OSHKOSH, WIS.—In 2010 and into 2011, Continental Girbau Inc. celebrates its 15th anniversary, as its parent company, Girbau S.A., in Vic, Spain, celebrates its 50th. Continental Girbau was founded as the North American subsidiary of Girbau S.A. in 1995. Since that time, the company has grown to boast 30 employees and a network of 63 professional distributors. In addition to creating three brands since inception—OnePress, Continental Girbau and Girbau Industrial—Continental established Continental Creative Services, a division focused on providing distributors with marketing and advertising services; and Continental Girbau West, a branch office in Sante Fe Springs, Calif.
Additionally, Continental has rolled out multiple product lines, including Pro-Series, E-Series, M-Series, and Econ-O-Wash; as well as multiple ironers and industrial products. All the while, Continental has worked closely with its parent company—Girbau S.A.
Girbau S.A., now a worldwide provider of commercial and industrial laundry products, began manufacturing commercial laundry products in 1960 but has had roots in the laundry industry for 86 years. The company’s founder, Joan Girbau Vilageliu, established an appliance service company from his home in Vic, Spain in 1924 and 10 years later opened an appliance store, Radio Girbau. Joined by his sons Antoni and Pedro, the trio began manufacturing washers for the domestic market in 1955 and five years later switched to manufacturing of commercial laundry products, forming the company known today as Girbau S.A.
By 1971 the small company manufactured 12 products, including its first soft-mount washer-extractor, the LF-40. By 1976, Girbau exported products to 20 countries and began exporting to the United States in 1977. In 1989, Girbau opened its first corporate office outside of Spain in Paris, and during the next six years, started offices in Argentina, England and Brazil. Continental Girbau was established as the U.S. subsidiary of Girbau in 1995.
Continental Girbau, Inc. is the largest of nine subsidiaries of Girbau S.A., based in Vic, Spain. Girbau S.A. laundry products—marketed throughout 80 countries worldwide—meet rigorous environmental and safety standards established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Girbau S.A. holds both ISO9001 and ISO14001 certifications. Continental Girbau is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.
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