Optimizing Cleaning Solutions

Founded in 1906, Nilfisk is a global leader in the field of professional cleaning equipment and full cleaning systems in the industrial, commercial and consumer markets. The company is headquartered in the Danish capital, Copenhagen with sales entities in 45 countries and dealers in more than 100 countries – one of which is Hungary where it also has a production facility and a hub that serves as Nilfisk’s regional center for global business services.

Regarding the scope of activities of Nilfisk in Hungary, Norbert Kalocsai, Senior Vice President, Head of Global Manufacturing and HSEQ (pictured on the left), tells Diplomacy&Trade that Nilfisk’s Hungarian operations play a pivotal role in the company’s global manufacturing, research and development (R&D) and shared services network. From Hungary, Nilfisk manages production, logistics, IT, finance, and HR support, making a substantial contribution to the company’s worldwide operations. The Nilfisk Operations Hub in Hungary is the largest within the Nilfisk Group, accounting for over 50% of the company’s global manufacturing and serving as a key center for shared services worldwide.

Consolidating production
Nilfisk’s largest global production facility is situated in the local industrial park in Nagykanizsa, SW Hungary. Speaking about the significance of the factory, Norbert Kalocsai highlights that this plant serves as a central hub for manufacturing and distribution across the EMEA, U.S. and APAC regions. It produces all key product platforms for worldwide distribution, including industrial high-pressure washers, professional floorcare and sweeper machines, as well as industrial and commercial vacuum cleaners and parts accessories and consumables.
“As part of our ongoing structural efficiency improvements and efforts to leverage synergies within the organization, we have decided to consolidate our two Hungarian production locations into the Nagykanizsa plant and close the one in Szigetszentmiklós, just south of Budapest. This consolidation represents a natural next step in strengthening our operations. By uniting production under one roof, we will enhance efficiency, reduce complexity and increase flexibility to better meet customer needs. Furthermore, this move will reinforce the resilience of our supply chain, enabling us to adapt more effectively to market changes and ensure even more reliable delivery,” he says.
While the Nilfisk site in Szigetszentmiklós doesn’t have manufacturing anymore, it continues with a role in machine sales and servicing. “Each of our sales offices is structured so that there are sales colleagues, a customer care team in some cases, and service colleagues who actually perform the servicing activities and participate in the installation of the machines when they are delivered to a larger customer,” he adds.

Regional center for global business services
As a result of Nilfisk’s growing operations in this country, the headquarters of the company’s Hungarian subsidiary has recently been moved to a new hub in Budapest. Its director, Barna Szima (pictured on the right), also Global Head Head of Indirect Procurement, points out that the new Budapest HUB serves as Nilfisk’s regional center for global business services. “It reflects the company’s modern, collaborative and sustainable approach, providing an inspiring environment for innovation and global support functions. Since its opening in 2020, the Hub has tripled in size in just four years and now acts as a strategic enabler of Nilfisk’s global excellence, delivering high-quality, scalable, and digitally driven business services from Budapest.”
The facility opened with around 60 people and grew to 145 in four years. “Then, when it became clear that further expansion was on the cards, we started looking for a suitable location and found this one, which is not far from the previous site but is more than twice the size: we have grown from 700 square meters to 1,500. Now, a total of 240-250 employees work here, making us one of Nilfisk's largest offices globally,” he states.

Innovation in Nilfisk’s DNA
At Nilfisk, innovation is one of the elements of being on the market for so long. In reference to this, Barna Szima stresses that “innovation is embedded in Nilfisk’s DNA. The company focuses on smart, connected cleaning solutions, automation, and digital services. The Hungarian IT Innovation Hub drives global technology development and supports Nilfisk’s transformation toward intelligent, data-driven cleaning systems.”
He emphasizes the many benefits the city of Budapest has got to offer. “We are in a good location in terms of time zone. There is a very strong talent base here at universities and colleges, and there is competition from which to attract workers. We do what many other multinationals do: we optimize talent and costs and Budapest is a great location for this.”

Optimizing cleaning operations
Nilfisk does not only sell pieces of professional cleaning equipment but also provides service solutions. As Norbert Kalocsai notes, “Nilfisk’s service solutions are designed to ensure maximum performance, reliability, and longevity of our equipment. They include preventive and corrective maintenance, on-site technical support, genuine spare parts supply and comprehensive service contracts tailored to customer needs. In addition, Nilfisk offers digital fleet management and remote monitoring solutions that help optimize cleaning operations and reduce total cost of ownership."

Sustainability, a core element
Nilfisk, a global leader in the field of sustainable cleaning machines, is a part of the United Nations Global Compact. As for the measures they put in practice to achieve a more sustainable world, Norbert Kalocsai calls attention to the fact that sustainability is a core element of Nilfisk’s strategy and operations. “As a proud member of the United Nations Global Compact, we are committed to responsible business practices and continuous improvement in environmental, social, and governance areas. We focus on reducing our carbon footprint, increasing the use of recyclable and sustainable materials, and developing energy-efficient, low-emission cleaning solutions. In addition, we work closely with suppliers to promote ethical sourcing and actively support circular economy initiatives to extend product life and minimize waste,” he concludes.