BLANCO History

A century of innovating the kitchen water place

From “Herdwasserschiff” to the BLANCO UNIT, from component manufacturer to system provider: for 100 years, BLANCO has been developing and manufacturing high-quality products that continue to shape the kitchen water place to this day. Driven by innovation, technical expertise, commitment to change and a strong customer focus, BLANCO continues to develop solutions tailored to the specific needs of retailers and private households.

Discoverer with business acumen

Heinrich Blanc completed his business management training after finishing school, and in 1925 at the age of 29 founded the company “Blanc & Co. Metallwarenfabrik Oberderdingen” (hereinafter referred to as “BLANCO”). Thanks to his strong business acumen and courage to pioneer, the company grows at a rapid pace. Blanc’s character traits continue to shape the corporate culture to this day: The company founder combines reliability, responsibility and cost awareness with the ability to quickly recognise trends and influences. Heinrich Blanc died on 8 April 1960 at the age of 63. The company was continued by his son Heinz Blanc and later by his grandson Frank Straub.

From market gap to brand essence

In the mid-1920s, people increasingly wanted to have constant access to hot water, to make it easier to rinse, wash or cook, for example. So-called stove water vessels – metal vessels used to heat water in an oven to operating temperature – were in high demand. However, supply was too low for the rising demand. Heinrich Blanc filled this gap in the market with a product that could be mass produced quickly and cost-effectively. With its tin-plated copper stove water vessels, BLANCO established the kitchen water place within the four walls of the home, becoming one of the most important suppliers for stove factories at the time.

The product portfolio grows

In the course of the advancing electrification of households and the increasing number of large electrical appliances, BLANCO expanded its product portfolio in the 1930s. Based on its high level of expertise in materials, the company began to manufacture cookware, including kettles made of pure aluminium. The material is ideally suited for the requirements of electric cooking, making it possible for BLANCO to open up further areas of application around the kitchen water place. With the further development from a single product manufacturer to a portfolio provider, BLANCO also reduced its dependence on stove factories and set its business model on a broader foundation.

Distinct expertise in materials

At the end of the 1940s, BLANCO took part in the first export trade fair in Hanover after the Second World War, presenting its portfolio to an international trade audience. Among other things, the company exhibited useful accessory products made from the new raw material Anticorodal. The particularly light yet resistant material is predominantly suitable for business areas where corrosion protection is crucial for the longevity of a product. For example milk jugs made from Anticorodal, which BLANCO developed specifically with the agricultural and food industry in mind, attracted great interest at the trade fair.

Into the future with stainless steel

In the middle of the twentieth century, Heinrich Blanc implemented a long-held business idea that continues to shape BLANCO to this day: the production of versatile stainless steel sinks. Already in 1951, the production focus was on stainless steel sinks, and just one year later BLANCO launched “stainless steel” sink tops. The company was the first supplier to produce two bowls from a single piece – a revolution for the kitchen water place, now representing the company’s most important area of activity. Figures show this development: The annual production of sinks increases from 4,000 units in 1954 to around 100,000 in 1959, and the product catalogue already includes well over 100 different sink models at that time.

The kitchen water place is taking shape

Piece by piece, BLANCO works on improving the aesthetics and functionality of the kitchen water place inside the home. In the 1960s, the company no longer regards the sink as a pure object of utility; it wants to set the tone in retail and for end consumers, in particular through different shapes and individual design. The high-quality design is accompanied by functional features and technical innovations that noticeably increase everyday comfort. Good examples of this are generous drainers and sink units with built-in dishwashers.

New materials – new possibilities

In the 1970s, BLANCO was very ambitious in advancing the use of new materials for the kitchen water place. BLANCO is the first company in the industry worldwide to market coloured sinks made of SILACRON (1981). The composite material expands the design possibilities in the kitchen, as the kitchen water place can be coordinated even more individually with the kitchen furniture in terms of design and appearance. BLANCO’s huge success at international trade fairs with SILACRON products indicates the international marketing potential of the new sink models at an early stage.

More than “just” a sink

In the mid-1980s, BLANCO continued to enhance the private kitchen water place with more convenience and multifunctionality. In this phase, the company presented a world first, the BLANCOMULTI-BOX, among other products. The innovative sink with integrated waste chute and waste organisation is the predecessor of today’s BLANCO UNIT and marks a significant milestone in product development with the first ever integral interplay of various elements at the kitchen water place.

Components as a functional unit

The more the 1980s progress, the more the different components of the kitchen water place merge at BLANCO. From the perspective of aesthetics and comfort, different components now become a functional unit for various areas of application. This creates new advantages for end users: With BLANCOQUELL, the company introduces a filter system in its range that promises a better taste of tap water.

Solutions for individual lifestyles

Upgrading the kitchen water place with practical mixer taps and systems for cabinet organisation, BLANCO continues to pursue the goal of new materials and colours in the 1990s. An example of this is the introduction of granite sinks made of SILGRANIT: The robust material made of up to 80 percent quartz sand is characterised by its easy-care surface. The high-quality look and carefully curated colour palette give partners in trade and crafts the opportunity to incorporate individual design wishes even better into kitchen planning. The special development and design competence combined with the company’s many years of production expertise is also recognised by the professional world: In 1997, BLANCO received the Red Dot Design Award for BLANCOLUNA (predecessor of the international Red Dot Award).

Making everyday life easier

At the turn of the millennium, BLANCO came up with the idea of an ergonomic kitchen water place: End consumers should feel joy and ease in everyday kitchen use, and new functional design products such as the so-called AXen concept play an important role in this. Available in a variety of materials, sizes and versions, it enables smooth work flow along a continuous axis of movement with movable and ergonomic accessories. The AXen concept is also trendsetting for the subsequent connection of different areas of the kitchen water place to form a functional unit.

Patented quality

Stainless steel remains one of the most important production materials at BLANCO even in the 2010s. The company is continuously developing the physical properties and appearance of the materials. The patented and award-winning DURINOX stainless steel is an example of this: The metal blasted in an innovative production process is more than twice as hard as conventional stainless steel surfaces, making it less sensitive to scratches and fingerprints. With its homogeneous surface structure, DURINOX also stands out from other materials in terms of look and feel.

The perfect kitchen waterplace

With the introduction of the BLANCO UNIT, BLANCO raised the kitchen water place to a new level in the early 2020s. Components such as bowls, mixer taps, filtration, cooling, hot water and complementary accessories such as soap dispensers, other utensils and the well-thought-out organisation of the base cabinet are combined in a multifunctional unit for the first time. This creates a holistic product experience for consumers, characterised by functionality and comfort. Premium water systems that can be seamlessly integrated into the UNIT for enhanced drinking water with a linked product app underline BLANCO’s expertise for the daily tangible added value at the kitchen water place.