Bulthaup

Early years

Martin Bulthaup, originally from East Westphalia, established the "Martin Bulthaup Möbelfabrik" (Martin Bulthaup furniture factory) in Bodenkirchen near Landshut in 1949. In 1951, he and his then seven employees commenced the production of kitchen furniture. The first product was a kitchen buffet with hand-sewn curtains. In 1953, he constructed a plant in Bodenkirchen, which was expanded in 1963 to include an office building and an additional production facility. At the same time, he introduced assembly-line production into the company's operations. In 1969, Bulthaup presented the Stil 75 product line.

With an annual turnover of approximately one hundred million Deutschmarks, the company ranked among the five largest German manufacturers of kitchen furniture by the late 1960s. In 1972, Bulthaup constructed a 40,000-square-metre production plant in Bodenkirchen-Aich, and in 1973 began exporting to the member states of the then European Economic Community (EEC). In 1974, the company introduced the Concept 12 (C12) kitchen system, which allowed for flexible planning utilitzing a 12-centimetre grid.

In 1976, the founder's son, Gerd Bulthaup (1944–2019), together with his twin sister, Ingeborg Eckert, entered the company. In 1979, Gerd Bulthaup assumed management of the business and consolidated various divisions within the new production facility at Bodenkirchen-Aich.

Collaboration with Otl Aicher

In 1980, Bulthaup began working with Otl Aicher, one of the founders of the Ulm School of Design. According to Aicher, kitchens should invite people to prepare meals together and kitchen tools should be kept within easy reach and visibly stored. In 1982, he published the book “Die Küche zum Kochen”. In the same year, Bulthaup launched the kitchen furniture program system b, which was inspired by Aicher's studies. In 1988, the Kitchen Workbench KWB followed, a combination of stainless steel cooking area, sink, and work surface that adopted design elements from professional kitchens. It was awarded several design prizes.

1990s

1992 the company introduced the System 25. Its modular structure and diverse components enabled flexible kitchen designs. The name System 25 was derived from the 3D 25 × 25 × 25 mm grid the range was based on. Items that needed to be particularly hard-wearing could be produced using stainless steel, combined with glass, wood, or laminate surfaces. The new Bulthaup extractor, whose form and function were based on those used in professional kitchens, won several awards. During this period, Bulthaup also developed and launched Korpus and Duktus seating. In 1997, Bulthaup launched the mobile System 20, with its wheeled containers and freely moveable elements. Each item could be combined as the customer wished and placed anywhere in the room where there was an electricity and water supply.

2000s

In 2003, Gerd Bulthaup stepped down from the day-to-day management of the company. For the next seven years, it was led by external managing directors. In 2004, Bulthaup launched the b3 kitchen line, working in collaboration with designer Herbert H. Schultes. In 2008, the company introduced the b2 concept, an open kitchen designed in the style of a workshop. At the end of 2009, Marc O. Eckert, the founder's grandson, rejoined the company's leadership, bringing a family member back into management. In 2010, he was appointed the company's sole managing director.

2010s and 2020s

Due to the ongoing economic downturn, the company was forced in March 2010 to transfer 114 of its more than 550 employees to an employment and training company or to dismiss them. After a one-and-a-half-year period of short-time work had already come to an end, the employees were required to take up new employment following a nine-month retraining and support program.

In 2014, the new b Solitaire range was presented at the Milan trade fair. The line includes freestanding kitchen elements in a minimalist design.

Bulthaup manufactures three different product lines: b Solitaire, b2 and b3.

Under the b Solitaire product line, Bulthaup produces products for the entire living space, which also extend beyond the kitchen.

The b2 product line is designed to combine all essential kitchen functions in one element. The kitchen is therefore reduced to the three central elements of workbench, work cabinet and tool cabinet. These are not dependent on static walls and can therefore be freely combined in the room. And the interior of the cabinets and the workbench both have a modular design.

Under the b3 product line, Bulthaup manufactures a multifunctional kitchen and room system that can be put together individually and changeably. Instead of the classic floor plan, this system includes a multifunctional wall that means that the living area and kitchen are no longer so separated from each other.