Nilfisk is a Danish manufacturer of professional and consumer cleaning equipment with a history dating back to 1906. The company is best known for commercial floor-cleaning machines, industrial vacuum cleaners, high-pressure washers, and other professional cleaning solutions.[1] Over more than a century, Nilfisk has evolved from a small Danish electrical-equipment workshop into a global cleaning-technology company serving customers in more than 100 countries.[1]

As of 2026, Nilfisk is part of Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions, following the completion of Freudenberg’s takeover of the company.[2]

The 2025 figures come from Nilfisk’s own 2026 company announcement.[1]

Founding: 1906

Nilfisk’s history begins in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1906, when Danish electrical engineer Peder Andersen Fisker, commonly known as P.A. Fisker, established a small workshop.[1]

Fisker was fascinated by the possibilities of electricity and modern engineering. Initially, the company produced small electric motors. He later partnered with H.M. Nielsen, and the business became known as Fisker & Nielsen.[1]

The name Nilfisk was subsequently created from the names of the two founders: Nielsen + Fisker.[2]

1910: Europe’s first electric vacuum cleaner

One of the most important moments in Nilfisk’s history came in 1910, when the company developed and patented what it describes as Europe’s first electric vacuum cleaner.[1]

The early Nilfisk vacuum cleaner was considerably more convenient than traditional manual cleaning methods. This product helped establish the foundation of the Nilfisk brand and its long-term association with vacuum and cleaning technology.[1]

This is an important part of Nilfisk’s brand identity: the company did not begin primarily as a modern industrial-cleaning-machine manufacturer. It started with electrical engineering and household cleaning, then gradually expanded into professional and industrial cleaning.

Nilfisk began expanding outside Denmark relatively early.

In 1914, the company opened its first foreign office in Berlin, Germany. This marked the beginning of a long-term internationalization strategy.[2]

During the following decades, Nilfisk developed its distribution network and expanded into additional markets. The company also experimented with financing and leasing arrangements in the 1920s, helping professional customers acquire cleaning equipment.[2]

By this stage, the company was increasingly positioning itself not simply as an electrical manufacturer but as a provider of practical cleaning solutions.

A notable Nilfisk product was The Silent Dane, introduced in 1932.

The machine became known for being particularly quiet compared with contemporary vacuum cleaners. It demonstrated an important characteristic of Nilfisk’s product philosophy: performance was not viewed purely in terms of suction or mechanical power, but also in terms of user comfort and working conditions.[2]

This philosophy would later become especially important as Nilfisk moved deeper into professional environments where noise, ergonomics, productivity and operator comfort can directly affect working conditions.

During the 1950s, Nilfisk increasingly expanded beyond household vacuum cleaners.

The company began developing equipment for:

• Industrial vacuuming
• Floor cleaning
• Scrubbing
• Commercial facilities
• Factories
• Large public buildings
• Other professional environments

One historically significant machine was the GA70, launched in 1958. Nilfisk states that machines such as the GA70 became known for durability and could remain in service for decades.[2]

This transition was strategically important. Professional cleaning equipment eventually became the core of Nilfisk’s business.

Nilfisk also developed expertise in industrial filtration and dust extraction.

The company’s vacuum technology was used in specialized environments where removing potentially harmful dust was particularly important. Nilfisk states that its equipment was used by NASA from the 1960s onward, including for removing harmful dust associated with space-related operations.[1]

The NASA connection has subsequently become part of Nilfisk’s historical brand story because it illustrates the company’s ability to develop equipment for demanding applications.

Today, Nilfisk’s portfolio is much broader than conventional vacuum cleaners.

Its principal product categories include floorcare equipment, vacuum cleaners and high-pressure washers, with the professional market representing the overwhelming majority of its business.[1]

Floor-cleaning machines

This is one of Nilfisk’s most important categories.

Products include machines designed for:

• Scrubbing floors
• Sweeping
• Dry vacuuming
• Combination sweeping/scrubbing
• Large-area floor maintenance
• Indoor and outdoor commercial cleaning

These machines are used in environments such as factories, warehouses, airports, shopping centers, offices, hospitals and other large facilities.

Industrial vacuum cleaners

Nilfisk produces specialized vacuum systems for industrial environments.

These can be used for applications involving:

• Dust
• Debris
• Manufacturing residues
• Fine particles
• Heavy-duty industrial materials
• Hazardous or specialized dust, depending on machine configuration

Industrial vacuuming is substantially different from household vacuuming because machines may need to operate for long periods and handle large quantities of material.

High-pressure washers

Nilfisk also has a major presence in high-pressure cleaning.

These systems are used for applications ranging from vehicle and equipment cleaning to industrial and commercial surface cleaning.

The company historically served both professional and consumer markets with pressure washers. However, Nilfisk completed the divestment of its U.S. high-pressure-washer business in October 2025, as part of the company’s portfolio evolution.[2]

Consumer vacuum cleaners

Although professional cleaning is now the heart of the company, Nilfisk continues to have consumer-oriented products, including household vacuum cleaners and related floorcare equipment.[1]

One of the most important things to understand about Nilfisk is that it is primarily a professional cleaning company today.

Nilfisk states that more than 90% of its sales are to professional customers. The consumer business represents the remaining portion and includes products such as domestic vacuum cleaners, floorcare products and high-pressure washers.[1]

Its professional customers can include organizations in:

• Manufacturing
• Warehousing and logistics
• Retail
• Healthcare
• Hospitality
• Transportation
• Construction
• Government and public facilities
• Commercial property management
• Industrial operations

Consequently, Nilfisk is better understood as a B2B cleaning-technology company with a consumer heritage, rather than simply a household vacuum-cleaner brand.

Nilfisk has developed into a genuinely international company.

Its products and services are sold in more than 100 countries. The company has manufacturing operations and commercial organizations across multiple regions.[1]

According to Nilfisk’s 2025 information, the company had approximately 4,500 employees and generated €996.3 million in revenue in 2025. Its largest individual market was the United States, representing 24% of revenue, followed by Germany, France, Denmark and the United Kingdom.[2]

Its headquarters are in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Nilfisk has gone through several stages of corporate ownership during its history.

In 1989, Nilfisk was acquired by NKT Holding.[2]

In the following decades, Nilfisk developed into a major standalone cleaning-equipment company and became publicly listed.

A major recent change occurred in 2026, when German industrial group Freudenberg completed its takeover of Nilfisk. Nilfisk subsequently became part of Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions.[2]

This means that, as of 2026, Nilfisk is no longer simply an independent publicly traded cleaning-equipment company; it operates under the Freudenberg group.

Sustainability has become an increasingly important part of Nilfisk’s strategy.

The company’s approach includes efforts around:

• Reducing energy consumption
• Reducing water consumption
• Reducing detergent usage
• Increasing machine efficiency
• Extending equipment life
• Lifecycle services
• Reducing emissions
• Product durability
• Circularity and refurbishment

An example is Ecoflex, introduced in 2009. The technology was designed to give operators greater control over water, detergent and energy consumption while maintaining cleaning performance.[2]

Nilfisk has also stated a commitment to Science-Based Targets and a Net Zero ambition by 2040. The company reported receiving an EcoVadis Gold rating for four consecutive years as of 2026.[2]

Nilfisk is also moving beyond traditional mechanical cleaning equipment.

The company’s more recent strategy emphasizes:

• Robotics
• Artificial intelligence
• Digital connectivity
• Autonomous cleaning
• Data-driven fleet management
• Resource-efficient cleaning
• Lifecycle services

The company describes its evolution as extending from the early electric vacuum cleaner to AI-driven robotic cleaning machines for professional environments.[1]

This is significant because commercial cleaning is increasingly shifting from simply selling machines toward providing automated cleaning systems and measurable cleaning performance.

Nilfisk’s current corporate purpose is centered on improving quality of life through cleaner, healthier and safer environments.[2]

Its historical brand philosophy can broadly be summarized through four themes:

1. Innovation — developing new technologies to make cleaning more efficient.
2. Performance — creating machines capable of demanding professional applications.
3. Collaboration — working with dealers, distributors, service organizations and customers.
4. Responsibility — reducing environmental impact and extending product lifetimes.

The company describes these four themes itself as Innovation, Collaboration, Performance and Caring.[2]

Nilfisk operates in a specialized global industry rather than competing only with traditional household vacuum brands.

Its competitive environment includes manufacturers of:

• Professional floor scrubbers
• Industrial vacuum systems
• Sweepers
• Combination cleaning machines
• Pressure washers
• Autonomous cleaning robots
• Commercial cleaning systems

The company’s strongest positioning is generally in professional and industrial cleaning, where customers tend to evaluate equipment based on factors such as:

• Total cost of ownership
• Reliability
• Productivity
• Machine uptime
• Cleaning performance
• Operator ergonomics
• Service availability
• Consumables
• Energy and water consumption
• Durability

This is different from the consumer market, where brand recognition, price, convenience and design can be more important.

Historical milestones are compiled primarily from Nilfisk’s corporate history and company announcements.[1][2]

In 2026, Nilfisk is a 120-year-old Danish cleaning-technology company transitioning further toward automated, connected and sustainable professional cleaning.

The company is significantly different from the business Fisker established in 1906. Its roots are in electric motors and household vacuum cleaners, but its modern identity is overwhelmingly associated with professional cleaning equipment and services.

The company says that more than 90% of its sales are now professional, while its products reach customers in more than 100 countries. In 2025, Nilfisk generated approximately €996 million in revenue with about 4,500 employees.[2]

Its recent strategic direction can therefore be summarized as:

From vacuum cleaners → to professional cleaning machines → to connected, sustainable and increasingly autonomous cleaning systems.

Several things distinguish Nilfisk from an ordinary vacuum-cleaner brand:

• 120 years of history: The company was founded in 1906 and has continuously operated in cleaning technology.[2]
• Early vacuum-cleaning pioneer: Its 1910 electric vacuum cleaner was a landmark in European cleaning technology.[2]
• Strong professional focus: More than 90% of sales are directed toward professional customers.[2]
• Industrial expertise: The company manufactures equipment for demanding industrial and commercial environments.
• Global reach: Products and services are sold in more than 100 countries.[2]
• Engineering heritage: The company originated from electrical engineering rather than simply consumer-appliance manufacturing.
• NASA association: Nilfisk equipment has a long history of use in specialized aerospace-related applications.[2]
• Sustainability focus: The company is investing in resource efficiency, lifecycle services and decarbonization.[2]
• Automation: Nilfisk is increasingly developing robotic and AI-enabled professional cleaning technologies.[2]
• New ownership: Since 2026, it has been part of Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions.[2]

1. The history of Nilfisk | Over a century of innovation
2. About Nilfisk