In 2025 ISTOBAL celebrates decades of experience in the industry, currently offering global, sustainable and integrated solutions that maximise profitability, employ the latest technologies and are aimed at providing the best service to the end user. Throughout these years, the Group has demonstrated an exceptional ability to adapt to market changes, consolidating its commitment to internationalisation as a key to its success. This approach has enabled ISTOBAL to achieve a perfect balance between profitability, flexibility and innovation, positioning itself as the second largest manufacturer of car wash solutions in Europe and the fourth largest in the world.
From Beginnings to Leadership
Founded in L'Alcúdia (Valencia) by Ismael Tomás Alacreu, ISTOBAL was born with an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit that transformed a small family business into a global leader in the car wash and car care sector. Now run by the third generation, the company continues to maintain its essence as a family business. Antonio Martínez, General Manager of the ISTOBAL Group, highlights: "The constant commitment to innovation, present since our origins, is one of the hallmarks of the company".
From its first greasing machine in the 1950s to the first manual pressure rollover designed and manufactured in Spain in 1963, ISTOBAL has led the way in innovation. In the 1970s, it introduced its first automatic brush rollover, and in the 1990s it revolutionised the sector with the M series of modular rollovers. This legacy of innovation has consolidated its position as a global benchmark.
In 2001, ISTOBAL specialised exclusively in the vehicle wash and care sector, offering comprehensive solutions for installations of any size, from small units to large industrial projects. This strategic approach has been key to its internationalisation.
Today, ISTOBAL has 15 wholly owned subsidiaries in key markets: Austria, Brazil, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States and the United Kingdom , as well as partnerships with distributors in other strategic regions. These operations ensure a presence in more than 80 countries and strengthen customer relationships in markets where the company has decades of experience.
Antonio Martínez underlines: "By establishing a direct presence in these countries, we seek to strengthen ties with our customers, foster more agile communication and offer quality solutions adapted to markets where we have decades of experience.
A legacy focused on innovation
Consolidated as a brand with international reach, ISTOBAL currently employs more than 1,000 professionals worldwide and has a network of distributors that guarantees its global presence. This commitment to advanced technology, sustainability and profitability in the car wash business is reflected in the renewal of almost its entire product portfolio in the last 18 months. ISTOBAL now controls the entire value chain to offer a 360° service: automatic and manual equipment, chemicals, spare parts, connectivity, maintenance, marketing advice and leasing formulas.
Innovation is one of the fundamental pillars of ISTOBAL's strategy. With its own R&D department made up of more than 40 professionals and more than 30 patents registered in different countries, the company actively collaborates with universities, start-ups, technology institutes and companies in internal and external innovation programmes.
A Look into the Future
In 2025, with more than 1,000 professionals worldwide, ISTOBAL celebrates its 75th anniversary as a testament to the work of its team, the loyalty of its clients and the collaboration of its partners.
"Our 75th anniversary is a testament to the work of all our employees, the loyalty of our customers and the collaboration of our partners. Together we have managed to position ISTOBAL among the leading companies in the sector at a European level, focusing on innovation in the development of our solutions and excellence in customer service to consolidate our leadership in the coming years," says Antonio Martinez. ¨In addition, we will continue to maintain a firm commitment to social responsibility, generating a positive impact on the communities where we operate and contributing to the economic and social development of these areas.¨
