Franke (company)

Franke Holding AG
Company type	Limited Company
Industry	Kitchen Systems; Foodservice Systems; Washroom Systems; Coffee Systems; Beverage Systems; Industrial Engineering
Founded	1911
Headquarters	Aarburg, Switzerland
Key people	Alexander Zschokke, CEO Michael Pieper, owner
Products	Sinks; Hoods; Tables; Stoves; Ovens
Number of employees	8,523
Website	www.franke.com

Franke Holding AG, based in Aarburg, Switzerland, is an industrial manufacturer with companies located around the world.

Franke has about 8,523 qualified employees working in 68 companies in Europe, South and North America, Africa, Australia and Asia.

In 2012, the Franke Group had a total turnover of CHF 2,012.4 million.

Franke History

Founding years

Hermann Franke founded a sheet metal business in his name in Rorschach, Switzerland, in 1911. In the late 1920s the economic upturn in the industry and construction sector led to the incorporation of a sanitary installations department. Franke began with the production of oven tops, skylights and dormer windows.

In the 1930s Franke started production of the first sink units in nickeline, monel-metal and later in stainless steel. Franke built a new factory with offices and residential building, and the company's ten employees relocated to Aarburg, Switzerland. Franke initiated the first production series and the first fully welded, smooth sink unit.

Hermann Franke died on January 25, 1939, and his son Walter took over the business. The Second World War led to great difficulties in obtaining materials. During the years after the war the company's factory facilities expanded and the production of complete kitchens began. Franke started to export products to European countries.

Expansion years

The construction sector developed encouragingly. Business expanded rapidly. Franke became a leader in state-of-the-art kitchen sinks. In 1950 the Washroom and Sanitary Equipment product group was firmly established as part of Franke with a full range of products for communal washrooms and WCs. Production of components for propulsion systems began. Franke saw its first foreign investment in Germany and by 1955 had 500 employees.

In the late 1950s, Franke's production doubled. Factory facilities were expanded further. A "Commercial Kitchens" division was founded. By 1961 Franke had 750 employees.

Over the next twelve years Franke experienced rapid growth: 13 new subsidiaries were established and two companies began manufacturing under license. In 1972, Franke built and installed the first kitchen for McDonald's in Munich. By 1974 the company had 2,600 employees. In 1975 Franke ownership changes: Walter Franke's friend and business partner Willi Pieper took over. Four subsidiaries and two licensees were added to the group. In 1979 the now world-famous Franke compact sink system was introduced. In the late 1980s the divisional organization was established.

Today

Michael Pieper joined Group Management in 1989. Rapid and consistent expansion transformed Franke into a corporate group with worldwide operations. Today Franke consists of approx. 10,500 employees in over 70 companies in Europe, South America, North America, Africa, Australia and Asia.

By adopting a policy of investment in innovation and technology, Franke has established their position as the largest stainless steel sink manufacturer in the world today.

Franke Companies

Switzerland

Franke Artemis Group has its headquarters in Aarburg/Switzerland.

UK

Franke took over the Sissons company based in Chesterfield, who are a manufacturer of stainless steel catering sinks and washroom systems. Sissons were one of the first companies to manufacture stainless steel sinks in the 1930, and were founded in Sheffield, England. The company is known as Franke Sissons Ltd. In 1990 it bought over the Falkirk-based Carron Phoenix.

Franke Coffee Systems UK are based in St Albans, Hertfordshire and sell and service a range of bean-to-cup, pod and traditional style coffee machines.

France

The company has also bought the companies Blinox and Roblin (producing hoods).

Products

Franke Kitchen Systems (sinks, extractor hoods, tables, stoves, ovens) and Franke Foodservice Systems (systems and services for quick service restaurants) are both global market leaders in their respective segments. Further activities include Franke Washroom Systems (washroom and sanitary systems for public and semi-public use), Franke Coffee Systems with a wide range of super automatic, professional and semi-professional coffee machines, Franke Beverage Systems as well as Industrial Engineering.

Franke Kitchen Systems	Franke Foodservice Systems	Franke Washroom Systems	Franke Coffee Systems
sinks, extractor hoods, tables, stoves, ovens	systems and services for quick service restaurants	washroom and sanitary systems for public and semi-public use	professional and semi-professional coffee machines

External links