Interclean Amsterdam Announces Innovation Award 2026 Winners on Opening Day

Interclean Amsterdam 2026 opened today at RAI Amsterdam, placing innovation and industry progress firmly in the spotlight. The first day featured the Amsterdam Innovation Award ceremony, recognising industry innovations shaping the future of cleaning and hygiene.

Hosted by Pernille La Lau, the dynamic opening programme combined insight and celebration, with a keynote from Olympic and World Cup-winning hockey field coach Marc Lammers. The awards ceremony followed, with a welcome from Interclean Director Robert Stelling and winners announced by jury chair Michelle Marshall from European Cleaning Journal.

As a cornerstone of the show, the Amsterdam Innovation Award continues to set the benchmark for innovation across the cleaning and hygiene industry.

Amsterdam Innovation Award 2026 Winner: DRYFT

The Overall Winner of the Amsterdam Innovation Award 2026 was presented to DRYFT for their DRYFT® ultra-low profile high-speed scrubber dryer.

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.

Category Winners

Sustainability & Environment

Winner: Essity Hygiene and Health AB

Tork Hygiene for All: Certified inclusive washroom dispensing

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

Winner: FacilityApps

Virtual Reality Training for Cleaners

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

Winner: DRYFT World

DRYFT®: Ultra-low profile high-speed scrubber dryer

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

Winner: Vileda Professional

TraXero® Wheel Cleaner

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.

Cleaners’ Choice Award

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

The Visitors’ Choice Award 2026 was awarded to Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG for the KIRA B 200, a safety-certified, fully autonomous scrubber dryer.

Creating impact in the industry and beyond

This year’s entries once again demonstrated the global reach and diversity of innovation within the professional cleaning sector.

“The Amsterdam Innovation Award is an absolutely key programme for our industry because it is directly linked to the largest trade show in the sector,” the jury commented. “It showcases how companies continue to lead the way with new solutions for a cleaner, safer world.”

Proceeds from the award were donated to AMREF Health Africa, with Hermance Hora Siccema receiving the cheque on stage. The funding supports the Piwa project in Northern Uganda to improve access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene for around 39,000 people.

With innovation, collaboration and social impact at the forefront, the opening day of Interclean Amsterdam 2026 sets the stage for a dynamic week ahead.

Acknowledgement

Interclean Amsterdam extends its sincere thanks to the jury for their expertise and dedication: Michelle Marshall (European Cleaning Journal), Corinne Zudonyi (Sanitary Maintenance), Chiara Scelsi (Dimensione Pulito), Antonio Borreda (Revista Limpiezas), Pierre Deschamps (Batiment Entretien), and Ronald Bruins (Servicemanagement | Facto).

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RAI Amsterdam (Interclean)

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