Geberit’s evolution over 150 years – from a one-man business to a global group

Geberit’s journey of innovation began in 1874 as a one-man business in the historic Swiss town of Rapperswil on Lake Zurich. One of the earliest inventions by company founder Albert Gebert was a lead-lined wooden cistern, Phoenix, developed in 1905, which went into series production in 1909 and became the cornerstone of the company’s success. The innovation spirit continued with the first plastic cistern introduced by Geberit in 1952, followed by the concealed cistern in 1964. Today, the company, headquartered in Rapperswil-Jona, employs more than 10,000 people worldwide and operates 26 production facilities.

Family Gebert: Albert Gebert with his wife Josefina and their two sons Albert Emil (left) and Leo, shortly after 1892 | Photo: Geberit

In 2024, the Geberit Group is celebrating 150 years of pioneering innovation and establishing new benchmarks in the global sanitary industry. “Our comprehensive system solutions continue to set standards, then, now and in the future," says Christian Buhl, CEO of Geberit.

‘150 Years of Tomorrow’ – 150 years of quality, innovation, and partnership

Installers, wholesalers, building owners and end customers have been relying on the company's innovative strength and quality sanitary solutions for 150 years. "Making good things even better has been our credo since day one. In doing so, we always put our customers at the centre," says Buhl.

(L-R) The Phoenix – the lead-lined Geberit wooden cistern invented by Albert Gebert in 1905; A technical advisor presents one of the early cistern models made of PVC; The first Geberit concealed cistern and the first Geberit actuator plate from 1964. Photos: Geberit

One example of this innovative strength in action is the Geberit concealed cistern, or UP for short, which was launched on the market in 1964. Today, Geberit concealed cisterns and the blue Geberit Duofix installation frames set the tone in the sanitary industry.

Future-focussed corporate culture built on unchanged values

Geberit's values and objectives have remained largely unchanged over the past 150 years: A down-to-earth attitude, quality awareness, and the pursuit of excellence still characterise the corporate culture today. The modest family business of the past has now become the European market leader for sanitary products, employing over 10,000 people worldwide and operating 26 production sites.

Anniversary highlights

Geberit is marking the 150-year milestone with a special edition anniversary book on the company's history and an anniversary website.

Top image: The first Geberit factory in Rapperswil built 1917-1921 (Photo: Geberit)