What laufen does

LAUFEN Bathrooms AG is a Swiss designer and manufacturer of premium bathroom ceramics, faucets, bathroom furniture, bathtubs, shower toilets, and related accessories, founded in 1892 in Laufen, Switzerland and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Spanish Roca Group since 1999. The company produces more than 3 million sanitaryware units annually across five European production sites — Laufen (Switzerland, also headquarters), Gmunden and Wilhelmsburg (Austria), and Bechyně and Znojmo (Czech Republic) — and differentiates on proprietary materials technology (notably Saphirkeramik, an advanced ceramic enabling ultra-thin walls and tight radii) and manufacturing process innovation, including the world's first electric CO2-free tunnel kiln commissioned at Gmunden in November 2023 in partnership with Keramischer Ofenbau. Its product portfolio spans core washbasins, WCs, bidets, urinals, bathtubs, and faucets, plus specialized lines such as Cleanet shower toilets, Vitreon Steel, and the save! urine-separating toilet, organized into 20+ designer-led collections (SONAR by Patricia Urquiola, ILBAGNOALESSI, Kartell by LAUFEN, PRO/PRO S/PRO X, LUA, LIVING, MEDA, etc.).

The business model is B2B enterprise sales executed through 40+ wholly-owned subsidiaries and a network of distributors across more than 50 countries, supplemented by immersive showroom experiences (LAUFEN Forum in Laufen, LAUFEN Space Delhi, LAUFEN Space Vienna) and digital self-serve channels including BIM objects via BIMobject for architects and designers. Pricing is quote-based rather than publicly disclosed, with multi-year contracts typical for hospitality, developer, and large residential projects. Customer segments span high-end hospitality, architects and interior designers, public and commercial spaces, premium residential homeowners, and developers/builders, with sustainability credentials (LEED, BREEAM, DGNB, VERDE, Cradle to Cradle Bronze, EcoVadis Platinum) increasingly serving as a specification gate. A standalone consumables e-commerce portal for Cleanet introduces a small recurring-revenue aftermarket layer atop the primarily hardware-sales revenue base.

Name

laufen

Legal name

LAUFEN Bathrooms AG

Website

https://laufen.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

LAUFEN is a Swiss designer and manufacturer of premium bathroom ceramics, faucets, furniture, and shower toilets, founded 1892, producing 3M+ units annually across five European plants. It sells B2B via 40+ global subsidiaries, showrooms, and BIM digital channels, serving architects, hospitality, residential, and commercial segments as part of Spain's Roca Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Laufen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sanitary Ceramics: Core revenue from washbasins, toilets, bidets, urinals, and bathtubs manufactured from high-quality ceramic materials.
2. Faucets and Shower Systems: Nearly 170 years of expertise in faucet design and innovation, including basin faucets, bath faucets, and shower faucets.
3. Bathroom Furniture and Accessories: Mirror cabinets, vanity units, storage elements, and accessories including towel holders, soap dispensers, and grab rails.
4. Cleanet Consumables: Consumables for shower toilet products.
5. Professional Services: Service rates apply for non-warranty support, spare parts, and installation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LAUFEN designs and manufactures premium bathroom ceramics (washbasins, toilets, bidets, urinals, bathtubs), faucets, showers, bathroom furniture, and accessories, producing over 3 million sanitary ware units annually across five European production sites. The company sells complete bathroom solutions organized into designer collections, with proprietary materials like Saphirkeramik enabling thin-walled architectural forms, and serves both professional residential/commercial projects and individual homeowners through 40+ global subsidiaries and dedicated showrooms.

Product overview

LAUFEN is a Swiss bathroom products manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of bathroom solutions including ceramics (washbasins, toilets, bidets, urinals, bathtubs), faucets, showers, bathroom furniture, accessories, and installation systems. The company manufactures over 3 million sanitary ware products annually across five production sites in Switzerland, Austria, and Czech Republic. LAUFEN's product range is organized into bathroom collections (complete bathroom sets) designed by renowned architects and designers, featuring proprietary materials like Saphirkeramik (allowing minimal wall thicknesses and tight radii). Key product lines include Cleanet shower toilets, Vitreon Steel, and various faucet lines such as LUA. The company focuses on design excellence, sustainability (with innovations like CO2-free tunnel kilns and water-saving technologies), and serves both residential and commercial projects globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SONAR: Bathroom collection designed by Patricia Urquiola, inspired by sound waves and water, using Saphirkeramik material
• FLORAKIDS
• LUA
• PRO
• PRO S
• PRO X
• LIVING
• Cleanet
• Vitreon Steel
• MEDA
• ILBAGNOALESSI
• PALOMBA COLLECTION
• Kartell • LAUFEN
• THE NEW CLASSIC
• INO
• VAL
• PALACE
• MODERNA/MODERNA R
• LAUFEN PRO S
• LAUFEN PRO

Quantifiable outcome

• World's first CO2-free tunnel kiln for sanitaryware production since November 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Keramischer OfenbaucoreTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2023Technology partnership for the development and implementation of the world's first electric CO2-free tunnel kiln for sanitaryware production. Keramischer Ofenbau provided cutting-edge technology enabling LAUFEN to electrify ceramic production at Gmunden, Austria.
• Roca GroupcoreOthersLAUFEN is owned by Spanish Roca Group since 1999. Roca Group invested in the electric tunnel kiln technology and provides corporate sustainability support including EcoVadis assessments and UN Global Compact membership.
• We Are Water FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative of Roca Group established in 2010 with the aim of contributing to the solution of problems derived from lack of water and sanitation around the world. LAUFEN is aware that water is a unique and limited resource and is partner of the foundation.
• Stena RecyclingstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerNordic collaboration ensuring recycling of WC plastic cisterns. Approximately 87% of materials from collected plastic cisterns in Denmark can be recycled, with ambition for global roll-out.
• New Design University St. PöltenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership program between LAUFEN and New Design University St. Pölten for 'NULL NULL' New Sanitary Spaces for Schools exhibit at LAUFEN Space Vienna.
• United Nations Global CompactcoreOthersLAUFEN joined UN Global Compact in 2021 as part of Roca Group, aligning operations with ten universally accepted principles in human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Kohler Co. US-headquartered global bathroom and kitchen fixtures manufacturer. Wider portfolio spanning ceramics, faucets, baths and engines but directly competes with LAUFEN in premium designer-led residential and hospitality bathrooms, especially in North America.
• GROHE (LIXIL brand): Global faucet and shower systems brand under Japanese LIXIL. Overlaps with LAUFEN's faucets, showers and bathroom installation systems at mid-to-premium tier and competes for project specifications in EMEA and APAC.
• Roca (Roca Sanitarios): Spanish multinational and LAUFEN's parent company. Operates a broader global bathroom portfolio (ceramics, faucets, brassware, tiles) across price tiers and geographies; LAUFEN sits within this group as the premium Swiss-design brand.

Direct peers

• Duravit: German premium bathroom ceramics and wellness brand with overlapping designer collaborations (e.g., Philippe Starck, Cecilie Manz). Directly comparable in target customer (architects, hospitality) and product breadth (ceramics, bathtubs, furniture, shower toilets).
• Geberit: Swiss-listed sanitary technology specialist with leadership in installation systems, concealed cisterns and shower toilets — overlapping with LAUFEN's installation systems, toilets, and Cleanet shower toilet line. Competes in the same European specifier channel.
• TOTO Ltd. Japanese global leader in sanitaryware and washlet (shower toilet) technology. Directly comparable in ceramics plus shower-toilet category, with stronger APAC presence; competes with LAUFEN in luxury hospitality and high-end residential globally.
• Villeroy & Boch: German-headquartered premium bathroom ceramics and bathroom furniture manufacturer with comparable product portfolio (washbasins, WCs, bathtubs, furniture) and similar designer-led collections. Directly competes with LAUFEN in European hospitality and premium residential projects.
• Hansgrohe SE: German premium shower and faucet specialist. Directly comparable to LAUFEN's faucet/shower offering and competes in the same architect/hospitality channel; serves as a strong reference point on premium faucet ASPs and brand pull.
• Ideal Standard: European bathroom ceramics and fittings manufacturer serving residential, commercial and hospitality projects. Comparable in product scope (ceramics, faucets, shower systems) and mid-to-premium positioning, though with stronger mid-market and project-housing focus.

Emerging players

• Bette GmbH & Co. KG: German specialist in glazed titanium-steel bathtubs, shower trays and washbasins. Comparable niche/material-technology approach to LAUFEN's Saphirkeramik and Vitreon Steel, targeting premium bathroom designers and architects in Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/laufenbathrooms1
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• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laufenbathrooms
• Instagraminstagram.com/laufenbathrooms
• Pinterestpinterest.com/laufenbathrooms

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries8 records

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 laufen