Platform about design and technology in the kitchen, home, and bathroom industry
Berbel and Franke look back on a successful joint debut at Gut Böckel during Küchenmeile 2026. The new venue attracted significantly more customer interactions than last year and provided an inspiring platform for cutting-edge product innovations. In addition to innovative kitchen technology, the focus was on personal discussions with specialty retailers and the practical exchange of knowledge. In doing so, both brands laid a solid foundation for even closer collaboration with their retail partners in 2027.
At the trade show, berbel highlighted three product innovations: the new Shapeline head-free range hood, the upgraded Downline series with an optimized extraction unit and noise reduction of up to 4 dB(A), and the Downline Five as the highlight for 2027.
With the Downline Five, berbel offered a promising glimpse into the next generation of the Downline series. This 90-centimeter-wide induction cooktop combines an integrated range hood with five full-size cooking zones. The additional cooking zone offers greater flexibility when preparing multiple dishes at the same time and expands the possibilities for modern kitchen design.
Another key component of the joint presentation was the berbel and Franke Academy. In short, hands-on training sessions, product experts shared their technical knowledge, demonstrated the various features, and answered questions from trade show visitors.
The academy is part of a long-term training concept. Even outside of the Küchenmeile, Gut Böckel will provide a venue for regular training sessions, product training, and professional exchanges with trade partners. This will make the shared showroom a permanent meeting place where trade professionals can deepen their product knowledge and exchange experiences throughout the year.
“Experiencing innovative products firsthand is an important part of our trade show presentation. Just as valuable are the conversations with our business partners. Their experiences, questions, and suggestions provide us with valuable insights for our continued development. With Gut Böckel, we have created a place where product presentations, knowledge sharing, and dialogue with our partners come together on an ongoing basis,” said Gregory Oswald, CEO of berbel.
With their successful debut at Gut Böckel, berbel and Franke have laid the foundation for a long-term partnership with the trade. The combination of innovative products, hands-on training, and an ongoing dialogue with trade partners makes the location an important pillar of their joint future strategy, even outside of trade show periods.
