ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

In Germany, Alfred Kärcher - one of the professional cleaning sector's leading names - and Andreas Stihl, specialist in outdoor power equipment, have announced the launch of a joint battery alliance. 

The aim of this strategic partnership, say the companies, is to offer professional users a common, high-performance and future-proof battery standard. At the heart of the alliance is the ALLPRO battery system developed by STIHL and unveiled earlier this year, which will be used in the professional equipment from both brands in future.

Kärcher says it will continue to support its existing Battery Universe technology - including service, spare parts and battery availability - and machines introduced from the start of 2027 will instead feature Stihl's ALLPRO battery system.

"Professional users need more than just high-performance tools. They need systems that cover a wide range of tasks, reduce complexity and ensure their investment pays off in the long term," said Michael Traub, chairman of the executive board of STIHL at the launch.

"This is exactly where ALLPRO comes in. The partnership with Kärcher expands the scope of our battery system to include further professional applications, thereby creating added value in our customers' day-to-day work."

Hartmut Jenner, CEO and chairman of the board of management of Alfred Kärcher added: "STIHL and Kärcher are two family-owned businesses whose success has always been based on innovative strength and an uncompromising commitment to quality. Through the synergy between our equipment, we are creating far more than just a technical solution: we are consistently driving forward the electrification of professional applications, thereby securing a decisive competitive advantage for our customers."

Professional users will now be able to use the same batteries and chargers for both their Kärcher cleaning equipment and their STIHL power tools. This means they can cover the entire spectrum of daily landscaping, forestry and cleaning tasks with just one battery system.

The news has been hailed as more than a merely technical partnership - it's an unusual collaboration between two family-owned companies that have been competing in overlapping product categories. It brings much-needed reduced complexity, lower investment costs and greater flexibility for municipal, facilities management and landscaping customers.