Explore highlights from the past 140+ years. Hover over a story card to find out more.
Our History
Kohler Co. is founded by John Michael Kohler on December 3 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The company, initially named Kohler & Silberzahn, makes plows and other farm implements.
1873
Charles Silberzahn sells his minority interest to two employees, Herman Hayssen and John Stehn. The business is renamed Kohler, Hayssen & Stehn Manufacturing Company.
1878
The Kohler factory burns to the ground, and the company moves to a new facility in Sheboygan, adding an enameling shop.
1880
An enameled cast iron hog scalder/water trough is sold as a bathtub, the first plumbing product manufactured by Kohler Co.
1883
John Michael purchases 21 acres of farmland in Riverside, four miles west of Sheboygan, to build a new foundry and moves the company to this location.
1899
Robert J. Kohler is elected company President after his father John Michael Kohler’s death in 1900.
1900
The new foundry is destroyed by fire. Operations return temporarily to Sheboygan while the Riverside foundry is rebuilt. At this time, the company is reorganized and renamed J.M. Kohler Sons Co.
1901
Walter J. Kohler is elected company President following the death of Robert Kohler, leading the Company for the next 35 years.
1905
Kohler Co. introduces the industry’s first one-piece, built-in bath with an integral apron.
1911
The Company adopts its current name, Kohler Co. Riverside is incorporated as Kohler Village.
1912
The Olmsted Brothers of Boston complete a 50-year master plan for the development of Kohler Village as a planned community.
1917
Company produces mine anchors, projectiles and shells for US forces in WWI.
1917-1918
The American Club® opens its doors to house single male employees in comfortable surroundings at an affordable cost.
1918
Kohler Co. enters the Power Systems business with the introduction of the Kohler Automatic Power & Light, the world’s first engine-powered electric generator.
1920
A Walter Kohler initiative, the company starts the Kohler Stables which later becomes famous for the breeding of Morgan and Warmblood horses.
1924
Kohler Co. forms a Quarter Century Club, one of the first in American industry, to honor employees with 25 years of service.
1924
A forerunner to the modern dishwasher, Kohler introduces the Electric Sink, but it is later discontinued during the Great Depression.
1926
Kohler Co. begins offering tours of its factory.
1926
Capitalizing on a technological breakthrough, Kohler Co. offers cast iron and vitreous china plumbing products in matching pastel colors.
1927
Kohler jet-black products are exhibited at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in
New York.
New York.
1929
Admiral Richard Byrd makes his second journey to the South Pole with seven additional KOHLER® generators only to discover the original KOHLER® generators left behind from his first expedition in 1929 are still operational.
1934
Marie, Evangeline and Lillie Kohler, together with Herbert Sr. and Executive Vice President O. A. Kroos, organize Kohler Foundation, Inc., which to this day supports cultural, educational, environmental and other civic causes.
1940
In support of the World War II effort, Kohler Co. converts much of its production to torpedo tubes, shell fuses and other military components. Plumbing fixtures and generators are manufactured only for war housing, war industries, hospitals and military uses.
1941
Kohler Co. begins producing and marketing small engines.
1948
UAW-CIO Local 833 strikes. The factory reopens within two months, but the strike continues for six years primarily over issues of a union shop and strict seniority in promotion.
1954
Kohler Co. introduces the self-rimming vitreous china lavatory, a bold step in fixture design which eliminates the need for a metal frame or rim on the countertop. Two years later, the same feature is offered on cast iron lavatories and kitchen sinks.
1964
Advertising Manager Armond “Bud” Grube, along with Charles Pagnucco and Alfred Ellrodt, developed the concept of boldly colored products under the tagline THE BOLD LOOK OF KOHLER®.
1967
The John Michael Kohler Arts Center collaborates with Kohler Co. to develop the Arts/Industry program, giving artists from around the world access to the pottery and foundry to create original artworks.
1974
A line of whirlpool baths is launched, providing consumers with aesthetically pleasing designs and superior operating whirlpool systems. The introduction marks two important firsts in the plumbing industry: (1) the first enameled cast iron whirlpool baths offered by a major full-line plumbing manufacturer, and (2) the first whirlpool baths offered in colors to match other KOHLER® fixtures. Within two years, Kohler Co.’s offering becomes the largest volume U.S. line.
1977
Sterling Faucet Co. joins Kohler Co., marking the first acquisition in the company’s 111-year history.
1984
Inspired by decorated plumbing fixtures created by resident artists in the company pottery, Kohler Co. introduces Artist Editions, a portfolio of surface-decorated fixtures.
1985
The 36,000-square-foot Kohler Design Center in Kohler, Wisconsin, is dedicated as a showcase for KOHLER® products and dramatic design ideas in the kitchen and bath.
1985
Kohler Co. acquires Hytec Manufacturing Ltd. located in Armstrong, British Columbia.
1987
Kohler Co. opens its first golf course, Blackwolf Run®, which is named the year’s best new public course by Golf Digest magazine.
1988
Ann Sacks Tile and Stone, Inc., joins the Kohler family of businesses, specializing in hand-made ceramic tile, marble and stone. Kallista also joins Kohler, offering elegant, high-end plumbing products.
1989
Kohler Stables’ world champion stallion, Noble Flaire, is named “Morgan Horse of the Decade” by Horse World magazine.
1990
Vitreous China manufacturing begins at a plant in Monterrey, Mexico
1991
Kohler Co. opens The Inn on Woodlake in the Village of Kohler.
1994
Known as Foshan Kohler, Ltd., a joint venture agreement with China’s leading ceramic ware manufacturer represents an important first step in strengthening the company’s position in China.
1995
The first of 3 Andersen Consulting World Championship of Golf events is held at Blackwolf Run.
1995
Robern, a leading manufacturer of quality mirrored bathroom cabinets and lighting fixtures, joins Kohler.
1995
A joint venture with a Beijing faucet manufacturer is concluded, positioning Kohler Co. to compete effectively with other major international plumbing brands in China.
1996
Kohler Co. builds engine-manufacturing plant in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and opens a plant in Singapore to manufacture generators for the Asian Market.
1997
Production of cast iron and acrylic plumbing products at a wholly owned plant in China, near Shanghai.
1998
Kohler Co. opens the Straits® course at Whistling Straits® on the shore of Lake Michigan northeast of the Village of Kohler.
1998
Se Ri Pak wins the U.S. Women’s Open Championship in a playoff held at Blackwolf Run® in the Village of Kohler.
1998
Kohler Waters Spa opens in the Village of Kohler.
2000
Following refurbishing, the Riverbend estate (former home of Walter J. Kohler, Sr. originally built in 1923) opens as a private membership club in Kohler.
2001
The iconic soak® overflowing bath is introduced, garnering numerous design awards.
2001
Mira, the leading shower manufacturer in the United Kingdom, becomes a Kohler company.
2001
Kohler Co. constructs a stainless steel sink plant in Reynosa, Mexico.
2002
Kohler Co. introduces KOHLER® Original Recipe Chocolates.
2003
A Sense of Higher Design: The Kohlers of Kohler Book. Experience the comprehensive history of the Kohler family and its pioneering spirit in founding one of the oldest and largest privately held companies in the United States. This unique corporate history book provides and in-depth look at the origins of Kohler Co. and the Village of Kohler. Copyright 2003. Learn more.
2003
Vijay Singh wins the 86th PGA Championship held at Whistling Straits® after a three-hole playoff with Justin Leonard and Chris DiMarco.
2004
Kohler Co. acquires The Old Course Hotel Golf Resort and Spa, and The Duke’s golf course in St. Andrews, Scotland.
2004
SDMO, Soreel and BES joins the Kohler family of businesses.
2005
The U.S Senior Open is held at Whistling Straits®.
2007
Kohler Co. acquires Lombardini S.r.l., a diesel engine manufacturer headquartered in Reggio Emilia, Italy.
2007
Kohler Co. acquires Uniteruptible Power Supplies Ltd. (UPSL) a leading UPS (uninterruptible power supply) system and service provider for the United Kingdom.
2007
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency presents Kohler with its first WaterSense® award. Kohler has received a Water Sense award every year since 2008.
2008
Doors open and manufacturing begins at a new vitreous China and Faucet plant in Jhagadia, India.
2009
The 92nd PGA Championship is held at Whistling Straits with Martin Kaymer as the final champion in a playoff over Bubba Watson.
2010
Kohler Co. acquires the Novita bidet seat company in South Korea, renaming it Kohler Novita Ltd.
2011
During a live webcast, Kohler Engines launched its 1.9-and 2.5-liter Kohler Direct Injection diesel engines, compliant with the Tier 4 final emissions requirement, taking the company into a new power range and marketplace.
2011
The American Club and Kohler Waters Spa earn their first Forbes Five Star awards.
2012
South Korea Na Yeon Choi wins the US Women’s Open at Blackwolf Run.
2012
Australian Jason Day wins the PGA Championship held at Whistling Straits.
2015
An estimated 1.8 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. Kohler developed a ceramic filtration system called KOHLER Clarity and works with humanitarian organizations to enable people in remote regions and those facing disaster, to access safe, reliable drinking water. The system was designed to bring aspirational products to an affordable price point so end users do not have to choose form over function.
2016
Kohler launches the KD Series line of generators powered by advanced KOHLER diesel engines. The generator sets unprecedented power density makes this line ideal for needs which are constantly more demanding.
2016
Kohler launched Real Rain, a showering system that mimics rainfall down to the drop. Real Rain uses gravity instead of pressure to shape individual raindrops and features a unique function to release a full, drenching deluge of water.
2017
2017 was an unprecedented year for hurricane activity with storms Harvey, Irma and Maria leaving millions of people without power, including 95 percent of Puerto Rican Residents. The Kohler power team jumped into action to restore power in the hurricane-devastated areas. Around the world, Kohler generators power water pumping and filtration systems, to help humanitarian organization Water Mission provide safe water.
2017
Kohler acquires Clarke Energy, Ltd., Liverpool, England. Clarke Energy is a multinational specialist in the engineering, construction, installation and maintenance of engine-based power plants.
2017
Kohler Co. announces grand opening of Lodge Kohler – Green Bay’s first luxury hotel – hosting guests in the “heart of the action” in the new Titletown District. Learn more.
2017
Kohler Co. reinvents its approach to global retail with the launch of Kohler Experience Centers. Created to serve the fast-growing segment of design professionals working on projects around the world and to offer consumers on-site product immersion, the new retail concept will make it easier than ever to experience and buy KOHLER products. The first KEC opened in New York City.
2017
In 2018 The American Club, originally a home for Kohler employees, celebrated its centennial anniversary. The celebration year was capped off by Kohler Executive Chairman Herb Kohler receiving the Steward of History and Historic Preservation Award from Historic Hotels of America. Learn more.
2018
Kohler signs on as new principal partner of Manchester United. Learn more.
2018
Kohler Co. debuts at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and unveils KOHLER Konnect, a new platform that allows consumers to conveniently personalize their experience with KOHLER products through voice-control.
2018
The Crackle Collection by Kohler WasteLAB debuts at the 2019 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in deep, rich shades of Mahogany, Amber, Emerald, Bone, Turquoise, and Lake. Learn more.
2019
The Green Power Leadership Award is presented to Kohler Co. by the Environmental Protection Agency on September 5 for Kohler’s participation in a purchase power agreement with Diamond Vista Wind Farm. Learn more.
2019
Kohler faces the global pandemic with the perseverance, ingenuity, and resilience that has defined us as a company. In 55 communities around the world, we take a customized approach to support at a local level. And, with the help of humanitarian partners, our associates work to apply their passion and expertise to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more.
2020
Overlooking Lake Michigan, the Straits Chapel features sleek, modern lines and a breathtaking panoramic view of the lake through tall center windows. Located three miles from Whistling Straits®, this intimate, tranquil setting offers gorgeous photo opportunities and provides a blank slate for any theme but is especially beautiful for traditional ceremonies. Learn more.
2020
Using our water expertise, we bring safe water, sanitation, and handwashing solutions to communities living with water scarcity, ineffective infrastructures, or the effects of displacement. As a result, the lives of over 900,000 people are positively impacted. Together we can make safe water for all a reality. Learn more.
2020
Team U.S.A. and Wisconsin’s own Captain Steve Stricker bring home an historic 19-9 victory over Team Europe in the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits®. “There have been 37 Ryder Cup sites since 1927. I’m going to say that Whistling Straits is the best one.” Jaime Diaz – Golf Channel contributor and Golf World editor-in-chief. Learn more.
2021
Destination Kohler unveils The Baths of Blackwolf Run, the resort's unique and entertaining 10-hole, par-3 course.
2021
Heila Technologies joins the Kohler family of businesses. Curtis Instruments Inc. joins the Kohler family of businesses.
2022
The Kohler Co. Board of Directors elects David Kohler to the role of Chair of the Board, following the passing of Executive Chairman Herbert V. Kohler, Jr. on Sept. 3 at age 83.
2022
Kast Concrete Basins joins the Kohler family of businesses. Recoup Energy Solutions joins the Kohler family of businesses.
2023
Kohler closed a transaction to establish the Energy Group as a separate, independent business, with Platinum Equity as the majority investor. The decision allows Kohler to deepen focus and investment in the global Kitchen & Bath, Luxury Brands and Wellness, and Hospitality businesses. Kohler remains invested in the standalone Energy business.