Vax is a brand of vacuum and carpet cleaning products. It is part of Hong Kong based TechTronic Industries Co. Ltd , with a 2007 turnover of $HK24.7B.
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Vax was started by Alan Brazier in the 1970s. Their first product, and still an icon, was a wet-dry floor cleaner. It was an almost industrial wet floor cleaner modified for home use. The machine was unique and was the first domestic vacuum cleaner in the world that washed carpets and that people could use in their own home.[1] It was able to clean carpet by dripping cleaning solution onto the floor and then vacuuming it up. The machine could suck up large amounts of liquid, and also perform dry sweeping and carpet washing, making it a 3-in-1. This was achieved through reapplying some known features from industrial wet cleaners, together with some innovations in cleaning head design.
According to the company's web site, in 1989 Vax became the best selling vacuum in the UK.
The machine which made Vax the most popular in 1989 was the 121 series 3-in-1. With its distinctive orange and black coloured body with large orange on/off switch and red power healthy light on the black handle on the motor housing and VAX printed in white on the front they were distinct sleek and stylish machines as well as powerful and practical.
Vax today sells a full range of dry vacuum cleaners, carpet washers, steam cleaners, hardfloor cleaners and cleaning solutions. They still sell an iconic orange 3-in-1 wet-dry canister model - the Vax 6131 - that is similar in looks to the 1980s model, though produced entirely in Asia.
Rapide
Rapide upright carpet washers use either a static brushbar or one or two rotating brushbars to loosen and lift embedded dirt. The Rapide range includes compact models for homes with limited storage, models designed for larger, busy homes and models with tools for washing stairs and upholstery.
Heated Cleaners
Vax’s premium range of upright carpet washers use heated cleaning technology, where heat generated by the machine assists the cleaning process and reduces drying time. The machines have either five or six patented SpinScrub brushes on a static brushbar for cleaning deep into the carpet pile and a powered SpinScrub handtool for washing stairs and upholstery. The V-124 Dual V heated cleaning carpet washer was awarded a Which? ‘Best Buy’ in September 2008. It uses Dual V Air Path technology to deliver consistent suction across the width of the floor nozzle.
Multifunction
Vax has some multi-function models of carpet washer that can also suck up spills, wash hard floors or dry vacuum.
Mach
The Mach range includes upright and cylinder bagless models with multi-cyclonic technology.[2][3] All models in the range have washable filters and HEPA (High Efficient Particle Arrester) filtration. Some models feature onboard tools to pick up pet hair, clean hard floors, stairs and upholstery.
In October 2009 Vax launched an ultra lightweight vacuum cleaner - Mach Air - under the tagline: “the lightest full size multi-cyclonic upright vacuum cleaner in the world”. Mach Air weighs just 4.9 kg and is slim and compact for easy carrying and storage, but has a 1.5-litre dust capacity. It has H12 HEPA filtration which is a higher level of filtration than previous Mach models. A pet version – Mach Air2 Pet - was launched at the same time, which has a tool for picking up pet hair and an anti-bacterial filter. In 2010 the Mach Air Reach was added to the range, with a longer power cord and extra stretch hose giving the vacuum cleaner a total reach of 15 metres.
In November 2009 Vax launched their quietest, most powerful cylinder vacuum cleaner to date, Mach Zen. It is a bagless multi-cyclonic machine with 350 air watts and is designed to be 70% quieter than conventional cylinders. There is also a pet version – Mach Zen Pet – with a tool for picking up pet hair and an anti-bacterial filter.
Power
The Power range of bagless upright vacuum cleaners have high airwatts and HEPA (High Efficient Particle Arrester) filtration. The range includes models with tools for removing pet hair from carpets, stairs and upholstery.
LiFE
In December 2009, Vax launched an ultra lightweight cordless upright bagless vacuum cleaner - LiFE unplugged. This cordless vacuum cleaner uses Lithium ion technology to maintain full power until the battery is fully depleted, preventing 'slow fade' or drop off in performance.
In June 1990, Vax contracted James Dyson to produce an upright vacuum cleaner aimed at the British market for a £75,000 license deal.[4] James Dyson agreed to this deal and Instantaneously started to produce a prototype for Vax.
After six months of producing and designing the model, James Dyson sent the work over to Vax before 1991 new years, but Vax had no sign of going into production after a while so James Dyson started to make enquiries.
Dyson in the past had made numerous claims that Vax has infringed Dyson's intellectual property.
Mach Zen In July 2010 Dyson lost a legal action against Vax in the High Court. The ruling refuted Dyson’s claim that the Mach Zen had infringed one of its registered designs.[5][6]