Bulthaup (legally: ''Bulthaup GmbH & Co. KG'', stylized as bulthaup) is a German

kitchen A kitchen is a room (architecture), room or part of a room used for cooking and food preparation in a dwelling or in a commercial establishment. A modern middle-class residential kitchen is typically equipped with a Kitchen stove, stove, a sink ...

manufacturer headquartered in Aich, Bodenkirchen, close to

Landshut Landshut (; ) is a town in Bavaria, Germany, on the banks of the Isar, River Isar. Landshut is the capital of Lower Bavaria, one of the seven administrative regions of the Free state (government), Free State of Bavaria, and the seat of the surrou ...

Lower Bavaria Lower Bavaria (, ; ) is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of the state. It consists of nine districts and 258 municipalities (including three cities). Geography Lower Bavaria is subdivided into two ...

. It has a headcount of 530, and records revenues of around 120 million euros – 80% of which is account for by exports.Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection of Germany: Federal Gazette. Consolidated accounts of fiscal year from 1st of January 2012 to 31st of December 2012. In: https://www.bundesanzeiger.de. Keyword: Bulthaup GmbH & Co KG (Aich, Gde. Bodenkirchen). Berlin: Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection of Germany. (Reviewed: 21 May 2014)

Corporate history

Early years

In 1949, Martin Bulthaup, originally from the

East Westphalia Ostwestfalen-Lippe (, literally ''East(ern) Westphalia-Lippe'', abbreviation OWL) is the eastern region of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, congruent with the administrative region of Detmold and containing the eastern part of Wes ...

area of Germany, founded the company ''Martin Bulthaup Möbelfabrik'' (German for ''Martin Bulthaup furniture factory'') in Bodenkirchen, close to

. Two years later, in 1951, he began manufacturing kitchen furniture. His first product was a sideboard with hand-sewn curtains. In 1963, Martin Bulthaup built a

factory A factory, manufacturing plant or production plant is an industrial facility, often a complex consisting of several buildings filled with machinery, where workers manufacture items or operate machines which process each item into another. Th ...

in Bodenkirchen, followed by a further production facility in

Neumarkt-Sankt Veit Neumarkt-Sankt Veit (until 1934 Neumarkt an der Rott) is a town in the district of Mühldorf, in Bavaria, Germany. It is located on the river Rott, 10 kilometers north of Mühldorf, and 33 kilometers southeast of Landshut. Mayor Since 2002 Erwi ...

in 1966. At both sites, he introduced

assembly line An assembly line, often called ''progressive assembly'', is a manufacturing process where the unfinished product moves in a direct line from workstation to workstation, with parts added in sequence until the final product is completed. By mechan ...

s. In 1969, Bulthaup launched its ''Stil 75'' product range. Kupetz, Andrej: Gerd Bulthaup – The freedom of space. In: German Design Award 2014 – Personality. German Design Council. Frankfurt. 2014. p. 1. 23 May 2014. By the late 1960s, the company was one of the top five German kitchen manufacturers with a revenue of 100 million

Deutsche Mark The Deutsche Mark (; "German mark (currency), mark"), abbreviated "DM" or "D-Mark" (), was the official currency of West Germany from 1948 until 1990 and later of unified Germany from 1990 until the adoption of the euro in 2002. In English, it ...

s. From 1973 onwards, it began exporting its products to members of the then

European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) was a regional organisation created by the Treaty of Rome of 1957,Today the largely rewritten treaty continues in force as the ''Treaty on the functioning of the European Union'', as renamed by the Lisbo ...

. In 1974, Bulthaup introduced its ''Concept 12'', or c12, model. It enabled flexible kitchen designs, based on a 12 × 12 cm grid.Kietzmann, Norman: When the workbench conquered the kitchen. Berlin: Bau Netz Media GmbH. 2 June 2008. p. 1–3. (Reviewed: 21 May 2014.) Following Martin Bulthaup's death in 1978, his son Gerd Bulthaup took on the reins of the company. He built a new production facility in Aich, uniting various business departments and corporate functions. Gerd, in seeking to expand the business, came into contact with the designer

Otl Aicher Otto "Otl" Aicher (; 13 May 1922 – 1 September 1991) was a German graphic designer and typographer. Aicher co-founded and taught at the influential Ulm School of Design. He is known for having led the design team of the 1972 Summer Olympics ...

, whose design ideas were largely based on the principles of the Ulm School of Design which favours simplified forms and functionality.

Collaboration with Otl Aicher

1980 marked the beginning of Bulthaup’s collaboration with designer

. It was Aicher’s belief that the kitchen should be an inviting place where meals are prepared together; where all the required tools and implements are clearly visible, and stored within easy reach. In 1982, Aicher published his book ''Die Küche zum Kochen'' (The Kitchen is for Cooking). This same year Bulthaup launched its ''System b'' kitchens, inspired by Aicher’s research. In 1988, the Bulthaup ''Kitchen Workbench'' (KWB) followed, combining a stainless steel cooktop, sink and worktop. The

workbench A workbench is a sturdy table at which manual work is done. They range from simple flat surfaces to very complex designs that may be considered tools in themselves. Workbenches vary in size from tiny jewellers benches to the huge benches used by ...

brought design elements typical of professional kitchens into the private setting, and went on to win multiple awards.

1990s

1992 was the year of Bulthaup’s ''System 25''. Its modular structure and diverse components enabled flexible kitchen design. The name ''System 25'' was derived from the 3D 25 × 25 × 25 mm

grid Grid, The Grid, or GRID may refer to: Space partitioning * Regular grid, a tessellation of space with translational symmetry, typically formed from parallelograms or higher-dimensional analogs ** Grid graph, a graph structure with nodes connec ...

the range was based on. System 25’s broad range of fronts and surface materials allowed each part of the kitchen to be carefully planned according to its purpose. Items that needed to be particularly hard-wearing could be produced using

stainless steel Stainless steel, also known as inox, corrosion-resistant steel (CRES), or rustless steel, is an iron-based alloy that contains chromium, making it resistant to rust and corrosion. Stainless steel's resistance to corrosion comes from its chromi ...

, combined with glass, wood, or

laminate Simulated flight (using image stack created by μCT scanning) through the length of a knitting needle that consists of laminated wooden layers: the layers can be differentiated by the change of direction of the wood's vessels Shattered windshi ...

surfaces. The new Bulthaup extractor, whose form and function were based on those used in professional kitchens, won several awards. During this period, Bulthaup also developed and launched Korpus and Duktus seating. In 1997, Bulthaup launched the mobile ''System 20'', with its wheeled

container A container is any receptacle or enclosure for holding a product used in storage, packaging, and transportation, including shipping. Things kept inside of a container are protected on several sides by being inside of its structure. The term ...

s and freely positionable elements. Each item could be combined as the customer wished and placed anywhere in the room where there was an electricity and water supply.

From 2000

In 2002, Gerd Bulthaup retired from the day-to-day running of the business. The company went on to be headed up by several external managers before returning to the family in 2010, under the leadership of Marc O. Eckert. In 2004, the materials and

adhesive Adhesive, also known as glue, cement, mucilage, or paste, is any non-metallic substance applied to one or both surfaces of two separate items that binds them together and resists their separation. The use of adhesives offers certain advantage ...

s that Bulthaup used to produce its kitchens were tested by the German consumer magazine ''Öko-Test'' (eco-test) – verifying that they were not harmful to health. Both Bulthaup and fellow manufacturers Poggenpohl were categorized as “satisfactory”.

Product ranges

Currently, Bulthaup offers three product ranges: b2 and b3.

Bulthaup b2

The b2 range is a continuation of

’s “kitchen

workshop Beginning with the Industrial Revolution era, a workshop may be a room, rooms or building which provides both the area and tools (or machinery) that may be required for the manufacture or repair of manufactured goods. Workshops were the only ...

”. It comprises two cabinets housing everything from dishes to a

refrigerator A refrigerator, commonly shortened to fridge, is a commercial and home appliance consisting of a thermal insulation, thermally insulated compartment and a heat pump (mechanical, electronic or chemical) that transfers heat from its inside to ...

dishwasher A dishwasher is a machine that is used to clean dishware, cookware, and cutlery automatically. Unlike dishwashing, manual dishwashing, which relies on physical scrubbing to remove soiling, the mechanical dishwasher cleans by spraying hot wat ...

and

oven upA double oven A ceramic oven An oven is a tool that is used to expose materials to a hot environment. Ovens contain a hollow chamber and provide a means of heating the chamber in a controlled way. In use since antiquity, they have been use ...

. Each item is immediately accessible as soon as the doors are opened. A

incorporates the water point and cooktop. And the interior of the cabinets and the

both have a modular

design A design is the concept or proposal for an object, process, or system. The word ''design'' refers to something that is or has been intentionally created by a thinking agent, and is sometimes used to refer to the inherent nature of something ...

Bulthaup b3

One of the defining elements of the b3 range is the multi-function wall installed in front of the actual wall, for hanging kitchen utensils, cabinets, and other elements. These can be freely positioned according to the requirements of the specific room. The result is a kitchen that appears to float. But the multi-function wall does not only support kitchen tools and cabinets. Knife blocks, kitchen roll holders and shelves can also be hung from its grooves. In addition, function boxes with hinged openings provide additional storage space, keeping all utensils, food, and herbs and spices close to hand.

Kitchen furniture and fittings

Other Bulthaup brand products include tables, benches, extractors, faucets, lighting and other accessories designed for private kitchens.

Design characteristics

The Bulthaup brand is known for its functional,

ergonomic Ergonomics, also known as human factors or human factors engineering (HFE), is the application of psychological and physiological principles to the engineering and design of products, processes, and systems. Primary goals of human factors engi ...

designs. One key element is a table, originally made from wood, positioned in the center of the kitchen. This ''butcher’s block'' was the first in a series of free-standing products that enabled people to cook together, and communicate with each other. It was followed by the Bulthaup kitchen

, made entirely of

. Thanks to the

design of the Bulthaup faucet, the volume and temperature of the water and the position of the water point itself can be easily adjusted with just one hand. The b3 system of interior elements is another hallmark of the Bulthaup brand. The inserts in the b3 pull-outs are wave-like in form, and accommodate moveable dividers for customizable compartment sizes.Keh, Pei-ru
Best of the rest. Best storage. b3 drawer fitting system by bulthaup.
Wallpaper Design Awards 2013. London. 2013. (Reviewed: 25 June 2014) Bulthaup faucet.png, Bulthaup faucet (2014) Bulthaup_b3_interior_system.png, Drawer of Bulthaup b3 kitchen with “Interior System“ (2014)

Sales structure

Bulthaup kitchens are only sold in Bulthaup showrooms and by authorized retailers. For many years, the company has focused on presenting and selling its kitchens in single-brand stores. Today, Bulthaup collaborates with around 250

retail Retail is the sale of goods and services to consumers, in contrast to wholesaling, which is the sale to business or institutional customers. A retailer purchases goods in large quantities from manufacturers, directly or through a wholes ...

partners worldwide, who all operate their

showroom A plumbing fixture showroom, Canada, 1921 A showroom is a large space used to display products or show entertainment. Marketing location A showroom is a large space used to display products for sale, such as automobiles, furniture, appliances ...

s as independent businesses. Bulthaup also has subsidiaries in the UK, France, Italy, Spain, the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

, Switzerland,

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

, and the United States.

Awards

2014: The German Design Council presents Gerd Bulthaup with the German Design Award in the Personality category. This is an annual prize bestowed on people who have made a significant contribution to the

industry. 2014: German magazine

WirtschaftsWoche ''Wirtschaftswoche'' is a German weekly business news magazine published in Germany. ''Wirtschaft'' means “economy” (including business), and ''Woche'' is “week”. History and profile For many years, ''Wirtschaftswoche'' was published ...

ranks Bulthaup in fifth place of 30

luxury brands In economics, a luxury good (or upmarket good) is a good for which demand increases more than what is proportional as income rises, so that expenditures on the good become a more significant proportion of overall spending. Luxury goods are in con ...

, making it once again the top

furniture Furniture refers to objects intended to support various human activities such as seating (e.g., Stool (seat), stools, chairs, and sofas), eating (table (furniture), tables), storing items, working, and sleeping (e.g., beds and hammocks). Furnitur ...

maker. 2014: Bulthaup receives the Gold Architects Partner Award from AIT magazine. This accolade is given to companies that set a strong example in their collaboration with architects and demonstrate exceptional sales skills. 2013: The Bulthaup b3 system of interior elements wins the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design’s Good Design Award for Kitchen/Utensils. 2013: The Bulthaup b3 system of interior elements receives the

Wallpaper Wallpaper is used in interior decoration to cover the interior walls of domestic and public buildings. It is usually sold in rolls and is applied onto a wall using wallpaper paste. Wallpapers can come plain as "lining paper" to help cover uneve ...

Design Award in the Best Storage category. 2010: The b2 system wins the Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany. 2007: German magazine

rates Bulthaup as the No.1 furniture maker in its ranking of luxury brands. 1997: The

European Commission The European Commission (EC) is the primary Executive (government), executive arm of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with a number of European Commissioner, members of the Commission (directorial system, informall ...

presents Bulthaup with a

Lifetime Achievement Award Lifetime achievement awards are awarded by various organizations, to recognize contributions over the whole of a career, rather than or in addition to single contributions. Such awards, and organizations presenting them, include: A * A.C. ...

and the European Design Prize.Baunetz. In: http://www.baunetz.de/meldungen/Meldungen_Europaeischer_Designpreis_1997_fuer_bulthaup_Einbaukuechen_1289.html.

References

For greater replicability all references have been transferred from German to English.

External links

(English) Bulthaup GmbH & Co. KG
English corporate homepage
(International) Bulthaup GmbH & Co. KG
International corporate homepage *Ward, Timothy Jack:

'. ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', November 11, 1999. {{Authority control Kitchen manufacturers Manufacturing companies established in 1949 Furniture companies of Germany Manufacturing companies of Germany