Laufen Bathrooms

What Laufen Bathrooms does

Laufen Bathrooms AG is a Swiss premium sanitaryware manufacturer founded in 1892 in Laufen, near Basel, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Spain's Roca Group since 1999. The company designs and manufactures washbasins, bathtubs, shower trays, toilets, bidets, urinals, faucets, bathroom furniture, mirrors, and accessories, sold as complete bathroom solutions through a global distribution network spanning more than 170 countries. Showroom and experience assets include LAUFEN Spaces and Roca Galleries in Berlin, Vienna, Milan, Prague, Madrid, Miami, Delhi, and Sydney, plus the LAUFEN Forum flagship in Switzerland.

Laufen's product differentiation rests on proprietary materials and manufacturing: Saphirkeramik, a corundum-reinforced ceramic introduced in 2013 enabling wall thicknesses as thin as 3mm and edge radii of 1–2mm (vs. traditional 7–8mm); the E-Kiln, the world's first electric tunnel kiln enabling CO2-free sanitaryware production, operational since 2023 at the Gmunden factory in Austria; VITREON Steel, a glazed-steel collection launched across 2025–2026; and the CLEANET smart shower-toilet family integrating UV disinfection, Wi-Fi/app control, heated seats, automatic lids, and Silent Flush vortex hydraulics across multiple tiers. Production runs across five European plants — Laufen (CH), Gmunden (AT), Bechyně (CZ), Gliwice and Gryfice (PL) — certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and EMAS.

The business model is hardware sales through a quote-based, channel-driven distribution network (regional distributors and authorised dealers), supported by direct flagship showrooms and deep architect/designer engagement (BIM/CAD objects for ArchiCAD and Revit). Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Designer collaborations — Kartell•LAUFEN, ILBAGNOALESSI (Stefano Giovannoni), THE NEW CLASSIC (Marcel Wanders), SONAR (Patricia Urquiola), VOLTA (Yves Behar / fuseproject), INO (Toan Nguyen), VAL (Konstantin Grcic), CLEANET AURIA/NAVIA/RIVA (Peter Wirz) — anchor premium positioning. Target segments include high-end residential, luxury hospitality (e.g., La Suite Novotel by ALL.com, MV Aretis), healthcare, and an architect/specifier channel. Sustainability credentials (Cradle to Cradle Certified® Bronze, parent EcoVadis Platinum) increasingly function as commercial specification levers.

Name

Laufen Bathrooms

Legal name

LAUFEN Bathrooms AG

Website

https://laufen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Laufen Bathrooms, founded 1892 in Switzerland and owned by Spain's Roca Group since 1999, manufactures premium sanitaryware including washbasins, bathtubs, shower trays, faucets, and smart shower toilets. The company distributes through 170+ countries via showrooms and dealers, targeting architects, hospitality, and luxury residential markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Laufen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sanitary Ceramics and Fixtures: Primary revenue from manufacturing and selling bathroom ceramics including washbasins, toilets, bidets, bathtubs, shower trays, as well as complementary products including faucets, bathroom furniture, mirrors, accessories, and installation systems. Products are sold through a global distribution network in more than 170 countries.
2. CLEANET Shower Toilets: Premium segment of smart shower toilets with advanced hygiene features (UV disinfection, app connectivity, heated seats). Sold as complete units with multiple configuration options across various price tiers (NAVIA/RIVA entry-level to AURIA premium).
3. Designer Collections: High-margin designer collections including VOLTA (Yves Behar), Kartell•LAUFEN, THE NEW CLASSIC (Marcel Wanders), ILBAGNOALESSI (Stefano Giovannoni), SONAR and VAL (Patricia Urquiola), INO (Toan Nguyen). These premium products command higher prices through design differentiation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Laufen designs and manufactures premium bathroom sanitaryware and complete bathroom solutions, including washbasins, toilets, bidets, shower toilets (CLEANET), bathtubs, shower trays, bathroom furniture, mirrors, faucets, accessories, and installation systems. The company produces its own proprietary ceramic materials (Saphirkeramik, VITREON Steel) and signature designer collections (VOLTA, ILBAGNOALESSI, THE NEW CLASSIC, KARTELL•LAUFEN, SONAR, VAL, INO) across five production sites in central Europe, selling through its own showrooms (LAUFEN Spaces), Roca Galleries, and authorised distributors in 170+ countries.

Product overview

LAUFEN Bathrooms is a Swiss premium bathroom brand (founded 1892, part of Roca Group since 1999) offering complete bathroom solutions spanning ceramic sanitaryware, bathtubs, faucets, furniture, mirrors, and installation systems. The core product portfolio is anchored by Saphirkeramik — LAUFEN's proprietary thin-walled ceramic material (introduced 2013) — and the revolutionary E-Kiln (the world's first electric tunnel kiln for CO2-free sanitary ceramic production, operational since 2023). Key product collections include the CLEANET shower toilet family (comprising AURIA, ALVIA, MEDA, PRO, NAVIA, RIVA, SIT, MODERNA), the VOLTA Saphirkeramik washbasin (by Yves Behar), VITREON Steel (glazed steel collection), and designer bathroom collections ILBAGNOALESSI (Stefano Giovannoni), THE NEW CLASSIC (Marcel Wanders), KARTELL•LAUFEN, SONAR (Patricia Urquiola), INO (Toan Nguyen), and VAL (Konstantin Grcic). LAUFEN operates production sites in Laufen/Switzerland, Gmunden/Austria, Bechyně/Czech Republic, and Gliwice/Gryfice/Poland, and is represented worldwide across more than 170 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CLEANET: Collection of shower toilets representing Swiss reliability and quality with high performance functionality
• VITREON Steel
• Saphirkeramik
• VOLTA
• Kartell • LAUFEN
• ILBAGNOALESSI

Products and services

• Saphirkeramik (proprietary ceramic material) LAUFEN's proprietary high-performance ceramic material reinforced with corundum (colourless sapphire component). Enables washbasins, bathtubs, and other ceramic products with minimal wall thicknesses (as thin as 3mm) and extremely tight radii (1-2mm edge radius vs traditional 7-8mm). Fully recyclable, uses less material, energy, and fewer raw materials in production. Sold as the material basis for multiple Laufen designer collections.
• E-Kiln (electric tunnel kiln for carbon-neutral sanitary ceramics) The world's first electric tunnel kiln for sanitary ceramic production, enabling CO2-free firing of sanitary ware. Operational at the Gmunden factory in Austria since 2023, representing a landmark in sustainable sanitary ceramics manufacturing. Supports Cradle to Cradle Certified products and is used for Saphirkeramik and VITREON Steel production.
• CLEANET AURIA (premium smart shower toilet)

Quantifiable outcome

• Cradle to Cradle Certified® Bronze level achieved for over 3,000 ceramic products manufactured in Gmunden (2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Roca GroupcoreOthers · 1 January 1999Laufen has been part of the family-owned Roca Group since 1999. Roca is a Spanish manufacturer of bathroom ceramics and fixtures. This acquisition provided Laufen with global distribution reach (170+ countries), access to additional production capacity, and inclusion in the international network of Roca Galleries. Laufen operates as a premium brand within the group alongside the Roca brand.
• KartellflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerKartell•LAUFEN is a flagship collaboration combining Kartell's expertise in plastic design with LAUFEN's sanitary ceramics expertise. The collection, featuring thin-walled washbasin forms crafted in Saphirkeramik, transports users to a realm of ethereal beauty with bold fusion of colour, light, and design. The collaboration exemplifies compositional freedom and flexibility in bathroom design.
• AlessiflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerILBAGNOALESSI is a longstanding design collaboration creating complete bathroom collections. The collection, designed by Stefano Giovannoni, represents a design award-winning ensemble characterised by timeless form, sparkling imagination, and eccentricity. This collaboration brings Alessi's playful Italian design sensibility to bathroom ceramics.
• Marcel WandersflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarcel Wanders serves as creative lead for THE NEW CLASSIC collection, a complete bathroom collection reinterpreting timeless elegance for the modern world. The collection showcases innovative qualities of Saphirkeramik with washbasin bowls just three millimetres thick yet demonstrating remarkable strength.
• Patricia UrquiolaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatricia Urquiola has designed multiple LAUFEN collections including the SONAR bathroom collection (third generation Saphirkeramik) and the LAUFEN space Madrid showroom. SONAR features refined, graceful forms with three-dimensional texture. She also designed the 400-square-metre Madrid showroom inside a historic 1700s villa.
• Konstantin GrciccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigned the VAL bathroom collection (characterised by simple architectural lines, narrow edges, and fine surface structures) and LAUFEN space Berlin. The Berlin space emanates his love for detail and playful abstraction.
• Yves Behar / fuseprojectflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerYves Behar designed the VOLTA washbasin made of Saphirkeramik that presents water in the bathroom in a completely new way. Inspired by his connection to water as a competitive swimmer and big wave surfer, the vortex form sees water circulate before disappearing. The collection embodies reduced water use through its ramp design.
• Peter WirzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss designer Peter Wirz designed CLEANET AURIA (most advanced shower toilet in the CLEANET collection) as well as CLEANET RIVA and NAVIA. His design philosophy aims to invisibly integrate latest technologies into a ceramic body so discreetly that the product looks like a stylish, modern toilet.
• Stefano GiovannonicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian designer star Stefano Giovannoni created the award-winning ILBAGNOALESSI ensemble, bringing sparkling imagination and eccentricity to bathroom design with soft, fluid washstand and washbasin forms enabled by Saphirkeramik.
• Toan NguyencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench designer Toan Nguyen created the INO bathroom collection, a fresh interpretation of classic washbasin forms using creative possibilities of Saphirkeramik. The collection features elegant, inviting, almost weightless objects with simple lines, soft yet extremely stable walls.
• SnøhettacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe interdisciplinary architecture studio created the experimental LAUFEN space Wien presentation in Vienna's picturesque city centre, showcasing the LAUFEN portfolio in an innovative setting.
• UltraconfidentielcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture studio Ultraconfidentiel designed the Roca Delhi Gallery around a kaleidoscope-inspired concept, housing both Roca and LAUFEN brands including a dedicated LAUFEN space. The gallery features hand-made tiles produced by Indian artisans.
• Michal JankůminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCzech architect Michal Janků reimagined the LAUFEN space Prague located in a 19th century building at the centre of Prague, creating a space where art and design coalesce.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Roca (Roca Group main brand): Parent brand of Roca Group, the Spanish sanitaryware conglomerate that owns Laufen. Roca is both Laufen's owner and a competing volume brand in many markets, making it the most strategically intertwined comparator for portfolio, distribution, and category positioning.

Direct peers

• Duravit: German premium sanitary ceramics manufacturer offering washbasins, bathtubs, shower trays, and shower toilets with comparable designer collaborations and premium positioning. Closely comparable in product mix, customer segments (hospitality, high-end residential), and design-led GTM approach.
• Villeroy & Boch: Premium German bathroom and tableware manufacturer with a comparable portfolio of ceramic sanitaryware, bathtubs, and designer bathroom collections. Direct competitor in European premium hospitality and high-end residential segments, similar design-house collaboration model.
• TOTO Ltd. Japanese global leader in sanitary ceramics and the originator of the high-tech shower-toilet category. Directly comparable through CLEANET competition in the smart-toilet segment, with a much larger global scale and stronger APAC footprint.
• Kohler Co. American multinational offering premium bathroom and kitchen fixtures, including ceramic sanitaryware, faucets, and smart toilets (Veil, Numi). Direct competitor in luxury hospitality and high-end residential globally, with significantly greater scale and US distribution strength.
• Ideal Standard: European manufacturer of bathroom ceramics, faucets, and shower systems serving mid-to-premium residential and commercial projects. Direct peer across product categories and customer segments, particularly in the EMEA region.

Broad incumbents

• Geberit: Swiss-listed European leader in installation systems and sanitary technology, including concealed cisterns and flush plates. Comparable in the bathroom value chain with overlapping distribution and customer base in residential and commercial construction.
• LIXIL Group: Japanese global building products group housing Grohe, American Standard, and INAX. Directly comparable through Grohe (premium faucets/showers) and INAX (ceramics/smart toilets), with greater scale and broader geographic reach.

Emerging players

• Hansgrohe: German premium manufacturer of showers, shower systems, and faucets (Axor, Hansgrohe brands). Comparable in the premium bathroom specification channel and design-led positioning, with partial product overlap (no full ceramic range).
• Bette: German premium manufacturer of glazed titanium-steel bathtubs, shower trays, and washbasins. Directly comparable on the steel-glazing material axis (Laufen's VITREON Steel) and in the premium hospitality/specifier channel.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/laufenbathrooms1
• Facebookfacebook.com/LaufenBathrooms
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laufenbathrooms
• Instagraminstagram.com/laufenbathrooms
• Pinterestpinterest.com/laufenbathrooms
• Xx.com/laufenbathrooms

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Laufen Bathrooms