GROHE history

The first order from outside of Germany came in 1938.

In 1948, the company was renamed to Friedrich Grohe Armaturenfabrik.

In 1956, eight years later, Friedrich expands the company.

Grohe's first subsidiary was renamed Grohe Thermostat GmbH. In 1957, to help promote his products, Grohe started providing special training for retailers that carried Grohe's kitchen and bathroom fixtures and for the plumbers who installed them.

New Ownership and Global Expansion after 1960

In 1961, Friedrich Grohe became CEO of his father's firm in Schiltach, which his brother Hans had been in charge of until his death.

A year later in 1962, Grohe acquired exclusive rights to produce the Moen Mixing Faucet, which mixes hot and cold water with a single lever.

A second was established in Austria in 1965, followed by a third subsidiary abroad in Italy two years later.

In 1968, Friedrich Grohe sold a 51% stake, there were some additions to the Lahr production site and a new logistics department was opened at Hemer-Edelburg.

In 1973 Grohe set up its fourth European subsidiary, in the Netherlands.

The establishment of Friedrich Grohe's first subsidiary in the United States in 1975 marked a new chapter in the company's history.

In 1976 the new venture was incorporated as Grohe America, Inc. and moved into a small warehouse-office complex.

Five years later, the company expanded into Great Britain and Spain, and in 1979 into Belgium.

The death of company founder Friedrich Grohe in 1983 closed a chapter in the firm's history.

1984: Friedrich Grohe's heirs buy ITT's majority stake back after the company founder's death.

In 1989 Grohe introduced a new product line for commercial customers.

After the unexpected construction boom brought about by the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990 began drying up, the German market stagnated.

In 1991 Friedrich Grohe was transformed into a public stock company under the name Friedrich Grohe AG. The Grohe family retained a majority stake in the enterprise, while the IPO filled the company's bank account with cash to finance further growth.

Another innovation, the Grohmix thermostat line, was launched in 1992.

Later in 1993, Grohe acquired 50% of Grome, resulting in a joint venture between Mesma Holdings Ltd. and Grohe AG.

1994: The company takes over the German DAL/Rost group.

1995 GROHE presents SpeedClean.

A new factory in Thailand started putting out cheaper fixtures for the southern Asian mass market in 1996.

In 1997 the company bought a 70-percent majority stake in Rotter GmbH & Co.

1999: The Grohe and Rost families sell their holdings in Friedrich Grohe to investment firm BC Partners.

On March 29, 2000, the public trading of Friedrich Grohe shares ceased.

With a world market share of roughly 10 percent in 2001, Friedrich Grohe aimed at becoming the global leader in bathroom fixtures and sanitary installations.

BC partners sold the company to a consortium of investors from the Texas Pacific Group and CSFB Private Equity (a subsidiary of the Swiss Credit Suisse banking group) five years later in 2004.

The company’s sales and profit figures had been stagnating for years, leading to a programme of savings as of 2005.

The company’s sales and profit figures had been stagnating for years, leading to a programme of savings as of 2007.

Through 2008, investments totaling 200 million euros were made, of which around two thirds were invested in Germany in the areas of production technology and logistics.

with the water systems GROHE Blue and Red in 2009.

In June 2010, the company saw a ruling against the European sanitary fittings industry by the European Commission.

In early 2011, Grohe acquired a majority stake in the leading Chinese sanitary fittings producer Joyou, making a successful public takeover bid.

In 2012, Grohe AG's revenues increased by 21 percent to 1,405 million euros; operating profits improved by 18 percent to reach 273 million euros, representing a return on revenue of 19.4 percent.

In May 2013, David Haines, chairman of Grohe, confirmed that, although the company is examining all options for ending investor involvement, no concrete plans had yet been made.

GROHE presents the push and turn shower control SmartControl in 2015.

In 2016 GROHE opens up a new dimension of personal care with its shower toilet Sensia Arena

In February 2017, the company's revenues accounted 965 million euros during the first nine months of the fiscal year.

In 2019 GROHE launches Icon 3D and opens up for whole new opportunities of design and technology.