Franke: Reframing the kitchen to put it back in the centre of everyday life.
Franke: Reframing the kitchen to put it back in the centre of everyday life.
If anyone knows a thing or two about living a good life, and enjoying the finer things that it has to offer, it’s the Swiss. In your home, this might translate into a beautiful kitchen with sinks that clean themselves, hobs and hoods that communicate with each other – no manual adjustments needed – and ovens that can offer cooking tips.
These are not the stuff of science fiction, but features of stylish, easy-to-use products and intelligent systems offered by Franke Kitchen Systems. Founded in 1911 by Hermann Franke, the Rorschach-based sheet metal company has since grown into a global entity with four core businesses (Franke Kitchen Systems, Franke Foodservice Systems for restaurants and caterers, Franke Water Systems, and Franke Coffee Systems for residences and businesses) and 9,000 staff across five continents.
The beginning
Its foray into the kitchen arena first started with the humble sink. In the 1930s, the company began manufacturing sink units in stainless steel, monel-metal and nickeline. A decade later, it expanded its manufacturing facilities and went into the production of complete kitchens.
Franke today
After more than a century in business as one of Switzerland’s leading manufacturers and designers of kitchen and bathroom products and solutions, Franke still sells what it first offered – Swiss-made stainless steel sinks and countertops that are not only corrosion-resistant and polished to perfection, but also come with a 50-year or lifetime guarantee.
What’s the secret to its longevity? A surprisingly basic motto: Make It Wonderful. The brand seeks to turn every kitchen, be it residential or commercial, into something special; ordinary simply is not in the company’s vocabulary.
Franke Kitchen Systems for homes understands that today’s kitchen is a hub – a special gathering place and a venue for memorable moments. Every home is unique in style and needs, which is why the company offers sleek modular systems that can be customised to ensure seamless preparation, cooking and cleaning. Such is the Frames by Franke kitchen family, which comprises three collections that offer a total o more than 100,000 options with 69 elements – 19 built-in appliances in classic black or champagne, eight sinks and basins, six tap designs and 11 versatile accessories – so you can be sure to build the perfect kitchen for your home.
Individual products such as sinks, ovens, hobs and hoods are designed to work together as a holistic kitchen system – from preparation to cooking, baking and steaming. Everything is put within arm’s reach to support the workflow.
A great kitchen is also not without smart, multi-tasking items that increase your efficiency. The Lightboard – an illuminated glass chopping board – weighs ingredients so you get precise portions every time, and doubles as a cover for the sink. Franke ovens perform more than one cooking function and use patented technology for rapid heating and precise temperature control so you save on time and energy. Hobs are designed so you can place your pots and pans anywhere. What’s more, a Franke kitchen doesn’t just work amazingly; it looks stunning, too. Its craftsmen devote time and effort into making your experience with its products and services wonderful, from the moment you lay your eyes on the appliances to handling them.
The future
Franke’s penchant for innovation continues to challenge status quo, beyond its products and services. In August last year, the brand held its inaugural Think Next thought leadership summit, where food designers, CEOs, culinary entrepreneurs, architects, sustainability experts and even renowned French designer Philippe Starck came together to discuss how consumer behaviour and technology are converging to change the future of food. And who better to bring these great minds together than Franke?
Find out more about the Franke Group at http://www.franke.com.
Franke Kitchen Systems understands that today’s kitchen is a hub – a special gathering place and a venue for memorable moments.
