Over 150 years 
A success story

Albert Gebert invents the first cistern manufactured in Switzerland and calls it "Phoenix". The wooden cistern is lined with lead, the fittings are made of metal. 

In the middle of World War I, the Gebert brothers decide to build a factory in Rapperswil. They move into the new building in 1921.

The company ventures into the still young field of plastics processing—a groundbreaking step. From 1935 onwards, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is also used for individual components of the flush valve.

Heinrich (1917–2007; left) and Klaus Gebert (1926–1998) take over the management of the company and build it into a leading sanitary technology group.

The term "Geberit" is registered as a trademark. The German subsidiary is founded under this name as early as 1955, but in Switzerland the company is not renamed Geberit until 1976.

A technical advisory service has been set up to support and train installers, planners and building owners in the correct use of the products.

In the 1950s, polyethylene (PE) is still a young material. Nevertheless, siphons, bathtub drains and fittings made of PE are produced in Rapperswil from 1956.

Geberit launches a plastic cistern for installation in the wall. Initially not a big hit, concealed cisterns change the look of bathrooms all over the world from the 1980s onwards.

Geberit builds a larger plant on the outskirts of Pfullendorf and moves in in 1967. Today, this is the Group's largest site with 1500 employees.

Geberit opens another production plant 60 kilometres west of Vienna. The plant is subsequently expanded again and again.

Blow moulding technology is introduced; this enables the rationalised production of cisterns.

With the introduction of installation systems, the range of products is expanded. Montagefix is the first installation system from Geberit. It considerably simplifies the installation of sanitary technology in pre-walls. 

Geberit adopts an innovative system for roof drainage using negative pressure and calls it Pluvia from 1985. Software for calculating the system design is offered as early as 1986.

Acquisition of Sanbloc GmbH in Weilheim (DE). This company manufactures prefabrication components.

The Board of Directors decides to develop an environmental strategy. The first environmental manager is appointed in 1992 and the first Group-wide sustainability report is published in 2004.

GIS impresses with a small number of basic components and simple assembly using standard tools. It is ideal for the prefabrication of fully equipped sanitary walls.

Deriplast S.p.A., a company specializing in the manufacture of PE pipes based in Villadose (IT), in which a stake was acquired in 1989, is completely taken over, further expanded, and modernized.

Prosan, a company based in Ruše (SI), is acquired. It produces concealed cisterns and interior fittings for ceramic cisterns.

The five-storey laboratory building, which is acoustically decoupled from the environment, is used for realistic tests in the fields of building acoustics and structural analysis.

The family shareholders sell the company to the British investment company Doughty Hanson & Co. The Group Executive Board, together with other executive managers, acquires an interest in the company and thus preserves the operational independence of the Geberit Group.

Geberit successfully goes public on the Swiss Stock Exchange. At the same time, it introduces an attractive employee participation plan.

The acquisition of Mapress in the German Rhineland adds a high-quality metal supply system and press fittings to the portfolio. This opens up new markets.

Günter F. Kelm (left) stands down from his position as CEO as of 31 December and is replaced by his successor Albert M. Baehny (right).

The marketing slogan (claim) “Know-How Installed” is introduced. From this time on, it can be seen on packaging, amongst other things.

After many years of co-operation with the Austrian sheet metal processor Huter in Matrei (AT), Geberit takes over this company, which is one of the leading suppliers of prefabricated bathrooms. 

Geberit introduces respective codes of conduct for employees and suppliers.

The shower toilet is relaunched under the name Geberit AquaClean in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The core message of the advertising campaign is "I Love Water".

The “Geberit On Tour” campaign is launched in several European countries. The technical advisors travel through their countries in stages in order to pass on their know-how on site.

Günter F. Kelm steps down as Chairman of the Board of Directors. At the General Meeting, Albert M. Baehny (pictured) is elected his successor.

Geberit takes over the Finnish Sanitec Group, Europe’s leading provider of ceramic appliances. The Sanitec Group is home to well-known brands such as Keramag, Ifö, Kolo, Allia and Pozzi-Ginori. With the integration of Sanitec Geberit combines leading sanitary technology with ceramic expertise and design. 

Christian Buhl, the successor to Albert M. Baehny, takes up his new role as CEO on 1 January 2015.

The AquaClean Mera launches the TurboFlush spin flush technology. The rinsing water, which is channelled into the side of the ceramic, creates a vortex that ensures quiet and clean rinsing.

The opening of the new plant in Ruše is celebrated. Der Werkneubau in Ruše wird feierlich eröffnet. The new plant in Slovenia is state-of-the-art and particularly energy-efficient—thanks to waste heat utilization and the elimination of fossil fuels.

With SuperTube, Geberit is revolutionising the wastewater downpipe in high-rise buildings: Sophisticated fittings set the water in rotation and generate a constant column of air - even in the case of deflections. Pune is the site of the world's first deployment of the new technology.  The efficient drainage system is installed in the “Gateway Towers 1” construction project.

The new Geberit ONE bathroom series is a manifestation of the Sanitec integration strategy: invisible sanitary technology combined with beautifully designed products in front of the wall create new added value.

Ten kilns in seven ceramics plants are now fitted with Enervit burner technology. As a result, around 27,500 MWh of natural gas and 6,500 tonnes of CO₂ can be saved each year.

In order to create a clear brand focus in advertising and communication, the ceramic brand Keramag - later also Allia, Sphinx and Pozzi-Ginorei - is replaced by the Geberit brand.

With the campaign “Better bathrooms, better lives”, Geberit has set out on the path of communicating directly with the end user. The campaign focuses on their most important requirements – cleanliness, optimisation of space, comfort, user-friendliness, accessibility and design.

The new CO₂ strategy will be integrated into all relevant business processes in future. As a result, Geberit aims for a CO₂ reduction of 5% per year in the medium term, in relation to currency-adjusted net sales.

Geberit celebrates its 150th anniversary. 
Find out more about our company history.