RIDGID NXT ACCESSORY LINE
For over 25 years, RIDGID Wet/Dry Vacuum accessories have remained unchanged, leading to a gap between evolving consumer needs and available product offerings. Professionals and consumers now demand a more refined, versatile, and customizable set of accessories to improve performance and efficiency. Without innovation, Emerson Tool Company risks stagnation in vacuum purchases and missing opportunities for post-sale growth. To address this, the development of a next-generation accessory ecosystem — anchored by the new shoe system — is critical for strengthening the portfolio, driving long-term brand loyalty, and expanding product offerings through The Home Depot.
CURRENT ACCESSORY OFFERINGS
COMPETITIVE PRODUCTS
Until 2022, there had been limited competition and innovation in the accessory market. However, in early 2022, Milwaukee Tools introduced their AIR-TIP™ line, which represented the largest and most innovative set of accessories the industry had seen in decades, setting a new benchmark in the market.
INITIAL CONCEPTS
The Industrial Design team began by conceptualizing the next generation of
RIDGID accessories, exploring new forms and features that had not been
previously implemented. We then moved quickly to translate these concepts
into CAD models and 3D printed initial prototypes to evaluate usability and
ergonomics.
RIDGID PERSONAS
For decades, RIDGID has focused on developing products for well-established consumer personas such as The Pro, The Skilled Trades, The DIY’er, and The Auto Expert. However, we recognized an opportunity to better understand and engage with additional user categories. To address this, the Industrial Design team created new personas—The Wood Worker, The Pet Owner, The Home Owner, and The Garden & Farm enthusiast—to identify areas where Emerson Tool Company was missing key consumer segments and to expand our understanding of evolving user needs.
RESEARCH
MOOD BOARD
CONCEPT & FORM DEVELOPMENT
ACCESSORIES VISION
DESIGN & FUNCTIONALITY
BAY DESIGN
ONBOARDING THE HOME DEPOT
After finalizing our internal strategy for launching the RIDGID
NXT Accessory Ecosystem, the next step was to present the
plan to The Home Depot. We developed a hands-on, interactive
presentation to showcase the phased product rollout and
align on the purchasing experience, ensuring that The Home
Depot fully supported the ecosystem strategy and its market
introduction.
NXT MAX ACCESSORY ECOSYSTEM
Unlock maximum power and efficiency with RIDGID’s NXT Max Locking Accessories, built to tackle heavy-duty messes and make cleanup faster, easier, and more reliable. With a 2-1/2 in. diameter for picking up larger debris and a simple Swap, Lock, Clean system, you’ll cover more ground and get back to work quicker.
CREVICE TOOL
The RIDGID NXT Max Locking Crevice Tool, designed for 2-1/2
in. RIDGID Wet/Dry Vacuums. Pair it with the NXT Hard Bristle
Shoe for scrubbing stuck-on debris or the Soft Bristle Shoe for
gently cleaning finished surfaces and tricky nooks, giving you
powerful, adaptable cleaning wherever you need it. Built for
heavy-duty jobsites, cars, staircases, and more, the NXT Max
Crevice Tool makes reaching tight spaces easier than ever.
CAR NOZZLE
The RIDGID NXT Max Locking Car Nozzle, featuring Hard
Bristle, Soft Bristle, and Soft Rubber Shoes for 2-1/2 in.
RIDGID Wet/Dry Vacuums. Tackle tough debris with the Hard
Bristle Shoe, gently clean delicate surfaces with the Soft
Bristle Shoe, and easily lift stubborn pet hair with the Soft
Rubber Shoe — all designed to boost cleaning power in truck
beds, trunks, and tight spaces. Built for heavy-duty vehicle and
jobsite cleanups, the NXT Max Car Nozzle adapts to every
mess with a simple click-and-swap system.
ROTATING DUSTING BRUSH
The RIDGID NXT Max Locking Rotating Dusting Brush,
complete with Hard Bristle, Soft Bristle, Inner Bristle, and
Rubber Shoes for 2-1/2 in. RIDGID Wet/Dry Vacuums. Tackle
tough debris with the Hard Bristle Shoe, gently dust delicate
surfaces with the Soft Bristle Shoe, grab pet hair and dander
with the Rubber Shoe, and pick up fine dust and sawdust with
the Inner Bristle Shoe. With a rotating head that locks at different
angles, this tool adapts to any surface—from tabletops and
workbenches to shelves and vehicle interiors—for powerful,
customized cleaning.
UTILITY NOZZLE
The RIDGID NXT Max Locking Utility Nozzle, featuring Hard
Bristle, Soft Bristle, and Soft Rubber Shoes for 2-1/2 in.
RIDGID Wet/Dry Vacuums. Tackle rough surfaces with the
Hard Bristle Shoe, gently clean finished floors with the Soft
Bristle Shoe, and lift pet hair and dander with the Soft Rubber
Shoe—all while the rocking nozzle design boosts pickup of
larger debris like gravel, nails, and leaves. Built for heavyduty
jobsites, garages, and construction sites, this tool makes
medium-area cleanup faster, easier, and more powerful.
FLOOR TOOL
The RIDGID NXT Max Locking Floor Tool, featuring a Hard
Bristle Shoe, Soft Bristle Shoe, and Wet Squeegee Shoe for
2-1/2 in. RIDGID Wet/Dry Vacuums. Tackle rough surfaces with
the Hard Bristle Shoe, gently clean finished floors and carpets
with the Soft Bristle Shoe, and move standing water with the Wet
Squeegee Shoe—all powered by a rocking design that improves
pickup of large debris like gravel, rocks, and sawdust. Perfect for
jobsites, garages, and emergency cleanups, the Max Floor Tool
adapts to every surface for faster, more efficient cleaning.
ACCESSORY ORGANIZER BAG
Keep your accessories within easy reach with the RIDGID NXT Wet/
Dry Vac Rear Onboard Accessory Organizer Bag, designed to fit
snugly on your vac’s carry handle. Featuring three interior pockets, a
large elastic mesh pocket, and durable 600D water-resistant nylon,
this bag securely holds up to four tools and four shoes while still
allowing full use of the vac’s blower, powerhead, and storage features.
Easily attach, remove, or even hang it on your workshop wall for extra
convenience and organized cleanup.
ACCESSORY ECOSYSTEM PHASE 2 & 3
