Caroma
 | |
| Owner | GWA Group |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Introduced | 1941 |
| Website | www |
Caroma (Caroma Dorf) is an Australian designer and distributor of bathroom products. Caroma was established in 1941 by Hungarian-born Charles Rothauser. Since closing its last factory in 2017 now sources all products from third-party overseas manufacturers.[1]
Caroma is a subsidiary of GWA Group, and introduced the world's first two-button dual flush toilet system. The company self-distributes within Australia and, in other countries, sells through distributors such as Sustainable Solutions International in North America and Sanlamere in the United Kingdom.
History
[edit]The company was established in 1941 with a factory at Norwood, an inner eastern suburb of Adelaide. The company announced its intention to close down manufacturing in Australia on 8 October 2014. The factory at Wetherill Park in Sydney closed in 2014.[2] It finally closed the Norwood factory on 24 February 2017. Manufacture now occurs in Malaysia, China and Europe.[1]
Caroma Dorf companies
[edit]The Caroma Dorf group of companies offers a range of bathroom, kitchen and laundry products from a number of brands.
- Fowler – toilets and basins[3]
- Dorf – bathroom, kitchen and laundry products[4]
- Clark – kitchen sinks[5]
- Epure – a premium range of kitchen sinks by Clark[6]
- Radiant – kitchen and laundry products[7]
- Irwell – tapware products[8]
- Stylus – baths, spas and other bathroom fixtures[9]
- Dux Hot Water[10]
Innovations
[edit]- The first in the world to introduce the two-button dual flush system in 1982[11][12]
- The first in the world to introduce the 6/3L dual flush cistern[13]
- The first to introduce the 4.5/3L dual flush cistern through Smartflush technology[14]
- The first company to gain a WELS 5 Star rating for toilet suites[14]
- The first company to achieve an Australian WELS 6 Star rating for urinals[15][16]
Awards
[edit]- Australian Design Award for Excellence in Australian Design in the Housing & Building category (2009) – Caroma Invisi Series II Toilet Suite[17][18]
- Australian Design Awards for Excellence in Sustainable Design (2007) – Caroma H2Zero Cube Urinal[19][20]
- Australian Design Award for Excellence in Australian Design in the Housing and Building category (2005) – Smartflush Toilet Suite Range[21]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Castello, Renato (24 February 2017). "Bathroom manufacturer Caroma will close the doors of its Adelaide factory ending 76 years of manufacturing tradition". Adelaide Advertiser. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ^ Foster, Sophie (8 October 2014). "Caroma and Dorf owner GWA slashes 164 jobs as it shuts two factories". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ^ "Official Fowler website". Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ "Bathroom Products and Inspiration". Dorf.
- ^ "Clark Kitchen Sinks, Kitchen Taps, Kitchen Accessories and Laundry Tubs. Since 1941". clark.com.au.
- ^ "Kitchen Sinks – Epure". clark.com.au. Archived from the original on 10 April 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ "Bathroom products from Stylus. Quality Toilets, Basins, Baths, Spas and Taps". radiantstainless.com.au.
- ^ "Bathroom products from Stylus. Quality Toilets, Basins, Baths, Spas and Taps". irwell.com.au.
- ^ Official Stylus website
- ^ "Dux Hot Water". dux.com.au.
- ^ "Australia Innovates". Powerhouse Museum.
- ^ "Toilet cistern and seat, dual flush volume 'Uniset', plastic/metal, Caroma Industries Pty Ltd, South Australia, 1982–1992". Powerhouse Museum.
- ^ "DuoSet dual flush toilet cistern". Powerhouse Museum.
- ^ a b "Sectioned Caroma 'Smartflush' toilet suite". Powerhouse Museum.
- ^ "Commercial Bathroom Retrofit Program" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
- ^ http://ag.gov.au/portal/govgazonline.nsf/6094A74B9E1BF38CCA257199001FA3DA/$file/S111.pdf[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Caroma Invisi Series II Toilet Suite".
- ^ "Caroma's Invisi Series II Toilet Suite wins 2009 Australian International Design Award". Architecture & Design. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ "Caroma H2Zero Cube Urinal". Australian International Design Awards. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ Blain, Loz (17 May 2007). "Waterless urinal making a splash". New Atlas. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ "Caroma Smartflush Toilet Suite Range". Australian International Design Awards. Archived from the original on 6 October 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2026.