Visiting Dreame in China

Michelle Brändle

13.2.2026

Translation: Patrik Stainbrook

Dreame is best known for its robot vacuum cleaners. But there’s much more to explore at the headquarters near Shanghai, from dishwashers to smart rings. I was allowed to take a peek inside the factories and testing laboratories.

Since being founded in 2017, Dreame has become one of the big players in robot vacuum cleaners. Still, these days, the company wants to be at the forefront in other sectors too. And lucky me, I got to take a closer look at its new dishwashers, air conditioning systems and washing machines.

Even more exciting, however, was discovering the manufacturing process behind its vacuum cleaners and how Dreame tests the durability of its products.

Headquarters and showroom: one of everything

Stop one on my Dreame trip: the main site in Suzhou, eastern China. The manufacturer’s showroom’s located there, and I was extremely impressed by the comprehensive lineup. In addition to vacuum cleaners and robot versions, there were washing machines, ovens, air conditioners, hair dryers – and even a smart ring. Employees run me through the devices and the concepts behind them.

We still don’t know which of these will come to Europe and when. But Dreame’s confident: there’s already a European version of the dishwasher.

Factory and testing lab: cleaning like there’s no tomorrow

In my opinion, the two factory buildings – which I only checked out on a very brief tour – are far more exciting than the showroom. They’re also located in Suzhou.

First, I see the assembly line, where Dreame’s vacuum robots are assembled piece by piece. The conveyor belt brings a new appliance to its next stop every 45 seconds or so. Each employee is responsible for a specific step in the process. Photography wasn’t permitted, so I sketched the scene from memory after leaving.

I had to put on protective clothing before entering. The employees were dressed in blue, while visitors were given eye-catching orange overalls. Here’s a snapshot:

The next place I visited was the testing laboratories. Here, the manufacturer tests how long its vacuum cleaners last. They check use of the water tanks, excessive mop usage or good old wear and tear caused by human hands. Everything is inspected as thoroughly as possible to ensure the devices also hold out longer than their promised warranty periods.

Vacuum cleaners should be able to cope with as many everyday scenarios as possible – even this is simulated. It doesn’t matter what floor types your house has, or what liquid and what particles need to be removed: Dreame’s all about perfecting its cleaning performance. No wonder the vacuum cleaners are subjected to every test under the sun.

My highlight: employees are allowed to bring their furry friends from home and keep them in a pet room. After all, pet hair is another great test scenario for robot vacuums. I wonder if the cats like it here…

Last but not least, appliances need to arrive at a customer’s place intact. Another scenario? Another stringent test. Whether it faces constant shaking or tight squeezes, the packaging must protect its vacuum robots as well as it can over long distances.

Even though Dreame only gave me a glimpse into the world of vacuum cleaners and robot vacuums, I was impressed. By the many people behind it all, by how much testing, vacuuming and measuring is done. And by how much work goes into a single robot vacuum cleaner, from the initial idea until it arrives in a Swiss home.

The next time I’m cleaning my place, I won’t be complaining about how tedious vacuuming is. After all, Dreame employees do it all day for a living – in a cooler outfit at that.

Dreame invited me to Suzhou and Shanghai for four days. All costs were fully covered by Dreame.

Michelle Brändle

Editor

Michelle.Braendle@digitecgalaxus.ch

Ever since I learned how to hold a pen, I've been doodling away in bright colours. Thanks to my iPad, digital art has also become part of my life. That's why I love testing tablets – from the graphic design range to the regular kind. When I feel the urge to express my creativity without lugging lots of equipment, I go for the latest smartphones and start snapping away. more

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