Wmf - german tradition since 1853.
Everything you need for preparing, cooking, dining, and drinking. WMF can look back with pride on over 160 years of tradition.
1853 - year of foundation
Even as a child, I loved to build things and used to make models of my father’s waterwheels and windmill.
1868 - The growth of plating and the first store
WMF’s growth derived from the production of Sheffield-plate products, such as tea kettles, chandeliers, and lamps. At the same time, the first branch opened in Berlin. This was a real milestone in the expansion of WMF’s business in Germany. These days, the company has around 200 of its own retail stores - 175 city-center stores and 25 outlet stores.
1880 - WMF AG - The birth of the brand
With an impressive range of 966 articles, handcrafted in high quality, Straub & Schweizer merged with the metalworking company Ritter & Co. to become Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik (WMF) - the starting point of WMF AG.
1883 - The glassworks are established + the first WMF cutlery is produced
WMF set up its own glassworks in Geislingen, boasting a glass-cutting workshop and engravers. The factory predominantly produced glass inserts for the containers housing the increasingly broad product range. The first WMF cutlery was also brought to the market.
An impressively wide product range
The galvanic silver plating of hollowware and cutlery becomes a focus at WMF. Every six months the product range grew by another 150 to 250 new articles. Thus WMF maintained its leading position with innovations and new patents. This led to a strengthening of brand awareness. The WMF product range in 1900 comprised 20,000 articles!
1911 - Expansion and "family" as leitmotif
Between 1911 and 1913, WMF invested in its production facilities and employees. At the same time, social policy and welfare were becoming increasingly important. Important developments included the “Millionenbau” staff restaurant and the “Fischhalle”, where workers were served meals.
1921 - handcrafted by WMF
WMF produced and supplied hand-finished decorative household products throughout the world. The “Ikora” range and the company’s stained glass and metalware cemented WMF's reputation as a producer of German-made hand-finished products. During the 1920s, WMF demonstrated its design expertise and capacity to produce contemporary, premium design products.
1927 - The year of pioneering innovation
Despite adverse economic conditions, strong momentum was building behind product innovation. WMF launched the first contemporary pressure cooker on the market and began production. Production also began on the first professional electrical coffee machines. These innovations formed the basis for the success enjoyed by WMF today.
1932 - WMF rust free, stainless steel cutlery
The introduction of the first rust free, stainless steel cutlery. WMF quickly started producing more of these rust free, stainless steel items for the dinner table. After World War 2, rust free Cromargan® stainless steel increasingly replaced silver-plated products in private homes.
1950 - The legendary Wagenfeld design era
During the 1950s, Wilhelm Wagenfeld was hugely influential on WMF products. The WMF product catalog underwent significant changes during the “Wagenfeld era” and WMF was increasingly seen as a contemporary brand with first-class design credentials.
1955 - The “Economic Miracle” - WMF expands
WMF expanded its Made in Germany production to a total of three manufacturing facilities. Shortly after the construction of a new factory in Hayingen in 1955, WMF opened a second in Riedlingen in 1956, moving its entire production of Silit cookware there two years later.
1965 - WMF kitchen knives - Made in Germany
Since the mid-1960s, WMF has successfully manufactured kitchen knives at its Hayingen factory in Southern Germany, which opened in 1955. Today, WMF is one of the world’s leading blade manufacturers.
1987 - Each WMF product gets its own designer
The mid-1980s saw the start of wide-scale collaborative projects with international designers. Alongside work produced by the company’s own design studio, the design of WMF products was also heavily influenced by a range of completely different designers.
2001 - WMF prepares for global challenges
With one eye on the international markets, all cookware products now came equipped with a TransTherm® universal base, suitable for all types of stove, including induction hobs. Product innovations were not the only more global aspect; internal communications also gained significance. During this period, WMF also attached importance to a modern architecture.
2006 - Electrifying: WMF made waves with its small electrical appliances
With exceptional design classics such as the WMF 1 and WMF 1000 coffee machines, as well as trend setters like the WMF KITCHENminis®, WMF enjoyed a successful entry to the small appliances market.
2009 - WMF’s shines with new innovation
Thanks to its innovative drive, WMF developed new, patented technologies and products with a common goal: for the customer to enjoy the ultimate culinary experience when preparing, cooking, dining, and drinking.
2017 - Excellence in quality and design
588 awards for WMF: WMF continues to receive design prizes for its innovative products with their sophisticated design and great functionality. By 2017, WMF had won 588 design prizes.
Our award-winning Impulse vacuum flasks secured the “Product Design 2017 Best of the Best” award.
TODAY: WMF - The ultimate culinary experience
Today, WMF is Germany’s number 1 brand for household products and is enjoying constant growth across the world.
