WashTec celebrates 25th anniversary
The name WashTec was born in 2000 from the merger of WESUMAT and California Kleindienst.
WashTec is celebrating its 25 years anniversary as one of the leading car wash equipment suppliers. While the name WashTec was born in 2000 from the merger of WESUMAT and California Kleindienst, the company’s DNA reaches back to 1885 with the founding of Kleindienst GmbH in Augsburg. And even further, to the 1960s, when pioneers Gebhard Weigele and Johann Sulzberger introduced the “rotary washer,” a breakthrough that laid the foundation for modern car wash systems.
The journey from mechanical brushes to smart, networked platforms reflects more than just technological progress. WashTec has evolved from a traditional machine builder into a full-fledged solution provider, integrating chemistry, hardware, software, and service.
By the end of the 1970s, the company had already introduced innovations like electrically driven brushes and integrated dryers. The 1980s brought programmable controls that made drying more efficient and contour-precise. And in 2002, the debut of the SoftCare Pro merged technology with design, offering flexibility tailored to customer needs.
A major turning point came in 2008, when WashTec’s partnership with AUWA Chemie allowed it to deliver not just equipment but holistic wash experiences, combining high-end chemicals with fine-tuned system performance.
In 2019, the launch of the SmartCare networked car wash introduced remote monitoring and intelligent process optimization. By 2023, artificial intelligence and digital platforms had made support faster and uptime higher, expanding into new markets with solutions like the 2024 collaboration with Superoperator.
