Bosch is a full-fledged megacompany. They're owned by B/S/H (who also own Siemens) and they produce automotive parts, building systems, solar energy, industrial technologies, and — of interest to Kitchn readers — home appliances.
Robert Bosch (1861-1942) was an interesting guy. He was a German who worked for Thomas Edison and later founded his own company, which came out with the first high-voltage spark plug. Bosch was involved in peacemaking efforts after the first World War, but was forced to accept armaments contracts under Hitler. He secretly joined the resistance movement and, according to a 1994 biography, the company was investigated by the Gestapo and many employees went to concentration camps. Bosch died before the war ended, but his company survived.
In 1967, the Robert Bosch Company embarked on a joint venture with Munich-based Siemens AG, and Bosch-Siemens grew into the biggest manufacturer of home appliances in Western Europe. While the B/S/H company headquarters are in Munich, Bosch has multiple global HQs, including a North American branch, whose home appliance office is based out of Huntington Beach, California.
Bosch has US showrooms in New York, Houston, Denver, and Scottsdale, and they sell through a large dealer network that includes Sear's, Lowe's, Amazon.com, HomeClick.com, and other mainstream appliance retailers. They're best known in the U.S. for their dishwashers, cooktops, and washer/dryers, and they've made a big push in recent years to produce more energy efficient, Energy Star-certified appliances.
(Worth noting: The company underwent a restructuring in 2005, and some models of dishwashers produced between before 2005 were recalled due to safety problems — if you have a Bosch dishwasher manufactured during that time period, check their recall notices for more info.)
Any first-hand reviews of Bosch appliances? Add them in the comments below.
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MORE INFORMATION
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Comments (12)
I have a Bosch dishwasher (not sure of the model number) and I absolutely love it! We got it in 2005 a few months after we moved into our house, because there wasn't one in the kitchen. We got the kind with the buttons that you can't see when it's closed, so it's very sleek and subtle. But the best part is how quiet it is. You can't hear it at all when it's on. My parents have a Maytag - maybe 2 or 3 years old at the most - and it's unbelievably loud! Mine is so quiet, I love it! It is a great machine. Totally worth the price.
I, too, recently installed a Bosch dishwasher in my new home. It works well and is quiet.
Inexplicably, however, its silverware basket is in the back, so you have to pull out the bottom rack to stick a single spoon in the dishwasher.
One wonders if the people who design appliances actually USE them, or only THINK about them?
I have a Bosch DW and love it. My silverware basket is moveable and easy to get to - it's usually in front.
I also have a Bosch dishwasher, it's actually my second one. Both of mine have had moveable silverware baskets, which is really nice.
My range, microwave, washing machine, and dryer are also all made by Bosch!
How timely. I have been thinking about a Bosch dishwasher but was worried about reviews that said that the dishes didn't dry properly as there is no heated dry? I don't want to have to add Jet Dry (or whatever its called. Anyone with a Bosch find this a problem?
Loved the one I had in my old house and kinda wish the one I have now would break so I could justify replacing it with a Bosch.
I have a Bosch dishwasher purchased in 2005. It runs sooo quietly, which is a beautiful thing in a small home, but when the cycle is finished it makes a loud, obnoxious beeping sound. The beeping will continue for 30 seconds or so and repeat at intervals until shut off. I don't have a manual since it was a floor model at the store without the original packaging. Anyone have any advice or experience with this?
We bought a Bosch dishwasher a few months ago and love it. The best part of the entire purchase was reading the manual and seeing their MANY suggestions for how to arrange your dishes in the dishwasher for optimal use of space if you have had a dinner party, breakfast, etc. So German! (I'm married to one so I know...)
Catnap, my Bosch dishwasher uses condensation to dry the dishes. Essentially, everything dries fine (even without Jet Dry) if you leave the machine closed for some time after the cycle. If you open it up too fast, the dishes will cool off before they dry. I can see how this could be an issue for some households, but we just run the machine at night, and everything is good to go in the morning.
Aunt Che Che, if you do a google search for your model number +manual, you should be able to find a PDF.
thanks popsicle - i am going to go with the bosch!
I have a Bosch dw and I hate it!
I've read the manual many times and even watched their video on youtube. The racks are really annoying and hard to place anything on them. I've broken more than one glass pulling the top rack out. Also, it doesn't clean very well. We had the water pump replaced but it's still the same. Even changed over from "green" detergent to the strong stuff.
It is very quiet and I don't understand why people would waste electricity on a dw that dries your dishes. But I would never buy a Bosch dw. I've never had these problems with any other dw.
I have a Bosch washing machine, a Bosch hand power drill and a Bosch dishwasher. Even though the products are longer wholly German built, the company has stringent manufacturing practices in place to ensure all outsourced production is top quality. I'm a Bosch fan!