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The short answer
SANITMAX makes three industrial vacuums, each built for a different job. The SM05-D backpack vacuum (106 CFM, $549) handles cordless cleanup in tight corners, on ladders, and around fixed equipment. The SM73 (19-gallon, 3600W triple-motor, $1,399) is the mid-size wet/dry unit for daily shop and warehouse cleanup. The SM100 (26.4-gallon, 212 CFM, $1,599) is the largest-capacity option with automatic filter cleaning for continuous heavy-duty use. Match the tier to your facility size and cleaning frequency, not the biggest spec sheet.
SM05-D: cordless backpack for spot cleanup
The SM05-D delivers 106 CFM from a 1.3-gallon backpack unit with a dual battery pack rated for up to 60 minutes of runtime. Going cordless removes the cord-drag problem that slows down cleanup on ladders, around lift trucks, and in tight corners where a canister unit can’t easily follow. At $549, it’s the entry point into the SANITMAX vacuum lineup and works best as a second unit alongside a larger canister vacuum, not as a facility’s only cleaning machine.
Best for: overhead cleaning, ladder work, tight corners around fixed equipment, and quick spot cleanup between full cleaning cycles.
SM73: mid-size wet/dry for daily use
The SM73 runs a 3600W triple-motor system into a 19-gallon (73-liter) stainless steel tank, rated at 211.9 CFM airflow and 345 mbar vacuum pressure. It handles both dry debris and liquid pickup, backed by HEPA plus G-Class filtration (99.999% efficiency). Filter cleaning is manual on the SM73 — you trigger the reverse-pulse cleaning yourself rather than it running automatically, which is worth knowing before you buy if continuous, hands-off operation matters to your workflow. Priced at $1,399.
Best for: factories, workshops, and warehouses running daily cleanup where the operator can pause briefly to trigger filter cleaning between sessions.
SM100: largest capacity, automatic filter cleaning
The SM100 steps up to a 26.4-gallon (100-liter) stainless tank powered by a 2.8 HP (2100W) motor, rated at 212 CFM with 120 inches of water lift (roughly 300 mbar / 4.35 PSI vacuum pressure). It includes HEPA filtration at 99.999% efficiency, plus a 23.6-inch front-mounted detachable squeegee, a 16-foot vacuum hose, and a 49-foot power cable. The key difference from the SM73: filter cleaning is automatic (jet reverse-pulse) rather than manual, so suction stays consistent through longer continuous runs without operator intervention. Priced at $1,599.
Best for: continuous heavy-duty operation, larger facilities, and any workflow where stopping to manually trigger filter cleaning would interrupt the job.
Side-by-side comparison
| Spec | SM05-D | SM73 | SM100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Cordless backpack | Canister, corded | Canister, corded |
| Airflow | 106 CFM | 211.9 CFM | 212 CFM |
| Tank capacity | 1.3 gal | 19 gal | 26.4 gal |
| Filtration | — | HEPA + G-Class | HEPA (99.999%) |
| Filter cleaning | — | Manual reverse-pulse | Automatic jet reverse-pulse |
| Runtime/power | Up to 60 min (battery) | Corded, 110V | Corded, 110V |
| Price | $549 | $1,399 | $1,599 |
Prices verified from sanitmax.com and are approximate — check the product pages for current pricing.
Wet/dry vacuums vs. the SM20 shampoo vacuum — don’t confuse the two
SANITMAX also sells the SM20, a wet/dry shampoo vacuum built for carpet and upholstery cleaning (17 kPa suction plus 160 PSI spray, 5-gallon capacity, $159) — a completely different tool from the SM05/SM73/SM100 industrial dry-debris lineup. If you’re cleaning carpets or upholstery rather than shop floors and warehouse debris, the SM20 is the right category to look at instead.
How to choose between the three
- Single small facility, occasional cleanup: SM73 alone usually covers it.
- Larger facility with continuous daily use: SM100 for the larger tank and hands-off automatic filter cleaning.
- Multi-tool shop or facility with tight corners and overhead work: SM100 or SM73 as the primary unit, plus an SM05-D for ladder work, corners, and quick spot jobs the canister units can’t easily reach.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between the SM73 and SM100?
The SM100 has a larger tank (26.4 gal vs. 19 gal) and automatic jet reverse-pulse filter cleaning, versus the SM73’s manual reverse-pulse system. The SM100 also ships with a front-mounted squeegee attachment. The SM73 costs less ($1,399 vs. $1,599).
Can the SM73 and SM100 pick up liquids?
Yes, both are wet/dry capable, but the correct filter and setup should be used depending on whether the job is wet or dry pickup — check the product manual for the specific configuration required.
Is the SM05-D backpack vacuum powerful enough for daily use?
At 106 CFM, it’s meaningfully less powerful than the canister units, and its 1.3-gallon capacity means frequent emptying on a heavy debris job. It’s best used for spot cleanup and hard-to-reach areas alongside a canister unit, not as a facility’s sole vacuum.
Do these vacuums include HEPA filtration?
Yes — the SM73 and SM100 both include HEPA-rated filtration (99.999% efficiency on the SM100; HEPA plus G-Class on the SM73).
What’s the difference between these and the SM20?
The SM20 is a carpet and upholstery shampoo vacuum, not an industrial dry-debris vacuum. If you’re cleaning shop floors, warehouse debris, or fine dust, the SM73/SM100/SM05-D lineup is the right category; if you’re cleaning carpet or upholstery, the SM20 is built for that job instead.
The bottom line
Size the vacuum to your facility and cleaning frequency, not the highest CFM number. The SM73 covers most single-shop daily cleanup needs at $1,399; step up to the SM100 for larger tanks and hands-off automatic filter cleaning at continuous duty; add an SM05-D backpack unit for the corners and overhead work a canister vacuum can’t reach.
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