“KWC is a guarantee of quality”

Last year, the Franke Water Systems Division was sold by the Franke Group, and the two business units, Water Systems Commercial (WSC) and KWC, have restructured. CEO and Chairman of the Board Thorsten Klapproth discusses what has been achieved so far and what plans the company has for the near future.

Thorsten Klapproth, you have now been at the helm of the two independent business units KWC and WSC for almost a year. How have you experienced this initial period in the new unit, and what issues were tackled first?

KWC looks back on a long tradition characterized by a strong spirit of innovation. This wouldn't be possible without our innovative and creative people within the company. They are, for me, the company's most important resource. Due to the pandemic, however, the initial contact with the employees at headquarters couldn't take place in person. The management team and the employees had to get to know each other virtually. Even though it's very important to me, and much preferable, to be close to people, the online launch went well. I've had a very positive experience so far and have already settled in quite nicely. I know the industry very well, and I'm very excited to lead KWC. There's a lot happening here: it feels like a 150-year-old start-up.

What did I tackle first? First and foremost, it was important to simply listen. KWC has locations spread all over the world. It's essential that the company's independence is built collaboratively by individual employees worldwide. And so, our employees from different countries met offline or online in various workstreams to take on the challenge of becoming a new, independent group. Our motto is: One Team – one goal – one company.

What is WSC's main focus?

…and what about KWC, which is well established in the Swiss market?

KWC and Water Systems Commercial are embarking on a new, shared path. The products and brands of KWC Group AG – namely KWC, Water Systems Commercial, DEKO, DVS, Franke Sissons, and Nokite – will be united under the KWC brand. The new brand will be structured into three focus areas: KWC Home, KWC Professional, and KWC Medical. With this strategic decision, we are strengthening our position in the sanitaryware industry and guaranteeing a broad product range for kitchens and bathrooms in private homes, semi-public and public sanitary facilities, and medical technology. The unified brand identity is the first step in bringing together our agile centers of expertise to tangibly improve people's lives. KWC stands for the goal of improving quality of life.

KWC is a brand with a particularly strong reputation for its faucets and a 150-year history. From its headquarters in Unterkulm, KWC exports its high-quality products to over 50 countries. What are the company's goals here?

KWC, with its production facility in Unterkulm, Aargau, is a guarantor of quality. In Unterkulm, precision and efficiency are practiced in all areas of the company: short production routes, product development based on experience, and service quality. We are ambitious to market our products even more strongly internationally. Sustainability, hygiene, and water purity are global issues, and the demands in these areas are constantly increasing.

What is planned at the various production and distribution sites in Switzerland and abroad?

We have production facilities all over the world: in Germany, England, the United Arab Emirates, China, and of course at our headquarters in Switzerland. All are ideally positioned to manufacture high-quality products for our customers.

Our major advantage: We can use our professional expertise to enhance private spaces, and vice versa. In other words: From professionals for professionals.

What is the current number of employees at KWC Group AG? Are any changes planned?

We currently employ over 1,000 people worldwide within the group. Around 300 of them work here at our headquarters in Switzerland. Often, jobs are cut when a company changes ownership. We have a different approach and rely on the extensive experience of our existing employees to drive growth. Furthermore, internationalization is becoming increasingly important. While we already have many international business relationships, we aim to expand even further in the future.

What is your company planning or achieving regarding the required sustainable transformation of the economy?

Water is the purest form of life. Nothing is more important to us than the purity of this precious element. This is the foundation of our actions: sustainability, hygiene, care, and safety are our top priorities. The water simply flows clean from the tap. And not a single drop is wasted. But how is this possible – and how can it be even better? Stainless steel is undoubtedly one of our core competencies. We produce sustainable and durable products that are 100% recyclable. Combined with outstanding design and smart electronics, we are taking water management to a new level. Digitalization is also making its way into our products, not only with touchless faucets and the regulation of resource consumption. We take this seriously and can thus contribute to protecting our environment without neglecting the needs of our customers.

What innovations will you be launching soon?

Smart sanitary solutions and the development of the KWC Shower Culture are part of our work. Stainless steel and electronics are our core competencies. We are constantly working on new product developments that simplify everyday life for our customers. Our experts focus their innovative spirit and passion on developing new products that are completely new to our industry. At the moment, I can only say that our research and development department is working on some very promising projects. There's a lot happening here at KWC right now, and we'll be able to showcase all of that at ISH next year.

What is a visit to today's KWC like?

KWC was founded in Unterkulm in 1874 and is one of Switzerland's most renowned traditional brands. The foundry, built in 1880, still stands in Unterkulm and is part of a new building complex that has served as the new headquarters of KWC Group AG since September 2020. The first four floors house the KWC fittings competence center, with an Aquakulm showroom, a KWC shop, and the staff restaurant "Wynagarten" on the ground floor. The offices occupy the three floors above. The upper floors contain modern apartments that are part of the new KWC residential complex.

The Aquakulm exhibition is open to everyone. Here, visitors are guided from the water source to its use in the kitchen and bathroom. The history and individual production steps are presented through multimedia. A fittings library provides a comprehensive overview of all current products, and the coffee bar offers a place to chat. The exhibition is accessible to plumbers, installers, architects, and builders, as well as all interested members of the public. We are an open house and look forward to welcoming visitors.

How do you see the near future?

It's quite clear: the future needs its roots. This fusion is what makes our position so unique. KWC has a long tradition and a strong innovative spirit that we are committed to preserving. Products like the pull-out spray head and the swan-neck mixer bear our signature and are indispensable today. The most modern version of the pull-out spray head for the kitchen is the electronic KWC KIO. With its futuristic design and intelligent functions, it pays homage to the first pull-out spray head from 1957. We will continue to incorporate elements of our tradition into our new products.

Furthermore, we aim to expand our unique market position in the future. As the market leader in Switzerland and in the public sector in Germany, we are one of the leading providers in the premium segment. With our unified brand identity, we simplify customer communication and the overview of our broad product range.