Gaggenau: Difference between revisions

Gaggenau Hausgeräte GmbH produces high-quality kitchen appliances with uncompromising standards of quality, authenticity and design. The range includes ovens, [[Gaggenau combi-steam oven|combi-steam ovens]], Vario special cooking appliances, glass ceramic, gas and [[The CX 480 full surface induction cooktop with TFT touch display|induction cooktops]], [[Gaggenau downdraft ventilation|ventilation]], vacuuming and warming drawers, cooling appliances, wine climate cabinets, fully automatic espresso machines, dishwashers, microwaves, tumble dryers and washing machines. The Gaggenau brand presents itself today as a luxury brand and is represented by flagship showrooms in leading cities in more than 50 countries around the globe. The company can look back on a long history. It all began in 1683 when Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm of Baden founded an ironworks to make nails and other household goods. He wanted to boost the economy of the local region and open up new sources of income for its people in addition to agriculture.<ref>Preface by Michael Wessel, in Theodor Bergmann: Eisenwerke Gaggenau A.G, 1891, New edition, (ed. Michael Wessel) 2009 Rastatt. page 7; for a general chronology of the plant, see pages 79-84; Michael Wessel: Geschichte der Eisenwerke Gaggenau at http://www.murgtal-chronik.de, published 9.4.2012; Ein Blick in die Geschichte Gaggenaus, website of the town of Gaggenau http://www.gaggenau.de/stadtgeschichte.4357.htm; Aus Tradition einen Schritt voraus, Gaggenau website, http://www.gaggenau.com/de/die-welt-von-gaggenau/der-unterschied-heisst/tradition/aus-tradeition-einen-schritt-voraus (last downloaded on 7.12.2016).</ref>

==== Ahead of its time ====

The smithy had a number of tenants in the intervening years of the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1873, the plant was purchased by the entrepreneur Michael Flürscheim from Frankfurt together with Franz Korwan and named "Korwan und Flürscheim Eisenwerke Gaggenau bei Rastatt". However, Korwan left the business again that same year for health reasons. The company was renamed "Michael Flürscheim Eisenwerke Gaggenau".<ref>Michael Wessel: Michael Flürscheim. Industrieller – Sozialökonom – Utopist, Buch & Bild Wessel GmbH, Gaggenau 2014, page 143.</ref> During his time as director, Flürscheim developed the plant to become the first major industrial undertaking in the region, producing a wide range of ironware such as agricultural equipment and tools. Flürscheim established social institutions in his company which were ahead of their time, including a health insurance fund for workers and their families and a consumer association that allowed employees to buy everyday goods cheaply.<ref>Helmut Böttcher: Ein Beitrag zur Stadtgeschichte: Michael Flürscheim - a great entrepreneur and social reformer, who died 85 years ago, 1997 in: Materialien zur Geschichte der Eisenwerke Gaggenau (C03- 0296), BSH Corporate Archives.</ref> The fate of Gaggenau was sealed when Michael Flürscheim came in contact with cooker manufacturer Theodor Bergmann at the Berlin Trade Fair in 1879. Flürscheim was so impressed by Bergmann's eloquence at the stand that he convinced him to come on board with him in Gaggenau.