Hauff. Milestones of a Brand.
When Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Hauff founded his own carpentry workshop in 1890, he was convinced that success could only come through quality, perfection, and pioneering spirit. From a small workshop in Pomerania, the business has grown into a successful company, now producing on over 15,000 square meters in Bad Schwartau.
Of course, a Hauff is still at the helm, and the philosophy remains unchanged. For example, more than 30 years ago, we developed the legendary HAUFF board, an innovation that revolutionized tile presentation in the market. Our innovative spirit remains as strong as ever! Today, we continue to think about how your exhibition can set fascinating new trends tomorrow, helping you sell more effectively.
1890–1954 – The Beginnings
1856: The birth of founder Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Hauff. In 1890, he lays the foundation for a family business, now a leader in the development and construction of presentation furniture, by establishing a carpentry business in Pflugrade, formerly Pomerania. In 1905, his son Wilhelm Hauff is born, followed by his grandson Karl Hauff in 1929.
1945 and 1954 – A New Beginning
After completing his training, Karl Hauff establishes a new carpentry and joinery workshop in Bad Schwartau-Cleverbrück.
1956 – The Company Grows
The first delivery van.
1970 – Relocation and Reorientation
The company moves into newly constructed premises at its current location, Auf der Wasch 1a, in Bad Schwartau. Karl Hauff decides to focus the business on the development of exhibition furniture, offering modern presentation solutions to the tile and sanitary trades. The traditional carpentry services for private customers are phased out.
1981 – Generational Shift
Ulrich Hauff (b. 1956) joins the family business and intensifies exhibition and store design with innovative in-house developments. He creates the legendary Hauff board, the first disposable board for tile presentation, which can be filled directly by the manufacturer with samples.
1982–1994 – The Era of Innovation
From 1982 to 1994, Hauff revolutionized tile presentation with the Hauff board and "Product 80," a steel tube furniture piece. Over 500,000 boards were delivered annually, paving the way across Europe for the industry and trade to produce and present new products in increasingly shorter cycles.
1985 – Continued Growth
Since the 1970s, Hauff has been delivering and installing exhibitions across Germany using its own logistics trucks.
1995 – New Directions in Customer Consultation
A strategic shift takes place in sales: individual customer consultation and the realization of their wishes become the focal points. Expertise in presenting other building materials, such as natural stone, doors, wood, and more, is expanded.
1995–2005 – Multimedia Enhances Presentation
Experiments in multimedia technology lead to the development of the "Living Wall," a projection surface that enables life-sized and realistic planning and presentation of bathroom and living room designs. The Living Wall becomes a key feature in many sales spaces.
2010–Today – Successful Sales Spaces
Hauff offers complete solutions tailored to the needs of each customer group, from collage tables for tradespeople’s offices to complete installations for exhibitions as large as 3,000 square meters. Everything from planning to turnkey delivery—only at HAUFF.
2020 – A New Era in the Building Materials Trade
Karl-Sebastian Hauff joins the management team. The family business is co-led by father and son, shaping the sales spaces of the next generation.
2024 – 70 Years of HAUFF
This October, HAUFF is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Looking ahead, our goal remains to actively shape the transformation of the industry in the coming decades and to always stay at the forefront of innovation.