Overall winner
DRYFT
Company: DRYFT World
Stand: 01.511
Category: Overall Winner 2026
Jury comment: Designed with the operator in mind, the machine impressed the jury with its ability to significantly reduce the physical strain through its vertical, ergonomic design while delivering strong cleaning performance and versatility. Beyond ergonomics, the jury also noted its potential to make a meaningful difference across the industry through significantly improving both productivity and user experience.
Cleaners' Choice Award
Virtual Reality Training for Cleaners
Company: FacilityApps
Stand: 05.524
Jury comments: The Cleaners’ Choice Award 2026, presented by the Dutch Cleaner of the year; Jolanda Reedijk-den Heijer, was awarded to FacilityApps for its Virtual Reality Training for Cleaners, further underlining the positive user impact of the solution.
Visitors' Choice Award
KIRA B 200
Company: Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG
Stand: 01.135
Jury comment: Chosen by the public, the Visitors’ Choice Award honours the innovation that captured the most votes worldwide. Since the announcement of the nominees, visitors have cast their votes online, leading to this winning innovation.
The category winners
Sustainability & Environment
While sustainability is now deeply embedded in the cleaning sector and all products must be developed with that in mind, the most innovative businesses continue to push boundaries and raise standards further.
Tork Hygiene for All
Company: Essity Hygiene and Health AB
Stand: 10.101
Category: Sustainability & Environment
Jury comment: Essity’s “Tork Hygiene for All” initiative stood out for going beyond product innovation to address inclusivity in public washrooms. With dispensers certified under Design for All standards, alongside accessible packaging and skin-friendly formulations, the initiative aims to improve the experience for both users and cleaning professionals. The jury highlighted its potential to raise awareness and set new benchmarks for inclusivity across the sector.
Smart Technologies & Digitalisation
New ideas continue to emerge on how innovative technology and digitalisation can impact the work of cleaning operatives and facility managers. These developments are making solutions more practical, coste-effective, and productive.
Virtual Reality Training for Cleaners
Company: FacilityApps
Stand: 05.524
Category: Smart Technologies & Digitalization
Jury comments: FacilityApps was recognised for its immersive VR training platform, offering a plug-and-play, multilingual solution that overcomes language barriers in a diverse workforce. The system enhances engagement through gamified learning and improves accessibility for users with ADHD, dyslexia and language challenges. The jury noted the growing importance of digital tools in workforce development and the significant potential of this solution.
Workforce & Ergonomics
Our workforce and ergonomics category acknowledges the fact that the cleaning industry is still all about people; it employs literally millions all over the world. Our nominees have considered the day-to-day challenges cleaning operatives face and invested in reducing the physical demands of their work.
DRYFT
Company: DRYFT World
Stand: 01.511
Category: Workforce & Ergonomics
Jury comment: Also named overall winner, DRYFT leads this category by prioritising the wellbeing of cleaning operatives. Its ergonomic design reduces repetitive motion, lifting and fatigue, while maintaining high performance standards, demonstrating how innovation can directly improve daily working conditions.
Hygiene & Health
We all know the crucial role professional cleaning plays in maintaining health. In this category, our nominees present innovative solutions that promote excellence in areas where hygiene is paramount.
TraXero® Wheel Cleaner
Company: Vileda Professional
Stand: 05.307
Category: Hygiene & Health
Jury comment: Vileda Professional’s TraXero addresses an often-overlooked hygiene risk: contamination via wheels in controlled environments. By automating a traditionally labour-intensive task, the system ensures consistent, auditable cleaning while reducing physical strain. The jury recognised its wide application potential across healthcare, cleanrooms and food environments.