What’s Next for Industrial Cleaning? Top Trends in 2025

Industrial cleaning is evolving fast.

From automation, Lithium-ion to Smart tech, the future isn’t coming—it’s already here, reshaping how industrial facilities across EMEA clean, maintain, and perform. Technologies that once felt optional—autonomous scrubbers, lithium-ion batteries, connected machines—are quickly becoming the baseline. Facility leaders are required to do more with less, while meeting stricter targets for sustainability, uptime, and cost control.

From what we’re seeing in the field—and what Interclean’s 2025 report confirms—here are a few of the trends shaping the next phase of industrial cleaning.

Automation and Smart Technology are now the norm for industrial cleaning

Robotic cleaning machines have moved beyond pilot tests and proof-of-concept trials. They’re working daily shifts in warehouses, factories, and logistics centres—reducing manual labour, ensuring consistency, and freeing up teams to focus on higher-value tasks.

Why it matters:

• Labour remains a challenge across industrial sectors
• Automation brings consistency to large, complex spaces
• Autonomous machines capture performance data in real time

AI-powered tools and IoT-connected machines are enabling a more responsive, data-driven approach that adapts to real-world conditions in real time. These tools are helping teams move from scheduled cleaning to strategic cleaning—optimising resources and outcomes with every shift.

Lithium-ion is the new standard

Lithium-ion batteries are quickly replacing lead-acid systems—and the benefits go beyond their sustainability impact. They deliver longer runtimes, faster charging, and less maintenance, helping teams clean more efficiently with fewer interruptions.

Key advantages:

• More uptime per shift
• Faster charging between uses
• Lower total cost of ownership
• Reduced environmental footprint

One machine, two breakthroughs: Tennant T16AMR Robotic Cleaning Machine

The T16AMR, now manufactured in Europe, brings autonomy and Lithium-ion efficiency together in one industrial-strength scrubber. Built for demanding environments, this robotic cleaning machine delivers operational peace of mind even in dynamic, fast-paced environments:

• Up to 5.4 hours of continuous runtime with high-capacity Lithium-ion battery
• 190 L solution tank with cylindrical scrub head and a 910 mm cleaning path
• Powered by BrainOS® for smart, safe navigation in dynamic spaces
• Built-in features like cameras, sensors, and a stop and honk alert ensure awareness in busy environments
• LED safety package, including turn signals and a forward projection blue light to alert personnel to the AMR’s location and travel direction
• ec-H2O NanoClean® technology to reduce water and chemical use without compromising clean

From warehouses to busy production floors, the T16AMR is engineered to handle more than messes—it helps reduce risks, improve visibility, and support safety protocols that keep people and operations moving.

From blind spots to better decisions: the data-driven cleaning is here

From predictive maintenance to demand-based scheduling, data is becoming a critical enabler for more efficient cleaning operations. The ability to track usage, monitor performance, and make informed decisions in real time is helping industrial cleaning teams work more strategically—especially across large, complex sites.

It’s all part of a shift toward Smart Cleaning: a more proactive, data-driven approach that aligns cleaning activity with actual site conditions and operational priorities..

Fleet visibility platforms that leverage telemetry technology support this shift, offering insights that help teams optimise routes, identify issues early, and benchmark performance across locations.

Clean with confidence

At Tennant, we’re not reacting to the future—we’re helping our customers lead it. Whether you're scaling automation, transitioning to Lithium-ion, or tapping into the power of real-time data, we’ll help you move forward with confidence. Connect with a Tennant representative today.