In 2017, Duravit celebrated its 200 year anniversary. 200 years in which we made quality, design and technology our core competences. In the meantime, we accomplished to be manufacturers of designer bathrooms and can address the entire interior of the "bathroom". That is unique in our sector. Find out how all of this did come about and which milestones we set over the time.
Broadly speaking, the history of Duravit AG can be divided into two sections. In the early phase up to 1980 we concentrated on the quality of our ceramics and our region. It wasn’t until the 1950s that the prevailing economic conditions permitted sanitaryware to become part of the global flow of goods. The first great innovation was the Duravit wall-mounted toilet in the 1960s. At that time functional aspects predominated in the bathroom. In the 1970s decoration, shapes and colours came into play.
In the 1980s the topic of design as we understand it today became part of the bathroom, and that was also the start of our success story. Then and now we have been a key influence on that process. The first projects with Dieter Sieger set standards – and in hindsight they transformed the entire sector.But our products are more than that. They are timeless classics – and remain so today. 1994 saw the big breakthrough with Philippe Starck. Presentation, approach and product design were completely new at the time. Modern classics and the DNA of Duravit were born.
These factors remain relevant in 2012, 2015 and 2017. A pared-down design language, plenty of light, colour that emanates from the material. Plus, and this is new: technology, which does not dominate the design, but stays in the background. It is sustainable and enhances comfort. It has a use and a benefit. In a nutshell: Duravit represents a unique design language that we invented along with our partners and that defines us.
Georg Friedrich Horn receives the permission to run a ceramic factory in Hornberg.
Definite transition to the production of sanitary porcelain.
Start of the production of accessories in Hornberg.
Acquisition of the majority of shares of the French company Céramique de Bischwiller. From 1991 on, subsidiary of Duravit.
Start of the ceramic production in Cairo.
The Duralog Duravit Logistics GmbH builds a new central warehouse in Achern.
.jpg)
Duravit Turkey builds the interface between Europe and Asia and starts producing ceramics.
A second Duravit plant opens in Egypt to produce tubs and wellbeing products.
The Duravit Design Center, by Philippe Starck, opens its doors in Hornberg.
The central warehouse in Achern is being expanded by a full automated high rack warehouse.
Opening of the new engineering- and assembly plant Duravit Sanitaryware Technology Co., Ltd. in Shanghai.
The Duravit Technology Center opens in Meißen.
Duravit celebrates its 200 anniversary. With Your Future Bathroom, new design series, the first female designer in the Duravit family, faucets and further technological innovations, we are looking into an exciting future.
PRKS take over distribution of Duravit in Australia.
