Dr. Joseph Enning and Ger Loogman were inducted into the Car Wash Hall of Fame during the opening reception for the inaugural edition of Car Wash Show Europe in Amsterdam.
Established in 1962, the Car Wash Hall of Fame was created to recognize the innovators, leaders and pioneers of the professional car wash industry. Enning, late founder of Mr. Wash of Germany, and Loogman, owner of Loogman Groep in the Netherlands, are honored as the first inductions in Europe.
Dr. Joseph Enning was the founder of several car wash-related businesses, including Hot Springs Car Washes and International Autowash Systems in the United States and the highly successful Mr. Wash chain of car washes in Germany. Enning, born in Germany, maintained footholds in both his native country and the U.S. for most of his life, developing friendships and contributing to countless innovations during his long career. The Mr. Wash chain, which continues to be led by his family, is the leading conveyor car wash chain in Europe — with most of the largest car wash sites in the world within the company’s portfolio of nearly 40 locations. Enning passed away in May 2014.
Ger Loogman began working in his family’s petroleum business as a teenager. In 1983, he added the first car wash to one of his family’s petroleum sites — a 9-meter conveyor. While the early results were modest by the standards he has since set, Loogman was infatuated with the business. In 1990, he visited The Car Wash Show in the U.S. and came back with ideas previously unseen in Europe for growing his car wash business. Since then, the business has expanded to eight car washes, some of the largest as measured by square meters — and most successful — anywhere in Europe.
Both Enning and Loogman were also notable for their openness with other car wash operators, who have visited from countries around the world. Their spirit of collaboration and success with innovation has helped countless operators and suppliers.
“We are honored to recognize two outstanding car wash leaders during our inaugural event in Europe,” said ICA President Gary Dennis, an operator from Atlanta, Georgia, USA. “Both Dr. Enning and Mr. Loogman represent the best of our industry — determination, innovation and collaboration. Their businesses became not only leaders in their countries or in Europe — but around the world. We are forever indebted to them for what they have inspired and enabled for the professional car wash industry.”