Kaiser bakeware history: inventing the pans bakers rely on, since 1919
From the Ore Mountains to the first non-stick baking pan and the leak-proof La Forme Plus springform. Here is how Kaiser became one of the most innovative names in bakeware, and why bakers trust it.
What is Kaiser bakeware?
Kaiser is a German bakeware brand founded in 1919 by Wilhelm Ferdinand Kaiser in the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains). It launched the world’s first baking pan with a non-stick coating in 1968, and is known for its La Forme Plus springform pans with KAIRAMIC coating, a cut-resistant enamel base and the SafeClicK closure. Kaiser has been part of the WMF Group since 2002.
Why can you trust Kaiser when you buy bakeware?
A baking pan is used for years at high heat, so you want proof it will last and perform. Kaiser’s record can be checked on five points.
More than 100 years of baking expertise
Kaiser began in 1919 and, within about ten years, was supplying German department stores with baking pans. The brand celebrated its 100th birthday in 2019.
Developed and made in Germany
Kaiser says it develops and manufactures bakeware in Germany, with many individual production steps per pan and strict quality control. The production site has been in Diez an der Lahn since 1978.
A record of baking firsts
Kaiser launched the first non-stick baking pan in 1968 and later introduced the first springform pan with a completely smooth base. Its milestones also include the first square springform pan and a non-leak springform base.
Built to be used again and again
La Forme Plus pans are made in extra heavy quality, with a double-layer KAIRAMIC non-stick coating and a cut-resistant enamel base. Kaiser says the pans look like new even after years of use.
Backed by a guarantee and a global group
WMF states a 10-year warranty on selected parts of La Forme Plus bakeware, with the conditions set out in the guarantee statement. Kaiser is part of the WMF Group, which belongs to Groupe SEB, so service and spare parts sit behind an established kitchenware business.
Why Kaiser is one of the most innovative bakeware brands
Innovation at Kaiser is practical. Each step solves a problem bakers actually have: cakes that stick, rings that leak, locks that are hard to open, and bases that scratch when you slice. These are the ideas Kaiser is best known for.
The non-stick baking pan1968
Kaiser says it launched the world’s first baking pan with a non-stick coating in 1968. It was a revolution at the time and is now standard in kitchens and bakeries. In professional circles the pan is still known as “the original”.
The square springform panKaiser milestone
Groupe SEB lists the first square springform pan among Kaiser’s milestones. It opened the way for tiramisu, brownies and layered squares that round pans could not make neatly.
La Forme: a premium series1984
The La Forme series launched in 1984 and combined traditional shapes, high-quality materials and careful workmanship. It became the foundation of Kaiser’s premium range.
The smooth-base, leak-proof springformLa Forme Plus
La Forme Plus introduced the first springform pan with a completely smooth base. The enamel base is cut-resistant, so you can slice and serve without moving the cake. The base plate is slightly larger than the ring, which is what makes the pans leak-proof.
KAIRAMIC ceramic-reinforced coatingLa Forme Plus
KAIRAMIC is a double-layer, ceramic-reinforced non-stick coating designed for easy release and simple cleaning. Kaiser says it keeps La Forme Plus pans looking like new for years.
The SafeClicK closureLa Forme Plus
SafeClicK is a one-hand closure with a larger, more ergonomic grip for left- and right-handed bakers. Product details cite a 40 percent larger grip surface, and the ring opens fully, which makes cleaning easier.
Creative shapes that win design awardsInspiration range
The Kaiser Inspiration Bundform Twister, designed with Rudolph Schelling Webermann and cast in aluminium, won the Red Dot Award: Product Design in 2019. Its sibling, Tartes & Törtchen, was named Kaiser’s baking pan of the year.
Kaiser history timeline: key dates from 1919 to today
Each chapter adds a new idea to the way people bake at home.
-
A metal-goods business opens in the Ore Mountains
Wilhelm Ferdinand Kaiser founds a wholesale business for metal goods in Beierfeld, in the Erzgebirge.
-
Baking pans reach department stores
Within about ten years, Kaiser is supplying department stores across Germany with baking pans.
-
The first non-stick baking pan
Kaiser launches what it calls the world’s first baking pan with a non-stick coating, a milestone that changed home and professional baking.
-
A new home in Diez an der Lahn
The company moves to Diez an der Lahn, where it still has a manufacturing site.
-
La Forme launches, and later becomes La Forme Plus
The premium La Forme series brings a new standard of quality. The range later adds the smooth-base springform, a leak-proof base, KAIRAMIC coating and the SafeClicK closure.
-
Kaiser joins the WMF Group
WMF acquires Kaiser Backformen, adding bakeware to its cookware, cutlery and tableware portfolio.
-
The WMF Group joins Groupe SEB
Groupe SEB acquires WMF Group, including Kaiser, and later celebrates the bakeware brand’s history as part of its portfolio.
-
100 years of Kaiser and a Red Dot award
Kaiser marks its centenary with a gold-finish 100 GOLD Edition of classic pans and a birthday baking book. The same year, the Inspiration Bundform Twister wins the Red Dot Award: Product Design.
What makes Kaiser bakeware high quality?
Kaiser pans are built around three ideas: heavy construction, a coating that lasts, and details that make baking easier. La Forme Plus pans are made in extra heavy quality, which helps with heat conduction and distribution and gives evenly browned results.
The KAIRAMIC coating sits in two layers, and the enamel base is cut-resistant and scratch-resistant. That combination lets you release, slice and serve from the same pan. Kaiser’s creative moulds, such as Twister, are cast in aluminium to give sharp, detailed shapes.
Care rules differ by range, and hand washing with a soft cloth is often recommended to protect any non-stick coating. Always check the product page or packaging for dishwasher guidance and use instructions.
Kaiser innovation and design recognition at a glance
Kaiser’s strongest proof of innovation is its record of world firsts, backed by independent recognition of its design work. The table brings both together.
| Year | Milestone | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | First baking pan with a non-stick coatingKaiser says this was a world first | Innovation |
| 1984 | La Forme premium series launched | Innovation |
| La Forme Plus | First springform with a completely smooth base; leak-proof base; KAIRAMIC coating; SafeClicK closure | Innovation |
| 2019 | Kaiser Inspiration Bundform TwisterDesign by Rudolph Schelling Webermann | Red Dot Award: Product Design |
| 2019 | Tartes & TörtchenChosen by Kaiser as its baking pan of the year | Brand accolade |
The red dot marks Red Dot Design Awards. In 2019 the WMF Group won three Red Dot Awards, including this one for Kaiser, which it said confirmed the group’s high design standards.
How to buy Kaiser bakeware with confidence
Kaiser covers everyday pans, premium ranges and creative shapes. These checks help you choose.
- Choose the right range. La Forme Plus is the premium range, while Inspiration and other ranges focus on shapes and value.
- Look for SafeClicK on springforms. It gives easier opening, full ring removal and leak protection.
- Check the coating and base. KAIRAMIC and a cut-resistant enamel base indicate La Forme Plus construction.
- Pick the right size and shape. Match diameter or dimensions to your recipes, and consider a tube base for bundt-style cakes.
- Read the care instructions. Dishwasher suitability and utensil advice vary by range.
- Check the warranty. WMF states 10 years on selected La Forme Plus parts. Confirm coverage and conditions in the guarantee statement.
- Buy from authorised retailers. This keeps returns and warranty claims straightforward.
Kaiser bakeware frequently asked questions
What is Kaiser bakeware known for?
Kaiser is a German bakeware brand founded in 1919. It is best known for launching the first baking pan with a non-stick coating in 1968, and for the La Forme Plus range of springform pans with KAIRAMIC non-stick coating, a cut-resistant enamel base and the SafeClicK closure.
When and where was Kaiser founded?
Wilhelm Ferdinand Kaiser founded Kaiser in 1919 as a wholesale business for metal goods in Beierfeld in Germany’s Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains). The company moved to Diez an der Lahn in 1978, where it still has a manufacturing site.
Did Kaiser invent the non-stick baking pan?
Kaiser says it launched the world’s first baking pan with a non-stick coating in 1968, and the brand is still known as the original among professionals. Kaiser describes this as a milestone that is now standard in bakeware.
Is Kaiser bakeware good quality?
Kaiser is widely regarded as a premium bakeware brand. Its reputation rests on more than 100 years of experience, manufacturing in Germany, extra heavy construction, KAIRAMIC ceramic-reinforced non-stick coating and a record of baking firsts. Care rules and coating details vary by range, so check the product page.
Where is Kaiser bakeware made?
Kaiser states that it develops and manufactures its bakeware in Germany. Its production site has been in Diez an der Lahn since 1978. La Forme Plus pans are marketed as made in Germany, but origin can vary by product, so check the label.
Who owns Kaiser?
Kaiser Backformen joined the WMF Group in 2002. WMF has been part of the French group Groupe SEB since 2016, so Kaiser sits alongside brands such as WMF and Silit.
What is KAIRAMIC non-stick coating?
KAIRAMIC is Kaiser’s ceramic-reinforced non-stick coating used on La Forme Plus bakeware. It is applied in two layers to help baked goods release easily and to make cleaning simpler. Kaiser says the coating is also scratch-resistant on the base.
What is the SafeClicK closure and are La Forme Plus springforms leak-proof?
SafeClicK is Kaiser’s springform closure with a larger, easier-to-grip handle that lets the ring open fully for simple cleaning. La Forme Plus springforms are designed to be leak-proof because the base plate is slightly larger than the ring.
Does Kaiser offer a warranty?
WMF states that La Forme Plus bakeware comes with a 10-year warranty on selected parts. The exact coverage and conditions are set out in the guarantee statement, so read it on the product page or packaging before you buy.