Even his first significant invention turned Johann Vaillant (*1852 in Kaiserswerth, Germany, died 1920 in Remscheid, Germany) into a heating technology pioneer. His gas bath boiler “closed system”, patented in 1894, made water preparation hygienic, convenient and controllable.
This boiler meant that water could be heated without the combustion gases condensing into the water. In addition the temperature of the water could be controlled for the first time. It was a groundbreaking invention in the field of heating technology.
The gas bath boiler “closed system” provided Vaillant, the new Remscheid-based company (founded in 1874) with a huge boost. Johann Vaillant developed the piping business into a dynamic quality-oriented production company within just a few years. He worked constantly on the improvement and expansion of his product range. Again and again, he invented new technologies that improved the safety and convenience of the appliances and by doing so held the competition at bay.
In addition to his inventiveness, Johann Vaillant also stood out because he understood the needs of the market. The economic boom created an increasing demand for washing facilities, a luxury which had previously only been affordable by very few people. Vaillant recognised, however, that standing boilers were too big for many apartments and houses.
His solution came in 1905: the first wall-hung hot water system - the “Geyser”. An ingenious innovation which still exists today. It became a global success and for expert technicians and customers the name Geyser remained the synonym for convenient water heating for decades.
With the clever selection of the name “Geyser” for the successful model – named after the hot water geysers in Iceland – Johann Vaillant showed his flair for marketing, and not for the first time. From the start he advertised his products using posters and produced product catalogues every year. He presented his products at the important installer trade shows, where he was awarded a large number of gold medals for his outstanding performance over the years.
As early as 1899 he created an unmistakeable trademark – the “Easter bunny in an egg”. Today, the Vaillant bunny is the most well-known heating technology brand in Europe and one of the most familiar trademarks of any kind in Europe.
The entrepreneur Johann Vaillant was driven by the constant search for new solutions. He consistently worked on improving the safety, reliability and convenience of his appliances and set the highest quality requirements for them.
Up until his death in 1920, at the age of 68, he ensured that these values were securely anchored in his company. The heating technology pioneer and company founder still lives on in the significant values which Vaillant continues to use to the present day: innovative strength and quality awareness.
