SEBO

SEBO is a German vacuum-cleaner brand produced by Stein & Co GmbH, a company based in Velbert. Its name derives from the German expression “Semigewerbliche Bodenpflege,” meaning semi-commercial floor care, reflecting the brand’s original focus on equipment positioned between domestic appliances and professional cleaning machines. SEBO’s product portfolio has historically centered on upright and cylinder vacuum cleaners, with models designed for homes, hotels, hospitals, offices, and other commercial environments. The company was established in 1978 by engineers Klaus Stein and Heinz Kaulig. Stein had previously worked at Vorwerk, the German manufacturer associated with the Kobold vacuum-cleaner system. The founders sought to create a powerful, durable, and comparatively easy-to-maintain upright cleaner capable of tolerating the demanding conditions of professional cleaning. Their first factory occupied a disused weaving facility in Velbert, where they developed the SEBO 350 upright. The machine used a 35-centimetre brush roller and incorporated features intended to improve reliability on both carpets and hard floors, including a clutch-protected brush roller, a bypass motor, and high-grade filtration. The 350 gained commercial adoption in hotels, hospitals, and offices from 1979 onward. During the early 1980s, some commercial-cleaning companies sold SEBO upright machines under their own names, giving the underlying platform additional exposure in professional markets. In 1986, SEBO introduced the 360 as a successor to the 350. The newer machine added warning functionality for brush obstructions and full disposable filter bags. The commercial lineage later included the 370 and BS36/BS46 families, with different cleaning widths and configurations. SEBO entered the domestic market more directly in 1991 with the Automatic X1. The upright adapted commercial engineering for household use and emphasized automatic height adjustment, serviceability, filtration, obstruction detection, and a removable wand stored on the machine. Subsequent members of the X family included the X1.1, X4, X5, X7, and X8, with variations in motor power, width, trim, and market specification. The company also broadened its upright range with the swivel-neck Felix and the commercially oriented Dart, introduced in 2005. These machines allowed greater maneuverability and supported interchangeable floor heads. The Felix range was aimed at domestic users, while Dart models were configured primarily for commercial applications. SEBO’s cylinder range began with the C series in 1995. The series introduced the AirBelt concept, using a bumper and diffuser arrangement to distribute filtered exhaust air around the sides of the machine. The smaller Airbelt K series followed in 2002, while the larger Airbelt D series replaced the C series in 2010. The D range was designed for larger homes and offered a large dust-bag capacity, long cable, extended cleaning reach, and optional electrically driven floor heads. Across its products, SEBO has emphasized durable mechanical construction, replaceable components, filtration, carpet agitation, and owner-accessible maintenance. European energy regulations influenced a major product update around 2014. Motor ratings on several domestic and commercial models were reduced, creating an ECO range that complied with changing European restrictions on vacuum-cleaner power consumption. In 2014, SEBO also launched the Evolution commercial upright family. In 2015 it introduced the X4 Pet Boost and expanded exclusive or private-label variants for selected retailers. The Automatic X7, released in 2018, revised the exhaust-filter arrangement and automatic height-adjustment system. In 2022, SEBO presented the cordless SoftCase BP60, extending the brand into battery-powered upright cleaning while retaining the company’s upright format. SEBO remains associated with specialized, durable vacuum equipment rather than a broad household-appliance portfolio.

SEBO was founded in 1978 in Velbert, West Germany, by engineers Klaus Stein and Heinz Kaulig. The founders aimed to develop a commercial upright vacuum cleaner that could withstand heavy use, neglect, and difficult operating conditions while remaining effective on multiple floor surfaces. Stein’s prior experience at Vorwerk contributed to the founders’ understanding of vacuum-cleaner design and manufacturing. The first SEBO facility was established in a former weaving factory in Velbert. The first model was the SEBO 350, an upright machine with a 35-centimetre cleaning path. Its design incorporated a protected brush drive, a bypass motor, and high-grade filtration. These features helped the model gain acceptance among professional users, including hotels, hospitals, and offices, from 1979. During the early 1980s, other cleaning-equipment companies marketed rebranded versions of SEBO uprights, indicating that the platform had become relevant beyond the company’s own branded distribution. SEBO replaced the 350 with the 360 in 1986. The successor added indicator functions for a blocked brush and a full disposable bag. Later commercial models included the 370 and the BS36/BS46 families, with variants differentiated partly by cleaning width. The company’s commercial engineering became the basis for later domestic products. In 1991, SEBO expanded into the household market with the Automatic X1. Although intended for domestic users, the machine retained concepts associated with the commercial range. It featured automatic height adjustment, obstruction monitoring, a replaceable drive system, filtration, and a removable wand with integrated storage for accessories. Later versions included the X1.1, X4, X5, X7, and X8. The X1.1 was particularly associated with the United Kingdom, while other versions served broader European and international markets. SEBO began developing cylinder machines with the C series in 1995. The range introduced the AirBelt exhaust-diffusion concept, which distributed filtered air through a bumper-like structure around the machine. The C series was followed by the compact Airbelt K family in 2002. The K models offered different equipment levels, including parquet tools, turbo brushes, handle controls, and electrically driven power heads. A larger Airbelt D family replaced the C range in 2010. Developed with product designer Achim Heine, the D series targeted larger homes and emphasized long operating reach, a six-litre dust bag, a long power cable, optimized airflow, and optional electric floor heads. The swivel-neck upright was introduced in 2005 through the Felix and Dart families. Felix models were oriented toward domestic users, while Dart machines were more closely associated with professional cleaning. Their articulated connection improved maneuverability, and selected configurations allowed different floor heads to be fitted. SEBO later introduced the DISCO polishing attachment in 2010, allowing compatible Felix and Dart machines to perform certain hard-floor polishing tasks. Regulatory changes in Europe led to substantial revisions in 2014. Models such as the X, Felix, Dart, and K families were adapted with lower-power motors and ECO designations. In the same year, the company launched the Evolution 300, 350, and 450 commercial uprights, modernizing the BS36/BS46 tradition. In 2015, SEBO introduced the X4 Pet Boost and created retailer-specific variants including the X4 Pro and X4 Excel. The Automatic X7 followed in 2018 with changes to exhaust filtration and automatic height adjustment. In 2022, SEBO showed the SoftCase BP60, a cordless upright with a soft external bag, demonstrating an extension of the company’s established upright format into battery-powered cleaning.

• 2022

  SoftCase BP60 cordless upright is revealed

  [1]Seboen.wikipedia.org

  SEBO presents a battery-powered upright vacuum with a soft external bag at Interclean in Amsterdam.

• 2018

  Automatic X7 is released

  [1]Seboen.wikipedia.org

  The X7 updates the X platform with a revised exhaust filter design and improved automatic height adjustment.

• 2015

  X4 Pet Boost and retailer-specific variants appear

  [1]Seboen.wikipedia.org

  SEBO adds the X4 Pet Boost and introduces exclusive variants for selected retail partners.

• 2014

  Evolution commercial range and ECO revisions launch

  [1]Seboen.wikipedia.org

  SEBO launches the Evolution 300, 350, and 450 and revises several models for European energy requirements.

• 2010

  Airbelt D and DISCO products expand the range

  [1]Seboen.wikipedia.org

  SEBO introduces the large-capacity Airbelt D cylinder family and the DISCO hard-floor polishing attachment.

• 2005

  Felix and Dart swivel-neck uprights launch

  [1]Seboen.wikipedia.org

  The new upright platform adds improved maneuverability and interchangeable floor-care configurations.

• 2002

  Airbelt K series is introduced

  [1]Seboen.wikipedia.org

  SEBO launches a more compact cylinder family for domestic users.

• 1998

  SEBO marks its twentieth anniversary

  [1]Seboen.wikipedia.org

  The company celebrates twenty years of SEBO Stein & Co and records production of its 1,500,000th unit, an Automatic X1.

• 1995

  C series cylinder vacuum is launched

  [1]Seboen.wikipedia.org

  SEBO introduces its first domestic cylinder range and establishes the AirBelt filtered-exhaust concept.

• 1991

  Automatic X1 enters the domestic market

  [1]Seboen.wikipedia.org

  SEBO adapts commercial engineering for household use with the Automatic X1 upright.

• 1986

  SEBO 360 replaces the 350

  [1]Seboen.wikipedia.org

  The 360 succeeds the original commercial upright and adds warning indicators for brush obstruction and a full filter bag.

• 1979

  SEBO 350 gains professional-market acceptance

  [1]Seboen.wikipedia.org

  The first SEBO upright begins to find use in hotels, hospitals, and offices because of its durability and floor-cleaning features.

• 1978

  SEBO is established in Velbert

  [1]Seboen.wikipedia.org

  Klaus Stein and Heinz Kaulig establish SEBO and begin developing a commercial upright vacuum cleaner in a former weaving factory.

A specialist German floor-care brand positioned around durable engineering, commercial-grade construction, serviceability, filtration, and effective cleaning across carpets and hard floors.

• Commercial upright vacuum · 1978

  SEBO 350

  SEBO’s first upright vacuum, developed for professional cleaning environments. The 35-centimetre brush path, protected brush-drive design, bypass motor, and filtration were intended to withstand demanding use in institutions such as hotels, hospitals, and offices.

• Commercial upright vacuum · 1986

  SEBO 360

  Introduced as the successor to the 350, the 360 retained SEBO’s commercial upright architecture while adding warning indicators for brush obstruction and a full disposable filter bag.

• Domestic and commercial upright vacuum · 1991

  SEBO Automatic X series

  The X family brought commercial-derived construction into the household market. Features across the range include automatic height adjustment, brush-roll obstruction protection, accessible service points, filtration, and a removable wand. Variants include the X1, X1.1, X4, X5, X7, and X8.

• Domestic swivel-neck upright vacuum · 2005

  SEBO Felix

  A domestic upright built around SEBO’s swivel-neck design. Felix models support interchangeable floor heads, including electrically driven heads, and can be configured for carpets, hard floors, and pet-related cleaning. The machine can also be used in a compact, handheld-like configuration when the main floor head is removed.

• Commercial swivel-neck upright vacuum · 2005

  SEBO Dart

  The commercial counterpart to the Felix, the Dart uses a maneuverable swivel-neck format and is offered in configurations with different cleaning widths, floor heads, suction controls, and optional hard-floor polishing equipment.

• Hard-floor polishing attachment · 2010

  SEBO DISCO

  A floor-polishing and buffing attachment introduced for use with compatible Felix and Dart machines. It can accept specialized discs for cleaning and polishing hard floors.

• Domestic cylinder vacuum · 1995

  SEBO Airbelt C

  SEBO’s first domestic cylinder range, notable for the AirBelt filtered-exhaust diffuser and a large disposable bag shared conceptually with the upright range. The C family later received variants with electric power heads.

• Compact domestic cylinder vacuum · 2002

  SEBO Airbelt K

  A smaller cylinder platform offered in K1 and K3 versions. Depending on configuration, the range includes parquet tools, turbo brushes, handle-mounted electronic controls, and electric power heads, together with multi-layer filtration and the AirBelt diffuser.

• Large domestic cylinder vacuum · 2010

  SEBO Airbelt D

  A large-capacity cylinder family designed for homes requiring extended operating reach. It offers a six-litre dust bag, long cable, extended cleaning radius, optimized airflow, a protective AirBelt bumper, and optional electrically powered floor heads.

• Commercial upright vacuum · 2014

  SEBO Evolution 300/350/450

  A 2014 commercial upright family with three cleaning widths. The range refreshed the BS36/BS46 tradition with updated styling, a revised cord arrangement, a single-motor configuration, and a power switch on the cleaner head.

• Cordless upright vacuum · 2022

  SEBO SoftCase BP60

  A battery-powered upright vacuum revealed in 2022. Its defining visible feature is a soft outer bag, extending SEBO’s upright product format into cordless floor care.

• 2022

  Extend the upright range into cordless cleaningProduct launch

  Background

  Cordless floor care had become an important product direction in the vacuum industry, while SEBO had historically focused on corded upright and cylinder machines.

  Action taken

  SEBO revealed the SoftCase BP60, a battery-powered upright with a soft outer bag, at Interclean in Amsterdam.

  Aftermath

  The presentation demonstrated SEBO’s move toward battery-powered equipment while retaining its upright product identity.

  Source

• 2014

  Reconfigure the product range for European energy requirementsStrategy

  Background

  European rules reduced permitted vacuum-cleaner motor input, requiring manufacturers to revise models that had previously used higher-rated motors.

  Action taken

  SEBO introduced ECO versions and reduced motor ratings across multiple domestic and commercial families, including the X, Felix, Dart, and K ranges.

  Aftermath

  The company continued offering established product platforms while adapting them to the new regulatory environment.

  Source

• 2014

  Launch the Evolution commercial upright familyProduct launch

  Background

  SEBO’s established BS36/BS46 and 370 commercial upright lines required a refreshed generation.

  Action taken

  SEBO introduced the Evolution 300, 350, and 450 with updated styling and revised mechanical and cord-management features.

  Aftermath

  The Evolution family became a newer commercial alternative to earlier SEBO upright platforms.

  Source

1. 1Seboen.wikipedia.org