The experiencebehind Geberit AquaClean
From family business to European market leader
Geberit has been creating history for remarkable 150 years. When Caspar Melchior Albert Gebert opened a tinsmith business in the old town centre of Rapperswil-Jona in Switzerland back in 1874, nobody could have imagined that it would become a global corporation one day. Fast-forward a good hundred years to 1978 and Geberit was already demonstrating its keen sense of innovation in recognising that shower toilets were the future of personal hygiene. While the reaction to the shower toilet innovation was somewhat muted in Europe, it soon became commonplace in Japanese households. Thanks to years of research in the field of shower toilets, Geberit has succeeded in consistently developing and perfecting its technologies. This has resulted in products that offer maximum comfort, convenience, design and quality – and have been delighting customers all over the world for 45 years.
Explore the rich history of AquaClean shower toilets.
When Geberit launched the Geberella WC enhancement solution back in 1978 and the Geberit-O-Mat complete solution a year later in 1979 as the first Geberit WC with an integrated shower function, combining virtually all the functions of a toilet and a bidet, the subject of personal hygiene caused a stir all over the world.
The Japanese people, who are known for their exacting requirements when it comes to cleanliness and personal hygiene, quickly established a mass market in their country for this new product. Only a few years later, the innovative toilets could be seen in half of all Japanese households. In Europe, however, it would take a while for these intelligent shower toilets to find their way into bathrooms.
Geberit continued to develop the shower concept and launched the first wall-hung integrated shower toilet in Switzerland under the brand name Balena. It could also be combined with modern prewall installations and concealed cisterns to create a completely new look.