The Kärcher family controls the German power-tool maker Kärcher, founded by Alfred Kärcher in 1935.
Alfred Kärcher established the company in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt and initially developed industrial heating equipment. After his death in 1959, his wife Irene Kärcher and later their children helped transform the business into a major manufacturer of cleaning equipment.
Kärcher is best known for high-pressure washers, but its product range also includes vacuum cleaners, steam cleaners, floor-care machines and municipal cleaning equipment. The yellow-and-black color scheme became closely associated with the brand worldwide.
The company is sometimes described as a pressure-washer brand only, although commercial and industrial cleaning make up important parts of its business. Kärcher remains a family-owned company, with family members represented in its ownership and governance.