Backuum to the future
June 1st 2006

Whether in the home, office or factory, the vacuum cleaner plays a vital role in general cleaning and dust control. As Nilfisk-Advance celebrates its centennial year, Karen James, sales & marketing director, explores the past, present and future of the vacuum cleaner Nilfisk-Advance can trace its roots back to the very early days of vacuum cleaning. The first electrically powered models were developed around 1900 in various countries. These bulky machines often had to stand outside the building with the hose passed into the room through a window and be operated by a minimum of four people!

Then in 1910 came the Nilfisk canister vac, invented by Danish electro-engineer P A Fisker. Weighing in at 17.5kg, it was the first machine in Europe that could be operated by one person. Still a relatively expensive investment, early models were beyond the reach of the average family and so Fisker's invention was mainly bought by tradesmen, industrial manufacturers and hotels. These remain among the company's current customers, alongside institutions such as hospitals, schools, shops and contract cleaners. But while the applications may not have changed much, the vacuum cleaner has.

Reducing noise levels

Although modern vacs are a far cry from Fisker's original version, many of the development objectives are the same. Making cleaning faster, easier and less labour intensive (and so less costly) are still what we strive for today. As far back as 1932, the 'Silent Dane' vacuum cleaner demonstrated Nilfisk's commitment to reducing noise levels. Nilfisk-Advance's modern day equivalent is the GD 2000, which features a patented sound reduction system incorporating two sound barriers. When operated at low speed the sound level of this innovative machine is just 44dB – meeting the growing demand for daytime cleaning.

Durability

Nilfisk's photo archives show vacuum cleaners being used in all types of harsh, industrial environments over the past century, including printing works and textile workshops. So durability has always been an important design consideration for Nilfisk machines to reduce costly machine downtime. Rugged construction and high quality components are at the heart of its professional range and cables and hoses are tested to the extreme to withstand the toughest conditions.

Ergonomics

Fisker's first lightweight vacuum cleaner shows that even back in the 1900s he recognised the importance of ergonomic design. This remains a priority for modern machinery and current Nilfisk appliances can all be adjusted to suit individual users. Another good example is the award-winning Backuum – a backpack vacuum cleaner featuring an articulated design that flexes with the operator's movements for maximum comfort and increased productivity.

Filtering

In the early years of the 20th century, Fisker experimented with a water filter to filter dust out of the intake air in his prototype vacuum cleaner. Although this was not entirely successful, he did go on to develop an effective filtering system and good filtration is still intrinsic to controlling dust levels. The term 'dust'covers many different types of particles – from cigarette smoke and pollen to metal grindings and coal dust. Indeed, a Nilfisk-Advance GS 80 industrial vac has even been used by NASA to remove harmful dust from space shuttles.

Increased environmental awareness, plus more stringent health and safety regulations, has driven the development of ever more efficient filters.

Nowadays vacuum cleaners are available with a wide choice of filter options to suit different needs, including pre-filter systems, HEPA filters and multi-layer dust bags.

Recent years have seen Nilfisk's expansion into exciting new product areas, such as road sweepers and powered cleaning equipment, with the acquisitions of Ecologica and ALTO respectively.

However, I'm sure the vacuum cleaner in all its forms will remain a key product offering for many years to come.

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