Caroma

Caroma
OwnerGWA International
CountryAustralia
Introduced1941
Websitewww.caroma.com.au

Caroma (Caroma Dorf) is an Australian designer and distributor of bathroom products. Caroma was established in 1941, by Hungarian-born Charles Rothauser, and since closing its last factory in 2017 now sources all products from third-party overseas manufacturers.[1]

Caroma is a subsidiary of GWA International Limited, and introduced the world's first two-button dual flush toilet system. The company self-distributes within Australia and abroad sells through distributors such as Sustainable Solutions International in North America and Sanlamere in the United Kingdom.

History

The company was established in 1941 with a factory at Norwood, an inner eastern suburb of Adelaide. The company announced its intention to close down manufacturing in Australia on 8 October 2014. The factory at Wetherill Park in Sydney closed in 2014.[2] It finally closed the Norwood factory on 24 February 2017. Manufacture now occurs in Malaysia, China and Europe.[1]

Caroma Dorf companies

The Caroma Dorf group of companies offers a range of bathroom, kitchen and laundry products from a number of brands.

  • Fowler – range of toilets and basins for bathrooms.[3]
  • Dorf – Offers a range of products for bathrooms, kitchens and laundries.[4]
  • Clark – Clark has a range of kitchen sinks.[5]
  • Epure – Epure is Clark's expensive range which offers a variety of kitchen sinks.[6]
  • Radiant – products for kitchen and laundries.[7]
  • Irwell – A range of tapware products.[8]
  • Stylus – Best known for its baths and spas, Stylus also offers a range of cheap toilets, basins, mixers, taps, showers and bathroom accessories.[9]
  • Dux Hot Water[10]

Innovations

  • The first in the world to introduce the two-button dual flush system in 1982[11][12]
  • The first in the world to introduce the 6/3L dual flush cistern[13]
  • The first to introduce the 4.5/3L dual flush cistern through Smartflush technology[14]
  • The first company to gain a WELS 5 Star rating for toilet suites[14]
  • The first company to achieve an Australian WELS 6 Star rating for urinals[15][16]

Awards

  • Australian Design Award for Excellence in Australian Design in the Housing & Building category (2009) – Caroma Invisi Series II Toilet Suite[17]
  • Australian Design Awards for Excellence in Sustainable Design (2007) -Caroma H2Zero Cube Urinal[18]
  • Australian Design Award for Excellence in Australian Design in the Housing and Building category (2005)- Smartflush Toilet Suite Range[19]

References

  1. ^ a b Castello, Renato (24 February 2017). "Bathroom manufacturer Caroma will close the doors of its Adelaide factory ending 76 years of manufacturing tradition". The Advertiser. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  2. ^ Foster, Sophie (8 October 2014). "Caroma and Dorf owner GWA slashes 164 jobs as it shuts two factories". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  3. ^ Official Fowler website
  4. ^ "Bathroom Products and Inspiration – Dorf". dorf.com.au.
  5. ^ "Clark Kitchen Sinks, Kitchen Taps, Kitchen Accessories and Laundry Tubs. Since 1941". clark.com.au.
  6. ^ "Kitchen Sinks – Epure". clark.com.au. Archived from the original on 10 April 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  7. ^ "Bathroom products from Stylus. Quality Toilets, Basins, Baths, Spas and Taps". radiantstainless.com.au.
  8. ^ "Bathroom products from Stylus. Quality Toilets, Basins, Baths, Spas and Taps". irwell.com.au.
  9. ^ Official Stylus website
  10. ^ "Dux Hot Water". dux.com.au.
  11. ^ "Australia Innovates – Powerhouse Museum". powerhousemuseum.com.
  12. ^ "Toilet cistern and seat, dual flush volume 'Uniset', plastic/metal, Caroma Industries Pty Ltd, South Australia, 1982–1992". powerhousemuseum.com.
  13. ^ "DuoSet dual flush toilet cistern". powerhousemuseum.com.
  14. ^ a b "Sectioned Caroma 'Smartflush' toilet suite". powerhousemuseum.com.
  15. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ http://ag.gov.au/portal/govgazonline.nsf/6094A74B9E1BF38CCA257199001FA3DA/$file/S111.pdf[permanent dead link‍]
  17. ^ "Caroma Invisi Series II Toilet Suite".
  18. ^ "Caroma H2Zero Cube Urinal".
  19. ^ Smartflush Toilet Suite Range Archived 6 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine