Kohler Co.
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Private | |
Industry | Manufacturing, hospitality |
---|---|
Founded | December 6, 1873[1] |
Founder | John Michael Kohler |
Headquarters | 444 Highland Drive Kohler, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | David Kohler (President and CEO) |
Products | Plumbing fixtures, tile, furniture and cabinetry, engines, generators |
Owner | Kohler family |
Number of employees | 40,000[2] (2019) |
Website | kohlercompany |
Kohler Co., founded in 1873 by
History
Kohler Co. was co-founded in 1873 by
In the early 20th century, Kohler made drinking fountains with a "bubbling valve", from which water shot vertically. Eventually, the entire fountain came to be known as a "bubbler" in the area in which Kohler products were sold.[8] The term bubbler is still used in a few areas of Wisconsin and some other areas of the United States.[9][10]
In 1934 and 1954,
In 1984 Kohler acquired Sterling Faucet Company. The company was renamed as Sterling Plumbing Group Inc. The Sterling brand was integrated into the Kohler family of products. Kohler later expanded the offering of Sterling products adding to the faucet line, shower doors, sinks, toilets, and other bathroom accessories.[11]
In 2007, Kohler created a joint venture in China called Kohler-YinXiang Ltd., based in
Corporate management history
Former Wisconsin Governor Walter J. Kohler Sr. was president of Kohler Co. and his son former Wisconsin Governor Walter J. Kohler Jr. served for many years in senior management. The presidency of Kohler was passed down from Herbert Kohler Jr. (born February 20, 1939, grandson of the founder), to his son, David Kohler, on June 1, 2015.
In 1998, Kohler made a plan to buy back any outstanding shares not owned by the family. All family members had to exchange their common shares for shares with limited rights that could not be sold. Since Kohler is not a publicly traded company, the number of shares floating was minimal.[
Hiring practices
In 1999, a court case was brought by the United States Department of Labor alleging that Kohler Co.'s hiring practices were discriminatory to women.[15] The company had an informal height requirement of 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) for women, which is the average adult female height in the United States.[16] Because of its contracts with the federal government, the company was prohibited from enforcing this requirement[17] and as part of a settlement agreed to hire 111 of the 2,000 women who had applied to work at Kohler from 1994 to 1995 and to undertake a study "to eliminate unnecessary barriers to women".[This quote needs a citation]
Working conditions
In 2005, China Labor Watch accused Kohler China (Investment) Co., Ltd. of major worker rights violations at its Foshan factory. These included: excessive work hours, lack of overtime pay, low wage payment, unsafe working conditions, uncompensated work injuries, and denying workers the ability to form their own union.[18]
Controversy
In January 2020, Kohler paid $20 million in a settlement with the
Products
Kohler's bath and kitchen fixtures are available in American
The Kohler Walk-In Bath Division designs, engineers, and builds
Kohler also makes a wide range of small industrial engines. Traditionally, the company manufactured gasoline engines; however, after purchasing the Italian company Lombardini, it extended its range and now offers diesel engines up to 134 HP.[21] Kohler engines power a range of devices from water pumps to off-road vehicles. The Global Power group manufactures generators of varying sizes. Kohler was the first company to offer residential backup generators, starting in 1920.[22]
Since 2007, the company has been expanding in the areas of furniture, cabinetry, and tile in the consumer market, and engines and generators for industry. The Kohler Interiors division of the company comprises Robern, Sprig, Kallista, Ann Sacks Tile and Kast.[23]
Kohler displays many of its products at the Kohler Design Center in the village of Kohler.
At CES 2018 Kohler unveiled a new product line called Kohler Konnect, consisting of smart connected plumbing fixtures including bathtubs, mirrors, shower heads, toilets, and shower valves. These new digital fixtures have WiFi capabilities, enabling voice assistant control through
Sponsorships
In 2018, Kohler became a sponsor of English football giant
In early 2021, Kohler announced they would be sponsoring
Destination Kohler
Kohler Co.'s hospitality and real estate group, Destination Kohler, oversees the management, marketing and tourism promotion for its golf courses, hotels, private clubs, shops, restaurants, company-sponsored and village events. The American Club is a highly rated resort hotel in the Midwest.[27]
John Michael Kohler Arts Center
Kohler Co. is affiliated with the non-profit John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, which occupies a square block of downtown Sheboygan that contains Kohler's restored former mansion, several newer buildings, and the exterior structure of the former Carnegie-era Mead Public Library building as a modern "ruin". The John Michael Kohler Arts Center operates an Arts/Industry program, the primary component of which is a residency program at Kohler. Artists have the opportunity to spend two to six months creating works of art using the industrial materials and equipment.
Residential review committee
The company continues to maintain a residential review committee (similar to a homeowner association) which ensures the compliance of the original Kohler Village plans and architectural designs from the defunct Kohler Improvement Company. Residents who want to add onto their home, build new outbuildings or fences must receive Kohler Company RRC approval before taking their plans to the planning commission, and comply with the design and aesthetic standards of the Kohler Company RRC.[28][29]
Primary competitors
Images
-
Kohler Company Foundry as seen from the east
-
Kohler Company Main Office in April 2008
-
The American Club
-
Entrance to The American Club
References
- ^ Dippel, Beth (December 29, 2021). "History Uncovered: Location, location, location – Kohler and Vollrath companies' first homes". Sheboygan Sun. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
- ^ "Kohler". Forbes.
- Milwaukee Business Journal, bizjournals.com, retrieved October 30, 2012
- ^ White, Lucy (February 2, 2017). "ECI more than doubles money on exit of Clarke Energy to Kohler – Real Deals". Real Deals. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
- ^ "Kohler Co. Acquires UK-based Clarke Energy". PR Newswire (Press release). Retrieved February 2, 2017.
- ^ "Platinum Equity Agrees to Buy Kohler's Generators Division". Bloomberg. November 6, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ Derdak (2000). International Directory of Company Histories, Vol 32. St. James Press.
- ^ Tom Tolan (November 2, 2007). "More Milwaukee-ese: The bubbler". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
- ^ Beth Dippel. "Debunking the the bubbler myth". Sheboygan Press, October 31, 2014. Accessed July 3, 2016.
- ^ Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures. "Wisconsin Englishes: Words" Archived June 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "About Sterling Plumbing". Sterling Plumbing. Kohler Co. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
- ^ "About Kohler Engines". Kohler Company. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
- ^ "Kohler Creates Joint Venture With Chinese Engine Maker". RERMAG. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
- ^ "IRS Over-Values Interest in Kohler Company by $100 Million Dollars". The Judicial View. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
... a small number of shares held by individuals outside the Kohler family ... Some of the non-family exercised dissenter's rights ... for differing amounts up to $135,000 per share ... The Tax Court adopted the WMA fair market value of $47,010,000, rejecting the entire tax deficiency assessed by the IRS
- ^ "Kohler Will Pay Nearly $900,000 in Back Pay to Resolve Discriminatory Hiring Practices". U.S. Labor Department. September 23, 1999. Archived from the original on August 29, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
- ^ "Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults 2003–2006" (PDF).
- ^ "Federal Laws Prohibiting Job Discrimination: Questions And Answers". EEOC.gov. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. November 21, 2009. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
- ^ China Labor Watch (June 1, 2005). "The Kohler Company's Factory in Foshan, China: Dangerous Working Conditions, Long Hours and Little Pay". Cornell Digital Commons. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
- ^ "Kohler to pay $20M penalty for California engine emissions". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
- ^ "2015 BUILDER BRAND USE STUDY RESULTS". Builder. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
- ^ "KDI Diesel – Kohler Engines". kohlerengines.com. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
- ^ Blodgett, Richard (2003). A Sense of Higher Design-The Kohlers of Kohler.
- ^ "Kohler Broadens High-end Bathroom Portfolio and Strengthens Bold Color Leadership with Addition of Kast Concrete Basins". prnewswire.com. May 3, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
- ^ https://www.us.kohler.com/us/Kohler-Introduces-Voice-Command-Technology-Into-The-Bathroom,-Announces-New-Smart-Home-Products-With-%E2%80%98KOHLER-Konnect%E2%80%99/content/CNT131200001.htm
- ^ "Kohler brings the IoT revolution to your bath".
- ^ "Kohler Co. Unveiled as Principal Partner of Manchester United".
- ^ "The American Club - Kohler Hotels - Kohler, United States". Forbes Travel Guide. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
- ^ "Kohler Co. Residential Review Committee Submission" (PDF). Kohler Company. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
- ^ "Building Permits". Village of Kohler. Retrieved November 24, 2015.