Vacmaster

What Vacmaster is

Vacmaster is the floorcare brand of Cleva, which sells it in the UK alongside its garden brand, LawnMaster, from one official store at cleva-uk.com. Cleva describes itself as "designing and manufacturing high-performance home and garden appliances that you can depend on to stand the test of time," and the robot vacuum page signs off with "Vacmaster by Cleva. Manufacturer of over 80 million appliances sold worldwide." The About section adds that "Over the last 20 years our vison to develop high-performance appliances at affordable prices has remained at the heart of everything we do," and that Cleva is "trusted by the thousands of doers out there who rely on our products."

Most of Vacmaster's range is conventional floorcare and workshop kit: upright, cylinder and cordless vacuums, wet-and-dry vacuums, carpet and spot cleaners, hard floor cleaners, professional L Class and M Class dust extractors, air movers and fans. The robot vacuum is a single-model line, and its pitch is summed up in the tagline: "The clean that runs itself."

The robot: Vacmaster REi

Vacmaster's robot range is one machine, the REi Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Self Empty Station. The collection page describes it in one sentence: "LiDAR mapping, 4000 Pa suction, and a self-empty station that can hold up to 45 days of dust." It was listed at a sale price of £169.99 against a regular £199.99, with a free gift offer running alongside.

Each part of that sentence is expanded in Vacmaster's own FAQ:

• Navigation. The REi uses "advanced LiDAR navigation and smart mapping to learn the layout of your home and clean with precision. Rather than moving randomly, they create an accurate map, plan the most efficient cleaning route and navigate around furniture and obstacles, delivering thorough cleaning across multiple rooms."
• Suction and floors. The robot is built "to deliver powerful suction across hard floors and carpets, lifting fine dust, everyday debris and pet hair with ease."
• Self-emptying. After every clean, the dock "automatically empties dust and debris into a large, sealed dust bag." The bag is "Designed to help lock in dirt, dust and odours" and "provides up to 45 days of hands-free cleaning before it needs replacing."
• Safety. Anti-drop sensors "detect stairs, steps and changes in floor height," so the robot can "clean confidently around open staircases, landings and raised edges."
• App. "Using the Vacmaster app, you can schedule your robot vacuum cleaner to clean whenever it suits you. Whether you're at work, out shopping or asleep, your robot cleans automatically before returning to its self-emptying dock."

The product video puts it in three words: "Cleans. Empties. Repeats." Vacmaster frames the point of all this in its own words: "Cleaning shouldn't take up your day. With automated schedules, hands-free cleaning and a self-emptying dock, your robot vacuum works independently to keep your home consistently clean." At £169.99, LiDAR mapping with a bagged self-empty dock is the REi's main selling point.

Robots beyond the floor

Vacmaster's parent sells a second family of robots under LawnMaster: the OcuMow robot mowers. The OcuMow AMB16-400 is an "Auto Charging Vision Robot Lawn Mower", listed at £399.99. The battery-powered OcuMow 16 MX 24V is a "Drop and Mow Robotic Lawnmower" that works "Boundary Wire Free" with a detachable battery; it was £299.99. There is also an L Series of robot mowers. For a household that wants its floors and lawn both on autopilot, the two can come from the same store and the same support team.

The wider Vacmaster range

The rest of the catalog shows where Vacmaster's experience lies. Its bestsellers include the Multi 20 PTO wet-and-dry vacuum with a 1250W motor and power take-off (£69.99), the Respira Lift Off Pet upright with HEPA 13 filtration (£109.99), and the EasyClean Go MX 24V cordless carpet spot cleaner (£149.99). For trade use there is the WD M38 PCF, a 240V M Class dust extractor. Named ranges include AllergenPro vacuums, EasyClean floor and carpet cleaners, and the MX 24V Shared Battery System, which runs cordless floorcare and garden tools off one battery platform. The store also promotes a new Vacmaster machine that can "Vacuum, Mop & Dry Hard Floors in One Step." The Cardio54 fitness fan is stocked by the treadmill specialist NoblePro, according to Cleva's news section.

Delivery, returns and guarantee

Cleva sets out its terms clearly on the robot page. Delivery is free "on all UK mainland orders" and there is "free next working day delivery on all orders that include an appliance"; spare parts and accessories go by a 48hr standard service, and delivery charges apply to the Channel Islands, Northern Ireland, the "Isle of Scilly and Man". Returns: "unused, undamaged products can be returned for a refund within 30 days of receipt."

On cover, the page says "All Vacmaster appliances, spare parts and accessories carry a manufacturer guarantee," with full terms on the Guarantees page and a Register Guarantee page for new owners. Klarna is available at checkout. Newsletter subscribers get 10% off their next purchase, "up to a maximum of £20."

Support is kept in the UK: "Our friendly, UK based, customer service team are there if you need a helping hand," and the store runs a product support section with model support pages and a glossary. Cleva also runs Irish and EU stores for buyers outside the UK. Because the REi is an app-connected device, it is worth knowing that the store footer links a PSTI Information page (product security information for connected devices) alongside WEEE electrical recycling details. Trade buyers, distributors and affiliates each have their own inquiry route, and the company says it continues to "reinvest in research and development to design innovative products that people want, at a streamlined price they can afford."

Who it suits

The REi suits a UK household that wants a LiDAR-mapped robot with a self-emptying dock without paying premium-brand prices. The 45-day dust bag suits anyone who dislikes emptying a bin, and the anti-drop sensors suit homes with open stairs and landings. Pet owners get strong suction for hair on carpets and hard floors.

It suits less well a buyer who wants a robot that also mops, since the REi's page describes vacuuming only, or someone who wants to choose between several robot tiers. For a well-specified, affordable self-emptying robot from a floorcare brand with UK-based support, the REi is an easy recommendation.