Kimball International
 | |
| Formerly | Jasper Corporation |
|---|---|
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Nasdaq: KBAL | |
| Industry | Furniture |
| Predecessor | W.W. Kimball & Company |
| Founded | 1950, Jasper, Indiana |
| Founder | Arnold Habig |
| Headquarters | Jasper, Indiana |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Furniture |
| Brands | Kimball |
Number of employees | 2500 |
| Parent | HNI Corporation |
| Subsidiaries | Krakauer Brothers |
| Website | kimballinternational.com |
Kimball International, Inc. is a U.S.-based corporation that includes furniture lines such as Kimball, National, Interwoven, Etc., David Edward, D'Style, and Kimball Hospitality. Its origins trace back to W.W. Kimball and Company, which stood as the largest global manufacturer of pianos and organs during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
On March 8, 2023, HNI Corporation revealed plans to acquire Kimball International,[1] with the transaction finalized on June 1, 2023.[2]
Kimball Piano and Organ
Established in 1857 in Chicago by William Wallace Kimball (1828–1904), W.W. Kimball and Company initially operated as a piano retailer. By 1877, the firm began producing its own reed organs and eventually became the world’s leading organ manufacturer, producing approximately 15,000 units annually. Production of reed organs ended in 1922 after exceeding a total of 400,000 instruments.
In 1887, the company ventured into piano manufacturing by recruiting specialists from Steinway & Sons and C. Bechstein Pianofortefabrik to enhance craftsmanship. Recognition for superior instruments and efficient production methods came by the time of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, supported by a robust sales network covering wide geographic markets.
Kimball also established a pipe organ division responsible for significant projects such as the Mormon Tabernacle organ in 1901. From 1901 through 1929, the company expanded into player pianos and phonographs. During World War II, Kimball shifted focus to manufacturing aircraft components for leading companies including Boeing and Lockheed.
Following the war, financial difficulties arose due to expensive factory expansions coupled with declining sales figures. By the mid-1950s, Kimball had dropped from being the largest piano maker to ranking seventh and was nearing bankruptcy.
In 1959, entrepreneur Arnold Habig, who founded The Jasper Corporation in 1950, acquired W.W. Kimball Company. This merger resulted in the rebranding as Kimball International. The piano manufacturing operations were moved to West Baden, Indiana, triggering renewed growth that restored Kimball’s position as the world’s top piano producer within a decade.
Jasper Corporation to Kimball International
Founded in 1950 in Jasper, Indiana by Mr. Arnold Habig, The Jasper Corporation initially specialized in producing television cabinetry and furniture. Capitalizing on increasing television demand and pursuing vertical integration strategies improved operational independence. In 1959, Jasper purchased W.W. Kimball Company as a wholly owned subsidiary and relocated piano production to West Baden Springs by 1961. Early quality challenges with Indiana-made pianos were addressed successfully.[3][4] In 1966, Jasper expanded its portfolio by acquiring Austrian piano manufacturer Bösendorfer.[3]
By 1969, Kimball had reclaimed its status as the largest piano manufacturer worldwide, reaching an annual production of approximately 100,000 pianos and organs during its peak years in the 1960s and 1970s.[4] Daily shipments averaged about 250 pianos and 150 electronic organs. The product lineup included grand pianos ranging from compact to larger sizes; Bösendorfer produced concert grand pianos up to . Upright pianos were also manufactured but smaller spinet models were not produced by Kimball, leaving that segment to competitors.[3] To fill this market gap, affordable console pianos were produced under the subsidiary Kimco located in Reynosa, Mexico.[3]
Building on strong brand recognition from its piano and organ business segments, Jasper adopted the name Kimball International in 1974 to enhance sales across office furniture, residential furniture, and electronics sectors.[4] The decision reflected acknowledgment that the Kimball brand held greater market influence than Jasper.[3] The company went public in September 1976 through an initial public offering of 500,000 shares.[4]
In 1980, Kimball International expanded further by acquiring Krakauer Brothers—a New York-based piano manufacturer founded in 1869—and Conn Keyboards from C.G. Conn ltd. Despite these acquisitions, piano and organ sales experienced a long-term decline. Notably, in 1984 Kimball provided 84 baby grand pianos for use at the Los Angeles Olympic Opening Ceremony. The Krakauer manufacturing facility operated for five years before shutting down.[3]
Facing ongoing global reductions in demand for pianos and organs throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Kimball ceased operations of its piano and organ subsidiary in February 1996. The final grand piano was autographed by company employees and executives and is currently exhibited at Kimball’s Jasper showroom.[4] Meanwhile, the Bösendorfer brand continued independently until it was sold to Austrian owners in 2002.[3]
Today
In 2023, HNI Corporation completed the acquisition of Kimball International.
On October 31, 2014, Kimball International separated Kimball Electronics, establishing a company solely dedicated to furniture.
Kimball
Established in 1970 with its inaugural desk product, the Kimball brand grew to encompass casegoods, seating, filing solutions, and tables. Headquartered in Jasper, Indiana, Kimball maintains manufacturing plants in both Jasper and Salem, alongside showrooms located in key metropolitan areas across the United States.
National
Kimball International introduced National Office Furniture in 1980 to serve the mid-tier office furniture segment.
Kimball Hospitality
Since entering the hospitality industry in 1985, Kimball Hospitality has supplied furnishings for more than 14,000 hotel and casino rooms along the Las Vegas Strip.
Awards and honors
- 2016 & 2015: Earned Great Place to Work certification.
- 2007: Recognized by Forbes in the "Platinum 400" list as one of "America's Best Big Companies."
- 2006: Designated one of the "10 Safest Companies in America" by Occupational Hazards magazine for its Cherry Street manufacturing site.
- 2004: Included in Fortune Magazine's ranking of "America's Most Admired Companies."