LAUFEN has its headquarters in Laufen, near Basel in Switzerland. There are four other manufacturing plants in Austria and the Czech Republic. Immersed in tradition but extremely modern, production facilities manufacture over 3 million health products a year and distribute them through a worldwide network of retail outlets and partners to sales. Since 1999, LAUFEN has been one of the world's leading manufacturers of baths for the Spanish ROCA group, which has 20,000 employees in over 135 countries and which produces 38 million ceramic products a year. Similarity Group AG, one of the leading manufacturers of taps with a manufacturing tradition dating back over 150 years, has been part of the group since 2007. FROM LOCAL ROOTS TO A GLOBAL ACTIVITY VISION When the LAUFEN company was founded in Switzerland in 1892, the sanitary conditions were much lower than today's standards and the current level of comfort - standards that have contributed to LAUFEN, the only ceramic sanitaryware manufacturer that produces exclusively in Europe. The history of some of the company's production facilities dates back to earlier times. Around 1878, the pioneer of mechanized sanitary ware production was a factory belonging to the Austrian monarchy. The solid foundation of LAUFEN quality has not only contributed to the tradition, but also to the good situation of the various European production facilities within their domestic markets in Switzerland, Austria and the Czech Republic. LAUFEN's goal was and is yet that of being a leader in terms of technology, assistance and design. Already in the 1980s, LAUFEN invented the most efficient injection molding technology for the ceramic processing sector in Switzerland, a discovery that has made a lasting contribution to industrial production. Continuous developments in the design sector take on the same importance for LAUFEN: Wall-mounted hanging and floor-mounted washbasins, for example, have made a new aesthetic vision possible. LAUFEN has now expanded its know-how and portfolio of healthcare products, bathtubs, furniture and accessories by adding taps to the product range. In 1854, Charles Kugler founded a small company for brass products in Lausanne. The first water and gas valves in Switzerland were produced here in 1863. The faucets have been manufactured at the Laufen site since 2009.
MILESTARY STONES IN THE HISTORY OF LAUFEN
2013 With the development of SaphirKeramik, LAUFEN introduces an extraordinary and revolutionary innovation in the bathroom design world, also defining new stylistic standards. SaphirKeramik allows to realize very thin but at the same time strong walls and very tight bending radii (only 1-2 mm when the current technology allows to reach a maximum of 7-8 mm). SaphirKeramik is an important part of the collaboration between Kartell and LAUFEN and finds its maximum expression in the shared project "Kartell by Laufen".
2012 LAUFEN celebrates its memorable 120 years of Swiss Bathroom Culture with an amazing installation at the Milan Fuorisalone
2010 From a simple manufacturer of sanitary ware, LAUFEN has today become a "total bathroom solution manufacturer": The current portfolio offers global solutions for a complete bathroom, ranging from ceramics to furniture, bathtubs and shower trays up to to accessories and even to faucets.
2009 LAUFEN Forum opens its doors: The LAUFEN Forum is more than a showroom. This is the heart of the company's brand, located at the headquarters in Laufen, Switzerland. Thanks to its design concept and sustainable architecture, this design work of art has been awarded several prestigious awards over the last few years. In addition to displaying the latest product designs, various temporary exhibitions and events related to bathroom and architecture, this center attracts visitors and translates into reality the values of LAUFEN as a brand.
2007 The oldest taps manufacturer in Switzerland, Similior (founded by Charles kugler in 1854), is acquired and two years later, the faucet factory starts operating in Laufen, producing LAUFEN faucets. 2002 LAUFEN invests significantly in production in Central Europe and in the development of internationally renowned products. The different innovations in terms of design are a reflection of the success linked to a strong commitment to the intense collaboration between design and development. The first floor sink, designed by Stefano Giovannoni (ILBAGNOALESSI One) and launched in 2002, is just one of many examples. 1999 LAUFEN joins the ROCA group (at that time second sanitary manufacturer worldwide). 1991 In the 1990s, LAUFEN further expanded its production by acquiring two factories in the Czech Republic. Today, the five production facilities are well established in Central Europe. 1990 LAUFEN dedicates even more attention to design: Porsche Design was the first global collaboration partner for LAUFEN. 1980 LAUFEN develops the revolutionary method of pressure casting, a technology that sets new standards for the entire sector by reducing production times considerably. LAUFEN increases its productivity, capacity and range of products. 1967 Two traditional production plants, Wilhelmsburg and Gmunden in Austria, join the group. 1964 Xaver Jermann, an employee of LAUFEN, invented the first wall-hung vase. 1959 Fritz Lischka creates the famous design washbasin called "Ultra". 1952 LAUFEN grows and begins the first international activities through the acquisition of the first factory in Brazil. 1950 LAUFEN invents the first ceramic vase with integrated ventilation system. 1925 LAUFEN enters the sanitaryware sector and becomes the first and only bathroom ceramic manufacturer in Switzerland. 1895 A detail of the famous "Nautilus" vase. 1892 The LAUFEN ceramic factory is founded and starts producing tiles and bricks.
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