A tradition of German kitchen design and construction
Germany is home to a built-in kitchen where architects and designers like Bruno and Maragrete (designer of the famous Frankfurt kitchen) lived and worked during the early parts of the 20th century. Enlightened designers and institutions, like the Bauhaus, have adopted modern production technologies and scientific approaches to ergonomics and design, from which we would now identify as a single unit or 'equipped kitchen'. Under the leadership of early manufacturers like Poggenpohl, German companies began to produce these kitchens in ever larger quantities, for both domestic and export markets. Since these kitchens are currently being sold overseas and separately from the manufacturer, this, in turn, created the need for professional kitchen designers who had significant knowledge about the available sizes of cabinets, as well as the ability to precisely plan them relative to the intended space. Manufacturing innovation. In general, the German industry and particularly 'Mittelstand' companies began early to apply the philosophy of automation and general quality management; An approach that continues to this day. For example, despite commissioning the e350m, Hacker Kitchen GmbH remains a privately owned company, committed to long-term investment. It was through innovation that has created a process of continuous improvement and refinement in product quality; For example it was a German kitchen maker who first started a ten coat lacquer process. Later, German kitchen design manufacturers became the first to create industry wide quality standards and environmental controls. The fierce competition among the manufacturers themselves has further enhanced this process and means that high quality suppliers such as hinges and drawer guides have evolved to support cabinet makers. A unique domestic market place. Despite the fact that Germany is one of the richest countries in the world, it has a relatively low share of home ownership, only 42% against 69% in the UK. So rented housing is much more common, although unlike in the UK, a German family will own their own kitchen to rent a property and take it with them when they leave! The German consumer, on the contrary, is much more focused on quality than his more valued British colleagues, and requires kitchen furniture that can withstand several times the installation, removal, transportation and re-installation. For this reason, if a kitchen manufacturer has to succeeds in Germany, he must demonstrate a very high level of engineering skill! In addition, since all of their kitchens are produced in the same factory, any kitchen exported to the UK will be developed to a standard that is much higher than necessary for most British families using only one home kitchen will do. Through a combination of history, technical experience and a single domestic market that German kitchen design manufacturers have penetrated to be in their current position as the undisputed world market leader in the production of kitchen furniture, and consumers continue to hope the latest innovations from Industry Leaders.
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January 2021
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