The development of the sanitary ware industry is closely related to the formation of modern cities, the progress of humanism, and even the transformation of science and technology. In the turbulent second half of the 19th century on the European continent, Switzerland achieved a rare level of peace, stability and industrialization through federalism and neutrality. Founded in 1874 in Rapperswil, Switzerland, Albert Gebert has grown from a small plumbing workshop to Geberit, a giant in the European continent's plumbing industry today, over the course of 150 years. The history seems to be accidental, but it is far-reaching, a brand history, casting half of the bathroom history.
Pioneer the history of toilet cisterns
Geberit founder Albert was an innovative young man from the beginning, and after setting up his own plumbing workshop at the age of 24 and making a small success, Albert began to produce his own bathroom fixtures and accessories in 1900. Soon after, his engineering spirit took its crown, and in 1905 the Phoenix cistern was born, the world's first wooden cistern with a lead lining and fittings, which became an important milestone in the history of Geberit and of sanitary ware. Even from today's aesthetic point of view, this wooden water tank is still remarkable, it controls the water inlet through the float, and the ingenious structure of the mechanical lever linkage control flushing, which is not only the originator of the modern water tank, but also a well-deserved advanced black technology in that era.
After the Second Industrial Revolution and the post-war reconstruction of the world, materials science has developed dramatically. In 1952, Geberit introduced the world's first plastic cistern, and in 1964 the first plastic cistern was launched for permanent wall mounting. Compared to the ceramic tanks that were dominant at the time, the plastic tanks were better flushed, easier to install, less prone to limescale deposits, and less expensive – orders from European countries soon followed, and the company expanded rapidly – in the decade between 1955 and 1965, Geberit's plants in Switzerland and Germany were built and expanded several times. It can be said that the popularity of plastic water tanks has laid a solid foundation for the Swiss family-owned company to become one of Europe's leading sanitary technology groups.
In 1975, the first Montagefix metal frame mounting system with a plastic cistern was born, and in the same year, the two-stage flush valve system was introduced, which was the prototype of the "big and small flush" common in modern toilets, and it was not changed until 1996 that the Duofix Dufez tank (the Dufez tank is also the most widely used concealed tank in the world) was upgraded again and again, creating a glorious history of Geberit cisterns. Looking back at the Phoenix tank more than 100 years ago, and then looking at the Acanto TurboFlush® at this moment, one can't help but feel that Geberit's various "firsts" have long been predestined, which makes the success of the brand's world-renowned concealed water tank business inevitable. As of 2014, more than 60 million Geberit concealed cisterns have been sold worldwide, and this figure continues to be set to this day.
Define the history of the system behind the wall
Motivated by the success of the rapid growth of the business, Geberit decided to shift its production direction from metal casting to plastic processing, and not only to plastic water tanks. In 1956, Geberit began producing polyethylene (PE) drain components for bathtubs, which made it possible for users who were troubled by the noise of the cast iron drain in bathtubs to enjoy the benefit of being "absolutely silent" even in the middle of the night. Geberit's use of this new material, which was invented in the 50s of the 20th century, not only took on the responsibility of being a pioneer in the industry, but also led the company to decide within 10 years to extend polyethylene (PE) to the entire building drainage system, such as traps, floor drains and drains. Thanks to Geberit's efforts, by 1980, polyethylene (PE) had replaced most of the traditional metal drainage or sewer materials in many European countries.
From the plastic water tank, the HDPE high-density polyethylene drainage system, to the Mapress 316 stainless steel water supply system, which was later added to the map, Geberit really defined the behind-the-wall system for bathroom water. Everything that was originally exposed can be hidden behind the wall, silently playing an ultra-long standby function, Geberit HDPE high-density polyethylene water tanks and pipe fittings have been durable for more than 50 years. Nowadays, the water supply and drainage system behind the Geberit wall has become the mainstream design choice in Europe and even around the world, and efficiency and reliability are indispensable. Of course, the so-called system behind the wall must not only be "good in its own way", but must cooperate with each other, enclose the turn, and become a technical wall that pursues the same life as the building and protects the healthy and comfortable life of users.
Sublimating the history of comfortable bathrooms
Obviously, the dedication to the comfort and health of human bathroom life is almost the only appeal of Geberit's 150-year long history. All single products are a piece of the puzzle with the user as the service goal. In 1978, Geberella, the first intelligent toilet lid with a warm water flush function and a water spray intensity adjustment function, was born. Not only is it two years ahead of similar products in Japan, but it also has a European design style and takes into account individual needs, with 12 different colors for consumers to match different bathroom environments. Just one year later, the Geberit-O-Mat – a smart toilet with a warm water rinse, warm air drying and deodorization – is almost as consistent as today, and is still available in more than 12 colours.
Geberella and Geberit-O-Mat, as prototypes of Geberit intelligent products, are another daring attempt to be pioneers, and in the following decades, they have been tested and continuously improved by the market, resulting in the Geberit AquaClean intelligent toilet series launched in 2009 and the Nuna intelligent toilet lid series launched in 2020, which greatly improves the comfort of wall-hung toilets.
With the acquisition of Sanitec, Finland's largest ceramic and sanitary ware group, in 2015, Geberit became one of the largest manufacturers of ceramic sanitary ware in Europe, thus beginning a new history of Geberit moving from behind the wall to before the wall. The Geberit brand, which has always been unobtrusive, shines in front of the wall, with a wide range of design products in front of the wall and a system behind the wall with a strong technical and engineering DNA that integrates inside and outside, which is the only advantage of Geberit to create a realistic picture of future bathroom life. From the European continent to the hinterland of China, Geberit has never experienced more freedom in the number, location and interior layout of the bathrooms through the integration of interior and exterior, with optimized storage space, barrier-free floors, smooth drainage and non-odor rejection, clean and easy maintenance, every detail shows Geberit's unremitting pursuit of the perfect living space. Geberit not only defines a new trend in the bathroom, but also a brand legend, leading the industry standard and creating the art of living for the 21st century.
With 150 years of history, Geberit has the experience of the elderly to travel through time and refuse to stick to stereotypes, the commitment and stability of the prime of life and the backwardness of looking ahead, and the rare sense of youth to go all out and not be reckless. From technology to materials, from products to bathroom life imagination, Geberit has always been a decade ahead of the industry, to be a leader rather than a follower, to be a pioneer rather than a copyist, with 150 years as a new starting point, EVERY FUTURE NEEDS A PAST - let history foresee the future, let the future be within reach.
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