History

1885

Foundation of Kleindienst GmbH & Co in Augsburg

The company initially manufactures machines for industrial laundries, with car wash systems being added in 1960s.

1962 Birth of the car wash industry

The first car wash, the WESUMAT I, also nicknamed the "carousel", is invented in Augsburg by Messrs Weigele and Sulzberger.

1963 The first three-brush gantry car wash

Kleindienst invents a car wash with minimal space requirements: The first electrically powered three-brush gantry car wash – an absolute sensation.

1969 The Combi type 6-269 from Kleindienst

Kleindienst presents the first combined fully automatic car washing and drying system for a complete car wash.

1976 The Super-Polish Combi from Kleindienst

Kleindienst presents the first car washing that also specifically cleans the wheels.

1985 The Electronic 35 from California Rohé

Thanks to the new programmable logic electronic controller, the washing time is significantly reduced. With corresponding equipment, the drying system also benefits from electronics. The drier nozzle tracks the vehicle contour at a constant distance.

1987 The soft wash from Wesumat

The new soft wash generation is advertised as the perfect interaction of chemicals, high pressure and brush wash, of product design and process technology.

1994 the C 45 from California Rohé

Reduced energy consumption and high cost-efficiency – these were the fundamental aspects under which California Rohé developed its C 45 gantry car wash. It also impressed users with its space-saving design, reduced noise emissions and high washing capacity.

1996 Kleindienst becomes California Kleindienst

Kleindienst merges with California Rohé GmbH to form California Kleindienst. The company continues developing car washes successfully and defends its global market leadership.

1998 the CK 30 from California Kleindienst

"Top-class quality at low cost" – was the motto under which California Kleindienst advertised its new CK 30 gantry car wash in 1998. In spite of its unusually compact dimensions, the new car wash featured sophisticated technology in every detail.

2000 Foundation of WashTec AG

California Kleindienst and Wesumat Holding AG merge to form WashTec AG.

2002 Introduction of the Softcare generation

SoftCare Pro sees the market launch of WashTec's first gantry car wash. It combines individual design with cutting-edge technology.

2005 120th anniversary

WashTec celebrates its 120th anniversary and looks back to its roots in the company Kleindienst GmbH & Co founded in 1885.

2008 WashTec takes over AUWA Chemie GmbH

The takeover signifies a consistent step in the strategic orientation as a full-service provider for all aspects of vehicle washing.

2010 Entry into Australia

From 1st of April 2010, WashTec formalised its entry into Australia through the exit of Car Kleen Australia. WashTec Australia has established offices across Australia with support teams in place and over 40 factory trained service engineers to ensure priority service is provided to over 650 client locations.

2012 Softcare² Pro Touchless

The innovative high-pressure technology combined with effective chemical pre-cleaning produces exceptional cleaning results in touchless washes. Customers can choose between "touchless", "touching" or a combination of both options.

2014 The SoftCare Pro Classic Race

The SoftCare Pro Classic Race gantry car wash is totally geared to speed thanks to the simultaneously running functions. The Premium Express programme featuring the ShineTecs 2GO polishing cycle delivers a new record time of just six minutes.

2016 expansion of AUWA's Grebenau site

AUWA-Chemie is investing just under 6 million euros in the expansion of its production facilities in Grebenau and is creating new jobs for the region in doing so.

2016 Opening of the new WashTec Showroom

Our new showroom consists of two bright wash bays along with a presentation and meeting room in the middle.
On one side of the 192m² showroom we have a softcare Pro Classic Race carwash and on the other side there is a SoftCare² Pro,
just outside you will find a commercial vehicle washing system.

2017 SoftCare² Pro Silverlight

Washing quality, speed, ease of use and design – four parameters that we at WashTec call the 4DIMENSIONS of the modern car wash. The SoftCare² Pro Silverlight, equipped with the LightShow and StarTrack, the illuminated wheel guide rails, is fully in line with the design dimension, revolutionising the car wash business.

2018 Award „Factory of the year“

The trade newspaper "Produktion" and the management consulting company A.T. Kearney have chosen WashTec as the 2017 award winners in the "outstanding site development" category as part of the "Factory of the Year" industrial competition. The benchmark competition was introduced in 1992 and is aimed at the manufacturing sector in Germany and Europe.