Franke

When Hermann Franke founded his own sheet metal business in 1911, he couldn’t have envisioned that his humble craftsman’s workshop would one day grow into a global specialist in kitchen solutions, employing 9,000 people across almost every continent.

Throughout its first 30 years, the bulk of Franke’s manufacturing consisted of oven tops, roof windows, and dormers. The first sink made of galvanised copper sheet came in the late 1920s, but the real breakthrough would occur in the mid-1930s when Franke produced the first stainless steel sink. This got the ball rolling for series production and improved welding technology, and Franke changed the location of its headquarters and looked to extend its reach beyond Switzerland.

Today, Franke conceives of its operations as a culmination of five divisions. Its Kitchen Systems division aims to enhance the results of amateur and professional chefs alike. Innovative engineering, unique design, and outstanding Swiss quality form the backbone of everything Franke touches. Franke seeks to provide unconventional solutions to everyday problems, and it’s imperative that form follows function with all of its products.