Our Story; Making power washing in agriculture easier with robotics

Washpower specializes in developing efficient, automatic power-washing robots for the agriculture and industrial sectors. Their flagship product is a wash robot designed to clean all types of hog barns. Since 2016, they’ve sold more than 1,500 wash robots, simplifying the daily lives of farmers around the world.

It all began with a local farmer in Denmark. The farmer approached Jacob, one of Washpower’s founders, to request a simple, reliable wash robot. The farmer had already tried other options but found them too complex, inefficient, and unreliable. Inspired by the farmer’s need, Jacob built the first prototype – a straightforward design with wheels and arms for washing. Technical components were shielded by a tarp, and the tires were repurposed from a bicycle. By the following year, he had developed a second prototype. In 2010, Washpower sold the first iteration of the robot as we know it today.

Fast forward to 2016, a key moment in Washpower’s journey, when Jakob Søndergaard and Glenn Pedersen formed a partnership. The company rapidly gained momentum. What started as a solution to a single farmer’s problem has grown into a thriving business with around 50 employees, a diverse product line, and customers in more than 33 countries. Through this expansion, Washpower has remained committed to delivering high-quality products and developing innovative automated washing solutions.

As Washpower continued to grow, new facilities were invested in at Glyngøre in Denmark, providing the company with the opportunity to further expand, enabling them to better serve their growing customer base and explore new markets.

In 2019, Washpower set its sights on the American market. Pipestone Veterinary Services in the U.S. tested the robot, seeking to improve the work environment for its staff, enhance biosecurity, and reduce cleaning time without sacrificing quality. The results were impressive: the number of staff required for cleaning was reduced from three to one, and the process took only two hours. This efficiency led to a return on investment (ROI) in just one year. Pipestone was signed as a distributor and started rolling out more than 80 robots across sow farms.

Following this success, Washpower gained traction in the US and started expanding its customer base. However, it became clear that the original robot was too wide for the alleys in many U.S. sow farms. In response, Washpower developed a slimmer, U.S.-specific model that retained the functionality and reliability of the original. Since then, Washpower has continued to adapt, introducing models for nurseries and finishing barns with longer, 9-foot wash arms and 300 feet of hose to cover large barns.

In the summer of 2022, Washpower’s success in the U.S. market paved the way for the establishment of a U.S. subsidiary. Today, Washpower Inc. meets growing demand with an expanding team. Increased sales have required more focus on implementation and customer support. As a result, the company has welcomed a sales manager and a support manager to its U.S. team. Additionally, Washpower Inc. recently moved into a new office and warehouse in Melrose Park, IL ensuring that customers continue to receive top-tier service after investing in a wash robot.

The establishment of the U.S. subsidiary has proven to be a worthwhile effort. Washpower now operates over 200 robots across the American market. As they continue to push the boundaries of automated cleaning technology, Washpower remains dedicated to revolutionizing the way agricultural and industrial facilities are cleaned and maintained worldwide.

Washpowers values

At Washpower, we have three values that are cornerstones in the way we work and run our business.

Ambitious

We want to challenge and develop ourselves, our colleagues, and partners. We always strive for the best possible solution.

Trustworthiness

Our partners and colleagues can count on us and trust that we always deliver what has been promised. We always do our utmost to make every interaction with Washpower a great one.

Inclusive

We are inclusive and have a workplace with room for personal growth and development. We are great colleagues and business partners, that help each other with a smile.

Washpower’s mission

Washpower develops and offers washing solutions for agriculture and industry. We focus on reducing the hardest and most strenuous parts of manual washing. Our philosophy is “Make cleaning easy.”

Washpower’s vision

Washpower wants to be the preferred partner for automated washing solutions in agriculture, while focusing on developing the company through employee satisfaction, sustainability, and profitability.