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Product background information
History of Braun.
In the 1920's Braun started as a small engineering
shop and by the 1960's had become an internationally
renowned brand for small electrical appliances – a
development driven by technical innovation, long-
lasting quality and outstanding design. Today, nearly 90
years after its inception, Braun is part of P&G, the largest
consumer goods products company in the world.
In 1921, engineer Max Braun established his company in
Frankfurt am Main. He was one of the rst manufacturers
in Europe to combine radios and record players in a single
unit. The Braun logo with the distinctive raised and rounded
"A" in the middle was born in 1934.
During World War II, Braun was compelled to more or less
abandon products for the civilian sector, and in 1944, the
Frankfurt factories were nearly entirely destroyed. Max Braun
began rebuilding his company in 1945.
1950 saw the launch of the rst electric shaver, the "S 50",
combining an oscillating cutter block with an ultra-thin yet
stable steel foil clamped above it. This principle – in further
re ned and perfected form – is employed in Braun shavers
up to the present day.
The Braun Brothers: vision and enterprise
Following the sudden death of Max Braun in 1951, his sons
Artur and Erwin took over company management, and
set out to develop and implement new, innovative design
concepts.
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The new design concept and start of era Dieter Rams
Braun in late 1954 discovered the edgling "Hochschule fuer
Gestaltung" design academy in Ulm. With the two lecturers
Hans Gugelot and Otl Aicher, and the hiring of Dieter Rams
in 1955, a team had been created that was to go down in
design history. Gradually, the new design style spread not
only to the entire product line, but also to all communications
instruments.
Evolution through the decades
1960's: Braun electric shavers, led by the renowned sextant,
became a key business segment, as did household products
such as kitchen machines and juicers
1970's & 80's: Hand-held hair dryers were developed in the
70's, along with styling appliances in the late 70's. These
personal care products required design that focused on
ergonomics and ease of handing. Clocks, watches and
calculators were important primarily in the 1980's and set
new design standards for innovative technology, clarity and
reduction.
1990's: Electrical oral care and female hair removal emerged
as business segments. A partnership between Braun and
Oral-B led to the creation of electric toothbrushes. Braun also
acquired Silk-épil epilators and expanded this into a leading
international brand for female beauty.
Today Braun focuses on four key segments: male grooming
with Braun Series electric shavers, female grooming with Silk-épil
epilators, Satin Hair with hair care appliances and household
with Multiquick hand blenders and other kitchen helpers. The
company's values still share the original vision of the Braun
brothers: creating products based on respect for people, and
using design as an essential medium to achieve this.
Product background information
Product background information
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