September 7, 2016

Founded in June 1901, by Hans Grohe in the small town of Schiltach in Germany’s Black Forest, Hansgrohe SE celebrates its 115^th anniversary and today boasts more than 3,800 employees, 34 subsidiaries and 21 sales offices.

“The 115 years of pioneering spirit, dedicated employees and highly innovative products have made Hansgrohe – The Original – strong,” said Thorsten Klapproth, chairman of the Executive Board. “We now want to continue to grow from a position of economic strength and work together to reach new heights.” The figures for the early months of the current year confirm that this trend is set to continue in 2016. Order intake from both domestic German and international markets is even greater than the all-time high reported the previous year. The company, whose turnover in 2015 rose by 10 percent to €964 million, is poised to achieve new record sales and earnings. “We have our sights firmly set on the one-billion Euro sales mark,” Klapproth stated.

Hans Grohe’s pioneering spirit and enthusiasm for the element of water continue to inspire and influence the mixer and shower specialist. The company’s innovations range from the shower bar (1953) to the world’s first showerhead with adjustable spray modes (1968), to technologies such as water-saving aeration (2004) and the control of water flow at the touch of a button (2011). With the launch of Allegra in 1984, the company was the first to make kitchen mixers with pull out sprays marketable.

“Innovation has always been our top priority. But it’s also clear that we never pursue innovation purely for its own sake. We design and develop new products that delight our customers because they offer true added value,” said Klapproth. The global player from the Black Forest also has a longstanding collaboration with internationally acclaimed designers such as Phoenix Design, Philippe Starck, Antonio Citterio, Jean-Marie Massaud, Patricia Urquiola, the Bouroullec brothers, Front, Nendo and Barber & Osgerby.

Hansgrohe SE ranks 10th among some 2,000 listed companies in this year’s International Forum Design (iF) ranking of the world’s best companies in the field of design. With 860 points, the Schiltach-based mixer and shower specialist holds the number one position in the iF sanitation industry ranking.