History

45 years of passion and renowned experience

After starting out as a mason and then working as a self-employed decorator, René Brisach turned to designing, manufacturing and installing fireplaces. The quick fireplace prefabrication and installation methods he developed made his business grow, and soon he took on employees and expanded his workshops in Grenoble.

1969

After transferring his firm to the south-eastern French town of Sainte-Maxime, René Brisach created his network of dealers and began using industrial production methods. An unrepentant modernist and perfectionist, René Brisach invested vast amounts of money and resources into R&D, methods, the design and development of revolutionary machine-tools, and the selection of raw materials.

As a result, his creativity and the quality of his work earned him many awards and distinctions. René Brisach was one of the key players behind the success of closed fireplaces in France.

1986
René Brisach’s production facilities were ultimately expanded to 20,000 square metres. The brand enjoyed a relatively strong foothold in France and was present in a many other countries around the world.

1995
René Brisach retired and sold his firm to a number of financial consortia. The ‘90s were rough on the hearth products market, and the solid brand entered a lean period. With more and more people turning to fuel oil, gas and electricity for their heating needs, the wood heating market fell into a slump. These were the dark ages for traditional wood heating systems and their aestheticism. Through it all, however, René Brisach maintained a positive image and good name recognition. The company worked ardently to win back consumers with new fireplace ranges.

2004, a new impetus

The René Brisach company was acquired by two private investors determined to steer the company toward the future. At the same time, two factors put the wood heating market back on its feet: the changing energy situation and a rise in consumers’ environmental conscience.

2006, the dawn of the Brisach era: heating at the service of decoration

Taking a new direction, the brand dropped ‘René’ from its name and is now known simply as Brisach. True to its values and sensitive to new trends, the company launched new ranges of products and services that make heating with wood a real pleasure for the eyes. Convinced that a fireplace is first and foremost a key element of interior decoration, Brisach added ‘the fireplace decorators’ to its name to emphasise its determination to make products that are as beautiful to look at as they are easy to use.