THE TRUE FAIRYTALE OF CLEVE R HANS THE TRUE FAIRYTALE OF CLEVER HANS Of course we don’t want to tell any fairy tales here …

… Even though the story of how a three-man business founded by Hans Grohe in 1901 in the little Black Forest town of Schiltach became a world-wide enterprise with over 3,200 employees might seem to some to be more like a fairy tale… What follows is the story of the firm of Hansgrohe, spanning more than a century of growth and development. And the story of Hans Grohe himself, the handyman, the craftsman, the visionary pioneer in the field of sanitation, without whom the company of Hansgrohe could never have come into being. And the story of his descendants who right up to the present day lead and guide the firm of Hansgrohe SE. It’s not a dry-as-dust story, and doesn’t claim to be complete in itself or to be a scientific account; it is told here sometimes tongue in cheek, with great joy in the telling, giving deep insights into the world of Hansgrohe and into the family firm, founded by Clever Hans. And if the story of “Lucky Hans” (“Hans im Glück”) as once told by the Grimm Brothers in their collection of fairy tales is unfamiliar to you, just read on. Truth is stranger than fiction, as they say …

2 Hans had served his master for seven years and now he had an urgent desire to go to Schiltach. So he asked his master to give him his wages. “Laddie”, said his master, “you done real good here. Look, here’s a chunk of gold. That’s far better than any stocks and shares.”

Hans was happy at that and quickly set out on his way, for there was a lot to do in the Black Forest and in the other places around. On his way, as you may have heard, he met a mounted messenger, who cheated him out of his gold and gave him his horse for it. But it was Hans who did the cheating, because now on horseback he could get along much faster (anything else is a fairy story!). Because Clever Hans knew: time waits for no man. To cut a long story short, at the end of his travels he met a knifegrinder. By then Hans had a nice fat goose, which he had exchanged for an even fatter pig, that in turn he had swapped for a cow, which he had swapped for his horse (Keep up…!). The knifegrinder saw the fat goose and persuaded Hans to swap her for his lovely round grindstone.

“That was a good bit of business”, thought Hans. He shouldered the heavy grindstone, walked along the Kinzig and soon found himself in Schiltach. “Just take a look at that!” he said to himself, and so he built himself a house by the river and bought an inexpensive drive belt. This he wound round his grindstone, and very soon you could hear the murmur of several little machines with whose help Clever Hans was able to produce such fine showers that it filled him with joy. “Unica!” he cried, and then quietly (because it was still early morning) “Selecta!”. Seven more years passed and he could call three or four lumps of gold his own. He was very pleased with life, with himself and of course with the horse that had got him that far. And, if they have not died, they all lived happily ever after.

3 HOW HANS SET OUT Time seems to fl y, and even the world others sat over their Sunday morning seems smaller! As the crow fl ies, the mug of beer. The clock in the tower of FROM LUCKENWALDE town of Schiltach in the lovely Kinzig St. John’s church had just struck twelve AND IN SCHILTACH valley – where the heart of Hansgrohe when a loud cry stopped everyone in beats today – is about 500 kilometres from their tracks. They said it was such a loud BECAME LUCKY H ANS. Luckenwalde, just outside Berlin: 500 cry that it could be heard on the other kilometres from the heart of the Black side of Berlin. Wreathed in smiles, they Forest to the heart of the republic. all pointed to the house of the master HANSGROHE, A ( VERY) SHORT HISTORY OF THE FAMILY weaver. “Another new family member at Luckenwalde? Karl-Ludwig’s!” Hans Grohe had arrived Yes, Luckenwalde; in this 800-year-old on the scene. town to the south of Berlin is where the family home of Hans Grohe stood – a May 14, just before noon. man always ahead of his time, a pioneer, A nasty wind was blowing through the a craftsman deeply rooted in its soil, a streets; cold, too cold, thought the man handyman, an inventor and, even more hurrying home, keeping a tight grip on important, a businessman with an eye for his hat. Despite the cold, there was a scent the future. of lilac and lily-of-the-valley in the air of Luckenwalde, now and again mixed Let us cast our eyes back a bit to the 19th with the less pleasant smell from the Century. What a time that was! Every- factory chimneys of Berlin. The master where you look something is happening. weaver Karl Ludwig Grohe twirled at Upheaval all around that threatens to his moustache. That Berlin! It was burst- change everyday life. Yesterday it was ing at the seams! Overnight it had grown steam power, now it’s electricity! Horse- by 100,000, no, 200,000! And everyone drawn vehicles giving way to the motor- sooner or later needed clothing and car, dark alleyways to wide, bright boule- shoes, house and fuel, bread and a bed. vards. Railway lines like spiders’ webs The Kaiser wasn’t going to give them linking people and places. Telegraph that for nothing, and even less that man bells ringing, airships droning overhead, Bismarck. A bowl of water for a family: moving pictures making people gasp, that could never suffi ce. weep and laugh … He took his gold watch out of his waist- It was into a time like this that Otto coat pocket, took a look at it and speeded Johannes Grohe was born. But everyone up his steps. We must have a theatre here, Facing page: called him Hans. he thought, and his thoughts went to the young Hans Grohe (left) with his parents Theodor Fontane. He knew his stuff , and siblings. Early 1880’s Luckenwalde, 1871. that Fontane! He could spin yarns, too, It was a Sunday in May. Some were hur- writing week by week in the papers rying on their way back from church, about the big theatre in Berlin. A

4 5 THE YOUNG LAD Huguenot at that, living proof that it was which always spurred him on to accept good to mix foreign blood with local – the challenge that presented. And his WA S PRECISE AND and also craftsmanship and trade. “If you practical hands knew always where the CONSCIENTIOUS. want to get on in life, you must enjoy life”, nail had to go in, even while the others he had said. And so it was. A journey- were talking about it. “That must be fi xed man’s life is good for the legs, but it now, this very moment!” This well-known also keeps one’s grey matter alive. And word of the old master weaver from he, Karl Ludwig Grohe, would send his Silesia was to become the motto by sons on their travels so that they could which Hans Grohe lived. make their fortune – and one of them would be Lucky Hans. Up to the middle of the 19th Century the making of cloth was the most important “Father. Father, come quickly!” His young- profession. But industrialisation and tech- est child had run to meet him, and nology were soon to make their presence grasped his hand fi rmly. “Father, please felt here, too. In these times the weaver come quickly … To Mother!” bought his wool, took it to the dyer and oversaw the cloth-making right through The bells of St. John’s were just ringing to the fi nished product. Some of these the midday chimes as they opened the products were sold where they were big door of the house and rushed up- made, but much was taken far and wide stairs. His wife Luise gave him a satisfi ed by itinerant journeymen. New people, smile: “A Sunday’s child!” she said. new languages, new customs – on their travels they learnt to see the world with Luckenwalde lies in the Almost fi ve pounds new eyes. . Baruth valley, surrounded by delightful “Almost fi ve pounds!” muttered the mid- countryside: woods, lakes and fields. Here, in the neighbourhood of Berlin, wife and handed the father the tiny bun- Warm showers Otto Johannes Grohe was born on dle of newborn life. They had decided to In the yard outside the houses of the May 14, 1871. He was the sixth child born to the family of craftspeople. call him Hans, but for the purposes of master weavers stood large wooden tubs the Luckenwalde Registry Offi ce he was full of cold water. Valuable materials, offi cially named Otto Johannes. The some of them very fl ammable, would be sixth in line. in the house, and one couldn’t be too careful. Mother Luise, a practical person “And he came too early”, laughed the moth- like her husband, used them to dip the er, “Typical Grohe child, always in a hurry.” kids in one by one whatever the weather. The maker of cloth opened the cloth If it was particularly cold, then she’d round his child to make sure. “A boy!” pour a large jug of warm water over the shivering child as a reward for not pro- You know, nothing ever stays as it was. testing too much. Could that have put Even grandfather Friedrich Grohe had an the fi rst idea of warm showers into the eye for the incomplete, the half-fi nished, head of young Hans?

6 Hans was barely fi ve years old when Mr. books. I learnt a lot from her, though she The machine hall of a Luckenwalde Daimler and Mr. Benz – in case the horse didn’t very much like me. Otherwise, as was weaving-mill, around 1900. ever got lame – invented the fi rst motor expected of an educated young woman in hackney carriage. those days, she was a bit prim and proper. In a factory full of men she didn’t have an easy 1885 time of things.” Michaelmas 1885. Hans’ school days are over. On May 14 that year he had cele- His boss, too, looked him deep in the brated his 14th birthday. On September 27 eyes: “Listen, lad: it’s eighteen steps, before he was confi rmed and the next day“thrown you’ve made a bolt of cloth out of the raw out into the middle of life”, as he himself wool.” Behind his back the apprentice put it. And that meant nothing less than whispered, “Yes, and a hundred to go and get an apprenticeship in Levin Bernhardt’s a roll and some sausage for break-time!” cloth factory in Luckenwalde. Five whole years he worked there, learn- Chop, chop ing his craft from the very basics upwards; “On Monday morning at 7 I started work,” and in so doing he learnt those 18 steps Hans Grohe remembers. “I was put under by heart, making drawings and notes, Auguste Zipperlein. ‘Chop, chop!’, she would won dering whether here or there one cry when things weren’t moving fast enough of those steps could be improved upon for her. She had had a good schooling, spoke or could be done more effi ciently. The English and French, and had read a lot of young lad was precise and conscientious!

7 1888 Eiffel Tower in Paris, built by Gustave Eiffel for the World Exhibition to celebrate the centenary of the French Revolution. It initially met stiff resistance from Parisians, who regarded it as an eyesore. No bed of roses And the hardship increased; the ringlead- A JOURNEYMAN’S “Until I was 16 I worked ten hours a day. ers who demanded decent working con- After that, it was ten to twelve hours … And ditions found themselves blacklisted. Hans LIFE MEANS GOING one winter long I attended the school run by Grohe never forgot those days, and it was THROUGH A HARD the Co-operative Society.” Those years of with this deep conviction that things had apprenticeship: they were certainly no to get better that he set out on his travels SCHOOL. bed of roses! A long hard day’s work was as a journeyman. In 1890 he celebrated his followed by further educational training departure from Luckenwalde with his for the apprentices. “We went there every fellow journeymen. The years on the road, Sunday afternoon from half past two to half a must for every young man of his kind, past four, and every Monday and Thursday were about to begin. So, with his weaver’s from six to eight in the evening.” The days hat and a stout walking stick he set out. passed, and some of them seemed eter- After fi ve months as a pattern weaver in nally long. Cottbus he travelled further, this time westwards in the direction of Aachen. A better land to live in Woe is me, when winter comes, Diploma for working day and night Where do I fi nd the fl owers, “The day’s work in the mill began at 7 a.m. Where the sun, and didn’t end before sunset.” Twice a week And where the shadows from its rays? after work he attended the school of The walls around are silent and cold; weaving, not fi nishing until midnight. The fl ags fl ap noisily in the cold wind. Finally in 1892 he held in his hands the precious Master Weaver Diploma, and In his diary for the year 1805 the poet set off on his way back to Luckenwalde. Friedrich Hölderlin tried to express the But shortly afterwards he set to work emptiness and frustration of life for work- with ambition again, determined to see ing people. And these early days of the 19th the world. This time he went south, Hans Grohe (standing, right) Century were marked by gatherings of the across the Alps, through the Brenner with fellow students at the Aachen School of Weaving. people and peasants’ revolts. Master crafts- Pass as far as Lana in the Tyrol. men and journeymen got together with ordinary workers, with farmers and poets, Eyes and ears wide open to demand a republic. The so-called Vor- Such travels were indeed a hard school märz (those unsettled years between 1815 to go through. The introduction of mod- and 1848 in Germany) was well and truly ern machines had put many a weaver in the past, but even now, years later, out of work, and in Luckenwalde Hans things were still bad for the workers in had striven to get people to stick to- the hat factories and weaving mills in gether in those times of need and to try Luckenwalde. They demanded more and fi nd ways out of the misery. So he rights, better wages, the revolution! But kept his eyes and ears wide open, learn- they still didn’t get what they wanted. ing and passing on his ideas to others.

9 FROM K AUFBEUREN Once learnt, never forgotten Tasted spätzle for the fi rst time, He mastered all processes from the set- and the fi rst kiss TO THE BADENER LAND, ting up of the looms to the completion Hans wore out many a pair of boots on FROM THE TYROL of the fi nished product, prepared every his journeying through Württemberg, job he did very carefully and amazed tasted the local noodles (spätzle) for the TO THE VALLEYS OF THE both foremen and even the master weav- fi rst time (and not missing potatoes with BLACK F OREST. ers themselves. “Hey, have a dekko at that cabbage one little bit), had waved at (no Hans!”, exclaimed the old hands, the more than that?) the local girls, and had master weavers from Saxony. Everything sampled the local Neckar wines – in that was placed on the machine he ex- moderation, of course, as his father had amined carefully with both hand and urged him. He had got further, much eye. “Do that now, and it’ll save you a lot of further than many of his contemporaries. grief later!” he would say to anyone who If he should ever settle down, then maybe thought this all too much hassle. in this beautiful neck of the woods, which had so pleased Freiligrath and that Höl- “On March 15 I received a letter from my der lin and Schelling. “Der Schiller und der parents, saying that they were worried that I Hegel, die sind bei uns die Regel” was the hadn’t written. I’d been away from Baden for catchword in the old university town of four weeks; I’d been to Strasbourg. Had I come Tübingen – the poet and the philosopher under the infl uence of the soldiers or ended up were the great fi gures in that town. Be- in my coffi n? ‘Look, you went off in order to fore he moved on he wrote home: “Father, learn something; so hold on to your hard- I want to see the whole of the Black Forest, earned cash and go on learning. Keep out of and then I’ll come back home.” bad company, and then you will fi nd favour with God and man’…” There he got to know the people who were good with their hands and brains, “In June 1893 I left Lana in Tyrol and worked who kept their pockets well and truly Matthias Hohner’s Harmonica: in a woollen mill in Kaufbeuren, then I jour- under control, the sometimes dour and only the best will do. neyed through Württemberg and Baden to very hard working folk of the Alb, the Strasbourg, then on foot from Konstanz to more open and friendly ones from Baden. Meersburg, Wangen, Isny and Kempten all the “Good honest and liberal folk, they are”, he way to Rosenheim. I got there on July 2 … said admiringly, the cloth makers and Then I set off to Crimmitschau in Saxony, weavers around the Hohenzollern, espe- where I took a job until October 1. Back in cially those round Trossingen who could my homeland again! Master Weaver at Otto play the harmonica to lighten every trou- and Son, then at Levin Bernhard, where I had bled soul. started my training …”, as Hans Grohe re- called 60 years later. They must be the very best … “The world is my oyster!” Matthias Hohner might have said to him. He, too, a progres-

10 sive thinker, put his Swabian diligence to things on the great festival meadow in work to produce a better harmonica than Luckenwalde; and the police had not anyone else, developing precision tools and inter vened. In the local hostelries and machines to do so. He had no money and taverns freethinkers and free spirits dis- no well-to-do friends, but perhaps he had cussed and argued into the early hours said to Hans by way of farewell, “Anyone that “other times” must surely come. But can make a harmonica. But Hohner harmon- better times? Hans did not know the an- icas: they have got to be the very best.” Hans swer to that. took good note of those words, or maybe he knew this already. Only the best will do. A time for everything 1871 – 1873: the years when many indus- Roman mercenaries and trial fi rms were founded in Germany. the burden of the years Houses were being built skywards, in If you look at old maps, the Black Forest Amer ica even higher. Wars great and looks something like an ancient mother, small were still being fought, but at least on whose back the burden of a thousand in The Hague the more sensible statesmen years bears down. Bowed low, she looks fi nally sat down together to work out deep into the valleys of Swabia and Baden. ways to peace between nations. At the Roman mercenaries and peasants’ revolts; very same time women from all over the Napoleon’s soldiers and the inventions of world were meeting in the house next Gottlieb Daimler; Robert Bosch’s facto- door for their fi rst Conference for World ries; great famines and droughts; but also Peace. Were you listening, gentlemen? the treasures of nature and the old songs Work was still hard, competition fi erce; of the people longing to walk tall: all of machines were turning faster and faster. this she saw and heard over the centuries. Hans Grohe knew that every eff ort must At 22, Hans Grohe had seen more of the be put into things, and that furthermore world than thousands of others. Now he even that was not enough. The have-nots, had returned, but what he had seen and poor blighters, as well as the well-heeled At 22 Hans Grohe had seen more of the heard and learnt in this southern part of (as the shoemakers appropriately dubbed world than thousands of others. Germany would never leave him. them) should receive quality goods for their money. Quality, quality! That’s what By now the towns and cities were burst- had been drummed into him. Materials ing at the seams, and Luckenwalde had that did not go threadbare; good strong had more than its fair share of the smoke cloth that could withstand hard wear on from the factory chimneys of Berlin. Many the factory fl oor! Shoes that were prop- of Hans’ contemporaries had had to pack erly sewn and nailed, that didn’t lose their bundles and leave; poverty and hard- their soles at the fi rst puddle! He knew ship had driven them to seek their fortune that if the customer was satisfi ed, he elsewhere, maybe even a broad. Wilhelm would come back for more – whether to Liebknecht had peacefully denounced the clothier or the baker or the plumber.

11 WITH BAG AND 1893 saw the marriage between Hans Helene was six years old, Liesel and Grohe and Luise Hannemann. Tragically young Hans just four, when the little BAGGAGE, CHILDREN she died young, having however given family group set out via Berlin, Halle AND ALL: DESTINATION him three wonderful children: Helene, and Karlsruhe to the Black Forest. They Liesel and Hans junior. After her death travelled in a special compartment, while BLACK F OREST. in 1897 Hans did not wish to remain in their possessions were sent on ahead. Luckenwalde much longer. After all, he Soon the children could put the sorrow had served as a master weaver for six and tears of their grandparents behind long years already. Enough was enough, them and excitedly enjoy the thrill of

so: off again into the big wide world … travelling behind a real steam locomo- tive – and a diesel! The journey took then Now is the Month of Maying … three long days which ended with the In early May 1899, even before he was 28 journey up the Kinzig Valley Railway. years old, Hans said phooey to the This little line was just fi fteen years old, prophets of doom who saw the end of and since 1892 there had even been a little the world coming as one century yielded station called Schiltach. This was their to the next. He gave away everything destination. “I fi rst took a look at the church- that he didn’t need to the poor, packed yard, and wondered if one day I might fi nd my his bags and set off . Parting from his last resting-place here …” parents and family and friends was hard, but it was time to move on and out.

12 Promises, promises … problem again!” was all he needed to say, They had telegraphed a cloth-maker because he knew that there was hardly a called Korndörfer in Schiltach to tell him problem, let alone a little one, that this In 1899, after the death of his when to expect them. In those days travel young man from Luckenwalde couldn’t fi rst wife, Hans Grohe moves with his three children Helene, Liesel und Johann by train was much more reliable than tackle. Not only that, this man seemed from Luckenwaldeto Schiltach. There he marries with those new-fangled automobiles. to be able to solve problems even before again. In 1904, his marriage with Magdalene Schöttle produces a son, Friedrich. Hans had also done his homework a long they occurred. “He may be from outside, but For a third time Hans Grohe celebrates time before – a strict rule of life before he’s a chap you can talk to”, was the general his wedding; this time the happy partner is Emma Wolber, who in 1937 starting something new. So he already opinion of him. gives birth to their son Klaus. knew a lot about the history of Schiltach, about the jobs and crafts, about the wood As the old century was drawing to a trade and the craftsmen and their privi- dignifi ed close the two men got on so leges. “This little town has been burnt down three times in a row,” he told the children, “twice quite recently.”

Hans had decided to serve in Korndör- fer’s factory for a while. “They had promised me the earth. K. wrote to me that he hoped I would like it here so much I would never want to move. He was talking very big.” From then on he mistrusted all big mouths.

The problem solver By the side of his house in Bach Street in the centre of the large village that liked to call itself a small town, Wilhelm Schwab would sit in front of his metal- workshop and smoke a quiet pipe. Folk were proud of their little town, where almost everyone spoke with a Swabian accent whatever lot were in power. He On May 20 1899 the name of Hans Grohe was entered into the Schiltach register of residents. would wait for this young man who had come to live next door at No. 33, because well together that they both decided he knew that, if there was a tricky prob- that sooner or later they would be their lem that needed solving, one that defeated own masters. It was with a heavy heart both him and his partner Voigt, if a ma- that Korndörfer let the young master chine had gone on the blink again or weaver go. kept shedding its drive belt, he could call on Hans Grohe for help. “We’ve got a little

13 “RIGHT, LET’S GET At the fi rst stroke … of what they required; and if that was just Hans Grohe set his alarm for 4 a.m. and too vague, Hans grabbed a pencil and STARTED,” HE CRIED set off on foot for the mill by the Court did a better sketch of what the tinsmith AND SET TO of Feoff ees, where he was waiting at 5.30 or other customer had in mind. This was for Wilhelm Schwab. “Right, let’s get go- just up his street – racking his brains, ex- WORK WITH A WILL. ing!” he said, rolling up his sleeves. It was ploring, experimenting until it was right. exactly the First of April 1900 when the new little business began with the pro- Cleanliness is next to godliness duction of outer cases for alarm clocks Oh dear, things were anything but right for the local clock making industry in those days in the fi eld of sanitation, of Almost exactly a year later, the building health and hygiene. The privy for “num- burnt down! ber ones” and “number twos” was just outside the door, in the stairwell or the As if one blow wasn’t enough! yard, where at least there was the pump One hardly knew which way to turn, but for fresh water – and now increasingly Hans did. There was an empty woodshed there was water in the house, the kitchen nearby, an old saw mill! Hadn’t it at some sink with the big bucket where the family time housed Voight and Thieringer’s washed as well. And the waste water? It metalworkshop? There was even a stream just found its way downwards into the right by it. “We can use that water to ditch, where it collected all kinds of drive our machines,” thought Hans, very muck. And the stench, following the pleased at the idea. rules of physics rather than of good taste, found its way upwards into kitchen and But his old partner had got cold feet after sitting-room and bedroom. the fi rst disaster. So Hans looked round for two others to work with him. Good Recognising the danger meant fi nding a solid folk – Clever Hans again! It was way to get rid of the stench. Almost in- June 15, 1901. cidentally Hans Grohe invents something to minimise these unpleasant odours. “I Farmers and craftsmen, merchants and succeeded in putting together a little anti-siphon A hundred years ago traders, whether near or far: they all trap which met with much approval and people knew that Hans Grohe was needed parts for their paraffi n lamps! brought in a good profi t as well.” someone you could talk to, and so the items produced by Hansgrohe And how necessary were brass cooking were those that people wanted: vessels, how cosy were hot water bottles, “One of the Fourteen ‘Oly ‘Elpers” rosettes for fl ues and taps, sieves for drains, shower heads, ballcocks, or metal cups how essential dampers to keep fi res under Very soon news of the skill with which for hanging lamp shades. control and protect the wooden walls things were made in the metalworkshop behind from the heat! And up on the in Schiltach had spread far and wide in roof that decorative metal fi nial! The the Black Forest, Craftspeople swore by customer came of his own accord or was quality, and when there was a tricky tech- sought, some brought their own sketches nical problem, nobody was to be found

14 up and down the Kinzig who could solve it as well as these metalworking geniuses. “He’s one of the Fourteen ‘Oly ’Elpers” was the general opinion, even among the Protestants, who did not hold with such ideas (“How can fourteen people who died hundreds of years ago help with today’s prob- lems? I ask you!” their pastor used to thun- der from his pulpit). If orders were slow in coming, it was no time to sit back and wait for them. Hans would saddle his trusty bicycle, travel up and down the valleys and call on all the tinsmiths and plumbers and fi tters – anyone and every- one who could need his metal products. “But … I also took items with me that I hadn’t produced myself. They sometimes brought in The Spittelsäge, the one-time sawmill, on the occasion of the Kaiser’s birthday. In 1901, in the small more profi t than my own modest products. I bright building on the right, Hans Grohe laid the foundation stone of what was to become a world-wide business. soon became an excellent travelling salesman! But it was hard work, because many custom- Hygiene, hygiene ers … were diffi cult to fi nd, because they often The matter of hygiene came at just the worked away from their workshops. So it was right moment for Master Hans. In Berlin early mornings, midday and after their day’s they had drummed into people that every work. I couldn’t think of stopping for lunch respectable German should bathe once a most days …” week, for reasons both of cleanliness and of public health. Berlin Sanitary Works The new business fl ourished. Less than fi lled everyone with enthusiasm with six months later a third worker and a their tin baths – and Hans Grohe now further six months later a fourth had to had a shower head out of pressed and be found. soldered metal for Mr. Everyman. “Showerheads, fi ne showerheads, solidly made! The years passed, and in private as well In the 1905 Schiltach Register of Prod- Fine sieves for your kitchen! Reliable ballcocks! as business life some things went well, ucts a new item was added to the sieves Rosettes for every type others less well. Hans Grohe asked for and dampers and lamp fi ttings made by of water tap! Metal fi xtures for your lampshades!” the hand of Magdalene Schöttle. She Hans Grohe’s fi rm: the overhead shower. didn’t refuse him, and so he married for One felt like kissing him for joy that he the second time. August 28, 1904: Hans had found the way to become one of the was now 33 years old, and soon he could most successful shower manufacturers in rejoice like his father before him over the the world: the pioneer of hygiene. birth of another son, Friedrich Grohe.

15 1903 First powered flight. Kitty Hawk, Carolina. After several attempts the Wright Brothers’ flying machine succeeds in taking off for the first time. “Flyer I” with Orville Wright at the controls manages to stay airborne for twelve seconds. Hans Grohe works and works. He presses They say in Swabia “Schaff e, spare, Häusle NOTHING LEAVES and stamps, yes, he himself, the owner, baue!” (“Work hard, save hard, build your who’s also manager, supplier, deliveryman little house!”), and so a house was built for THIS HOUSE on a bicycle, packer and bookkeeper all the family in the Auestrasse, and “my work- UNCHECKED! rolled into one. What had been ham- ing day has sixteen hours!”. So he was sur- mered, bent and sanded into shape, prised when he learnt that Robert Bosch meas ured and cut and pressed, had also had introduced something revolutionary to be packaged. Magdalene Grohe and for his electrical works in Stuttgart: the her 12-year old daughter Lenchen (who 8-hour day. So he made sure that he was really called Helene, but answered would learn everything from him: “… one to Lenele) stacked and wrapped and day we must get that far!” secured the fi nished items ready for des- patch – but not before everything had The man from Brandenburg had long been checked thoroughly. “Nothing leaves become more Swabian than the Swabians. this house unchecked!” he would remind Now he must fi nd someone to do the them regularly, when he mounted his bookkeeping, which he had done on his trusty steed in search of customers – but own, together with increasing amounts mother and daughter knew that already. of business correspondence, right up to 1909. Those long journeys around the Not just the fi nished goods, but also the coun try were followed by more local basic principles to which Hansgrohe ad- ones – up and down the Kinzig and to heres to this day – these were the fi rst all larger towns in Southern Germany. stones laid, each one mighty stone on the You could get everywhere by train, and next on the way to a big family business even air travel was becoming less and that was to survive wars and other crises. less of a novelty. Hans Grohe travelled to Hamburg – the trains were getting much Experiments, journeys, faster – and visited clients in Bremen. house building … Contacts were built up in the Rhineland If you build a foundation, it must be built and Switzerland; goods delivered to Am- to last; nobody knew that better than sterdam by 1907; the following year he Hans Grohe. He was one of the pioneers had his fi rm’s fi rst catalogue printed. of his time, spending days and nights in “There was always something we could earn; Advert for the 1902 his workshop, testing and experimenting I had to get out into the world …”. Kinzig Valley District Exhibition in Gengenbach. with familiar and as yet unfamiliar ma- terials, modelling, shaping, soldering and On June 14 1905 the fi rm is listed for the fi rst time in the Trade Directory. Hans Grohe is pondering. Before long he could leave registered as the sole proprietor. his six workers to get on with things while he went on his travels. In 1906 he made his fi rst longer such journeys to the Frankfurt Fair, then to Berlin.

17 NEVER TRAVEL WITHOUT BRINGING HOME NEW IDEAS.

From Schiltach into the wide world. 100 years ago Hans Grohe was already familiar with distant places.

Promising the earth And now, instead of the unreliable water Stricter laws were passed in 1909 against power, the drive belts were now pow- unfair competition. Copying good prod- ered by electricity. “I had reliable power ucts is no new thing, even those emanat- from morning till evening,” he remembered ing from the Black Forest. Promising with satisfaction, “and we could get on with prospective customer the earth was not our work much better.” This Jack of all 1908: The fi rst uncommon, but customers could distin- trades was now visiting Holland and catalogue appears. guish honest information from the glib Denmark, Switzerland and Italy, had words of the competitors. nine employees, travelled to Prague and Vienna, made contacts in Hungary, and The little business fl ourished so well that his correspondence went off to many they needed to move from retail to countries every day. “Travelling was hard wholesale. So next to the family home work … Everywhere I was looking for custom- in the Auestrasse a new building was ers. But no journey was made without bringing erected in 1909 to house the factory, the home new ideas. Everywhere I went I learnt stores and the despatch department. something new,” he told his children.

18 Good times and bad military parades, sabres were rattled, Hansgrohe found willing customers all great speeches were held at home and around the world for what they produced abroad. It got darker in Germany and all in Schiltach. “By 1913 we were one of the around. On the eve of the First World leading specialist suppliers of sanitary equip- War in 1914 the fi rm was employing ment,” remembers the family. 22 workers plus three people in the offi ce – but when Germany declared war Trade can help to get rid of old preju- on France and Russia darkness descend- dices, and people begin to think about ed: twelve of those workers were called the world outside their own country. Or to the front. do they? Those same nations loved their The metal presses on the ground fl oor of the new factory building in the Auestrasse, 1909.

19 20 Almost everything requisitioned The sure touch EXPORT IS THE Not only that – what happens to the Now was the time for imagination and family when the breadwinner is taken skill! Hans Grohe had not only a great KEYWORD: EXPORT, away? Hans Grohe rents fi eld and vege- knowledge of his craft, not just great EXPORT! table gardens, so that the workers and the experience gained from practice, not just families of those called up could at least a direct line to his workers, but also a sure have the necessary minimum in order to touch and a feeling for what was needed survive. Hunger stalked Germany, the at the time. “Remember: you can’t clap with news papers spoke of a “swede winter” only one hand,” he would say to his 45 (meaning of course that very basic veg- wor kers to encourage them to think of etable). The war had direct and indirect each other. But the country got ever consequences; suddenly there were no poorer. By 1920 there was hardly a mar- more copper or brass reserves left, and ket for their goods. They had to go on the 15. 16. 17. 18. the fi nished and half-fi nished products search for old clients. Were they still alive 14. 19. 11. had been requisitioned. Hans Grohe dis- or had they perished in the War? And of 8. 9. 10. 12. 13. covered, necessity being the mother of course fi nd new ones wherever they could. 5. 6. 7. invention, the advantages and disadvan- Export is the keyword: export, export! tages of the new materials that they had 1. 2. 3. 4. to turn to as substitutes, iron and zinc for So, again it meant: from Schiltach to example. A year before the end of the war Switzerland, then up the Rhine to Hol- the factory was required to produce war land. Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Photo opposite: materials, mainly parts for detonators. Finland – and everywhere new clients, Family members and employees of Hansgrohe in 1912, taken in front of the fi rst new friends were found, so many indeed factory building in the Auestrasse, Hans Grohe’s son Johann, who had been that in 1921 the so-called Convent Mill 1. Ms Niebel, née Katz (“Katze-Marie”) born in Luckenwalde on December 14, (Klostermühle) in neighbouring Alpirs- 2. Ms Bürkle-Braun 1895, and was called Hans like his father, bach was purchased, which would house 3. Sophie Esslinger, 4. Fritz Trautwein (“Green-Fritz”) 5. (unknown), 6. Friedrich Grohe was now Hans Junior. But like everyone the brass-foundry and the lathes for turn- 7. Mr Schöttle (father-in-law of Hans Grohe) else he had to take on an apprenticeship, ing the metal. 8. Helene Grohe (“Lenchen”, daughter of Hans Grohe) th 9. Abraham Aberle, 10. Georg Trautwein and was sent to Stuttgart. On his 20 11. Eduard Springer, 12. Magdalene Grohe, née Schöttle birth day the war was just over a year old, 13. (unknown), 14. Julius Wöhrle (offi ce and stores), and the military needed everyone who 15. Mr Kirchner, 16. Hermann Mutschler 17. Mr Müller, 18. (unknown), 19. Fritz Dinger could shoot. Never mind if the factory needed the Junior, he had to join up. Even the father, the self-disciplined civil- ian, had to become a soldier in 1917! “I often used to wonder what things would be like after the war,” he said. He would soon fi nd out. When the war ended in defeat, he stood in front of empty shelves and emp- ty order books.

21 BRANCH FACTORY The Junior takes over the Klostermühle Being a little out from under the father’s Many a summer and winter have passed. gaze had its advantages. People worked IN A LPIRSBACH. Overall responsibility for the fi rm’s where they lived, but if the Senior called, branch in Alpirsbach is now in the hands the nine kilometres to Schiltach were of Hans Grohe, Junior. He has learnt his soon covered: by train, by motorbike, trade, fi rstly from his father, then in his even if need be on horseback. One or apprenticeship in Stuttgart, attended the other of the boss’s three daughters could commercial college, worked in Schiltach be “given due attention” in Schiltach on from 1915 to 1918, and had been given a Sunday. True, Sunday was a holy day, no preferential treatment just because he but not that holy … was the boss’s son. And now, at just 28, he had a team of almost 40 workers un- At Hansgrohe everyone had to work, der him whose job it was to produce even the children now and again. If the outlet valves for washbasins, baths and younger ones weren’t as keen as the old- sinks and to go through fi re for their er ones, they heard the ominous words The Klostermühle, the Alpirsbach “branch” young boss! “If you don’t behave yourselves, you’ll fi nd yourselves in the polishing-shop!” It was * In parts of Southern Germany Life after work there that everything, but everything, the Thursday in the week before Ash Wednesday is called Rumour has it that the young ladies fl ed that left the factory was given a good “Glompiger Doschtig”, or “Dirty Thursday”. The title, however, has little to do with dirt; although another up the trees to get away from the atten- polish with fast revolving cotton waste version, “Schmutziger Dunschtig”, seems to indicate tions of the brothers Hans Junior and and made spick and span for despatch. that, “Schmutz” also meaning “dirt”. “Schmotz” is the Swabian-Allemanic word for fat, and this Thursday Friedrich. Today it is clear that sooner is celebrated with fatty foods – or so it’s claimed. or later they came back down again … Goodies and cigarette-ends (One might add that again the German is ahead of all the others; they all have to wait until Mardi Gras, On Sundays they didn’t just give the the following Tuesday!) In the Black Forest they know how to girls due attention or wait for the mail. work, are as punctual as the cuckoos Mathilde the Junior’s wife, made little Hansgrohe Maple Syrup who appear every hour from the clocks Christmas goodies which the daughters Delight (“Gutsle”) they have made. On the other hand, in gave to those who were unwilling work- (enough for one baking-tray) the region they know how to enjoy ers in the factory: those condemned themselves after a hard day’s work. The to forced labour or the conscientious 125 gr. Finely sieved wheat fl our 25 gr. Finely sieved buckwheat Alemannic Fasnet, for example. The objectors. They in their turn returned 75 gr. Butter Junior put a brave face on it, but there the compliment by giving the women 75 gr. Almonds, fi nely ground 100 gr. Maple syrup was not a single morning bet ween wooden toys they had made themselves. Peel of a 1 lemon “Glompiger Doshtig*” and Ash Wednes- In the darkest days they asked the women A drop of vanilla essence to collect cigarette-ends and give them 1 pinch of salt. day (yuck!) when he was not on the dot Mix all together to form a soft dough (oh, for crying out loud!) at his place of the tobacco they thus collected – in se- and form into croissants. work. And anyway, Fasnet is part of the cret, of course. This was in the Second Bake for about 10 minutes at 180° C Preparation: about 30 minutes. local culture, but “eight children don’t get World War –, but we are getting ahead something from nothing, you know.” of ourselves .

22 1922 Beach fashions, 1922. Fashion Show in Florida. In the 20’s a new, more figure-hugging fashion was beginning to find general acceptance. 24 Don’t give a damn about privileges! born in Schiltach in 1904, had been to PEOPLE WA N T OUR The bosses set no store in privileges: school there and in Ettenheim and Calw, “they only tempt you to rest on your laurels.” but now for him too it was time to move PRODUCTS! Whether for Hans or later Klaus or the out and on. But before that the young sons and daughters, there was only one man, now 25, knew that he had to get way into the factory for bosses and work- stuck in at the family business. In that ers alike: through the machine rooms. year, 1929, a completely new technique They all could be talked to at any time, of brass founding was introduced, and a and “there you get an insight as to where the new workshop was built a little way problems are, where processes could be made along the Kinzig to accommodate the safer, where someone might be worried about new machinery. something,” as Klaus Grohe knows to this day. It could be that one day a female By 1930 the production had so grown employee ran sobbing into the boss’s that Hans Grohe needed a car. It had offi ce, choked with tears, to tell him: be longed to the old doctor in Schiltach, “Boss, I’ve got into trouble”, which meant and after rebuilding into a delivery van, nothing less than that she was pregnant. it was used to get the goods to the rail- The boyfriend had possibly made himself way station. It was known locally as the scarce or denied that he was the father; “Dahlgutsch” (“Valley Coach”). the little rubber protectors weren’t so easy to come by as they are today. The In loyalty to the Republic boss, senior or junior, could surely be Life could be good in the Republic, as trusted to fi nd a way forward, including Germany now was – but not for every- Georg Engelmann reading the father the riot act. body. Hans Grohe had learnt the hard was the fi rst export salesman employed by Hansgrohe. He travelled widely, way in Luckenwalde; he knew what from Scandinavia to North Africa, and In the next fi ve years or so the workforce hun ger and deprivation meant. Without with his help the fi rm’s exports expanded enormously. In 1929, suff ering doubled in strength. In 1927 the export free dom of the individual, without social deep homesickness, he wrote side of things alone brought in 238,000 responsibility, the country would go down to his wife from Cairo: “Although it is beautiful here, I’d rather be Reichsmark. Hans Grohe Senior wrote: the drain: that was the message of the a cowhand for a farmer back home than “It’s clear: people want our products!” German Democratic Party in the Wei mar be trying to sell things here.” Republic. Hans Grohe involved himself Legends in the strug gle for a synthesis of liberal The works were bursting at the seams, so and social thought as a member of the in 1928 a new building was added. There GDP. Walther Rathenau and Albert Ein- the newest product, hand-held showers stein, Friedrich Naumann and Theodor with a porcelain handle, had its premiere. Heuss, Thomas Dehler and Reinhold They became a Hansgrohe legend. Maier, who later became Prime Minister Opposite page: of Baden-Württemberg, were his com- Hans Grohe with his sons: Hans Junior at the controls, Friedrich riding pillion. “People who stay at home die at home!” is panions in the struggle. “In loyalty to the an old Swabian saying. Friedrich Grohe, Republic!”

25 The continued growth of the business demanded ever more space. In 1927 there were already 90 workers involved in the manufacturing side and six in the offi ce.

In 1928 the new factory building was built on Schiltach Meadow. A novelty for the time were the two elevators that connected the three storeys of the building.

Photographs of the production and despatch departments.

The fi rm also grew fi nancially:

1913 Net result: 100,000 Reichsmark

1924 Export sales: 148,000 Reichsmark

1927 Export sales: 238,000 Reichsmark

1930 Export sales: 507,000 Reichsmark

1938 Annual turnover: 1,900,000 Reichsmark

26 The “Dahlgutsch”, one of the earliest motor vehicles in the Kinzig valley, soon familiar to all. It was bought second-hand from the local doctor in 1930 and converted into a delivery vehicle. It was mainly used to take fi nished products to the railway station for despatch.

1928: Premiere of a successful product – the hand-held shower with a white porcelain handle.

This was produced in eight versions, for example:

– with spout for rubber hose: 4 Mark

– with connection for metal hose: 4,20 Mark

– and the more solid model with octagonal porcelain handle and support ring: 5,40 Mark

27 1928 Airship LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin is the “star” from the House of Zeppelin, put into commission on September 18, 1928. LZ 127 was regarded as the most successful passenger airship of its time.

28 When, however, the nationalistic banners through and through …Wherever you listen, FRIENDS ALL OVER were raised in 1933, against all reason, the people have no desire to work hard …There House of Hans Grohe had friends all over aren’t employers and employees any more, just THE WORLD. the world. But would they remain good managers and followers. And they all have a friends in the years to follow? say in everything … On Thursday it was the Führer’s birthday. OK, celebrate it – but all A thousand showers day???” National? Hansgrohe is international In 1934 Friedrich Grohe departed from and open to the world the family fi rm of Hansgrohe and two And he goes on with his complaint that In 1933 the fi rm’s catalogue is years later set up his own fi rm in West- such a pampered workforce had spread issued for the fi rst time in several languages: German, English, phalia. Things had been getting tense the silt from the nickel-plating process French, Italian and Spanish between him and his father; the old say- out to dry in the yard, and then, out of By 1934 foreign representatives were at work ing that “little birds chirp like the older ones” sheer laziness, let the whole mess run in several countries; now links were did not apply here! Friedrich tried to talk away into the river. “Five hundredweight of successfully made with North Africa, Palestine and Syria. his father into giving up, but the older trout were killed by the poison. It was scandal- The export trade was fl ourishing. man just laughed in his face. By the time ous!” Hans advised the recipient of the Automatic outlet and overfl ow systems, Friedrich left, the fi rm in Schiltach was letter to handle the letter confi dentially; even for wash-stands, come on to the market. producing thousands and thousands of “I have already crossed out one sentence.” He Hansgrohe is now able showers and hand showers. knew what would be in store for him if to fi le internationally registered designs. the censors got hold of the letter. But he In 1934, after Friedrich’s The stork brought Hans Grohe’s third was the sort of man who could not help departure from the fi rm, Hans Grohe becomes a junior limited partner. mar riage a son. On April 3, 1937 little speaking his mind. And now, in a horrid Klaus Grohe was born. And the proud reprise of the old martial music of the mama? She is the daughter of the Herr First World War, the new march music Wolber, owner of the Schiltach Brewery. was added – the wrong music ringing in Cheers! the War years again.

The wrong music By 1939 Hans Grohe had spent some considerable time in Aachen, a town where he had learnt a lot and one that he loved. But in the spring, homesick- ness took hold of him. “It’s not much fun By 1937 the fi rm possesses lathes here any more,” he wrote. In a letter home and hydraulic presses and punches, casting machines, three dozen electric motors and dated April 25, 1939 he wrote: a lorry with a payload of three tonnes.

More than 20 representatives are now “We are earning a lot of money, but the taxman actively working abroad. takes so much of it. In this year alone, that’s more than a cloth-weaver used to turn over with 20 to 30 looms … It’s like being X-rayed

29 …WHEN ALL The new war is a bitter blow for the fi rm. the overseers with their little parcels All the same: “We carry 250 sanitary prod- from Alpirsbach, which their mother had PEOPLE WA N T ucts in our programme, each of them in ten prepared for them. Little treats at festival TO DO IS variations or sizes, making a total of about times. 3,000 items!!” SHOWER IN PEACE. Risking one’s neck Once more, just as in the First World War, On June 6, 1944 the liberation of Europe copper and brass have to be replaced by by allied forces began with the Norman- other materials. Once more it is possible dy landings. Six weeks later, on July 20, to make the best of a bad thing, this time members of the German Resistance paid with aluminium alloys, iron, zinc, and the for their attempt on Hitler’s life with their newly developed synthetic resin, bakelite. own. Hans Grohe was well informed as And yet once more, war materials must to what was going on; as a sworn oppo- be produced instead of peaceful things, nent of the National Socialists he kept in when all that people want to do is shower touch with events through a source free in peace, isn‘t it? from the control of the Reich Minister of Propaganda Josef Goebbels: Radio Death to the tyrants! London (BBC German Service). Hans Grohe wanted to produce, to trade, to buy and sell, things of peace. But the Listening to these broadcasts, which had In 1934 automatic outlet regime stood in the way, the regime he to be done in secret, was illegal and dan- and overfl ow systems are brought loathed and despised. “If I could get my gerous; but Hans Grohe again could not on the market. hands on Hitler, I would sacrifi ce my life and keep silent: “Hitler’s power will soon be over.” kill him,” he said more than once to his On October 9, 1944, at the annual Sun- In 1938 the fi rm becomes a closest friends. Dangerous talk indeed! day to celebrate the consecration of the Limited Partnership: Helene Grohe (Mathauser) church, he risked his neck by declaring and Liesel Grohe (Herrmann/Seitz) become Limited Partners, Hans Grohe (Senior) that it would have been far better if Hitler and Hans Grohe (Junior) General Partners. When in 1943 the rest of the copper and had remained an apprentice painter. brass which Hans Grohe had wisely The new 1939 catalogue features stocked up was seized. By then there the adjustable (!) were almost 500 employees, including GROH-shower No. 462. forced labourers, aliens, prisoners of war. “All of them were protected from being mishan- dled and were fed as best we could,” was his recollection of those days.

Opposite page: The people in Alpirsbach as well managed Hans with his youngest son: Klaus Grohe to slip the prisoners something to eat: fi rst sees the light of day in 1937. Anita (later Chini) and her sister Rosita (later Steurer) were not so noticeable to

30 31 THE SURVIVORS Diffi cult times here send our warmest greetings, Hans Grohe May 8, 1945. A lost war, total collapse, Junior, Herr Tobias Bühler, Frau Grohe and THANK THE liberation. Diffi cult times. Hans Grohe Klaus.” “BOSS M AN”. receives letters – from Poland, from Spain, from the Soviet Union, from France – all Monopoly and the Treasures from survivors of the war. For them it of the Black Forest was “thanks to the ‘boss man’.” Bravery? Schiltach is thinking of the new begin- Courage? Human kindness. All around ning, but the French forces of occupation there were traces of these. have other ideas. They requisition the 60 most vital machines – half of the total On May 14, 1946, his 75th birthday, Hans machinery – and on top of that, there are Grohe is still enviably fi t. He would have no raw materials to be had! Is this the loved to avoid the congratulations, “but beginning of the end? Is there anything the weather is as bad as the economic situa- one could depend on? In these years it After the Second World War broke out, the fi rm must once again go tion,” as he noted for then, so he stayed at was the treasures deep in the Black Forest: over to the production of war materials. home and pondered the future. of trust and confi dence, knowledge and Again it was explosive warheads. a lead in know-how. Even when mate rial From 1941 women in Schiltach and foreign workers were condemned Post from abroad was short everywhere you looked – they to forced labour. On August 22, 1946, he receives a letter had grown in the past through improvi- from Emilie, with “my best greetings from sation, invention, in problem-solving, Breslau.” She had been one of those many those Hansgrohe folk! And the town who had been forcibly removed from knew this and trusted them, hundreds of their homes to work in German fi rms. families depended on them, people that Now safely back home in Poland from Hans had provided with work and the her time in Schiltach, she wants, as so means to earn their daily bread. many others did, to thank the Grohe family for their kindness in doing what Monsieur le Colonel Faure they could to care for those so far away receives New Year greetings from their homes. Emilie wishes to return “Dear Colonel Faure, We send you herewith the favour and writes: “I wait until you come the lists and hope that this is in order. How- with family to visit me here, I have good bottle ever, we would request that no further machines wine for you. Thank you much for your care.” be taken away from us … If they are allowed to remain here, we can produce 1000 water In September 1946, the Senior replies: “I taps a day …” am very glad that you are keeping back a Greetings from Breslau. bottle of good wine for me. But I cannot now That was on December 11, 1947, an op- think of making the journey. When I was portunity to send at the same time best younger I thought nothing of travelling from wishes for the impending New Year: Stuttgart via Dresden to Breslau; I could do “Our wish is that there be no more war and it without even changing trains … All of us that Western Europe is once more whole and

32 united.” Herr Grohe did not forget to in- Cleverness and self-help vite the Colonel and his secretary to a With proverbial cleverness the almost im- friendly get-together, to drink coff ee with possible is achieved: production contin- one another. “We are expecting some from ues, and even new items are produced. America, and I am sure we could fi nd a little A wall-mounted tap made of cast zinc, schnapps, too.” Tempting, indeed! chromium-plated, is produced in huge quantities, a washing-press developed (a And so it came to pass that the enemy of good selling line), aluminium taps with recent times and the liberator of yester- rubber washers all come on to the market; In the French Zone day took the fi rst step into what was to and in these barren years even key-chains, every import of copper and brass remained forbidden. become the economic miracle land, even bracelets and necklaces, watch-chains and So alternative materials were used if that was unintentional. The French dog chains: Wow! in production: pots, cups, plates, dishes, ladles, scrapers – all aluminium! seized the (old) machines, but Clever And a water tap in cast zinc. Hans also knew that sooner or later he would have to obtain the newest and most modern tools and machines, come what may! Don’t bellyache, get stuck in: that had always been the motto of the family fi rm

Into the woods … However: while manufacturers in the other Zones of Occupation did not lack for materials, in the French Zone every import of copper and brass remained for bidden. A tragic situation! The others could serve their customers, but they had to manage with substitute materials. Hans Grohe produced washing utensils, taps, cooking pots and aluminium kitchen- ware. In a letter to his brother he wrote:

“I’m glad that the Hitler regime is over … The business is still intact; but we are working at best a three day week because of the shortage of power, with only 70 to 80 people. We are selling next to nothing.” Five people were regularly sent into the woods to fi nd kin- dling for cold days.

33 1946 Electronic Calculator The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC) is the first electronic digital universal calcu- lator, developed from 1942 onwards at the University of Pennsylvania on behalf of the US Army and first shown to the public in 1946. Klaus Grohe hatches plans The lazy devil? As an old proverb puts it, PAST THE for his future “old dogs learn no new tricks”: what you On July 9, 1946 Hans Grohe writes to his don’t learn as a child you’ll never learn WORST? brother Wilhelm to thank him for his as an adult. You must be joking! Klaus birthday wishes and brings him up to date Grohe’s energy and enthusiasm for work with developments in the fi rm and the are legendary! family: “Now we have about 100 people work- ing for us … And I have hopes that in a few And the old man reports to his relatives years things will start improving further. I am that “with Hans” (the Junior born back glad that the Hitler regime is a thing of the in Luckenwalde days) “everything is fi ne, past; I cursed them and the lies in the German too. He comes here regularly three or four newspapers often enough.” Besides details times a week. You know that he now has a about the fi rm there was news about the large family of six children … In the business family: “At the moment things are OK. The things are still very slow; there is still not youngest, Klaus, is as slovenly as it comes and enough work to go round. We have a lot of spends the whole day hanging around outside. holidays and festivals, catholic and protestant; Otherwise he’s a good and honest lad. Already they’re always observed on the dot … Food is (at 9 years old!) he’s saying that one day he still very short … We are producing a very nice wants to take over the business.” water-tap, and I’m sending you two by post for your birthday … Yesterday I heard reports On March 18, 1947 The boss sends his from England that in July the worst should be sister Minna “100 Reichsmark and a few over. I can’t believe that yet …” neck laces and taps made by us – perhaps you can get something for them.”

The lazy devil? Because raw materials were still in very Klaus Grohe and his parents short supply there was plenty of time for on the day of his confi rmation in 1951. letter-writing, for passing on news and asking after relatives and friends. So Hans could write on May 30, 1947 to his niece Hedwig:

“I am still well, as is the whole family. Your letter to Klaus, the lazy devil, has also arrived safely. Next autumn he’s got to go away to school; we don’t like to let him go, but he’s going to pot here …”

35 DON’T GET Bartering instead of starving The fl ower must wither, Now there were still only 100 men on But the fruit must grow. STUCK IN A RUT! board – but it would have been ridicu- A man must go forth lous not to have stuck it out until the Into hostile territory, currency reform, whatever the cost! Must struggle and strive, People had to barter rather than starve And plant and toil, (mean ing by barter the practice of get- Be cunning and crafty, ting scarce items of food, especially from Must wager and venture, local farmers, and other things needed, To fi nd his happiness. usually in exchange for other goods). So And then streams in the unending gift at Hansgrohe it was logical to produce And fi lls the store with priceless treasure. aluminium pots and pans which they Friedrich Schiller. could use in this process of barter. And there were the fl ints they had used in the And he sends other pearls of wisdom to war production of detonators – just the Vienna: “My life as a journeyman was very thing for the peaceful cigarette lighter. hard; one always had to fi nd the right words. I did it gladly, because the end result fi lled me A modest programme: Stick it out In Württemberg’s schools they had to with pleasure, and I made hardly a single until the currency reform comes! learn French and citizenship – new sub- jour ney without bringing new ideas home … jects for an old country. 30 million people Everywhere I was able to make a good profi t had been uprooted, almost 3 million and I learnt something everywhere I went, so homes destroyed. In 1946 Volkswagen that by 1913 we were one of the best specialist started up mass production again; 60 per fi rms … My working day was usually 15 to 16 cent of all the people in the world are hours long. When I got home I did my book- il literate; and Klaus Grohe reads Erich keeping and my correspondence. You see that Kästner’s novel “The Flying Classroom”. you do the same!”

Those who shit their beds … Hans Grohe adds the advice not to try Meanwhile Hans Grohe was restarting and do everything yourself: “Look around the fi rm’s international business. To his you; get to know the people. Don’t buy your Now things can be got moving again – grandson Heinz Mathauser in Austria he raw material too cheaply … that’s just plain not only in the galvanising department (upper picture passes on Friedrich Schiller’s words of daft. And don’t get stuck in a rut!” opposite). At the start of the 50’s the annual turnover reaches 3.7 million Deutsche Mark. wisdom: “That’s the way it is today,” he Rotary showers and equipment for bathwater reminds him, “and those that don’t like it heaters are featured in the new catalogue, and now, six years after that dreadful war, they can should stay at home and shit their beds. really let their hair down: almost 250 employees Schiltach, June 9, 1948.” celebrate Hansgrohe’s half-century.

36 37 38 Don’t get stuck in a rut, keep on starting was the case in Schiltach, the citizens of KLAUS, TOO, out afresh – that applied to all of the Neuchâtel had rebelled in 1848 in favour Hans Grohe kids. Now it’s the turn of of democracy and progress, and the in- MUST BE OFF OUT. the youngest, Klaus. After he had been ventors and devisors of the place could having a good time in Schiltach, he is call on an experience reaching back cen- sent by the Senior to boarding school: turies. In the Black Forest there were the the Birklehof in Ettenheim, which prom- fi rst telephonic devices; in Neuchâtel, ised to “improve young people in every way, just to give one example, there was Pierre educationally, socially and in the sphere of Jacquet-Droz (1721-1790), who built ro- religion.” Independence, responsibility and bots in the form of human beings. His the ability to get on with others were son built robots who could play music demanded; pupils should get to know and speak and write in Latin, French and their own strengths and weaknesses and Italian (German was a bit diffi cult for practise respect for, and readiness to help, them). And Abraham-Louis Breguet, one others. Acknowledging diff erences of of the most important watchmakers in opinion and the resolving of confl ict are history, was a native of Neuchâtel. His things that have to be learnt – sometimes legacy left a deep impression, not only in the hard way. respect of technology, but also of aes- thetics. Architecture, industrial design, From there Klaus Grohe went to the inventive spirit – this aura attracts Klaus Upper School in Hausen im Wiesental, Grohe to this day. The simple elegance, then to the Commercial College in Of- beauty and functionality of their products fenburg, and fi nally to Neuchâtel in marks out the Schiltach family business Switzerland. Here, in the home town of and its worldwide subsidiary companies. Friedrich Dürrenmatt, the family would fi nd a second home. Roll of drums … How quickly time fl ies! In 1883 the der- Seven years after the end of the war Hansgrohe has Inspiration for the future ma tology professor Dr. Oskar Lassar its fi rst stand at the Stuttgart Exhibition. Life was pleasant there. In the shadow of caused great excitement with his inven- the Cantonal Observatory, Switzerland’s tion of the “people’s shower bath.” For guardian of the exact time, the town of the prince ly sum of 10 pfennigs visitors Opposite page: Neuchâtel stood, of course, for Helvetic to the exhibition could enjoy a shower Klaus Grohe (centre) with friends. precision. Around the shores of the Lake in his corrugated iron pavilion. the landscape is uniquely beautiful, and the thousand-year-old town is an inspi- ration for its citizens and visitors alike.

Klaus Grohe tells how even today this sym biosis of history and future, of tradi- tional and modern, fascinates him. As

39 IT MUST But the heyday of the hand-held shower has gone through all the processes – it’s didn’t begin until 70 years later, with been designed and tested, checked from BE PERFECT! Hans grohe and a small revolution: Hur- top to bottom and left to right and side- rah, the adjustable shower-rail has arrived! ways – there is always that more or less In 1953 it goes into mass production un- fi nal question that asks: is that really eve- der the proud name of Unica – and Unica rything? And the questioner is Klaus Grohe. gets the tills ringing merrily. For him almost nothing is good enough: “It must be perfect,” is his demand. And before Lie in the bath without moving? it is, nothing gets the go-ahead from Klaus. But sometimes the time seems almost to stand still. In August 1952 the boss has Goal! Goal! Goal! The miracle of Berne the idea of developing shower enclosures. In the Wankdorf Stadium in Berne, vic- “We have a good selection of shower-heads tory in the fi nal goes to the German boys. now, we can easily produce the hooks and They become World Champions and tubes, and nylon is now available in wonder- take a shower after the match. Under the ful quality. I think that taking a bath is becom- shower are, among others, Fritz Walter, ing less and less popular. What’s the point of Sepp Herberger and Uwe Rahn. Marilyn sitting or lying 20 to 30 minutes in the bath Monroe becomes a Hollywood star, and without moving? Showering, warm or cold, the 17-year-old Klaus Grohe is interested with jet or spray, is healthier and much more in both, football and Marilyn. His brother pleasant. Besides, people don’t always have Hans (the Junior) is now 58 and becomes room for a bath. Luder (production manager) Managing Director. was very enthusiastic for my ideas, and one or two suites are already fi nished.” Klaus builds a house … Klaus Grohe, although by now a limited Almost two years later, on April 1, 1954, partner, must wait until he is 25 before he In 1953 Hans Grohe becomes junior he makes a note that “on August 16, 1952 can “come really into the fi rm”. That’s what Managing Director, the Unica adjustable shower rail I wrote that we wanted to make shower enclo- the Senior had laid down in his will and goes into production, and Hans Grohe Senior receives the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic. sures.” He’s annoyed that it took so long testament. So that means more study, to transform ideas into reality, even if it learning, study. How well he used his time, was still very shortly after the war. “They whatever some reports might say, is prov- brought nothing to fruition and it took a lot en by his success. He wasn’t given special of pressure before the fi rst printed details could treatment, whether in boarding school or be sent out worldwide in March 1954.” At last! upper school or commercial college. He obtains diplomas and readerships, spends The best is perfection one year in the USA, studies in Off enburg Nowadays, according to Klaus Grohe, the and Stuttgart. And on the side, as it were, process of development from the fi rst idea the young man builds himself his fi rst till going into production lasts just a year. house on Formentera. He builds it him- But hold on a bit! When a new product self, and it’s still standing.

40 1956 Elvis – King of Rock ‘n’ Roll His music and his gyrating hips attract thousands of enthusiastic fans. In this year he has one of his huge successes with the hit “Heartbreak Hotel.” 42 … But earlier Klaus gets The worldwide family business A HELMSMAN a stern warning Life at Hansgrohe carried on as before. Even in 1942 Hans had to write stern Why should it be any diff erent with the DISEMBARKS. words to his son Klaus, who had written 18-year-od Klaus than with his brothers from Off enburg that his money was run- and sisters before him? In October 1955 ning out and that he still needed shirts, he became junior partner in the fi rm, underpants and socks. “I can buy mouth- which now took great strides towards wash and scrubbing brush myself.” Klaus what could be called a worldwide busi- Grohe received 150 DM, “but that was ness. quick ly used up” among other things for On July 23, 1955 the head “a pair of long socks, pure wool, 11.50 DM, For the fi rst time their goods were ex- and founder of the fi rm Hans Grohe dies. brown worsted trousers, 49.50 DM, and a ported to the USA, and the most impor- Three months later, in October 1955, sports jacket with brown and white stripes, tant and novel products of the fi rm were Klaus Grohe becomes junior partner. Friedrich and Friedel Grohe follow in 1956. 83.50 DM, pocket money 5 DM.” exhibited at the great Trade Fairs in Bar- celona and Paris, even at the Brussels So that left exactly 50 Pf for him to ac- World Exhibition in 1957. The business On the way to becoming a world-wide count for to his father! Father took pity could proudly show its face to insiders business. Hansgrohe products are exhibited at the great Trade Fairs of Europe. on him and sent him another 20 DM – and outsiders alike. Hans can. “that should last you till you come home, and if you want to go to the fair, then that’s OK.” Sputnik and Goggomobil The doors are always open at Hansgrohe, In 1954 he wrote to his son tersely: “I’d but on the Open Day in 1958 they were rather you didn’t come home next Sunday; especially wide open. Workers and their you only just hang around doing nothing.” He families share in a great fi rm’s party in recommended to spend the Sunday in Schiltach – the Federal Republic was study. Klaus was 17 – he pooh-poohed cel ebrating the “economic miracle”, the the idea of coaching and came home to Russians send off the “Sputnik” satellite Schiltach all the same. For that his pock- into space, and the BMW Isetta costs et money was reduced the next time. 3,980 DM, a good-quality shower from Hansgrohe 100 DM, the NSU Prinz costs A helmsman disembarks 3,749 DM, the Goggomobil 3,780 DM and Hans Grohe Senior remained active right the Fiat 500 is to be had for 3,470 DM. into a ripe old age, and kept his eye on Interested, anyone? everything. When he “disembarked” at the age of 84 on July 23, 1955 the whole of the Kinzig Valley joined in the mourn- ing with the family, the employees and with friends all over the world at the loss of a great personality. “He was one of us,” they say.

43 AT H ANSGROHE THE DOORS ARE ALWAYS OPEN.

“The Westphalians enjoyed being in Schiltach” was the headline in the Schwarzwälder Post, after over 2,000 employees of the two fi rms Hansgrohe and Friedrich Grohe, together with members of their families, celebrated a joint fi rms’ party in Schiltach.

44 The Hansgrohe fi rm’s family celebrates with popular international artists.

On the way to the Teheran Fair: after a journey of more than 1,000 kilometres through the desert, fi nally at their destination.

45 HERE COMES Look at this country … Making the most of one’s capital … And remember. Wasn’t the history of The climate was favourable for invest- THE “WIRTSCHAFTS- the Federal Republic a bit like that of ment. The country had a large reserve of WUNDER ” Hansgrohe? After the defeat in the War, well-qualifi ed workers in those driven a shortage of everything from economic from their homes in the East, refugees (“ECONOMIC infrastructure to raw materials, a shrunk- from the GDR, and, from 1956 onwards, MIRACLE”) en market, hunger and the dismantling the fi rst “guest workers”. of industries. Refugees, people bombed out of their homes, deportees, the miss- By 1960 German exports were almost fi ve ing. The currency worthless, laws by times those of ten years earlier, the gross The Purpose of Economics decree of the occupying powers, CARE national product had doubled, the Ger- parcels from America; then the Marshall man share of the world export market The fathers of the so-called social market economy were convinced that freedom will reach its goal not Plan, currency reform and the Deut- had gone up from six to ten percent. only when the individual enjoys the right to freedom and schmark. Finance and labour formed the capital the development of his creativity, but also when he or she show themselves responsible for the well-being that could be profi tably made use of. All of their fellow-beings and of the whole community. It’s 1949. Ludwig Erhard is Minister for this favoured the introduction of the

Freedom and the sense of responsibility Economic Aff airs and develops the con- most modern technology, research and for others were the guiding principles of Hansgrohe’s cept of the social market economy. Free- development. business ethics. dom of the markets – but at the same time social equalisation: a principle that Hansgrohe products celebrated success also applied at Hansgrohe. Economic free- in the Trade Fairs of Lyons, Milan and On the way forward: in 1958 the fi rm’s turnover reaches 12 Million DM. dom and technical progress were to lead Frankfurt, and Ludwig Erhard, Minister to a high level of employment. Already for Economic Aff airs and architect of the futurologists worldwide were discussing social market economy, visited the fi rm’s On September 28, 1960, the advantages of automation. What stand at the Teheran Fair as a matter of Hans Grohe Junior dies. counted was performance and competi- course. The Limited partners of Hansgrohe Co. Ltd. tion. But everyone has a responsibility, are all descendants of the fi rm’s founder: Klaus Grohe (at this time a junior partner) not only for himself, but for others, said But Hans Grohe Junior did not live to see Friedrich Grohe and the husband of Helene Grohe, Hans Grohe. all this success. He died unexpectedly at Heinz Mathauer, the “Alpirsbach branch”: 65, just fi ve years after his father. His with Anita Chini(-Grohe), Isa(bella) Diem(-Grohe), Rita Frey(-Grohe), Roswitha Steurer(-Grohe), Here comes the Wirtschaftswunder heart gave up on September 28, 1960 – Johannes Grohe and Dieter Grohe, We were down, but we didn’t go under but it still beats in the fi rm to this day. and fi nally the “Seitz branch”: Elisabeth Michelotti and Gertrud Hellfritz, (Who’s for a beer and a quarter-pounder?) the children of Liesel Grohe. Here comes the economic miracle (Forgive me if I wax too lyrical) The German belly is now much rounder Opposite page: The Shah of Persia and the Minister for Pork chops in aspic taste better than before Economic Aff airs, Ludwig Erhardat That’s no surprise seein’ we lost the War. the joint stand of Hansgrohe and Friedrich Grohe. freely adapted from a song of the time made Teheran, 1960. popular by Wolfgang Neuss

46 Achtung hi das Bild et eingespiege rechts gebl

47 1965 The first man in space. Linked by a lifeline, the American astronaut Edward White leaves the space capsule “Gemini IV” and remains in space for 20 minutes. Like the reconstruction, so the develop- walde) was testing out the revolution, WE HAVE A CHANCE TO ment of the country moves on apace, and being met with water cannons. Hans- the fi rm now goes through a time of grohe had a more practical use for water: CHANGE THE WORLD. change. It is above all Klaus Grohe who Selecta, the fi rst-ever adjustable hand pushes this on. Very early on he gives a shower, was their revolution for the bath- lot of thought to gaining the public’s room – well, almost. interest. No matter how good the prod- uct is, if the marketing is lacking, it won’t And what about the social market econo- sell well. In times of economic hardship, my? The recently acquired Schlossmühle when raw materials are in short supply, mill was converted into workers’ fl ats you don’t need marketing, as he ob- and housed the exhibitions department. served – retailers as well as customers will tear the products out of your hands. Swallowing or hiccups? In life you have to swallow quite a few Build up, develop things, some easier to swallow, others Between the end of the Second World harder. Often you don’t fi nd out which War and the founding of the Federal is which until you choke. Republic in the West and the GDR in the East the foundations of the division 1968 – what a year that was! Unrest and of Germany were set in stone. As early change, missed opportunities for reform, as the 50’s the GDR, supported by the stagnation in the country. Young Ger- The importance of good presentation was clear Soviet Union, was preparing to seal off mans, with one eye on the USA, were to Klaus Grohe from the start. No matter how good the product, it will not sell the East in order to stem the steady fl ow asking uncomfortable questions and well if the marketing is lacking. of its citizens to the West, which was looking for new ways to live. reaching up to 200,000 people a year. When the Berlin Wall was erected on The spirit of Hans lives on today On September 14, 1965, Richard Grohe is born. August 13, 1961, everybody in the country In Schiltach they remain true to the fam- After a time as a scaff older, then as a roofer and a landscape gardener, the fi rst son of Klaus Grohe held their breath. Here it was the time of ily tradition and at the same time work is put through the “Schiltach school” – learning the Beatles, over there the time of the for progress. No wonder with a motto the trade under his father, then into some of the fi rm’s subsidiaries abroad. By 1994 he is Puhdys – but also of brutal repression by such as this. Hans Grohe had invented a graduate in business management the state. Here they could travel where the wheel of the family history, and that and becomes a junior departmental manager in the fi rm; in 1995 he becomes Managing Director they liked; the world was their oyster. wheel is still turning today. That’s the of Hansgrohe Wasselonne and by 2003 leader There was the Stasi state, which spied on way to live; Klaus Grohe knows that of the Hansgrohe brand. In 2006 he becomes a member things never stay the same, and that’s the of the board of directors and in 2008 its and imprisoned its own citizens. Deputy Chairman. It was a rapid rise, but no way he wants it. Above all, he is not con- corners were cut. The global players from The Russian space probe Luna 6 had tent to be an onlooker, but a creator, a the Black Forest don’t work that way; and every one is recognised as “one of us”. already made a soft landing on the moon. transformer, a man of action. “We have a Xerox was off ering the fi rst fax machines, chance to change the world,” he insists; and and the “1968 generation”, led by Rudi we know that he also has the talents to Dutschke (who also came from Lucken- make it happen.

49 TIME TO DO AWAY The Prague Spring, hippies at Grohe gets full signing powers for the Woodstock, Klaus Grohe in Schiltach fi rm. And fi nally everyone here can see WITH A FEW TABOOS. 1968/69: The time for Klaus Grohe to take Sesame Street – in colour. over as head of the business. But also to do away with a few taboos and turn this Did you say colour? and that upside down, just like our Swa- Now the bathroom gets it, too bian Philosopher Friedrich Schlegel. Klaus Grohe rolls up his sleeves and gives many things a good shake-up. Both the “There must be a reliable out-of-the-offi ce function and the design of products must team! Once the construction boom is over, be right, he demands. “Hansgrohe must be which it will be sooner or later, our branch of Number One – so let nobody think he can sit business is going to meet problems. These we back and relax!” will master more easily if there is this outside team.” And so it was. Said Klaus Grohe: For a conservative branch of business all “There’s another matter. Our products can this, of course, at fi rst met with a great easily be compared, even confused, with those deal of scepticism. But this was soon got of others. Except in the matter of quality. over. “They saw pretty quickly the advantages ‘You’ve got the better of them there’: that’s presented by attractive bathroom design. But what our customers say.” our thoughts went further: and ours was the Names that made a successful career fi rst fi rm in the sanitation sector to employ a for themselves: Selecta, Metafl ex, Unica and Aktiva Klaus Grohe gathers a large team around full-time environmental expert.” are just the beginning of a long series of products that would conquer the world. him, keeps them on their toes with en- couragement and criticism, gets new In 1970 the world was amazed to see the structures put in place, and works to fi rst products in colour: showers in or- change the work atmosphere. He seems ange, black and white. Let’s have more to hear the grass growing and listens to of that, cried the retailers, and now let’s his customers, he’s apparently every- have a dance under the shower. where, whether expected or not, and presses onwards as one among equals, This harmony of art and technology, demolishing hierarchies and barriers to craftsmanship and design is a challenge change – and just like his father, he has for the fi rm. Design! Yes, but the manu- no time for privileges, even for himself. factured shape of the product must func- tion perfectly, the material used must be In Schiltach they move into a highly right. Mass-produced things for a de- modern new building with an open-plan mand ing market? Yes, but they must The Sixty shower set: Hansgrohe is offi ce. Over the fi rm’s intercom every express simplicity and beauty in their the fi rst enterprise in the sanitation sector to employee learns that Neil Armstrong design, must fulfi l their purpose; so the develop a product in cooperation with professional industrial designers. has just set foot on the moon – the very design must both be deceptively simple fi rst man to do so. Willy Brandt be- and functional. Baum-Design in Munich comes Federal Chancellor and Klaus was the fi rst to work closely with Hans-

50 grohe, but others, too, answered the call from Schiltach. Only the best in their fi elds will do.

Doing the Marathon Both are passionate runners. Klaus Grohe runs with Andreas Haug. Both are in their late 20’s. So it’s 40 km – or perhaps even 60? Cross-country skiing. Mountain biking. Decathlon. One is from Schiltach, the other from Altensteig. Tomorrow an other 40 or 60 km. Klaus Grohe is am- bitious. Challenging one’s own body sharpens one’s consciousness, wakes one up. On such outings in the fresh Black Forest air, out in the country, one devel- ops a rhythm of one’s own and sharpens the brain. He is like a round-the-world yachtsman who again and again needs the stormy winds, new horizons.

Few words. Intuition. Future projects. Clear directions. Attempt something new. The designer Andreas Haug knows that those at the top often have little to do with the actual products – unfortunately. They just want to know what will sell well. But Klaus Grohe has other ideas. He wants to know how it operates. And how it can operate better, what it feels like in the hand, what use can be made of it. He wants to know about its ap- pearance and what its eff ect is on people and the environment. He also wants to know how long it will last and whether it is worth the money.

Klaus Grohe – one who like his father has no time for privileges.

51 THE WORLWIDE Klaus Grohe probes and In those days practically everyone in the probes and probes … sanitary trade used materials that were NETWORK SPREADS Even when it seems as if all questions mostly pretty primitive: simple castings, FURTHER. have been satisfactorily answered, Klaus poorly sprayed. Klaus Grohe had grown Grohe is still not satisfi ed. He wants to up with all this. But now, together with know everything for himself, have a researchers and developers, he tinkered good look, test and experiment. And so and experimented, looked with them for he is always suspicious of things that better methods and new, environmental- work out too easily, are too quickly ly-friendly materials, so that, almost like By the end of 1966 the gross turnover reaches rounded off and have no apparent snags in the decathlon, he left his competitors 35,000,000 DM. or catches. He looks for contradictions well behind him. and resistance. “If this sense of excitement Welcome Philippe Grohe! lets up, if all goes peaceful and quiet, that’s Hansgrohe is Klaus Grohe … Klaus Grohe’s second son is born on January 3, 1967. when you’ve got to be extra careful,” he says. So in 1971 the business can present sever- After training as a photographer he studies al innovations – an overhead shower and economics (international marketing), develops projects at Delta Faucet in Indianapolis (USA) in 1996, It’s getting this thought process and these side showers, a shower-jet, new bathroom and ends up in Schiltach in 1997. The next ways of working over to his people, mo- units, a mixer shower, a plastic washbasin year he moves to France to become Managing Director of the Hansgrohe subsidiary there. tivating them, enthusing them, fi nding outlet system, and so on … Finally, laden with experience, energy and joie de vivre, out those who have a fl air for things: he return to headquarters to build up “that he can do,” is the general opinion. “We must advertise more and more directly to the Corporate Marketing Department and in 2001 becomes head of Axor. “One should … ? Perhaps one could … ? Maybe sanitary engineers, wholesalers and architects,” one ought to … ? Have a go! Take the risk! demands Klaus Grohe. And he didn’t have Look at the whole picture without losing a to wait long for successful results. In 1972 single detail!” a 4,000 m2 building is erected on land adjoining Schiltach railway station. The Shortly after Hans Grohe senior went into old “Dahlgutsch” (the old delivery van raptures about shower enclosures made conversion) had long ago served its time. of nylon in the early 50’s, his younger son Now a rail connection was right in front was just 18, driving many a teacher to of the door. But not only the buildings dis traction, as the reports go – but one are new – so are the products and mate- Once more space is at a premium. mustn’t believe everything one reads here. rials out of plastic, of which in the fi rst In order to make room for the increasing needs of the year alone in the new building 300 tons production department in the main building on the Aue, a 4,000 m2 building is erected on land But he knew how to do up and tune were processed. adjoining Schiltach railway station. motor cars (how many know how to today?) and drove them on more than In 1973 a marketing company was set up just one or two rallies. Klaus Grohe was in Spain in cooperation with Eugenio well aware of which bucket seats were Freire. The worldwide network spreads particularly sexy, but also very practical, further. and which materials were best suited for the purpose. Smart lad!

52 In 1965 the old factory building and the family home of the Grohes must give way to a new main building on the Aue. This is built and equipped in three stages (1966, 1969 and 1986).

Friedrich Grohe in Hemer

Never trust the peace and put no faith in the future, they tell each other in the family.

51 % of the shares in the Hemer business are sold in 1968 to the US group ITT. When Friedrich Grohe dies in 1983, his heirs buy back these shares a year later.

1991 the business is put on to the stock market, but as soon as 1999 the shares of the families Grohe and Rost are taken over by Grohe Holding, held by a fund under the trusteeship of BC Partners. The family is no longer part of it.

In 2004 a consortium of investors from the Texas Pacifi c Group and CSFB Private Equity purchase all Grohe shares, and the Frankfurter Rundschau reports on June 9, 2005 that “Funds force redundancies at Grohe.”

53 1974 The Volkswagen Golf With the follow-up to the Beetle, VW creates a new class of motor vehicle. Designed by Giorgio Giugiaro, over 25 million models come off the production line, making the Golf the top selling motor car in Europe. … and Germany wins Beware of Spies! THE BEGINNING OF the Football World Cup Not only in the fi eld of sanitation. Gün- The nation follows the game on televi- ter Guillaume, a personal assistant to A LONG SERIES … sion – almost certainly the only Sunday Chancellor Willy Brandt, is arrested on in that year when the new Hansgrohe suspicion of espionage for the GDR. Showermobile stays in the garage and is Willy has to resign. Hansgrohe has noth- not out on the road demonstrating the ing to hide. On the contrary: in 1974 a new products to sanitary engineers and training centre is set up in the former wholesalers. And they are working dem- cinema in Schiltach, in order to impart Honour where it’s due onstrations, too – the vehicle is equipped the knowhow to members of the trade, Up to 2008 Hansgrohe has brought home with its own water and electricity supplies. who are regarded as partners. And so the more than 270 design awards since 1960, when as foundation stone of the later “Hansgrohe one of the fi rst in the sanitary industry the fi rm began to build on cooperation with designers Design Champions Aquademie” is laid. and look for “excellent shape” at the same Hartmut Esslinger, Andreas Haug and time as operational quality. Georg Sprenger from Esslinger Design (later frog design) are now sitting in the same boat as Hansgrohe, with Klaus Grohe at the helm. In 1974 they design together the fi rst multispray hand show- er with revolving head – and that in blue, red, brown or yellow. This is the Tribel, which is destined to become a real clas- sic! These days Andreas Haug has joined together with Tom Schönherr to become Phoenix Design. These internationally ac- claimed designers from Stuttgart became with the Tribel Hansgrohe’s design and The awards for the Tribel in 1974 started development partners with a simple but a long line of design awards won by Hansgrohe. credible motto: Form follows Phoenix. Andreas Haug and Tom Schönherr have won among other awards the top Euro- pean prize for design, the Lucky Strike Award.

The Tribel, developed by Haug in 1974, is the fi rst Hansgrohe product to feature New models by Hansgrohe were brought in the German section of the Stuttgart to the attention of the public by means of a specially converted vehicle, the “Showermobile”. Design Centre. It is also the fi rst in a long series of awards and prizes for design and innovation.

55 LIKE A DUCK Sport is torture, showering Now 40 per cent of production is expor- a thing to be endured ted to 50 countries round the world – TO WAT E R. Bathing and showering are not only good and Hansgrohe is European Number for getting one clean – that’s something One in showers. even the ancient Greeks knew, never mind the Romans. But now the Western When the mobile telephone was intro- A bundle of joy European, with his keen sense of duty, duced in 1979 – remember those huge was more interested in competition and bricks, the lightest ones weighing 12 Kg? – … was in prospect for Klaus Grohe when he celebrated the birth of his son Pierre-Nicholas hard work. Sport was looked upon as and the CD fi rst saw the light of day, on October 3, 1975. Less than two decades torture and taking a shower a thing to be there were now in Schiltach Hansgrohe later the new member of the family completed an apprenticeship as a sanitary engineer; got on with. But pleasure? Enjoyment? two separate Works, I and II. Whether later he was to join the team as fourth in the family Relaxation? A healthy activity? Come off Lady Di. at the time of her wedding or- group in presenting fi ttings and showers to the public, above all on the American market, where it! Taking a shower was looked upon as a dered a massage shower from Works I or today he is regional manager. luxury for the few! Works II can no longer be determined, not even by the most modern IBM com- In 1975, at the International Heating and puter systems linking the two, regarded Sanitation Exhibition, Hansgrohe pre- universally as the non plus ultra of such sented its concept of “luxury for every- systems. one”: the fi rst integral shower cubicle (Esslinger Design) with electronically- They say of Klaus Grohe that he has the controlled fi ttings, automatic alternating sharpest of eyes. He employed them to hot and cold showers, massage and side best eff ect during his practical training, showers, later on the hand-held Mistral visits and traineeships in England and in with continuously adjustable needle and Schiltach, in South Africa and in Hemer, massage jets. Pleasure? One simply has to in Stuttgart and in Ohio. On the side, so want it. It’s all possible now. to speak, he almost completed a qualifi - cation in mechanics, studied in Bonn and In 1976 Hansgrohe’s 700-strong work- Neuchâtel, and has never stopped study- 1976: 700 Hansgrohe employees, force celebrated the 75th anniversary of ing. With a sheer unbelievable affi nity together with their families and the top echelons the fi rm’s foundation. The gross annual for design on the one hand and on the of the fi rm, celebrate the 75th anniversary of its foundation. turnover had now reached 112 Million other an unquenchable thirst for ways of DM. Schiltach could be, and was, proud making existing things better and im- of itself. proving their functionality, with no con- Opposite page: sid eration of the time it might take him, Klaus Grohe in his element with the Tribel – Klaus in the house he stays on the ball and remains captain takes to it like a duck to water. In 1977 Klaus Grohe becomes sole man- of his team. In this he is in his element; ager of the fi rm. The turnover grows he takes to it all like a duck to water. year by year. Like his father, the “new Please let’s look back a moment. Hans Grohe” is fully aware of the impor- tance of the export side of the business.

56 57 58 On a wing and a prayer with Quiclean a way of cleaning the STARTING OUT FOR The other side of the road from Hans- shower on reuse. grohe in Schiltach, as it were, Heinrich NEW SHORES. Baumgartner runs a fi lling-station with a In 1983 a major revolution appeared: the small repair workshop attached. After the Internet. It was to put many a new de- war his father had made bicycle tyres out velopment of modern times in the shade. of old parachutes; now it is Heinrich’s turn. What was originally developed in order And, when he can, Klaus, with his fl air to guarantee “uninterrupted communi- for mechanics, goes over and joins him. cation” in the event of a war that every- one feared, what linked universities and Both are fascinated by top performance, researchers, fi rst of all in the USA, ex- speed, reliability – and what Heinrich perienced a meteoric growth. At the Baumgartner builds together with Klaus start of the 90’s came the World Wide Grohe are so reliable that they take part Web (www.). Now even Frau Müller in rallies in them. Often enough it’s Klaus from Schiltach could keep in constant Grohe at the wheel, Heinrich Baumgart- and peaceful touch with Herr Maier ner at his side mouthing a silent prayer. from Luckenwalde through the Net, It was a sporting challenge to fi nd out which grows and grows and grows. where one could make the car lighter, faster and safer. Bucket seats out of plas- Out and about tics were developed, wheels out of alu- Again and again starting out for new minium. To this very day Klaus Grohe’s shores, new goals, crossing frontiers – friend explains happily that all his life he such travels had driven the founder of the had only one thing in mind: “to make the business around the turn of the century. lightest and strongest wheels in the world.” So a tradition evolved in the fi rm: the fi rst Hansgrohe Works Outing in 1984 Both seek the best solutions; they de- took this concept of “out and about” as With the fi rst mixer series, mand perfection. These two powerhouses a life-long motto for the fi rm. These named Allegroh, a new era begins at Hansgrohe. This new washbasin fi xture, with its of ideas have remained neighbours and days out take place almost every other revolutionary lever handle, is revealed to the professional both of them world champions. Nobody year – to visit new factories, but also to sanitary market on the river ship Sirona. drives a Formula 1 racing car these days walk through woods and fells. Need it without BBS wheels from Schiltach. be added that together with this good tradition the fi rm shows its appreciation Opposite page: Foundations for tomorrow and gratitude to the workforce when in At the ISH 1981 in Frankfurt Hansgrohe presents its shower ranges, and the day after some beer tent or local hostelry in the consisting of coordinated overhead, In Italy in 1981 Hansgrohe receives the area a good quart of beer or cider is ac- side and hand showers. Golden Hercules award for outstanding companied by a slap-up supper? achievement. In the same year the fi rm introduces the fi rst tap fittings with an operating handle instead of a knob and

59 SPACE IS RUN- Even though the world is at home on the Space is running out Kinzig, in 1985, under the wonderful slo- along the Kinzig NING OUT ALONG gan of “Fire and Ice for the Uno” Hans- By 1989 Hansgrohe fi nds that there is THE K INZIG. grohe takes 50 sanitary wholesalers and just no more room for expansion in the engineers on a visit to Iceland. In 1989 upper Kinzig valley, so plans are made the Hansgrohe Express takes 960 em- for a new factory costing 75 Million DM: ployees and their families to the ISH in Works III, in Off enburg-Elgersweier. Ex- Frankfurt. tra shifts are needed to keep up with demand; for the fi rst time the workforce Travellers to the day after tomorrow exceeds 1000; quality control gets its own You remember? We told you earlier: time laboratory. Now all that’s needed, thank was, when the boss journeyed in person goodness, is the reunifi cation of the with his rucksack across and around the country. Patience has its limits, but these country – his luggage was pots and pans, fi nally give way under the pressure of direct marketing in those times of hard- millions of people. ship. Now in 2010 the company has 37 subsidiaries in every continent; it has its Customer service personnel with 28 dem- own production centres in Schiltach, onstration vehicles featuring Hansgrohe Off enburg and Alpirsbach in Germany, products in operation are now serving 13 On the Hansgrohe stand at the ISH 1983 Alpharetta in the USA, Wasselonne in countries. On the other side of the old a world record in unbroken showering is set. France, Wormerveer in the Netherlands East-West border there’s a huge market and Shanghai in China. No matter where waiting to be tapped. their products are made and sold, with Opposite page: Two years later, at the ISH 1985, their tradition reaching back more than New robots take over the heavy work in Hansgrohe presents Uno, the fi rst mixer a century the whole has been welded the polishing shop, and on April 6, 1990 series specially designed for colour. Designed by frogdesign, Uno even receives into one single unit by their craftsman- the foundation stone for Works III is laid a USA Design Award. ship, innovative technology and design: a in Off enburg-Elgersweier. The next Hans- success that keeps their competitors con- grohe works outing goes to visit the huge stantly on their toes. building site – 800 people in all! Change, but by no means decay On January 1, 1985, A wobbly world there’s a change among the partners. In 1989 Mikhail, the boss in Moskow, Friedrich Grohe’s heirs and warns Erich, the boss in East Berlin: “If the members of the Seitz branch sell their shares to Masco, an American business you leave things too long, you suff er for it later.” specialising in fi tting out homes. But this time Erich, who up to now had Klaus Grohe sees in these new partners an excellent opportunity for a believed every fairy story from Moscow, further expansion of the business. doesn’t listen and does leave things too long. Spring breaks out everywhere, and authoritarian regimes begin to wobble.

60 61 1989 The opening of the Berlin Wall Berliners dance on top of the Wall. On November 9 the GDR leadership opens all the border crossings to the West. Thus the first step is made towards the reunification of the two halves of Germany. The sun smiles on … is heated from the waste heat of the pro- EUROPE’S MOST Whether it’s Mesopotamia or ancient duction process. The machines are cooled Egypt or the great cultural places of by means of a water reservoir that at the MODERN SHOWER South America or the southern Black same time serves as an energy store. On FACTORY. Forest: Welcome, sun! its inception the building, the most mod- ern shower factory in Europe, was visited It was in 1839 that Henri Becquerel dis- by hundreds of customers, business asso- cov ered phosphorescence and natural ra- ci ates and colleagues from around the dioactivity. Forty years later – Hans Grohe world, as well as 10,000 interested visitors. in Luckenwalde was just eight years old – Charles Fritts in New York built the fi rst Competitors, do likewise! functioning solar cell. So at Hansgrohe Also, because of the giant solar power one is very aware of how diffi cult it is to source erected in 1993 on the roof of the transform new ideas into practicality. So- building, by 2005 enough power is gen- lar energy is just one example of this. er ated to heat and light 40 family homes – over 140,000 kWh per year. Thus 100 tons

When they celebrated the completion of of CO2 is saved every year. Competitors, Works III in Off enburg in 1990, it was do likewise! The Hansgrohe Works III and the obvious that Hansgrohe was yet another Hansgrohe Solar Tower in Off enburg-Elgersweier. step ahead of others: the roof of the new building was to have a giant photovoltaic installation. The sun smiles on – on pol- i ticians and environmentalists alike.

Klaus Grohe, who in 1990 also became Chairman of the Directors, says: “climate change is not a matter for the distant future, it is present reality. Every section of society must play its part in reducing CO2 emissions. That, by the way, is not just ecological sense, but it makes sound economical sense as well. We must set the course of the future today.”

Environment writ large In 1991 Hansgrohe sets new standards in the new Works III in Off enburg in the process of galvanised plastic. This envi- ronmentally-friendly surface treatment plant is one of the largest and most mod- ern in Europe. The whole of the building

63 AN “OSCAR” FOR THE SHOWER TEMPLE.

The “Shower Temple”, revealed at the ISH 1989, signals the move from wet-room to a complete unit with inbuilt blissful enjoyment.

64 To set a trend, sometimes one needs catastrophes such as cyclones and hurricanes, great staying power … melting ice and drought, has got something to As long ago as the 50’s the older Hans do with the way we all treat one another and was dreaming of a shower temple. Twen- our planet. This sense of responsibility runs ty years later the fi rst prototypes were like a thread through our fi rm’s history of more developed. But it wasn’t until 1989 that than a hundred years.” A fi rm’s culture as the world fi rst cast its eyes on one. My a part of a general responsibility which goodness! Visitors to the ISH couldn’t the businessman has for the whole of believe their eyes! Even the Hansgrohe society: at Hansgrohe this culture involves people themselves were overwhelmed art and sport and environment and safety by the enthusiastic reception it received. at work as well as good design, quality At the Batimat it straightway received and reliability. Social welfare benefi ts are the “Oscar” from the French interior de- just as much part of this as investment signers – the fi rst time, incidentally, that and productivity. Shared responsibility a German fi rm had won it. for the future means shared pleasure in new products – and in the fi nancial re- … But it’s not worth while chasing wards they bring. after every trend At Hansgrohe they had learnt long ago Klaus Grohe knows that this only works that greed impoverishes. They knew, too, in togetherness, in teamwork with all how to measure quality: DMAIC, which those who also have a care for the future. stands for defi ne, measure, analyse, im- He is a faithful proponent of these prin- Going on outings together, prove and control. They now improved ciples. celebrating together, working together. The Hansgrohe “Wandertage” on this with DMEDI, or defi ne, measure, are a much-loved part of the fi rm’s culture. explore, develop, implement. This method was now employed in all new develop- ments. And WILD? At Hansgrohe that stands for water, innovation, Leistung (per formance) and design.

Hansgrohe: WILD at heart This also characterises the working at- mosphere. A good one is important, as previously had at least given lip service to. But that’s not enough these days. Klaus Grohe feels responsible for the general atmosphere in the town and val- ley, and he is involved in improving the atmosphere in the country as a whole: “Climate, when you look as well at worldwide

65 FROM THE WET Premiere in the Frankfurt Never stint on beauty Festival Hall Philippe Starck, the philosopher and de- ROOM TO THE At the end of 1992 the Axor brand was sign rebel, is one of the best known TEMPLE OF BLISS. established, and the great ISH in Frank- design ers in the world. His work is varied furt became more and more a magnet indeed. From posh New York hotels to for the public. For the fi rst time Hans- simple building plans for an inexpensive grohe exhibited in the Festival Hall there. house costing less than 1,000 Euros by At the two-level stand the Axor brand mail order; from hanging lamps to motor- celebrated its premiere. cycles, toothbrushes – and to Hansgrohe. Starck likes Hans. Eight completely installed “life-style bath rooms” demonstrated to the trade “One can be proud of both old and young who world this exemplary bathroom layout. have transformed the bathroom,” Klaus Grohe sums up, “transformed it from a soulless wet A new philosophy room to a temple of bliss. Remaining conscious “Making the bathroom into a place of peace of where we have come from gives us the spur and meditation, security and the development to discover where we are going.” of personality in a fast-moving world”: that’s the way Philippe Grohe describes the new philosophy behind Axor. The bath- room – a private refuge. To achieve this means a lot of hard work.

But somehow, someday one returns to In 1992 a new brand joins the Hansgrohe family: the simple things of life. Take the French Axor, registered worldwide as a trademark. designer Philippe Starck, for example: he traces the simple designs of his Hans- grohe bathrooms back to the bathtub, the bucket, and the hand pump! Simple, eh? Or just follow the recommendation to make a visit to the “Water-Bath-De- sign-Museum”. Since 1997 Hansgrohe has been exhibiting on the Aue at Schiltach its own history and the 700-year-old his- tory of the bath. The part that Hansgrohe has played in this revolutionising of the development of the bath, the standard set by “Hans”, is quite simply amazing.

66 With the Philippe Starck bathroom of 1994 an all-encompassing concept of space and fi ttings was presented for the very fi rst time. With its almost archaic form it caught the mood of the time.

Philippe Starck likes Hans. In a more than 15-year history of collaboration with Axor and Philippe Grohe he has developed the bathroom collections Axor Starck Classic, Axor Starck and Axor Starck X.

67 TOWARDS THE Fine dust and residual dust Reunion everywhere In 1993 a new extractor system is installed In the 90’s the broadcasting station RIAS, ENVIRONMENT, in the foundry and the automatic lathe rich in history and tradition, becomes THE SUN AND shop. Air is extracted directly from inside Deutschlandradio. The (West German) the machines and 99.9 % of all harmful Bundesbahn and the (East German) Re- THE FUTURE. chemicals fi ltered out. The residual dust ichsbahn amalgamate to form German is hardly measurable; the purifi ed air is Railways (Deutsche Bahn). The number released into the atmosphere. of unemployed reaches over 4 million; and 64 countries unite to ban the export The Far East has just got much nearer of toxic waste from the industrial nations 1993: Hansgrohe in China. The crush at to the developing ones. The word photovoltaic is an the Canton Exhibition that year is so amalgam of the Greek word for light and the name enormous that from time to time the The Channel Tunnel links Britain and of the physicist Allesandro Volta. It denotes the direct conversion of sunlight into Hansgrohe stand has to be closed be- France; Nelson Mandela becomes Presi- electrical energy by means of solar cells. cause of overcrowding. In Teheran, too, dent of South Africa; and in 1994, 49 The conversion process is a direct consequence of Alexander Bequerel’s discovery of the the fi rm is a pioneer – in fact the only years after the end of the war, the Rus- photo eff ect back in 1839. By photo eff ect is exhibitor – in the sanitation sector. Add- sians fi nally go back home. Do svidania, meant the release of the carriers of positive and negative charges in a solid body by ed to these, hardly a single important auf Wiedersehen, au revoir – or no, per- the irradiation of sunlight. trade fair is left out all around the world: haps better not. Bangkok, Sydney, Dubai, Cairo, Beirut, Santiago de Chile, Guadalajara and Gua- For environmentally conscious business temala City. leadership Hansgrohe was awarded as the fi rst business enterprise the Environment Prize of the Land of Baden-Württemberg in 1995. Two years later Wall to wall sunshine the Federal Minister for Construction congratulated the fi rm for “magnifi cent initiatives in the As planned, in 1993 work began on what application of solar energy and environmental balance”. was then the largest solar power station In 1998 these awards are followed by the Industrial Medal of the Land of Baden-Württemberg on the roof of Works III in Off enburg. and praise for comprehensive ecological activity. The modern photovoltaic plant prom- ised an annual yield of 80,000 Kilowatt hours a year. Then in 1994 another con- struction astounded architects, owners Opposite page: The Hansgrohe Solar Tower, symbol and public alike: in the grounds of the of the fi rm’s ecological strategy. Off enburg Works a solar panel measuring 55square metres, revolving with the sun’s movement, was erected on a 22 metre high solar tower, integrated with the roof-mounted photovoltaic plant on the works building itself. The direction is clear: move around to the environment, the sun, the future.

68 69 1993 The first World Wide Web Server The Web emerges as a project of CERN in Geneva, in which Tim Berners-Lee develops a hypertext system whose original aim was to enable the exchange of research findings between colleagues in the simplest possible way Pioneering work among up the Hansgrohe Aquademie. Architects WHEN THE BUSINESS the former Pioneers and experts in the sanitation sector teach In the years following German reunifi ca- and learn and enjoy what they are doing. PROSPERS, EVERYONE tion Klaus Grohe takes great pains to see BENEFITS. that the company runs in an uncompli- But that alone is not enough cated and speedy way, so that sensible Symposia, lectures and other profession- standards are introduced in the former al events, seminars, forums on the envi- (East German) state of the Trabi and Stasi. ronment, listening to experts, debates, So everything now is “keep prices low!” compe titions, workshops, new ideas for and “get a move on!”. The Hansgrohe re- teaching and research, information and presentatives in the fi eld, kept on their motivation for thousands of fellow- toes, now learn to do without in a land workers, dealers, customers and the gen- where people have had to do without for eral public, enthusing them for new almost forty years. If there are no hotel things – in all this “Master Hans” and his beds to be had at the Leipzig Fair, then Schiltach people are exemplary. These fi nd a family to stay with – and when are not just “one-off s”. Rallies for solar- even that’s not possible, then sleep in powered vehicles, soups and stews your vehicle! Main thing: you are there! cooked on a solar hotplate, careful use of resources, environmentally-friendly 1994 sees the opening of the Hansgrohe Aquademie. It’s Klaus Grohe’s way to think ten years production methods, energy saving in the Three lecture rooms, a technical seminar room and an exhibition with six completely equipped bathrooms in advance about the products of the next works, awakening of consciousness: what are to be found in an area of 1,100 m2. twenty. He keeps himself fi t by jogging is looked on as correct must fi nd expres- and running and – after a severe cycling sion in practice. And look! It works! accident – by taking long walks each day. It’s then that he can spend time ponder- All this said just by the way and between ing and planning what the research and ourselves, because at Hansgrohe all this development people will be doing. and much more has become second na- ture. So there is the fi re brigade and the “Every product, that’s my belief, must be tried school; there are the children of Cher- and tested and gone over with a fi ne tooth- nobyl and those in the kindergarten next comb.” The company takes great care to door; there is the fl ood disaster in Saxo- see that every complaint, every practice- ny, the many clubs, social security and based idea or suggestion is tested to the bonuses for the workers; there’s help and The donations made by the staff and last detail, be it about materials, construc- support for sport, the fi rm’s own health- employees of Hansgrohe for the victims of the Sri Lanka tsunami enable among other things the purchase tion methods or the product itself. care and assistance for the tsunami victims of this boat, a new basis of existence for the fi sherman and in those hundred years of history a Indika, his fellow-fi shermen and their families. In 1994 a new exhibition and information thousand other things. When the business centre was built in the Schiltach Works prospers, everybody benefi ts. And the West. Lecture halls and seminar rooms business is prospering mightily. equipped to the highest standard make

71 100 YEARS OF A historical turning-point Family led Klaus Grohe and the Hansgrohe family In 2003 the Masco Group acquires a ma- HANSGROHE, AND THE have seen to it that water fl ows cleaner jority shareholding by increasing its share STORY GOES ON… both into and out of the kitchen and from 27 % to 64.35 %. Hansgrohe is very bathroom. They have started a story pleased to have this strong partner from without parallel and have pulled things Michigan. But on the management fl oor together with a gusto for which one everything remains as it was. With Klaus rarely sees these days. Volume plus qual- Grohe as Chief Executive Offi cer until ity plus beauty. he becomes the Chairman of the Advi- Hansgrohe – Names and Dates sory Board in 2008 and his long years The poor old century, feeling its age a bit deputy and congenial partner in the Ex- Otto Johannes Grohe from Luckenwalde in Barndenburg by now, is drawing to a close. It seems ecutive Board Siegfried Gänßlen takes called Hans, Hannes, “the Senior” or “the old man” to sigh now and again that things have over the lead. married (1) Luise Hannemann (2) Magdalene Schöttle been left undone, that this or that could (3) Emma Wolber have been done better, quicker and in a Immanuel Kant has been dead for 200

Hans moves with his wife and three children more friendly way with the environ- years, but his works are still more read- (Helene, b. 1893, Liesel, b.1895 and Johann, b. 1895) ment. But the big Hansgrohe family, able than much of contemporary litera- from Luckenwalde to Schiltach. Johann decides to call himself Hans, but is usually since 1999 a joint stock company not ture. In 2004 the Chinese clone Hans- referred to as “the Junior”. quoted on the stock market, has every grohe showers and get found out; the reason to be proud. Here nothing has South Koreans try the same with humans In Schiltach two more children are born: Magdalene’s son Friedrich (b. 1904) and been left undone. and meet the same fate. The price of oil Emma’s son Klaus (b. 1937) increases, the dollar falls; it never rains In 1968 Klaus joins the Executive Committee and In 2001 a plumbing control unit that can but it pours. But if you look hard enough, becomes Managing Director in 1975 and in 2008 be hidden in the wall came on the mar- you’ll often fi nd a rainbow. Chairman of the Supervisory Board. So Hansgrohe remains a family of the company founder driven fi rm ket. From day one on it has been a roar- without a break since 1901. ing success. The ibox universal, as it is called, contains six diff erent operational blocks. This doesn’t only please the in- stalling engineer.

In autumn 2001 – 100 years and a few weeks since the fi rm was founded – eve- rything is ready for a big celebration, decided and planned months in advance. But it’s called off – after the terror attacks A strong team: of 9/11 in the USA nobody feels like Lau Frandsen, Chairman of the Supervisory Committee, celebrating. and Klaus Grohe, Chief Executive Offi cer, in 2004.

72 73 I’M SINGING Shower experience XXL – However, the success story started off in it’s a pleasure! a much less erotic place: the hospital in (AND DANCING) IN “Doo-di-doo Doo di-doo-di Doo-di-doo …” : Lahr. There the boss lay confi ned to his THE RAIN. Remember Gene Kelly in the fi lm bed after a severe cycling accident. One “Singin’ in the Rain” turning to the cop might almost say that what came into his at the end of that song and singing by head at fi rst led the Hansgrohe research- way of explanation “I’m singing (and danc- ers, directors, designers and engineers a ing) in the rain”? Or that haunting tune merry dance. But they reported that, on by Burt Bacharach for the fi lm “Butch the contrary, they began to dance with Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” called delight at what he had come up with. “Raindrops keep falling on my head”? Any connection with Hansgrohe? Dancing in Not bed rest – restlessness the rain? Sundance? Raindrops? RAIN- The nurses brought coff ee instead of pills DANCE! Something of a shower revolu- and tablets. Fax and telephone, computer tion! Imagine those raindrops, thousands and paint board, chairs for everyone; his upon thousands, millions. A gentle breeze, foot might have been in a noose, but his the scent of summer … With fi ve diff erent head was free. And that’s much better shower settings, individually selected by than the other way round. Time was not a simple hand movement, everyone can there to be wasted, but put to profi table enjoy a shower experience to suit his or use for the sketching of ideas, drawing up her own pleasure. So Raindance came of plans, thinking things over and over into being, something quite new, inspired again, making changes. New technolo- by Mother Nature herself. And, not satis- gies, new products, minimalism, timeless The Raindance, thought up on the hospital bed: fi ed with that (very Hansgrohe!), the elegance. Anyone better that? a large head and a short handle. And a pleasurable de sign and technical people added a sec- shower experience like never before. ond innovation: Raindance AIR, where Travel alarm clock? Travel shower! air is drawn into the shower head (hand- And, since one doesn’t want to leave held or overhead). These “breathing” home comforts behind when travelling, show ers use the water more effi ciently, since 2005 there’s such a thing as the give the shower jet a unique and quite “shower case”. Put an end to dripping natural quality and open up a new dimen- showers, clogged-up ones in hotels, Un- sion in the pleasure of taking a shower. cle Karl’s shower in Chemnitz that wets A veritable quantum leap – that’s what I everything but the person showering. In call progress! the handy little travel case there’s an ultra-fl at Raindance AIR complete with “Great! It’s almost erotic, the relationship one featherweight tools to fi t it up wherever develops with such products!” Klaus and you are. Install it in next to no time; but Richard Grohe admit in a subsequent remember: take it with you when you interview. leave! Except, perhaps, at Uncle Karl’s in Chemnitz; let him keep it …

74 75 ONLY THUS CAN VISIONS EMERGE.

When developing new bathroom collec- isolation, but as part of a harmonious tions three linked things are central for whole. The bathroom is a living space, a Axor: “Water – Person – Space”. The de- desire space. Living space, as the Italian International partners: ciding question is in what direction the design partners insist, must be like a sec- Philippe Grohe with Antonio Citterio … bathroom of the future will develop. ond skin. “One has to be always one step ahead of the market and the needs of the customer if one is Fuorisalone! going to succeed,” declares Philippe Grohe. At the Milan International Furniture Ex- “After all, we must be setters of trends, not fol- hibition of that year Axor presented lowers of them.” The designer brand from “Water Dream 2005”. The well-known the Black Forest succeeded in doing so designers Jean-Marie Massaud, Patricia in cooperation with Antonio Citterio. Urquiola, Erwan and Ronan Bouroullec created for Hansgrohe three visionary Desire space landscapes, products and spatial concepts And no wonder, because Antonio Citterio with the theme of the bath. These young and his colleagues in his Milan studio for and innovative designers are the inter- architecture, interior design and graphic preters of the “bath of the future”. Each art saw from the very beginning that the one of them represents one of the con- taps, for example, cannot be viewed in temporary movements in design: organic,

76 eclectic and minimalist. This makes Axor place of peace. Surely in today’s hectic an independent, open-ended process, al- world that’s just what we all need. lowing the creative genius immense freedom. “We want to start a dialogue free of … and with Jean-Marie Massaud, here at any constraints. Only thus can visions emerge,” the demonstration of the collection in Hong Kong. explains Philippe Grohe.

Nature Inspired Design That these visions can really take shape in practice is demonstrated by the Collection Axor Massaud, which has grown out of the cooperation in the WaterDream Project. Behind it is a con- ception of space reintroducing the natu- ral relationship we have with water as an element. So the bathroom is a living room where it’s not just all about hy- giene but the sensuous and emotional experience of water – a retiring-room, a

77 HOPE IN THE LAND Hans increases awareness met with such an echo that the building Corporate values, corporate culture, re- in the Auestrasse has been totally rebuilt OF THE WASTEFUL. sponsibility for the future – all these are and newly equipped at a cost of fi ve mil- just empty words if they cannot be lion Euros. Here installers are trained, and proved or disproved, or even put to the master classes, wellness workshops and test, from outside. technical seminars held. The Aquademie has become a place of great infl uence – As the very fi rst German company in the the communicative heart of the company. sanitation sector, Hansgrohe published More than 50.000 guests from all over in 2005 its fi rst Sustainability Report. the world were counted in 2009. This gives information about the activity of this medium-sized fi rm in the matters The local craftsman is also a salesman. of economy, society and environment. “Hans gives the craftsman a helping hand, so Klaus Grohe hopes that other companies that he can help those back home” is a (very) will follow their example. “We don’t only rough translation of an alliterative entry measure innovation in terms of our products, in the Aquademie guest book written by but for us progressive and sustainable business a craftsman from the Ore Mountains leadership has always gone hand in hand with (Erz gebirge) of Central Europe. For it is In 2005 Hansgrohe publishes its fi rst a sense of our responsibility reaching far out- demonstrated there how the craftsman Sustainability Report. side the fi eld of our own business activity,” he can organise small events when he returns explains. home from the Aquademie. So naturally salescraft is on the programme, as well as The communicative heart tips on decoration and customer care. The company’s innovative and competi- tive strengths were confi rmed by Baden- Water, water everywhere … Württemberg’s Presiding Minister Gün- In Germany people are still sticking their ther Oettinger on a visit to the Axor heads in the sand instead of using them Works. He was delighted to witness to- to think. It may be true that constant day’s Clever Hans and the Schiltach dripping will eventually wear away the “sympathy shower”, and was able to take stone, but all that time the water is going a whole stack of ideas away with him on to waste. It seems that the message has his return to Stuttgart. What also fasci- just not got through that water is a lim- The Hamburg Bäderland as well nated him, as it does craftsmen and ar- ited resource nor how important it is to uses the waste heat from the shower water chitects, dealers and clients alike, was the use it sparingly. to decrease the energy consumtion. This is possible since 2010 with the Pontos Aquademie. This has become more and HeatCycle-Technology. more a place to exchange ideas, to set off On the one hand people are going on professional debates, a source of impulse about the scarcity of oil and gas, yet still towards sustainability, a place of learning. they heat their homes and business waste- With its ever-growing off ers and pro- fully. It’s no diff erent with water. Every grammes for further qualifi cations it has day we let billions of litres of it go down

78 the drain, much of it hardly dirty – wast- ed, squandered, poured away. The Black Forest inventor was bugged by this over 30 years ago, but now at last a solution has been found, an inspired discovery At last: hope in the land of the wasteful!

Pontos AquaCycle is one of the first pieces of equipment in the world to go into series production in which “grey” or used water is cleaned to a standard fit for a bathing beach and reused. In places where grey water of many people show- ering or bathing can be collected, namely in hotels, in factories and offices, ecology and economy join hands. This is even more true since Pontos HeatCycle also uses the waste heat of the showering water to be used again – as stand alone solution or in combination with grey water recycling. The result is an energy consumption reduction as well. The cli- mate will thank us.

For grey water is an almost inexhaustible resource – and faced with ever increasing water prices, diminishing water levels in wells and reservoirs (not to mention the inevitable “water wars” that are to come) we also must learn to do away with our beloved wasteful ways and start saving water. Pontos AquaCycle has now been installed not only by the Hamburg city authorities, where grey water is used for street-cleaning. Their warmest thanks go to Schiltach and Pontos AquaCycle for making this a present reality.

79 AFTER KYOTO: WOM with a Whoosh! world community almost to breaking- Almost exactly 100 years after the fi rm point. Not so Hansgrohe: now the mes- CONCRETE ACTION; built its fi rst factory in Schiltach, Hans- sage after the world climate change con- AFTER CPPENHAGEN: grohe laid the foundation stone for an- fer ences in Kyoto and Copenhagen is other. In February 2008 the instrument “Concrete Action; Constructive Creativ- CREATIVITY factory WOM in Off enburg became the ity.” “Yes, we can.” So the “Green Family” tenth production site worldwide; in Ger- is making its own contribution towards many there are now half a dozen. Just the protection of the climate. The ideas eight months after commencing work, and concrete measures made towards the factory was ready for production – ecologically-friendly dealings with valu- and what a technological marvel it is! able resources and the setting-out of Remote-controlled stock-keeping, exten- measurable sustainable goals have award- sion of hybrid assembly, effi cient manu- ed the fi rm’s green credentials two top facturing control – a new combination ratings: of Black Forest ingenuity and innovative technology, all together in an area of 5600 “wonderful” was the general opinion on square metres. And in 2010 the factory is the German pavilion at the Expo in being extended! Saragossa, which concentrated on the theme of “Water and Steady Develop- A Steady Course ment.” More than half a million visitors “Made in Germany.” This development is a clear affi rmation were deeply impressed by the water Klaus Grohe lays the foundation stone for the new instrument factory in Off enburg. of Germany’s importance in a time when technology, above all the Pontos Aqua- the collapse of Lehmann Brothers en- Cycle. Schiltach is the recognised home dangered the whole economic climate, of great water ideas. which of course aff ects the Hansgrohe family just as much as any other business. “exemplary” was the verdict of Tanja And yet: because the need for careful Gönner, Environment Minister in the economic management is not just a new government of Baden-Württemberg, on phenomenon since the current global Hansgrohe’s deep involvement in matters crisis, the infl uential Handelsblatt, Ger- of environmental protection. She ex- many’s leading fi nancial newspaper could pressed the wish that others would follow justifi ably report: “Hansgrohe AG is steer- suit. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear! “Exemplary in the matter of environmental protection.” ing a steady course through the crisis.” Environment Minister Tanja Gönner with Otto Schinle (l) and Siegfried Gänßlen during Hansgrohe worldwide a visit to Schiltach. Wonderful and Exemplary: Listen carefully, watch closely and then The Green Family act decisively: what was true for the off - Steering a steady course is getting liter- spring of Clever Hans all those years ago ally ever more diffi cult, not just despite applies no less to today’s business, which but because of the melting of the ice- has sensed the trend towards globalisation. bergs. Global warming is challenging the Having a presence overseas pays divi-

80 “Schiltach. Home of great water ideas.” Hansgrohe in the German pavilion at the Expo in Saragossa.

MUMM in practice. Motivated cooperation can be fun!

dends; internationalism strengthens, not to work together closely. The whole fi rm weakens. The network of Hansgrohe and its workforce needs it in facing these Businesses that put their trust in age and subsidiaries summed up by Summer 2010 demographic changes, and consequently experience get their just reward. totalled no less than 37. the fi rm has been awarded another acco- Hansgrohe takes second prize in the lade: the “Corporate Health Award” for Corporate Health Awards in 2009. Have the guts! its attitude to experienced workers. One needs courage for such global ven- Con trary to popular trends, which see tures, and for this there is a need for what youth as the be-all and end-all, young is expressed by the German acronym Hans and old Hans can do more to- MUMM, which means being motivated gether than the general public assumes.

81 UP, UP AND AWAY WITH HANSGROHE

The new Chairman of the Management Board Siegfried Gänßlen (l.) with the new Chairman of the Supervisory Board Klaus Grohe.

The Darling Buds of May collection. No longer a bare wet room; In one of his sonnets, Shakespeare wrote now more a living space. Axor Urquiola Patricia Urquiola and Philippe Grohe “Rough winds do shake the darling buds off ers a sense of well-being and security at the presentation of the new bathroom collection Axor Urquiola in Milan of May”. In May 2008 it was not rough without sacrifi cing individuality and in- winds, but the wind of change that saw timacy. Feminine, poetic! And with the Klaus Grohe step down as Chairman of Axor Bouroullec collection the room for the Management Board in favour of creativity reaches a new dimension. In Siegfried Gänßlen, who for many years 2010 Roman and Erwan Bouroullec had been Finance Director. Klaus Grohe joined the ranks of renowned designers became the Supervisory Board Chair- with whom Axor present innovative and man, and Richard Grohe deputy to Sieg- futuristic bathroom design. fried Gänßlen. Thus the future of the “A poem of elegance and grace” is also Company remains in good hands. the mixer and shower programme Pura Vida. Soft, fl owing lines characterise the Design or die! products of the close cooperation bet- “Feel Free to Compose!” One of the factors in this success can be ween Hansgrohe and Phoenix Design. With Axor Bouroullec the freedom of form reaches a new dimension. summed up in the phrase: Design or die! Like their designers, the combination of Patricia Urquiola has developed together white and chrome complement each with Axor a new and stunning bathroom other in a magical way.

82 Up with the times Up, up and away It is generally acknowledged that with With Hansgrohe ever newer heights can these firework-like bursts of activity be reached, as both the fi rm’s employees Hansgrohe is well up with the times, if not and its illustrious customers well know. ahead of them. It’s not surprising that the In the world’s tallest building, Burj Dubai, rising stars among designers are queuing they put their trust in mixers and showers up to work with the fi rm. And what re- from the Black Forest. And à propos sults they are achieving! The International “higher, quicker, further”: As Offi cial Design Award of Baden-Württemberg, Partner of the German Team at the for example, or the “Prize of Prizes”, the Olympics, Hansgrohe has cosseted the Design Award of the Federal Republic of guests of the German Olympic Association Germany. By 2010 more than 300 awards at the Games in Vancouver and Whistler adorn the trophy shelves of Hansgrohe: with their products “Made in Germany.” without question a trendsetter! And, as South Africa is just as particular about the care of sportsmen and women, many of the teams learned to enjoy the products of Black Forest ingenuity at the Football World Cup. A winner! At home in the highest circles. Hansgrohe mixers and showers are simply essential elements of good living.

The Prize of Prizes. Richard Grohe and Tom Schönherr of Phoenix Design receive the top Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany.

And: the “Phoenix boys” at work on the mixer and shower programme “Pura Vida”. (left)

83 A PASSION FOR “It’s felt more strongly than ever, our passion to all corners of the earth. Nothing ever for water, the elixir of life,” explains Klaus stays the same. Forests die, hunger is WAT E R , THE ELIXIR Grohe. Because the protection of the en- worldwide despite our affl uence, wells dry OF LIFE. vironment is writ large in the philosophy up. One war follows another. Yet hope of the worldwide Schiltach family. remains that we might see sense, that we might roll up our sleeves and do some- The ethical basis of the company in- thing. Otherwise: no life for anyone. Hansgrohe remains cludes integrity, the observance of laws a family business. and regulations, fair treatment of cus- Lucky Hans has been on a long journey. Klaus Grohe has four sons: tomers, suppliers, competitors and with He’s seen black Africa and Red China, one another in the big family of Hans- felt the fresh Arizona wind on his face, Richard Grohe, b. 14.9.1965 (married to Alexandra Hübner, 3 children: grohe. There must be no discrimination; crossed the snow-covered Alps. He’s been Pat-Rick, Alina and Johannes Friedrich) tolerance is a duty expected of all; abso- to the big cities and the out-of-the-way

Philippe Grohe, b. 3.1.1967 lute regard must be kept for all human places, has listened and pondered, acted (married to Tina Hagmann, 4 children: rights. Involvement in the community is and traded and enjoyed the results of his Lucas, Marie, Marek, Emma) part of the company’s activity. “Perhaps it digging, wherever he was. Pierre-Nicolas Grohe, b. 3.10.1975 lies in the care and diligence of the Black Forest (married to Stephanie Hudgins, 2 children: people, in the craftsmanship and inventiveness And in all those years he has dug up many Jay and Nicolas Christian) that are all around here. Perhaps also in our a treasure. And when he has felt the sun and Jannik Grohe, b. 17.10.1986 passion for all that has to do with water, the on his back, he has always set out afresh elixir of life, a passion that has guided the towards the future. There has always course of the company which is still led by the been a lot to do for Clever Hans. family of Hans Grohe.”

And when you look beyond the valley of the Kinzig, you see also beyond the strict limits of the many subsidiaries and groups that represent Hans all around the world. Our Lucky Hans, the clever one, has al- ways set out and moved on. This “blessed restlessness” in the face of obduracy and the temptation to stand still is like the drive belt that Lucky Hans wound round that stone over a hundred years ago to set the machines in motion.

Opposite page: Nothing ever stays the same “Our own fl esh and blood brand” Time seems to fl y by. The world has be- Three generations of Hansgrohe: Johannes, Richard and Klaus Grohe come smaller, yet the journeying goes on, taking you and me and him and her

84 85 LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL AND LIFE GOES ON.

We live in a world that is so obsessed with looking to the future that we forget how important it is not to ignore the past.

But it’s there, hidden behind facts and figures, that the true stories are to be read. Stories of pioneers, of layers of foundations, of critical, valiant spirits.

86 These stories are the fi rst step on the way into the future. Pater Grohmann, 2005 – 2007

87 Sources Imprint Letters and notes of the company’s Electronic Sources: Published by Hansgrohe SE, founder Hans Grohe and his sons, www.hansgrohe.de Public Relations, Schiltach taken from the Hansgrohe archives Text: Peter Grohmann; Addendum: in Schiltach Many thanks for open doors Björn Grözinger and Carsten Tessmer English Translation: Derek Matten Conversations with Klaus Grohe This work was written to the best Designed by: Werbung etc. and his family of the author’s knowledge and belief Werbeagentur AG, Stuttgart as a “literary alternative” to the official B wie Brucklacher, Stuttgart Conversations with Anita Chini history of Hansgrohe. It makes no Layout, Typesetting: Werbung etc. (Freudenstadt) claim to be an exhaustive history. Werbeagentur AG, Stuttgart and Roswitha Steurer Reproduction: Eder GmbH, Ostfildern (Alpirsbach) Sources of the Illustrations Printed by: B & K Offsetdruck, Shu Akashi, AP Images, AP/NASA, Ottersweier Conversations and interviews braxart, Silvie Brucklacher, Type: Bembo with Andreas Haug (designer, Wolf-Dietrich Dinter, Duravit AG, Paper: Munken Lynx, 170 g/m2 frog design, Phoenix Design), Emaar Properties, Anne Faden, Arctic Paper and the friend of Klaus Grohe, Dorothee Förstner, Hermann Gaiser, Alezan Cult, 135 g/m2 and Dieter Brucklacher Ester Haase, Hansgrohe SE, Hohner Büttenpapierfabrik Gmund Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. KG, And with colleagues at Hansgrohe, Kuhne & Knödler, Klaus Kramer, including Ruth Wöhrle, Phoenix Design, picture-alliance/akg- Printed in Germany Gertrud Akaltan, Otto Schinle, images, Rat für Formgebung, Alois Horst Flieger, Gerhard Blust, Schönweger, SPL/Agentur Focus, Jörg Reiff and Dr. Carsten Tessmer Christian von Alvensleben, Volkswagen 2nd, enlarged Edition, May 2011 AG, Gionata Xerra. © Hansgrohe SE Printed Sources: Public Relations Hansgrohe Info, the Hansgrohe Despite careful research not all sources Auestraße 5 – 9 staff magazine of the illustrations could be identified. 77761 Schiltach Any further information would be very Telephone: +49 7836 51-1231, -1297 A Company Makes History: gratefully received. Fax: +49 7836 51-1170 Hansgrohe 1901–2001 E-Mail: [email protected] Edited by Ruth Wöhrle and Internet: www.hansgrohe.com Klaus Kramer (for the years 1871–1994) and Dr. Henning Storek (for the years 1995–2001)

Municipal and other archives

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