Gulf Importers

Karcher spreads its wings

A Karcher stall at the Infra Oman show

Karcher, a family-owned company based in Winnenden, Germany, and known for its high-pressure cleaners and window vacuum cleaning equipment, is on a growth path in the Gulf.
 

The company recently opened a centre in Doha, Qatar, and plans to open facilties in Bahrain, Kuwait and a second centre in the UAE.  

Opening the new Doha facility, Richard Nouir, managing director of Karcher Middle East, said: “The centre is a pivotal platform for the Qatar market. It provides users with professional cleaning solutions and products, as well as access to a dedicated after-sales service, repairs and maintenance. The Karcher Centre also serves as a sales outlet and customer service for both our professional and home and garden products.”

The Qatar facility, which is a joint undertaking with Qatar Trading Company (QTC), joins three other Karcher centres located in Dubai (UAE), Oman and Egypt.

A Karcher pressure cleaning instrument

A Karcher pressure cleaning instrument

Nouira said the company plans to open a Karcher centre in Bahrain in the first quarter of 2015, while another is underway in Kuwait and a second centre in Dubai is also in the pipeline. “Karcher’s operations in the Middle East have seen consistent growth over the past years as the cleaning and hygiene industry gathers pace. We sold 13,280 machines in Qatar in 2014 and had 31,720 after-market spares and accessories,” Nouira said.

In Qatar, Karcher has posted double-digit growth and is upbeat about future sales with the support of QTC, which has developed a long-term partnership with the German firm.

“The business relationship between QTC and Karcher is becoming even more solid as the years go by,” said Tariq M Al Shamlan, managing partner of Qatar Trading Company in Doha.

“The Karcher Centre will be a flagship facility in the Qatari market, reinforcing the combined strength of Karcher’s cleaning solutions and QTC’s market knowledge to provide a best-in-class service to all customers.”

The world market leader in cleaning technology employs more than 10,000 people worldwide. Karcher has 100 subsidiaries in 60 countries, selling commercial cleaning equipment as well as cleaning equipment for the private consumer.

Karcher owns the American brands of Landa, Hotsy and Shark pressure washers, Cuda parts washers, Watermaze water treatment systems, ProChem and Windsor floor cleaning systems, Spraymart and Graco parts suppliers, Century 400 professional floor care equipment and TecServ cleaning equipment repair and rental services company.