Last Updated on 15/09/2024 by Jonno
Quick answer – Numatic makes the Henry hoover. Numatic also makes commercial versions of Henry that are just branded “Numatic”. They are different in a number of ways, but ultimately are made by the same company in the same factory.
This article may contain affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission from any purchases you make. For more information, click here.
Many people who’ve seen a Henry hoover in a commercial setting might be wondering why the hoover looks like Henry, but isn’t called Henry – it’s called Numatic. Is this a case of someone stealing the beloved Henry design? Well, no, it isn’t.
What you’re actually seeing is a commercial version of Henry – and it’s unlikely you’ve seen a Numatic-branded vacuum in someone’s home. You’ve most likely seen it in a business – maybe a shop, or an office. But what are the differences between Numatic-branded Henry hoovers and Henry-branded hoovers? Are they the same?
Numatic Hoovers vs Henry Hoovers
Henry hoovers are made by a company called Numatic International, based in Chard, Somerset. Numatic makes around fourteen different models for the domestic market – a variety of dry vacs, wet and dry vacs and carpet cleaning machines. All of them have English given names. The most common and popular version is Henry, who also comes in a few variations, such as Henry Xtra, Henry Allergy and Henry Wash.
However, Numatic also sells millions of vacuums for the commercial market. It’s not a coincidence that you will see Numatic vacuums in almost any kind of commercial setting – in gyms, supermarkets, offices, etc. The difference between the commercial vacuums is subtle, but it is noticeable – and one of the main reasons is because the commercial vacuums are made to a slightly different spec – so they can’t be called “Henry” because even though they look the same, they aren’t.
It isn’t just Henry, however – Numatic makes commercial versions of the James, as well as the Henry Wash (which actually doesn’t have a face, unlike most Numatic vacuums.)
While they have slight specification differences, commercial versions of the Henry range are branded “Numatic” and are made by the same company in the same factory.
So What’s The Difference Between Numatic Henry and Normal Henry?
Visually, they are exactly the same. The domestic Henry, referred to as the HVR160, is the best-selling model and consists of a six litre drum. The commercial version is referred to as the NRV240 and has a nine litre drum. You can also buy a domestic HVR240 which is exactly the same size as the commercial version, and they cost nearly the same. Here’s a visual comparison just to show you.
As you can see, visually they are almost identical. There are a few material differences in the attachments – the commercial version contains a wider head, but fundamentally they are a very similar vacuum.
There are a few differences between the Numatic Henry and the normal Henry. The Numatic model (referred to as the NRV240) has a longer power cord – 12.5 metres, compared to domestic Henry’s 10 metre power cable. This allows the NRV240 to go further away from the plug – ideal in situations where a large area needs to be cleaned.
Additionally the NRV240 has a stronger drum than Henry does, and this is because he’s intended to be a bit more hardwearing and sturdy for commercial use. There is a bumper ring around the front wheels, which protects the NRV240 if it hits anything and ensures it can’t cause damage to other objects, as well as making it less likely to topple over.
Finally, the NRV240 has slightly larger front wheels than the domestic Henry – which help with maneuverability in commercial environments.
Other than that, everything is the same – right down to the motor and the bags that the NRV240 takes. If you have a Henry, you will find very little difference if you were to use the Numatic Henry.
Do Numatic Bags Fit Henry?
Numatic is brilliant in this regard because pretty much all of their models take the same bags. There are exceptions – most notably the Henry XL, Charles and George, which are much bigger vacuums and therefore takes a bigger bag.
Numatic effectively make three different types of vacuum, each with it’s own bag size.
The 160 series is the standard Henry, as is anything else that Numatic makes that is the same size – James, Harry, Hetty, Henry Pet, Henry Allergy and Henry Eco. All of these use the exact same Hepa-Flo bag which has a capacity of 6 litres. Some of the domestic models are referred to as the 160 series, and are smaller than the 240 series – but they use the same bag.
The 240 series is the larger Numatic vacuums which have a drum capacity of 9 Litres. Despite having a larger capacity they still use the same bags as the domestic 160 series.
The 370 series are the larger Henrys which have a drum capacity of 15 litres. This includes the Henry XL, Henry XL Plus, Charles and George as well as the commercial Numatic CT370. These take the slightly larger NVM-2BH bags, which have higher capacity and are designed to take advantage of the 370 series’ larger drum size. They are, however, exactly the same strength and quality as the 160/240 series bags.
Finally, Numatic make a new size of bag for the Henry and Hetty Quick, the cordless stick vacuum. but is a different size to the 160, 240 and 370 series. In fact they are referred to as ‘pods’ and have a capacity of 1 litre.
Is the Numatic Henry Wet and Dry?
The Numatic NRV240 is a dry vac only – like Henry is. If you need a wet and dry vac for commercial use, you are best placed looking at the Numatic CT370 commercial vacuum. This is effectively the commercial version of the Henry Wash and the Charles. This is not just a wet and dry vacuum – it’s a whole carpet cleaning system that allows you to remove stains from high-traffic areas and refresh and revitalise soft furnishings.
You can also go for the George, which is a bagged wet and dry cleaner. George can also clean carpets, but also has a standard Numatic head which allows you to use him as a regular vacuum instead. As far as we can tell, Numatic does not make a commercial version of the George – but Numatic vacuums are very well made and it’s likely that the domestic version would be suitable for use in some commercial environments.
Why do commercial cleaners use Henry?
Put simply, because Henry is easy to use, easy to store, cost-effective and reliable. There are Numatic vacuums out there which have been in use day-in, day-out for over twenty years. These products are very clearly built to last, and when you’re in business, time is money – you can’t have downtime because of a faulty tool. Numatic Henry has proven itself in the commercial environment for many years, and cleaners use it because it lasts.
Hopefully this article answered your questions about the difference between the Numatic Henry and the normal Henry. Check out some of our other articles on Henry below!
Henry vs Dyson (and which one you should buy)
Henry Hoover Not Working and How to Fix It
Numatic Henry Hoover Review – A Beloved, Reliable Cleaning Companion
What’s the difference between Henry and Hetty?
The complete guide to Henry Hoover attachments
Why does my Henry Hoover smell?
Susan Greene is a busy mother of two who has worked in the cleaning and vacuum industry for twenty years. Having used Henry hoovers for almost all that time, she's a passionate advocate of Numatic products and this is what led her to start henryhooversonline.com. While she's not seeing which Numatic model picks up dirt the best, she can be found travelling the country with her children and two dogs.