It began with a spark
1683: Our story springs to life on the edge of the Black Forest. This was an area of poor farmers barely scratching out a living, generation after generation. To tackle this, the aristocratic ruler of the region, Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm von Baden, diversified. He established a smelting plant in Rotenfels and a hammer mill and nail forge in Gaggenau in 1683.
Inspiration and commitment
1873: Gaggenau metalworks had, by this point, progressed to make farm machinery. Decades had passed and the place and its people began to make a name for themselves. Its ironworks grew in number and scale. The days of making nails were over. New products for a new industrial class were being mass-produced and the foundation of the German Engineering legend was being laid.
The cornerstone of our experience
1880: As a specialist in enamel, Gaggenau produced hardwearing advertising signs for brands such as Odal, Mggi and Stollwerck. This informed the recipe for the company’s robust oven enamel, which in turn formed the basis for the success of its coal and gas-fired stoves. That same lineage of enamel can be seen today in the form of our iconic blue oven interiors.
Moving with the times
The product range adapted into the new century. Gaggenau assumed a pioneering role with a range of innovative products, including coal and gas-fired stoves, as well as bicycles. By 1908, Gaggenau had sold a total of 250,000 “Badenia” bicycles. This success taught the collective of workers and manages the importance of ergonomics, build quality and distinctive design.
Dawn of the labour-saving kitchen
1931: When Dr. Otto von Blanquet took over, the company shifted its focus solely towards coal and gas-fired stoves. In the late 1940s Gaggenau began to produce innovative, economical gas and coal fired ovens. Electric ovens were also manufactured for the first time, with 180 employees eventually involved in producing the famous “Favorit” and “Futura” models.
The advent of built-in appliances
1956: When Georg von Blanquet followed in his father’s footsteps, he paved the way for the fitted kitchen revolution. In 1956 the first built-in, eye-level oven, separate cooktop and ventilation appliances were all brought to market, by us.
His appetite for change was matched only by his demand for quality. New functions had to prove useful to chefs, be study enough for the working kitchen and look beautiful.
The Bauhaus influence
1960s: The Gaggenau logo that still lives on today was developed at the end of the 60s. As with our appliances, it is influenced by the style of the Bauhaus art school, a centre of classical modernism. The simple and pure objectivity of Bauhaus were considered a design revolution and ‘Form follows function’ remains a core Gaggenau belief.
The forerunner of the Vario
1970s: Gaggenau presented the first 28cm wide Vario cooktops with top-mounted control knobs – a forerunner of the now classical advanced Vario cooktop series. This series provides a wide variety of specialised appliances that combine to provide a bespoke cooking experience.
The 90cm handcrafted icon is born
1986: The first 90cm wide oven to reach the European market was inevitably going to impress, with a generous net volume of 87 litres and space for up to four roasts at a time. The EB 300 soon achieved cult status.
Inspiration from America
1990: Inspired by generously-dimensioned freestanding American fridge-freezer combinations, the side-by-side IK 300 launched featuring separate access to fridge and freezer compartments. In addition to five climate zones and manual humidity control, the appliance boasted a clear ice dispenser.
Bringing steam into the home
1999: Gaggenau – Pioneer of healthy eating: The ED 220 steam oven was the first of its kind to be commercially produced for the private home. Since then steam ovens have become the standard for the private chef who demands the best.
Launch of the Gaggenau magazine
2007: Our award-winning magazine highlights intriguing artisans and cultures from around the globe. Designed to interest, inspire and enlighten, it has recently been revamped.
A celebration of wine culture
The Gaggenau Sommelier Awards are held every two years and preceded by regional heats. Uncovering the rising stars in the industy, the finals have grown into a grand afair that have so far been held in Alsace and Vienna.
Introducing steam clean
2015: Gaggenau introduced the latest innovation: an automatic cleaning system for the combi-steam oven that can be easily operated at the push of a button.
An icon reborn
2016: An aspiration of the private chef, and the professional chef at home, the EB 300 has been a Gaggenau icon for over 30 years. This oven is a 90cm testament to the Gaggenau difference, its heritage and traditional avantgarde. Wildly individual, distinctive and iconic, it is the heart of the kitchen. This is a predominantly hand built oven, in a world of machine-made appliances.
A moment in N.Y.
2017: we reimagined gastronomic luxury with a unique epicurean sensorial event in New York that evoked our Black Forest beginnings. Over four nights a select few were treated to an inspiring and inventive culinary movement.
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