Hansgrohe Celebrates 125 Years Of Innovation, Design And Sustainability In Luxury Design

Hansgrohe Group, headquartered in Schiltach, Baden- Württemberg, one of the leading companies in the global bath and kitchen industry, with its brands hansgrohe and AXOR, is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2026. Present in more than 145 countries the organisation is marking more than a century of innovation in shower and faucet technology and its continued focus on sustainable water solutions. The anniversary is being celebrated under the theme “Setting the Beat of Water. Since 1901,” reflecting the company’s longstanding focus on combining engineering, design and responsible water use to enhance everyday experiences with water.

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Founded in 1901 by Hans Grohe in Schiltach, Germany, the company began as a small metalworking workshop producing sanitary components. Over the decades, it grew into a global manufacturer of premium bathroom and kitchen products, with installations today spanning homes, hotels and architectural projects in more than 145 countries.

“125 years of Hansgrohe not only represent millions of showers and faucets sold. Nor are they defined solely by design awards or recognition for patents and sustainability strategies,” says Hans Jürgen Kalmbach, CEO of the Hansgrohe Group since 2018. “Above all, they are a testament to the people who have developed these products, who always keep our customers in mind and who have remained loyal to our company for many years – sometimes even across generations. And even though the Klaus Grohe family is no longer involved in day-to-day operations, we all know what we owe them: an outstanding corporate culture that recognizes and values each individual, their commitment and their passion, and an entrepreneurial spirit that is always looking ahead.”

Among the company’s early milestones were the hand-held shower suitable for serial production introduced in 1928 and the height-adjustable wall bar for showers developed in 1953, both of which helped shape modern bathroom design. Under the leadership of Klaus Grohe, who joined the company in 1968, Hansgrohe expanded internationally and established the luxury design brand AXOR in 1993.

Today, the Hansgrohe Group employs around 5,673 people worldwide and reported EUR 1.375 billion in sales in 2025. The company operates eight production facilities globally and continues to invest in research and development, with more than 23,000 active intellectual property rights.

Sustainability has been a long-standing focus for the company. Hansgrohe introduced one of its first water-saving hand showers in 1987 and continues to develop technologies such as EcoSmart, AirPower and CoolStart, which help reduce water and energy consumption. Through its “ECO 2030” initiative, the company aims to equip all water-bearing products with water-saving technologies by 2030.

The momentous occasion was bookmarked by a special corporate film, showcasing the organisation’s milestones and journey over 125 years. [SS1]

The India Chapter

Commenting on the milestone from an Indian perspective, Abdulkader Bengali, Managing Director, Hansgrohe India, said, “A milestone like 125 years encourages reflection on the values that have allowed a company to remain relevant for so long. At Hansgrohe, those values have always included strong engineering discipline, respect for water as a resource and close collaboration with architects and designers. In India, we see a growing community of professionals and homeowners who approach bathroom design with the same level of seriousness. That shared attention to quality, functionality, and responsible water use makes the Indian market particularly meaningful for us. Over the course of this anniversary year, we also look forward to engaging closely with our architect and designer community, our channel partners and our own employees across India, who all play an important role in how the brand continues to grow in this market.”

Hansgrohe is also strengthening its presence in India through a combination of retail expansion, deeper channel partnerships and closer engagement with the design community. Over the next three to four years, Hansgrohe aims to expand its footprint in India significantly via experiential retail presence. The growth from its current presence in126 cities and nearly 250 partners, is aimed at enabling customers to interact directly with products through demonstrations and expert consultations at showrooms. This expansion is focused not just on metros but on carefully selected Tier-II and Tier-III markets, where aspiration for premium living is growing rapidly, with cities such as Mohali and Kolkata emerging as important touchpoints in recent few months.

The company plans to increase capacity at its Mumbai assembly facility from approx. 28k units to 200,000 units annually by 2030. The anniversary will be marked throughout 2026 with a series of global initiatives celebrating the company’s heritage and its continued focus on shaping the future of bathroom design and water technologies.

About the Hansgrohe Group – Setting the Beat of Water. Since 1901.

With its brands AXOR and hansgrohe, the Hansgrohe Group, based in Schiltach/Southern Germany, enjoys a reputation as a leader in innovation, design and quality within the bath and kitchen industry. Founded in 1901 in the Black Forest, the company gives water form and function with its faucets, showerheads and shower systems. In combination with sanitary ceramics and bathroom furniture, the company offers individual design options from a single source for holistic bathroom experiences. The 125-year history of the company is marked by innovations, such as the first hand-held shower with multiple spray types, the first pull-out kitchen faucet, and the first wall bar to hold a hand-held shower. The company holds more than 23,000 active property rights. The Hansgrohe Group stands for long-lasting quality products and for responsibility towards people and the environment. Sustainable production of resource-conserving products is central to the company’s business activities around the globe. By developing innovative technologies for faucets and showers, Hansgrohe achieves the greatest possible effect on protecting water as a resource and limiting and adapting to climate change during the usage phase of its products. As part of its consistent sustainability strategy, Hansgrohe is equipping all water-bearing products exclusively with water-saving technologies by 2030 within its "ECO 2030" initiative. With 35 subsidiaries and 23 sales offices supplying products in more than 145 countries, the globally active company in the sanitary industry is a reliable partner to its customers in all regions of the world. The Hansgrohe Group, its brands and products have won numerous awards, including more than 800 design prizes since 1974. The products of the Hansgrohe Group are found around the world: on renowned cruise ships, in luxurious 5-star and boutique hotels, in international metropolitan cities, in extraordinary spas, exclusive bathrooms of lodges and luxury villas, public facilities, as well as in countless private homes. The Hansgrohe Group’s high quality standards are ensured by eight wholly-owned production facilities: four in Germany, one each in France, in Serbia, the United States and China. In 2025, the Hansgrohe Group generated a turnover of EUR 1.375 billion. It employs around 5,673 people worldwide, about 60 percent of whom work in Germany.

World Art Day 2026: Art-Immersive Luxury Properties Where Every Stay Is A Work Of Art

With art tourism on the rise, Indian travellers are turning to immersive, design-led hotels where creativity shapes every stay.

Raja Ravi Varma’s 19th-century masterpiece ‘Yashoda and Krishna' became the most expensive Indian artwork ever sold, fetching ₹167.2 crore at a Saffronart auction, signalling a renewed global appreciation for Indian art and heritage. This mirrors a larger cultural shift, with the global art tourism market projected to reach USD 54.44 billion by 2030, and a growing demand for art-driven, design-led travel experiences.

For a new generation of Indian luxury travellers, art is no longer confined to galleries—it’s becoming an integral part of how they experience the world. From the Maldives to the French Riviera, travellers are keen to experience hotels where creativity shapes every moment of the stay.

This World Art Day (on April 15), here are three iconic art-immersive luxury stays where every space is a canvas, inviting guests to experience art at every turn.

JOALI Maldives, Maldives

This Michelin Key-recognised ultra-luxury resort in the Maldives is the country’s first art-immersive island resort. Home to over 60 bespoke art installations, JOALI Maldives is conceived as a living gallery where art, design, and gastronomy come together to create deeply immersive luxury experiences. Curated around liveable and interactive art created in collaboration with world-renowned artists and artisans, such as Porky Hefer’s life-sized treetop manta ray where guests can climb in for private dining, alongside equally imaginative experiences like the turtle-shaped dining installation at its sister property, JOALI BEING, where art and dining seamlessly converge..

At the heart of the resort is its Artist-in-Residence programme and ongoing global collaborations, which bring international and regional creatives to the island to co-create, exhibit, and engage with guests. The Art Studio hosts daily workshops led by resident and visiting artists, allowing guests to create, learn and engage directly with the creative process.

With rotating installations, curated residencies, and collaborations with artists such as Studio Penn and Sophie Kitching, JOALI Maldives extends the spirit of an art fair into a fully immersive, stay-long cultural experience, making it one of the best destinations to celebrate World Art Day.

The Claridges New Delhi

In the heart of Lutyens’ Delhi, The Claridges New Delhi stands as a quiet sanctuary for the capital’s creative spirit — where architecture, design, and culture come together to create an art-led stay that extends beyond art fair season. Defined by its colonial façade, the hotel weaves heritage into every detail, with interiors that feature hand-painted murals, layered textures, and thoughtfully curated design elements that shape the overall atmosphere of the stay.

This artistic sensibility continues across its rooms and suites, where antique English artworks and classic design influences reflect a blend of British-era elegance and contemporary refinement.

The artistic expression extends into the hotel’s dining spaces. Erawaan features Ramayana-inspired artwork and intricately detailed mandalas across its ceiling, while Jade showcases artist Ankon Mitra’s hand-painted dragons and sculptural brass “Fu Dogs,” adding layers of symbolism and visual detail.

The hotel has also engaged with India’s art ecosystem through collaborations with art galleries such as DAG (Delhi Art Gallery), which has operated a dedicated gallery space within the property and hosted curated exhibitions, reinforcing its position as a cultural hub in the capital.

Carlton Cannes, France

Art has always been an intrinsic part of Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel, one of France’s most iconic heritage landmarks’ identity. Following its transformation in 2023, the hotel now houses nearly 2,000 curated works by In’Art (founded by Sylvie Amigo-Soulet) across suites, corridors, the spa, and public spaces. Working closely with a network of contemporary artists, the curation spans ceramics, photography, engraving, painting and glass sculpture, creating what is intended as “a genuine means to escape from reality for a moment” through art.

As Indo-French cultural exchange grows through exhibitions, design collaborations, and an increasing appreciation for art among Indian travellers, Carlton Cannes offers a natural extension of this dialogue. For culturally curious Indian luxury travellers, the hotel becomes a gateway into the artistic legacy of the Côte d’Azur.

Each guest experience unfolds as a journey through art with intimate pieces in rooms inviting quiet reflection, while larger installations across the hotel encourage exploration and discovery. Set on the French Riviera, Carlton Cannes brings together heritage and contemporary creativity to create a stay that is both culturally immersive and distinctly memorable.

SWITCH Mobility Flags Off Electric Intercity Coaches For Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions On Mumbai–Pune Route

SWITCH Mobility, a global manufacturer in electric buses and light commercial vehicles and part of the Hinduja Group, today flagged off first batch of 10 units of its EiV12mt intercity electric coaches for Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions (Purple Bus), in the presence of Hon’ble Minister Madhuri Misal, Minister of State, Government of Maharashtra.

This deployment marks SWITCH Mobility’s first intercity coach deployment for the private sector, while also enabling Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions’ entry into the intercity electric mobility segment. In a strategic partnership with Vertelo, the buses are being deployed by Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions on the Mumbai–Pune route, one of India’s busiest travel corridors. The order comprises 25 electric buses, with the remaining units to be delivered over the course of the year. This development represents a significant step towards mainstreaming electric mobility in intercity travel, as operators increasingly transition towards sustainable, efficient, and future-ready transport solutions.

The SWITCH EiV12mt intercity coach combines performance, efficiency, and passenger comfort, and is purpose-built for long-distance travel. It features 45 pushback seats, a range of over 300 km per charge, and fast-charging capability, enabling efficient operations for long-haul intercity journeys. With advanced safety systems, a quiet ride experience, and SWITCH iON connected technology for real-time monitoring, the coach is designed to deliver a reliable and comfortable intercity travel experience.

Mr. Ganesh Mani, CEO, SWITCH Mobility said, “The flag-off marks another important step in expanding electric mobility beyond cities and strengthening our presence in the intercity segment. This partnership reflects the growing confidence in electric buses for high-frequency routes like Mumbai–Pune, where performance, reliability, and efficiency are critical. As we commence deliveries, with the first set of buses now deployed, we look forward to progressively scaling this engagement with Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions in the period ahead.

At SWITCH Mobility, we are focused on delivering solutions through the EiV12 platform that are not only sustainable but also commercially viable for operators, while ensuring a superior passenger experience. With intercity mobility continuing to evolve, we are building on our experience in the segment and remain committed to accelerating the adoption of reliable, efficient, and future-ready electric mobility solutions.”

Mr. Prasanna Patwardhan, CMD, Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions, said, “Entering the intercity segment with electric mobility is a significant milestone for us. Through this collaboration, we are introducing a cleaner and more efficient travel option on the Mumbai–Pune route. We remain focused on enhancing the overall journey experience while moving towards more sustainable operations. With Switch Mobility we value our partnership for long term E Mobility Solutions.”

With over 185 million green kilometres covered globally and 2,500+ electric buses deployed in India, SWITCH Mobility continues to scale its presence across multiple segments, including city, intercity, and specialised applications. In urban mobility, the company has established a strong presence across multiple cities, supporting the transition to cleaner and more efficient public transport systems. The company has previously deployed intercity electric buses for state transport undertakings such as UPSRTC.

About SWITCH Mobility

SWITCH Mobility, a part of the Hinduja Group, is a global electric bus and light commercial vehicle manufacturer committed to advancing green mobility. Formed by leveraging the engineering expertise of the Indian powerhouse Ashok Leyland, SWITCH seamlessly integrates the very best innovators and cutting-edge technology to deliver unrivalled product choices on a global scale. Since inception, SWITCH has put over 2,400 eBuses on the road, clocking up over 185 million kilometres globally. SWITCH Mobility’s electric light commercial vehicle – the SWITCH IeV Series – is transforming last-mile logistics with currently over 2,500 eLCVs on the road driven by urban delivery demands and operational efficiencies.

SWITCH Mobility’s accomplishments are underscored by numerous awards, such as Most Trusted Brand of India, L&ICV People Mover of the Year, Star Electric Bus of the Year, Sustainability Award, and the Special Application of the Year Award for the EiV 22 TOURIST Hop on Hop Off Bus at the Apollo CV Awards. Recognised as a Great Place to Work, SWITCH Mobility cultivates a corporate culture that values agility, innovation, and responsibility.

Tata Mutual Fund Resumes Lump-Sum Subscriptions In Tata Small Cap Fund

Tata Mutual Fund has announced the resumption of all fresh inflows through lumpsum and switch-in applications, in Tata Small Cap Fund effective from April 06, 2026. This decision follows a period where the fund house had restricted lumpsum inflows to manage liquidity and capital deployment within the small-cap segment. The update will be implemented prospectively and remains an integral part of the Scheme Information Document and Key Information Memorandum for the fund.

On the same, Anand Vardarajan, Chief Business Officer at Tata Asset Management, said, “Our decision to resume subscriptions reflects our confidence in current deployment opportunities and our ability to identify businesses with strong balance sheets and sustainable growth trajectories. While volatility is inherent to this category, the recent correction has created a window to build positions at more sensible entry points for potential long-term compounding.”

Recent market movements have led to a correction in small-cap stock prices and valuation premiums, resulting in a more reasonable valuation landscape across the segment. This shift has improved the availability of fundamentally strong businesses at reasonably better price levels, aligning well with the fund’s bottom-up investment approach. Considering these developments, the scheme is being re-opened for lumpsum investments, offering investors with a long-term investment horizon an opportunity to participate in the small-cap segment.

All other terms and conditions, along with the risk-o-meter of the scheme, remain unchanged. Investors are encouraged to consult with their financial advisors, as mutual fund investments are subject to market risks and all scheme-related documents should be read carefully.

About Tata Asset Management

Established in 1994, Tata Asset Management Private Limited is the investment manager for Tata Mutual Fund. It is one of the oldest mutual funds in India with a unique folio base of over 89 lakhs (latest available as on 31st March 2026). Tata Mutual Fund takes pride in managing the investments of the common man right from childhood to retirement. It offers a wide choice of funds for every need across the entire risk return spectrum. These include equity funds, debt funds, hybrid funds and few others.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are personal in nature and in is no way trying to predict the markets or to time them. The views expressed are for information purposes only and do not construe to be any investment, legal or taxation advice. Any action taken by you on the basis of the information contained herein is your responsibility alone and Tata Asset Management Pvt. Ltd. will not be liable in any manner for the consequences of such action taken by you. Please consult your Mutual Fund Distributor before investing. The views expressed in this article may not reflect in the scheme portfolios of Tata Mutual Fund. The views expressed are based on the current market scenario and the same is subject to change. There are no guaranteed or assured returns under any of the scheme of Tata mutual Fund.

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.