Klafs

What Klafs does

KLAFS GmbH (operating as Klafs) is a German manufacturer of luxury sauna systems, steam baths, and integrated thermal wellness solutions, founded in 1928 and headquartered in Schwäbisch Hall, Germany. The company designs and builds high-end products for three primary customer segments: five-star hotels and luxury hospitality venues seeking bespoke wellness amenities, affluent residential homeowners investing in premium home wellness, and standalone premium spa and wellness facilities. Its technology portfolio centers on retractable sauna architecture — exemplified by the S1, a flagship unit that expands from a bookshelf footprint to three times its size at the touch of a button and delivers five climate experiences up to 210°F — as well as fully integrated thermal journey spa circuits that combine sauna, steam, ice, halotherapy, hydrotherapy and vitality pools within a single design.

KLAFS generates revenue through two principal streams: one-time, high-value hardware sales of luxury saunas to residential and commercial buyers, and bespoke professional-services engagements that design, engineer, and install custom thermal spa circuits in luxury hotels and wellness facilities. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, reflecting the custom nature of installations and long sales cycles typical of luxury goods. Distribution is a hybrid of direct-to-consumer sales (via the KLAFS USA website), field sales to enterprise hospitality clients, and channel partnerships (e.g., Guncast Pools and Wellness in the UK).

Following its 2024 acquisition by Kohler Co. from Egeria Group, KLAFS operates as part of Kohler's Luxury Brands division, with approximately 501–1,000 employees globally. The integration has expanded KLAFS's commercial reach into Kohler's established enterprise sales network and major trade venues (KBIS 2025, Milan Design Week), and enabled a March 2026 entry into the U.S. residential market via the S1 launch. UK operations are run through Klafs UK with Guncast as a specialized channel partner, with flagship projects including London's first fully integrated thermal journey spa at The Newman hotel in Fitzrovia.

Name

Klafs

Legal name

KLAFS GmbH

Website

https://klafs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

KLAFS GmbH is a German luxury sauna and thermal wellness manufacturer, founded 1928 and owned by Kohler Co. since 2024. It designs bespoke sauna systems and integrated thermal journey spas for five-star hotels, affluent residential homeowners, and premium spa facilities across Europe, the UK, and the US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Saunas and Thermal Wellness Equipment

NAICS

Heating Equipment (except Warm Air Furnaces) Manufacturing (333414), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341)

SIC

Heating Equip, Except Elec & Warm Air; & Plumbing Fixtures (3430), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)

akta.pro primary industry

Sauna & Steam Bath Facilities (HSADAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Thermal Baths, Hot Springs & Saunas (Onsen, Hammams, Banya, Sauna Worlds) (THAJAHAD), Hydrotherapy & Thermal Spa Services (Sauna/Steam/Hot Tubs) (HSALAFAF)

Keywords

• Luxury sauna systems
• Thermal wellness installations
• Steam bath equipment
• Home spa solutions
• Hospitality wellness design

Headquarters

HQ city

Schwäbisch Hall

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Luxury Sauna Hardware Sales: KLAFS generates revenue primarily through the sale of high-end, luxury sauna units including the flagship S1 retractable sauna. Products are sold directly to residential consumers and commercial hospitality clients. Hardware sales are one-time, high-value transactions with long sales cycles typical of luxury goods.
2. Custom Commercial Installation and Integration: Revenue is generated through bespoke commercial installations in luxury hotels and wellness facilities, including design, engineering, and integration of full thermal spa circuits. These projects are custom, high-value engagements with professional services components.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Klafs manufactures and integrates high-quality luxury sauna systems, steam baths, and complementary thermal wellness products, including the S1 retractable sauna and fully integrated thermal journey spa installations. The company sells directly to affluent residential homeowners and designs bespoke multi-circuit thermal installations for five-star hotels and premium wellness facilities.

Product overview

Klafs is a German luxury sauna brand founded in 1928, acquired by Kohler in 2024. The company offers a portfolio of wellness products including the revolutionary KLAFS S1 retractable sauna (the world's first retractable sauna), bespoke thermal journey spa installations for luxury hotels, and traditional luxury saunas for residential and commercial use. Products feature advanced climate control technologies, multi-temperature experiences up to 210°F, and innovative space-saving designs that expand on demand. The portfolio serves both at-home wellness consumers and hospitality/commercial establishments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KLAFS S1 Retractable Sauna The world's first retractable sauna, expanding from the size of a bookshelf to three times its size at the touch of a button. Offers five climate experiences with temperatures up to 210°F, available in three sizes accommodating 2-3 users, designed for affluent residential homeowners with limited space seeking luxury home wellness.
• Thermal Journey Spa Installation Fully integrated thermal journey spa systems combining bespoke sauna, steam room, Ice Lounge, Salt Room with halotherapy, vitality pool, swimming pool, and rooftop outdoor sauna into a single circuit of heat, cold, hydrotherapy, and halotherapy. Designed for five-star hotels and luxury hospitality venues.
• KLAFS Luxury Saunas High-end German-engineered sauna systems for residential and commercial use, known for innovation in sauna technology and design. Acquired by Kohler in 2024 and integrated into Kohler's Luxury Brands division, serving as the foundational product line of the brand.

Quantifiable outcome

• The S1 expands from bookshelf size to three times its size at the touch of a button
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Guncast Pools and WellnesscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 March 2026KLAFS UK partnered with Guncast Pools and Wellness to deliver London's first fully integrated thermal journey spa at The Newman hotel in Fitzrovia. Guncast serves as the installation and channel partner for this flagship UK project, integrating KLAFS's bespoke sauna, steam room, and thermal equipment with Guncast's pools and wellness expertise.
• Kohler CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024In 2024, Kohler acquired KLAFS from Egeria Group and integrated it into Kohler's Luxury Brands division. The acquisition enables KLAFS to leverage Kohler's global distribution network, design collaborations, and wellness brand portfolio. Kohler showcases KLAFS products at major trade events including KBIS and Milan Design Week.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Duravit: Duravit is a German manufacturer of premium bathroom furniture, wellness systems, and spa solutions with strong presence in luxury hospitality and residential projects. It is broadly comparable as a European luxury wellness brand overlapping with KLAFS in integrated premium bathroom/spa specifications.
• Kohler Co. (Luxury Brands): Kohler Co. is KLAFS's parent and a global leader in kitchen, bath, and luxury wellness products. As the acquirer and broader portfolio operator, Kohler provides scale, distribution, and cross-category reach that contextualizes KLAFS's positioning within a much larger luxury wellness platform.
• Dornbracht: Dornbracht is a German premium manufacturer of luxury bathroom fittings, spa fixtures, and wellness installations for high-end residential and hospitality projects. It is comparable as a German-engineered luxury wellness brand serving the same affluent and five-star hospitality customer base as KLAFS.

Emerging players

• BainUltra: BainUltra is a North American manufacturer of luxury therapeutic baths, spa systems, and hydrotherapy products. It is an adjacent player in the premium thermal wellness category, competing for the same affluent residential buyer with focus on hydrotherapy versus KLAFS's sauna-centric offerings.

Direct peers

• Amerec: Amerec is a US-based manufacturer of sauna, steam, and infrared bathing equipment for residential and commercial customers. It is a direct peer in the sauna/steam hardware category with overlapping customer segments in premium wellness facilities and affluent homeowners.
• Thermasol: Thermasol is a US manufacturer of premium steam shower and hydrotherapy systems for luxury residential and commercial applications. It competes with KLAFS in the steam bath and integrated thermal wellness category, particularly in the high-end US residential market.
• Tylö-Helo: Tylö-Helo is a Swedish-founded premium sauna and steam bath manufacturer with a strong heritage brand and global distribution. It directly competes with KLAFS across residential, hospitality, and commercial wellness segments with comparable product categories and pricing tiers.
• Mr. Steam: Mr. Steam is a US-based manufacturer of residential and commercial steam bath systems and related wellness products. It directly overlaps with KLAFS's steam bath and thermal wellness offerings in the North American luxury residential and hospitality market.
• EOS Saunatechnik: EOS is a German premium sauna heater and cabin manufacturer serving residential and commercial clients across Europe. It is a direct domestic German competitor to KLAFS in the European luxury sauna market with comparable craftsmanship positioning.
• Harvia: Harvia is the leading Finnish global manufacturer of premium saunas and infrared cabins, selling under multiple brands across residential and commercial channels. It is the closest direct competitor to KLAFS in scale and product breadth, also serving luxury hospitality and affluent residential segments worldwide.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KLAFS_Sauna_Spa
• Facebookfacebook.com/KlafsSauna

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Klafs