About Kohler
SINCE 1873
Kohler Timeline Contains Hundreds Of Interesting Facts About Kohler Co. See How Far We Have Come Since The First Enameled Hogscalder.
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.
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.
How far have we come since the first enameled hog scalder?
The Kohler Family of Businesses
Over the course of its history, Kohler has expanded from being a plumbing equipment company to being a global leader of multiple industries, offering quality products in each of the companies that make up the soul of our family. Our innovative designs, craftsmanship and technology keep us as leaders of our industries and offer our customers a path to a more pleasant life.
Kitchen and Bath
Kohler Co. is recognized as a world leader in kitchen and bathroom design. Because of the diversity of its products and the importance of its portfolio of brands, Kohler Co. has been able to lead the market in terms of design, know-how and innovation, while at the same time imposing a constant level of quality.
The Cocinas y Baños Group includes a family of activity areas around the world. The main bathroom brands Jacob Delafon, The Bold Look of Kohler, Mira, Daryl, Rada, Englefield and Karat continue to highlight the pleasures of the bathroom, offering a palette of elements and style faucets. The brands Sanijura and Robern propose furniture with storage solutions destined to the residential, commercial and industrial markets.
Global Power Group
Since the early twenties of last century, Kohler has forged a reputation as a reliable energy supplier under all circumstances, with different industries internationally. Today, the Global Power Group, including the brands Kohler, SDMO, Lombardini and UPSL, groups mobile, industrial and residential generators, as well as motors and equipment rental. Kohler offers temporary rental of power equipment, air conditioning and high-end support equipment for industrial, commercial, event and anti-casualty markets throughout the United States.
Hospitality
The Kohler Hotel Group elevates the art of living to new heights with two unusual properties: Destination Kohler and Destination St. Andrews.
Destination Kohler, located in Kohler, Wisconsin, comprises the American Club, the only AAA 5 Diamond hotel in the American Midwest), Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run, the two Pete Dye golf courses, the rewarding Kohler Waters Spa, A luxury private club, shops and gyms as well as the Kohler Cavalries, renowned for their breeding and exhibition programs.
At Destination St Andrews lies the world-renowned Old Course Hotel (5 star) in St Andrews, Scotland. This upscale property is located on the 17th hole of the Old Course, perhaps the world's best known golfing spot. In addition to the Le Duke's Course, the hotel offers 4 full-service restaurants, Kohler Waters Spa and other leisure activities.
Kohler Co is also the owner and manager of the Village Realty & Development, which has developed Kohler City, one of the earliest communities planned in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century.
Furniture and Interiors
When Baker joined the Kohler family in 1986, Kohler's mission to provide a certain lifestyle has expanded to go beyond the kitchen and bathroom. Today the furniture brands Baker, Ann Sacks, McGuire, Kallista, Dapha and Mark David have expanded the art of living to take it anywhere in the house. Beyond the bathroom and kitchen, the group offers an interior design of advanced quality and impeccable throughout the home.