1953 Hans Grohe invented the shower rail Unica.
Innovating since 1901

Discover the inventive heart of hansgrohe’s international success

Founded in 1901 in Germany’s Black Forest, hansgrohe has been brimming with ideas since the very start, pioneering bathroom design innovation. Whether it’s the first affordable hand shower or the single lever tap, hansgrohe has led the way with these milestones of bathroom design.

Driven by innovation

The hansgrohe name is synonymous with superior quality for a reason - it’s the result of almost 120 years of expertise. Company founder, Hans Grohe, played a pioneering role in the development of the modern home bathroom, setting design trends that are still in use today, enriching people’s lives throughout the world.

Pioneering patents

A hansgrohe kitchen or bathroom product bought today comes with almost 120 years of experience and knowledge. The Hansgrohe Group is one of the leading innovators in the industry, apparent in the award-winning designs, numerous patents and exciting future-oriented technologies.

As a consumer, this means that you can enjoy beautifully designed, user-friendly and economical products daily, which are designed to last and last.  We also pride ourselves in our commitment to service, which is why we offer everything from comprehensive installation advice to spare parts that are available for many years to come.

hansgrohe: a trendsetter in the way we use water from day one

Why hansgrohe?
Here, a pioneering spirit and German engineering skills have always gone hand in hand. With his hand shower, Hans Grohe created the convenient alternative to the then customary overhead shower in 1928. In 1953 he also invented the shower rail, which the hand shower can be attached to at any height. These days, both inventions are standard in bathrooms all over the world – at that time they were a stroke of genius and changed people's showering habits. With its water-saving showers, hansgrohe was thinking about resource conservation and climate protection long before they were fashionable, and became a "green" industry pioneer.

Who invented it? hansgrohe.

RainTunes - digitally controlled shower scenarios
The future of the bathroom: digital showering, where water, video, sound, light and aroma are combined in harmony.

Everyday items invented by hansgrohe

A pioneering spirit and German engineering skills have always gone hand in hand at hansgrohe. With his invention of the hand shower, Hans Grohe created the convenient alternative to the then customary overhead shower in 1928. In 1953 he also invented the shower rail, which meant that the hand shower could be attached at any height. These days, both are standard in bathrooms all over the world – but at that time, they were a stroke of genius, and changed people's showering habits forever. More recently, we have been leading the way in our approach to resource conservation and climate protection, long before this became today’s hot topic.

Who invented it? hansgrohe.

  • Affordable hand shower with white porcelain handle (1928)
  • Automatic waste and overflow set for the bath tub (1934)
  • Unica shower rail (1953)
  • Selecta hand shower with adjustable jet types (1968)
  • Colourful plastic showers Sixty and Tri-Bel (1970)
  • Allegroh single lever tap (1981)
  • Mistral Eco water-saving hand shower (1987)
  • Pre-installed shower systems and shower panels (1989)
  • iBox universal concealed installation basic set (2000)
  • Raindance rain shower (2003)
  • Environmentally-friendly showers and taps with EcoSmart (2007)
  • ComfortZone taps (2011)
  • And lots more

The present and future of the bathroom

hansgrohe Rainfinity shower
The Hansgrohe Group has been a constant source of good product ideas since 1901. The TOP 100 German innovation competition has awarded the Hansgrohe Group the Top Innovator 2019 quality seal.

Here at hansgrohe, we have continued to revolutionise user-friendliness to make daily moments with water more convenient, economical and safe. In this process, we have concentrated on people and their well-being and needs since day one. The product range includes trendy colour schemes for our taps. With its new bathroom and kitchen products, hansgrohe offers an unprecedented experience with water to give your home its own unique charm.

As a Black Forest powerhouse with our own research and development laboratory, the Hansgrohe Group is constantly working on new ideas. It has more than 16,000 active patents. The TOP 100 company still makes the majority of its products in south-west Germany, as a proud commitment to the Made in Germany merchandise mark. And a promise of quality you can rely on.

Trusted partners

Find bathroom showrooms in your area