THE BATH WAS JUST THE BEGINNING...

Kohler Co. has been leading the way in style and innovation since the company was founded in 1873. Austrian immigrant John Michael Kohler made the first of many bold business moves when he purchased a cast iron and steel foundry in Sheboygan, WI.

In 1883, John Michael had a bold idea to increase his customers’ quality of life, applied baked enamel coating to a Kohler horse trough/hog scalder and created our first bathtub.

Taking great strides in product development over the years, Kohler has continually proven that great products equal beautiful design, ground-breaking innovation and reliable functionality. His vision and dedication to excellence helped transform Kohler Co. into a highly successful family of businesses with Kohler Co. becoming the recognised leader in kitchen and bath design.

THE KOHLER FAMILY OF BUSINESSES

From those humble beginnings, our company has grown into a multifaceted global family of brands that lead the way to enhance our customers’ sense of gracious living. Our diversity of products and powerful portfolio of brands continually set new standards in design, craftsmanship and innovation-tied together by a singular level of quality.

The Kohler Kitchen and Bath Group encompasses an extensive family of businesses around the world that manufacture plumbing products and cabinetry for the residential, commercial and industrial markets.

A LEGACY IN THE MAKING

Our company’s founder, John Michael Kohler, was an Austrian immigrant, a businessman and a visionary. In 1873 he purchased a foundry in rural Wisconsin that produced a variety of cast-iron and steel products.

Ten years later, Kohler took a product in his line, heated it to 1700°F and sprinkled it with enamel powder. Placing a picture of it in the center of his one-page catalog, he called it “a horse trough/hog scalder...when furnished with four legs will serve as a bathtub.” Kohler was in the plumbing business.

His vision and dedication to excellence helped transform Kohler Co. into a highly successful family of businesses with approximately 33,000 associates, 48 manufacturing locations on six continents and 50+ global brands.

From those humble beginnings, our company has grown into a multifaceted global family of brands that lead the way to enhance our customers’ sense of gracious living.

View the Kohler History Timeline

OUR MISSION: GRACIOUS LIVING

WHAT DOES GRACIOUS LIVING MEAN TO US?

Kohler Co. and each of our more than 35,500 associates have the mission of contributing to a higher level of gracious living for those who are touched by our products and services.