Factory Visit: Kärcher  

Report: Kärcher company visit

Upon arrival at Kärcher the weather was very cold, but entering through the doors of the company we were greeted with a warm welcome. We had coffee with the traditional German bretzel, while our host guide explained a little about the company history and background.

As a mechanical engineering student I was excited about the factory tour, but I must confess I that my expectation wasn’t that high. All products start in the design phase, so that was the obvious department to go to first. Our guide took us into a room, where the first things we notice was pairs of spectacles that lay on the tables where we were seated. It was a 3D room where the design group can interact with the product through various simulations, and also present it to management which decides whether the product can be produced or not. Next up was prototyping, where an amazing machine, called a 3D printer, can produce an exact replica of the design from the computer drawings. This let us to the testing site of these prototypes. All through my childhood I grew up with the words German engineering which was a symbol of quality. “If you want quality, buy a German product” was the words frequently uttered by my father, and now I understand why. These products go through vigorous testing to ensure that they meet that German stamp of approval, that renowned German quality.

After the prototypes has been given the green light, mass production starts. Our next stop was the assembly floor, even though it’s not the start of production, but that was mainly due to the logistics of the company, since it was closer. There we saw how the design came into existence from small parts to one complete working model. The company also strives to keep their employers happy, like the saying goes a happy worker is a productive worker, but also because people was always close to the late Alfred Kärcher heart, founder of the company. We also went to the injection molding section of production, where it was amazing to see the ease of operations, and we ended up at the museum to see all the older products of yesteryear.

We gave thanks to company by songs and chants, which was gladly accepted and applauded by the employers outside of their cafeteria, which they then served us with a warm hearty meal.
When we had to leave they gave us a group photo as a gift, which was taken before the tour started. Personally this tour of the company blew my expectations. It was everything and more that I’ve learned as an engineering student, and to physically see how all the processes operate with such ease was amazing.

Llewellyn Heinrich Cupido