■■ The cordless vacuum cleaner ■■ The user sees the remainingtime Tuk-tuks are the sanctuary of every driver, equipped the driver in a second tuk-tuk. At up to 60 km / h they
operated at any time and from allows personalised settings for really comes into its own in areas on an LCD display on the battery. with colourful light effects and melodious music sys- manoeuvred between snack bars, stalls and restaurants,
anywhere using the app and voice every water outlet. where there are no or only lim-
control. ited sockets.
■■ The use of battery-operated vac- tems. It is not for nothing that the nimble motorised alongside countless other scooters, pedestrians and cars.
■■ The voice control of the Kärcher uum cleaners saves up to 20 per
■■ Water and time are saved thanks Home & Garden app via Alexa ■■ Cables are no longer a tripping cent of the labour time needed rickshaws are considered one of the attractions for tourists The photo shows the team filming the cleaning of the tuk-
to intelligent watering based on Skill is simple and intuitive. hazard. when using corded models. when they want to be driven through, for example, the tuk. Because before every shift, the driver carefully pol-
real-time weatherdata. ■■ Thanks to the maintenance-free ■■ The NT 22 / 1 Ap Bp L is part of bustling city of Bangkok. In order to capture the footage ishes his vehicle to a gleaming finish – in order to enter the
lithium-ion battery (36 volts), the new battery platform Kärcher
up to 35 minutes of vacuuming Battery Universe. for the corporate film, the production team had to pursue fray again, playing loud music and in high spirits. ▪
can be done at full power.
kaercher.com/home-garden kaercher.com/professional24
LET IDEAS TAKE
Since 2016 Kärcher has been looking for exciting start-ups
and has already found some interesting technologies and busi- 25
ness models. The example of SightCall shows what exactly can
be achieved. The service tool was selected, is currently being tested
in several foreign subsidiaries and is at the end of its pilot phase.
FLIGHT WITHOUT
difference finds out from SightCall and Kärcher how it all went and
how things are going now. Also interviewed: Sobhan Khani, Vice
President of Mobility and Internet of Things at Plug and Play (Sunny-
vale, USA), an innovation platform which brings together corporate
groups and start-ups.
LOSING TOUCH
WITH REALITY
Innovation in corporate groups
and start-ups
“GETTING STARTED AFTER
SEVEN YEARS’ WORKING IN Hans Göttlinger,
A GARAGE.”
Vice President for the DACH
region at SightCall
Interview with Hans Göttlinger, Vice President
for the DACH region at SightCall
Mr Göttlinger, how did the idea of SightCall What are the benefits of the collaboration
come about? with Kärcher for your company?
The idea was actually born around ten years ago. Kärcher is a very successful company and thus a
Our founders are from the telecommunications good reference for us. Apart from that, we receive
sector and recognised the classic service-hotline feedback from the service team as well as the
One company has existed for several decades, has thousands problem: a customer describes his grievance, customers, which is extremely valuable. What we
and the service technician on the telephone can- have also been able to ascertain: it is not always
of employees and is active all around the globe. Another
not understand which solution fits. And so the about classic problem solving and service work.
company is brand new, so to speak, is made up of five com- concept of giving the service technician eyes on Even if users are not satisfied with a product due
mitted people and a great idea. It is well known that these the ground by means of video transmission was to handling errors, this can be quickly identified
developed. The whole thing has only been on the and rectified via SightCall. This is a wonderful side
two worlds can work very productively together and inno- market for around three years, though, because benefit of our solution.
vate. That it is also about bridging major differences is authentication, data security and the universal
applicability for industrial customers were chal- What are your plans for the future?
also common knowledge. lenges that had to be overcome. Today SightCall
is entirely cloud-based, i.e. installed in five min- We developed our open platform ourselves,
utes and easy to use. And we’re finally taking off so we are very flexible. This allows us to quickly
now, after seven years of working in a garage. implement current trends such as augmented
reality – for example, the integration of operat-
ing instructions into the live picture. This is the
direction that things will take in the future. ▪26
“DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM 27
WITHOUT A VISUAL AID IS TIME-
CONSUMING.”
02 | 2019
Interview with Maximilian Grau, Project Manager,
difference
Aftermarket & Services Kärcher
Mr Grau, what gave you the idea of testing satisfied with the technology. The amount of time
SightCall? it saves is significant, which allows the service Sobhan Khani, Vice President
of Mobility and Internet of
teams to work more efficiently. Depending on the Things at Plug and Play
We already have various options for processing quality of the network connection, the quality
service issues, and since 2014 we have also of the connection varies, depending on the site –
had a service app for professional users. What
is clear, however, is that describing problems
with a machine without the use of a visual aid
that’s just the way it is.
And have you already received feedback
“CORPORATE GROUPS CAN BE AGILE
is time-consuming and can result in misunder-
standings. This leads to long waiting times for
from customers?
IF THEY REALLY WANT TO BE.”
our customers, which we want to avoid. The live We have received extremely positive feedback
video chat by SightCall works very simply and because the fast troubleshooting procedure is Interview with Sobhan Khani, Vice President of Mobility
reliably – we examined various candidates in this well received. What is sometimes criticised: the
and Internet of Things at Plug and Play
area, but this solution really convinced us. customer has to install an app in order to use
the video chat. That is why we are now in talk-
How is the initiative going down with ing to SightCall about a web-based solution. At
the service staff? the end of the test phase in October 2019 we will Mr Khani, what is the objective of Plug forward for the young companies, because gen-
decide where we go from there. I am very confi- and Play, and what are you responsible for erally a collaboration follows as a result. And
In the test phase some foreign subsidiaries had dent that we will include SightCall in our service specifically? the corporate groups see what is happening in
the opportunity to test SightCall. These included, portfolio. ▪ the industry, what trends there are and how
for example, teams in France, Austria, Switzerland, Plug and Play was founded in 2006 and aims this knowledge can be used in their own product
the USA and also Brazil. Our colleagues are very to bring together innovative start-ups and large development.
corporate groups. To this end, we have defined
14 areas of innovation across all industries, such What challenges do you see when two very
as digital health, cyber security and also the different worlds collide – the large corporation
area I am responsible for: Mobility & Internet of and the young company?
Things. In each area we work with a special selec-
tion programme, which has one clear benefit This is definitely very exciting because in one
for each side: start-ups look for partners and, for company the structure is young, fast and agile,
corporate groups, we make a preselection of and in the other company it is experienced and
start-ups that match their technological needs. big. One obstacle for the collaboration lies in
the entirely different processes. Here is a simple
How does it work exactly? example from our everyday life: one of our
start-ups showed us a 40-page confidentiality
The corporate groups define a technological prob- agreement, which it was meant to sign. How-
lem for which they are seeking a solution. We ever, it didn’t have the means or the lawyers to
look all over the world for suitable young com- have such a mammoth document legally verified.
panies that offer solutions to this problem. We We passed on this information and in the end a
filter out the top 100 candidates and assess them two-page version was issued, which was practical
with regard to team, technology, appeal and for both sides. The fact that this was possible
Maximilian Grau, other criteria. In the end we have 30 start-ups, shows that corporate groups can be agile if they
Project Manager,
Aftermarket & Services whom we invite to our “Selection Day”. They can really want to be. And, in my opinion, they need
Kärcher each meet the judges, sent to us by the corpo- to be agile in order to survive in the future. ▪
rate group, for five minutes. Getting through the
final selection process constitutes a major step
More information about this topic:
www.kaercher.com/difference28
29
WHAT AM I
02 | 2019
difference
ACTUALLY
STANDING ON?
Interesting facts about the floors
on which we live.
We trample all over them, day after day, and yet the floors in our homes
are integral to our comfort and wellbeing. Wood is warm, natural stone
is stylish, carpet is cosy – the list goes on and on. But how did the differ-
ent variants actually come about, and why is a certain type of floor cov-
ering hip one minute and a no-go the next? In the future, could the floor
on which we walk perhaps even generate electricity or look out for the
elderly? And – not to be forgotten – can a floor be destroyed by cleaning?
Questions relating to a topic that we generally look down on.30
From bare ground to fine stone: 31
FLOOR COVERINGS There is also a myth about the oldest red carpet WARM AND SUSTAINABLE:
02 | 2019
for the stars. It supposed to have been used in the WOODEN FLOORS
Dionysos Theatre at the foot of the Acropolis for
THROUGH THE AGES
the première of a play by the Greek poet Aischylos Surprisingly, timber was a late bloomer as a floor
in around 548 BC. covering. In the 11th century after Christ the first
difference
wooden planks with sawn or chopped surfaces were
If you jump from these early examples to modern used as floors in castles and mansions. The first
times, then the history of the carpet is closely linked parquet floor in the world became well and truly
to the development of cleaning technology. In the famous: in 1684 the French “Sun King” Ludwig XIV
19th and 20th centuries it was possible to improve had parquet flooring laid in his hall of mirrors at
For a long time people lived on the bare ground. But in order the acoustics in rooms and make them cosier by the Palace of Versailles. This well-known parquet
putting down loose rugs. However, the cleaning of floor is called the parquet de Versailles.
to avoid dust and sand, from early on people began to look for
the rugs was not very popular. As well as carpet
a more pleasant alternative. A short journey through time, beaters, there were actually also carpet-beating Today solid wood floors have competition from
which at some points resembles a trip around the world and is machines, which drove through the streets and more affordable laminates, but with the proper
offered their services. Fixed carpets emerged in care and maintenance wood is an impressively sus-
from time to time closely connected to the development of the USA in the 1930s, but not until the 1950s in tainable material. Whereas wooden floorboards
cleaning technology. Europe. In the 1960s the first vacuum cleaners for were previously lacquered in order to protect them
domestic use were finally available on the market from external impacts, today the floors are oiled,
and made cleaning much easier. waxed or soaped. With the proper surface treat-
ment the material is robust and can be sanded
Today, with proper cleaning, carpets are even consid- several times so that new floors do not have to be
ered suitable those with allergies, and the variety laid too soon.
ANCIENT AND ROBUST: To this day stone floors are hugely popular, to such of materials used ranges from seaweed to natural
STONE FLOORS an extent that you can hardly keep track of all the and artificial fibres through to PET bottles and When cleaning one should simply reduce moisture
varieties. The options range from natural stone denim strips. Especially in areas which are sensitive and avoid standing water. The positive effect that
If you are looking for one of the first examples of a floors such as marble or granite to various artificial to sound – in the hotel business, in conference this has around the home ranges from its beautiful
man-made floor, you will end up in the southeast stone finishes through to fine stone, which are actu- rooms, etc. – carpets are very popular as they soften appearance through to an improved indoor cli-
of Turkey, near the city of Urfa. There, in 1994, Ger- ally by-products. The dust particles that are pro- the cool, reverberating glass and concrete archi- mate as wooden floors are never cold and regulate
man archaeologists found a terrazzo-like screed duced when cutting natural stone are ground up tecture that is so common today. humidity. ▪
made from smoothly polished limestone at the and stuck together – which results in a beautiful
Göbekli Tepe archaeological site – built around appearance and, at the same time, in a sustainable
7,000 to 8,000 years before Christ in the oldest tem- product, for which as much as possible is extracted
ple in the world that has been discovered to date. from the raw materials used.
Another astonishing anecdote about stone floors
comes from Roman times – because in 80 BC the SOMETIMES CLASSY, SOMETIMES
Roman merchant Gaius Sergius Orata installed SHABBY: CARPET
stone floors with underfloor heating. He adopted an
idea that had first been successfully implemented For the first carpet the journey does not go back
by the Cretans, which involved chanelling warm air quite so far. The Pazyryk rug is considered the
into cavities under the floor and in the walls. This oldest surviving example of a pile carpet in the
construction technique was later used in Roman world. It was created in around the 4th or 5th cen-
baths and in the large imperial thermal baths. tury BC and was discovered in 1947 by a team of
Russian archaeologists in the Altai mountains
near the border to Outer Mongolia.Smart floor, caring floor: 32
33
WHAT WILL BE POSSIBLE
02 | 2019
IN THE FUTURE
difference
Generate electricity with every step, improve age-appro-
priate living, ensure hygiene – floorcoverings should soon
do more than simply be under foot. Some highlights of
current research.
TWO TO FOUR JOULES PER STEP: KILL GERMS, INDICATE DISINFECTION: “YOU CAN’T TIDY DIRT.”
LET THERE BE LIGHT! HEALTH!
The idea that floor coverings could generate elec- Floor coverings are also becoming increasingly Daniel Carmine Manocchio, Head of the Materials
tricity from the steps of the people who walk on important in terms of hygiene. Amongst other
Laboratory at Kärcher, on floor cleaning
them has been researched for a while now. One things, research is being conducted into what sub-
person generates between two and four joules of stances floors can emit in order to kill germs. For
energy per step, at two steps per second this would example, silver ions are already being used success-
equate to one to two watts of power. If this energy fully in textiles which are worn on the skin. How- What is the most important rule for floor Do you have a nice anecdote from your many
was delivered to efficient LED lighting in long hall- ever, it is not possible to transfer this one-to-one to cleaning? years of work about what improper cleaning can
ways, then the public’s footsteps could provide floors.Yet certain types of wood naturally have a result in?
light. No competition for big power plants, but still germ-killing effect, as do the the linseed oil-based Cleaning generally involves removing dirt. Dirt is
a way of producing sustainable electricity. binders in linoleum. One of the objectives of the what lies around and cannot be tidied. We want Sure, I’ve got plenty of stories. For example, one
research is to recreate the effects of these natural to destroy this dirt in some way, only sometimes time we had a man who complained about our hard
raw materials. we forget to pay attention what’s below it. This floor cleaner – he said it had destroyed his parquet.
KNOW WHETHER EVERYTHING IS IN means we should work in a non-destructive man- It is important to know that this machine works
ORDER: WHEN FLOORS ARE SENSITIVE. For hospitals, two functional variants that aim to ner without breaking down materials, breaking with two microfibre rollers and makes the floor
ensure hygiene are gaining ground. Firstly, floors fibres or dissolving paint. Otherwise, cleaning and slightly damp as it cleans; it is designed precisely
More and more older people live alone, and the are available which emit biocides to kill germs. damaging are closely intertwined. for cleaning parquet floors. The problem: over the
matter of how their health can be reliably monitored Secondly, there are floors which, when wiped with years the man had cleaned his parquet with a wet
will continue to gain in importance in the future. disinfectant, show which areas have already been What should one generally pay attention to? cloth so that the floor boards had swelled at the
A solution for this problem could also be found in disinfected via a colour change on the surface. Thus ends. In this case the mechanics of our machine
the floors of the future. Pressure sensors in floors it can be ensured that every corner is reached. If we take a look at parquet flooring, for example, naturally finished the floor off. If you work with
can detect whether a person is standing, walking or The colour fades again shortly after the work is then I should know what type of parquet floor the appropriate machines from the outset, such
lying down. In combination with artificial intelli- completed. ▪ I have. If it is sealed, then I can very gently use a experiences are avoided. The customer then
gence, even the step pattern could be analysed: does steam cleaner and enjoy the flooring for a long understood this. ▪
the person move with purpose from A to B or does time. If it is oiled or waxed, the use of steam is dis-
he wander aimlessly through the apartment in a couraged. Here vacuum cleaning or dust-binding
confused and disorientated state? An alarm can wiping is called for; I do not always have to wipe
be triggered in certain situations so that help is the entire area with a moist cloth afterwards, since
quickly provided. I can selectively remove clogged dirt with wet
wiping. This example shows that the right cleaning
technology achieves the desired objective with
minimum effort and often minimises the work.PLASTICS MAKE LEGAL INFORMATION
A COMEBACK Publisher
Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG
Bernd Rützler, Executive Vice President
KÄRCHER is a leading global pro-
vider of cleaning technology.
Kärcher offers innovative solu-
Corporate Marketing & Brand Management
Alfred-Kärcher-Str. 28–40 tions, with high-pressure and ultra
Can plastic save the world? Yes, if it is recycled and
02 | 2019
D-71364 Winnenden, Germany high-pressure cleaners, vacuum clean-
T +49 (0) 7195 14-0 ers and steam cleaners, sweepers and
thus gets a second life. An array of initiatives and F +49 (0) 7195 14-2212 scrubber driers, vehicle wash systems,
procedures worldwide are transforming old plastics www.kaercher.com
cleaning agents, dry ice blasters, water
into new raw materials. This way, they help to solve Design, Editing, Creative Direction
and waste water treatment systems
Vera Umbrecht, David Wickel-Bajak and water dispensers, as well as pump
the global waste problem.
Dear readers, Linda Schrödter and watering systems for the home
and garden. Solutions include compat-
In this magazine we focus on craftsmanship, Art Direction ible products and accessories, as well
one of the most traditional professions of Britta Raab/Studio Somo
as consulting, service and numerous
them all. Our company also has its roots in digital applications. In 2018, Alfred
P
Authors
craftsmanship,
lasticsand sonot
have Kärcher machines
only one life, have
New products through recycling Alexandra Lachner Kärcher SE & Co. KG achieved its high-
always been used daily in many
but two, three or even more.companies.Companies and organisations world- Mark Stöhr est turnover ever, with 2,525 billion
In this edition we alsoand
Once sorted highlight
thrown the
away,fruitful
wide have developed concepts and Verena Wolff euros. The family-run business employs
relationship
theyofreturn
two supposedly opposing part-
to the production technologies which promise concrete over 13,000 staff in more than 120
Photographs
ners: collaborations
process between
as so-called traditional
recyclates – recy- com-solutions. The German environmental companies across 70 countries. With
Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG
panies andmaterials.
cled raw start-upsTheir
and how they can inno-
comebacks organisation One Earth – One Ocean Andi Mayr 50,000 services centres worldwide,
vate
cantogether.
look very different. Fleece jumpers e. V., for example, collects the plastic Martin Baitinger Kärcher offers customers across the
are made from plastic bottles, com- with special waste carriers, sorts it iStock globe a seamless and comprehensive
Did you screens
puter know thatfromwhen
DVDsit is recycled,
and mobile plastic
into groups of identical materials and service. Innovation is the most impor-
Illustrations
can makecases
phone a positive
are madecontribution to the sustain-
from polysty- processes it. The waste is turned back tant growth factor for the company
Julian Rentzsch
able handling
rene. of resources
Most recyclates and and
are made into thereby
into recyclable plastics and sometimes Kerstin Luttenfeldner/caroline seidler.com and has been an integral part of the
help to solve
tubes the global panels
or construction waste or,
problem?
often, Oninto
thecrude oil. One pioneer in plastic Paetrick Schmidt/2agenten corporate culture since the company’s
following pages we
end up where theyshow
cameyou,
fromamongst
– as other
recycling is the chemical group Solvay, Anne Mair c/o Kombinatrotweiss foundation in 1935: around 90 per-
things, how spray
packaging lances
material for our high-pressure
in supermarkets which is one of the ten largest chemi- cent of all products are five years old
Sources
cleaners are made from discarded airbags.
and drugstores. cal companies in the world. In 2016, or less. In total, more than 1,000 staff
www.statista.de
The properties of the Solvay launched a process called “Tech- https://www.welt.de/print-welt/article216681/ at the cleaning machine manufac-
recyclate are checked in
the materials laboratory
I hope youofenjoy
The use these
recyclates exciting
saves insights
a great deal and
nyl® 4earth®” in which high-quality Das-ganze-Gold-der-Welt.html turer work in research and develop-
at Kärcher. have fun reading
of energy, waterthis
and edition of and
resources difference!
recyclates are obtained from technical Bernhard Zehetmair, Deputy Guild Master of the Guild of ment. Kärcher currently holds over
lowers CO2 emissions. Plastic recycling textiles. Kärcher is one of the first Parquet and Floor Layers (Munich-Upper Bavaria) 630 active patents.
also helps to get a grip on the global companies to use this technology in
plastic waste problem. Approximately series production for the consumer
150 million tons of plastic are already market. The original material for the
in our oceans. According to studies con- spray lances of high-pressure clean-
ducted by the United Nations (UN), ers is the fabric of discarded airbags,
by 2050 there could be more pieces of which is recycled into the robust plas-
plastic swimming in the oceans than tic polyamide. It is reinforced with
Hartmut
fish. A Jenner
team of American researchers glass fibres because the spray lances
Chief Executive
recently Officer
went onand
an Chairman
expedition to must withstand exceptionally high
of the Board of Management
the Mariana Trench with a special sub- pressure. They must also be resistant
Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG
marine. In this oceanic trench in the to environmental influences and
Pacific Ocean, the deepest known point cleaning agents.
on earth, the scientists found – besides
three as yet unknown animal species – A “green” comeback, which breathes
a plastic bag. new life into the old material. ▪www.kaercher.com
RN / Po · 08 / 2019 · Order No. 0.030-404.0 · Printed in Germany on FSC- or PEFC-certified paper · Subject to technical changes.You can also read
