Thermador
Thermador is an American premium kitchen-appliance brand specializing in cooking, refrigeration, dishwashing, and ventilation equipment.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Thermador is an American brand of high-end kitchen appliances and a member of the BSH Home Appliances group. Its portfolio centers on premium residential kitchen equipment, including ovens, ranges, cooktops, refrigerators, dishwashers, and ventilation systems. The brand is associated with the development of several appliance formats that helped bring features influenced by commercial kitchens into the home, including the residential professional-style range and the warming drawer. Thermador’s documented product history emphasizes appliance innovation. By 1948, the company had introduced a residential “Pro Range” modeled on commercial restaurant equipment. In 1952, it developed an early home warming drawer, intended to keep dishes and prepared food warm while the oven was being used. In 1963, the brand introduced a self-cleaning oven. During the 1970s, it continued developing cooking technology: in 1970 it released a smooth-top cooktop using material developed by Corning Incorporated, and in 1976 it introduced a Speedcooking oven that combined conventional thermal heat with microwave energy to reduce cooking time compared with conventional ovens. Thermador also helped popularize stainless steel in home appliances and is credited with the invention of the wall oven and cooktop. Its products received visibility through American television and public-media cooking programming. Julia Child used a Thermador oven in her PBS television series, and Thermador appliances appeared on the television program The Brady Bunch. These appearances contributed to the brand’s association with serious home cooking and professionally styled kitchens. The company became part of BSH in 1998, when BSH was a joint Bosch-Siemens enterprise. Following the later restructuring of BSH ownership, Bosch became its sole owner in 2015. Thermador operates as a brand within BSH Home Appliances Corporation rather than as a separately listed public company. Thermador appliances are produced in more than one location depending on the product and model. BSH facilities in New Bern, North Carolina, and La Follette, Tennessee, manufacture many Thermador refrigerators, ovens, ranges, dishwashers, and ventilation systems. Some higher-end models are assembled at BSH sites in Germany and other countries. The brand’s listed technology and development centers include facilities in Oak Ridge and Caryville, Tennessee, as well as New Bern, North Carolina. Its Irvine, California headquarters supports marketing, sales, and customer-service activities. Overall, Thermador occupies a premium segment of the residential kitchen-appliance market, combining high-end positioning with a history of cooking and kitchen-format innovation.
History
Thermador’s history is defined by the development of high-end residential kitchen appliances and by the transfer of commercial-kitchen concepts into domestic use. The brand is credited with inventing the wall oven and cooktop and with introducing stainless steel into home appliances. These developments helped establish a product philosophy centered on built-in kitchen equipment, specialized cooking functions, and professional-style performance. A notable turning point came by 1948, when Thermador introduced the first residential Pro Range. The product was patterned after commercial restaurant equipment and represented an early effort to give home cooks the configuration and visual language of a professional kitchen. In 1952, Thermador developed the first home version of a warming drawer. The drawer was designed to hold dishes and prepared foods at a suitable temperature while another appliance, particularly an oven, was in use. This expanded the kitchen beyond basic cooking and storage functions and anticipated the specialized appliance systems common in premium kitchens. Thermador continued its cooking-appliance development with the introduction of a self-cleaning oven in 1963. During the 1970s, the company introduced additional technologies. In 1970, it released a smooth-top cooktop based on material developed by Corning Incorporated. The smooth surface represented a different approach to household cooking equipment from traditional exposed heating elements and supported the cleaner, built-in appearance associated with modern kitchen design. In 1976, Thermador introduced its Speedcooking oven. The system combined thermal heat with microwave energy and was described as capable of cooking up to 35 percent faster than conventional ovens. This product continued the brand’s focus on specialized cooking technology while addressing the practical demand for shorter preparation times. The brand also gained exposure through American television and cooking media. Julia Child used a Thermador oven in her PBS television series, while Thermador appliances appeared on The Brady Bunch. These appearances connected the brand with home cooking, food preparation, and the cultural visibility of the American kitchen. In 1998, Thermador was acquired by BSH, then operating as a joint Bosch-Siemens company. The acquisition placed the brand within a larger appliance-manufacturing organization while preserving Thermador’s premium identity. In 2015, Bosch became the sole owner of BSH. Thermador subsequently remained a brand operated through BSH Home Appliances Corporation. Manufacturing and development are distributed across BSH facilities. Many Thermador refrigerators, ovens, ranges, dishwashers, and ventilation systems are manufactured at BSH factories in New Bern, North Carolina, and La Follette, Tennessee. Some high-end products are assembled at BSH facilities in Germany and other countries. Technology and development centers are identified in Oak Ridge and Caryville, Tennessee, and New Bern, North Carolina. Thermador’s Irvine, California headquarters oversees marketing, sales, and customer service. The brand therefore combines an American market identity and headquarters with a broader international manufacturing and corporate infrastructure.
- 2015
Bosch became sole owner of BSH
[1]Bosch became the sole owner of BSH, the corporate group under which Thermador operates.
- 1998
Acquired by BSH
[1]Thermador became part of BSH, then a joint Bosch-Siemens appliance company.
- 1976
Speedcooking oven introduced
[1]The brand launched a Speedcooking oven combining thermal heat and microwave energy, with cooking times described as up to 35 percent faster than conventional ovens.
- 1970
Smooth-top cooktop released
[1]Thermador released a smooth-top cooktop using material developed by Corning Incorporated.
- 1963
Self-cleaning oven introduced
[1]Thermador introduced a self-cleaning oven as part of its continuing cooking-appliance development.
- 1952
Home warming drawer developed
[1]The brand introduced a home warming drawer for holding dishes and food while the oven was in use.
- 1948
Residential Pro Range introduced
[1]Thermador introduced a residential professional-style range modeled on commercial restaurant equipment.
Products and positioning
Premium residential kitchen appliances with professional-style design and a strong emphasis on cooking innovation.
Cooking appliances
Wall ovens
Thermador’s wall ovens represent the brand’s built-in cooking format and its long association with residential kitchen design. The brand is credited with inventing the wall oven and has continued to connect this format with specialized cooking functions, including self-cleaning and faster cooking technologies.
Cooking appliances · 1948
Professional-style ranges
Thermador introduced a residential Pro Range by 1948, adapting the appearance and operating concept of commercial restaurant equipment for the home. Professional-style ranges remain a central expression of the brand’s premium positioning and its focus on serious residential cooking.
Cooking appliances · 1970
Cooktops
Cooktops are a core Thermador category and form part of the brand’s built-in kitchen-appliance portfolio. Thermador’s history includes the development of cooktops and the 1970 release of a smooth-top model using material developed by Corning Incorporated.
Cooking appliances · 1976
Speedcooking ovens
Introduced in 1976, the Speedcooking oven combined thermal heat with microwave energy. Thermador described the system as capable of cooking up to 35 percent faster than conventional ovens, making it an example of the brand’s emphasis on specialized cooking technology.
Kitchen appliances · 1952
Warming drawers
Thermador developed an early residential warming drawer in 1952. The appliance was designed to keep dishes and prepared food warm while the oven was being used, extending the kitchen’s functions beyond direct heating and cooking.
Refrigeration
Refrigerators
Refrigerators are among Thermador’s major product categories. Many Thermador refrigerator models are manufactured at BSH facilities in the United States, while product manufacturing and assembly can vary by model and market.
Cleaning appliances
Dishwashers
Thermador dishwashers form part of its premium integrated kitchen-appliance range. The category is manufactured within BSH’s appliance network, including United States facilities for many models.
Kitchen ventilation
Ventilation systems
Thermador’s ventilation systems complement its cooking equipment and are included among the product categories manufactured through BSH facilities. They support the brand’s broader approach to coordinated premium kitchen equipment.
Brand decisions
2015
Bosch became the sole owner of BSHM&ABackground
BSH’s ownership changed after its earlier period as a joint Bosch-Siemens company.
Action taken
Bosch became BSH’s sole owner, with Thermador remaining within the group.
Aftermath
Thermador continued to operate under BSH Home Appliances Corporation.
1998
Thermador joined BSHM&ABackground
Thermador was acquired by BSH when the appliance group was jointly owned by Bosch and Siemens.
Action taken
The brand was incorporated into BSH’s broader home-appliance organization.
Aftermath
Thermador continued as a premium appliance brand within the BSH portfolio.
Recent events
Nationwide Marketing Group and Thermador announce retail partnership[2]
Reported:
Nationwide Marketing Group announced an exclusive program with Thermador for its network of luxury appliance retailers. The partners plan to support participating dealers through digital and in-store tools, team education and customer shopping insights.
Sources2 sources
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