A LEGACY IN THE MAKING
Our company’s founder, John Michael Kohler, was an Austrian immigrant, a businessman and a visionary. In 1873 he purchased a foundry in rural Wisconsin that produced a variety of cast-iron and steel products.
Ten years later, Kohler took a product in his line, heated it to 1700°F and sprinkled it with enamel powder. Placing a picture of it in the center of his one-page catalog, he called it “a horse trough/hog scalder...when furnished with four legs will serve as a bathtub.” Kohler was in the plumbing business.
His vision and dedication to excellence helped transform Kohler Co. into a highly successful family of businesses with approximately 33,000 associates, 48 manufacturing locations on six continents and 50+ global brands.
From those humble beginnings, our company has grown into a multifaceted global family of brands that lead the way to enhance our customers’ sense of gracious living.
How far have we come since the first enameled hog scalder? View our full history.