Hansgrohe

Hansgrohe SE is a global company that manufactures sanitary products such as faucets, showers, thermostats, processes and bathroom accessories. Headquartered in Schiltach / Black Forest. SE stands for European Company ( Societas Europaea ).

The company was founded in 1901 by Hans Grohe. Hansgrohe is not to be confused with the company Grohe, which manufactures valves also and was founded by Hans Grohe's son Frederick.

Current situation

Klaus Grohe family - he is the youngest son of the founder - now holds approximately 32% of the company shares, the Masco Corporation in Taylor (Michigan ), United States, approximately 68 % of the shares. CEO of the company in May 2008 Siegfried Gänßlen, who succeeded Klaus Grohe. The company founder family is represented on the board by Hans Grohe's grandson Richard Grohe, since the end of May 2008 held the office of Deputy Chairman there. Hansgrohe distributes its products under the brands Hansgrohe, Axor, Pharo and Pontos Aqua Cycle.

In 2010 the company generated a turnover of 693 million euros (2009: 610 million euros ). Worldwide, the Hansgrohe Group has 3200 employees, of which two-thirds in Germany. Here, the company produced in six plants. In addition, plants in France, the U.S., the Netherlands and China. The company is represented by its own subsidiaries in 37 countries on all continents. Hansgrohe exported to more than 140 countries.

Business creation and history

In 1901 founded Hansgrohe, born on 14 May 1871 in Luckenwalde near Berlin, the company in the Black Forest community Schiltach. The three -man operation first produced pressed metal goods such as watch parts, brass pans and sheet metal showerheads. The entrepreneur soon specialized in metal products for the plumbing. With the first foreign delivery to Amsterdam in January 1907, the export business began. In 1919, the company employed three office workers and 42 employees in manufacturing.

From 1929 Grohe put on a new brass printing process and started from 1930, chrome-plating products. In 1934, Grohe, the first missions abroad, including in North Africa, Palestine and Syria. In the same year left Friedrich Grohe, Grohe's second son, the company and took over in 1936 in Westphalia Hemer a Armaturenfabrik. Unlike his father Hans, who, mainly focused on showerheads and plumbing technology, Friedrich Grohe focused on the production of faucets. This company is now known as Grohe AG, even if the family Grohe here - is no longer represented in the company - unlike at Hansgrohe.

In 1961 was renamed as Hansgrohe GmbH & Co KG. In 1968, Klaus Grohe, the youngest son of the company founder, joined the company. In 1975 he took over the management and results 1977 Wortbildmarke Hansgrohe one. Under his leadership, the company in the late 1960s collaboration with external designers such as Hartmut Esslinger ( frog design ), Phoenix Design and Philippe Starck began. In addition, Klaus Grohe opened up the company new business areas: In 1981, Hans Grohe fittings on the production of, 2001, brought greywater recycling systems on the market. 1985 sold some partners from Hansgrohe their shares to the U.S. investment company Masco Corporation. 1999 Hansgrohe has been converted into a non- listed public company. Klaus Grohe 2008 replaced after 33 years at the helm of the company in the chair of the Supervisory Board. The CEO took over Siegfried Gänßlen, his deputy has since Richard Grohe.

Hansgrohe has logged approximately 2,000 patents. For important inventions of Hansgrohe include automatic drain and overflow fitting (1934 ), the shower rod (1953), the showerhead with adjustable spray patterns (1968 ), the dynamic flow for valves, the AirPower and EcoSmart technology for faucets and showerheads ( 2004 and 2008) and the gray water recycling system Pontos Aqua Cycle ( 2001) and the waste water heat recovery Pontos Heat Cycle (2010). In 2010, Hansgrohe has filed 295 patents, designs and trademarks.

Museum

At its headquarters in Schiltach the company has set up the museum for water, bathroom and design that shows the development of private Hausbads and the plumber crafts in Central Europe since the Middle Ages.

Products

  • Fittings
  • Showers and shower systems
  • Drainage technology
  • Bathroom Accessories
  • Fully automatic gray water recycling systems and heat recovery systems

Designer

Sponsors activities

By 2010, the company had its own triathlon team that since 2001 seven times the title of German Champion team won -. Most recently in 2008 The team included, among others Triathlon likes of Daniel Unger ( 2007 World Champion, German Champion 2008 ), Jan Frodeno ( 2008 Olympic Champion ) and Steffen Justus (Vice World Champion 2010). Since 2008, Hansgrohe Daniel Unger supported as individual starters and since 2011 the Daniel Unger- junior team.

Types of business entity Taylor (Michigan) Jean-Marie Massaud Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec
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