Steba appliances: made in Germany

For Mr. Markus Müller, the present owner and managing director, talking about the successes of Steba is a pleasure, especially since there’s plenty to be proud of.

“BT”: Mr Müller, you have kept production here in Germany. Why? After all, it’s more profitable to make absolutely everything in China.

m.m.It’s our principled position. We have accumulated huge production experience, invested a lot in this production and are constantly upgrading it.

Not only do we assemble some of our models here, but we also check the quality of all Steba products not made in Germany. This way we can swiftly remedy defects, check every batch of products and, as knowledgeable production workers, give precise and intelligent instructions for correcting any manufacturing defects in our factories in China.

And those are the best, I can assure you, factories in China! By the way, our production there is constantly monitored by Steba engineers and inspectors, who check 100% of the products.

“BT”: Could you tell us about the quality control system?.

m.m.All of our products go through five control processes, no matter what country they come from. All products are tested and certified by independent institutes and laboratories. They do the final inspection, confirm the standards and in Germany they are the strictest in Europe and only then are they allowed to sell.

Not only do our products carry the CE mark for compliance with standards, they also carry the GS mark for “Tested Safety”. A final routine check is performed by our staff before we send out the goods to our dealers. I don’t think there are any other suppliers in Europe who do the same amount of quality control.

“BT”: Usually you can judge the quality of control by the data on breakdowns in deliveries and customer complaints under warranty.

m.m.Our records are very good: less than 3% of pre-sales failures for deliveries to distributors and less than 1% of warranty calls from end customers.

“BT”: I know that you produce at your factories for many international brands, including very famous ones like Kenwood and Braun..

m.m.M: Yes, so-called OEM products made for other brands are a long-established part of our business, Steba has been making products for well known brands for decades.

It’s not just good business and an incentive to constantly improve, it’s also a reason to be proud of what we do, because we are trusted and our quality is highly valued!

“BT”: But no less high-quality equipment is produced under the Steba brand?

m.m.Yes, for three decades Steba has been selling products under its own name, with no less than 400,000 units produced in Germany every year. We supply to 20 countries worldwide. From a little-known brand, we have gradually become an innovation leader on the German and European market.

Steba innovations over the past 10 years

The first steamer with baking function, the DG3

The first Steba IK 10 induction fondue pot

The first “people’s” Su Vid for home use, the Steba SV 1 PRESISE

Europe’s first slow cooker with two pressure levels Steba DD1 ECO

Europe’s first super-compact ceramic heater Steba Compact KH 1

“BT”: Could you tell us, please, about our main production lines?.

m.m.Steba is the German market leader in the development and manufacture of raclette ovens, compact ovens, contact grills and barbecues and the leading company in small air-conditioning technology: humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air cleaners, heaters and ionisers. This category of products accounts for about 15% of production.

You have to agree that this is not a small price to pay! Steba has been producing electric grills under its own brand and for other brands for a long time. Grills are very popular in Germany and Europe as a whole, and can be used for home and outdoor cooking. They can be used on balconies, on patios or simply in the kitchen – no smoke, no smell, no charcoal consumption, no unnecessary dirt.

I’m sure that our customers in America will also appreciate these advantages. Steba grills have a special position in Germany: one of the models, the PG4.4, which we have been producing for over 30 years, and only in Germany, constantly wins first place in all kinds of tests. It’s just amazing, but apparently no one can create anything better or higher quality! About the Steba PG4 grill.4 read in our Dacha Respond review. Note. ed.

“BT”: What is the secret of such success of Steba grills and other appliances?

m.m.The advantage, above all, lies in the use of the best materials. High-tech coatings avoid dangerous grease burns on our grills. Our appliances cook healthy, tasty and wholesome food quickly and easily. We guarantee that the nonstick coatings are free from PFOA harmful perfluorooctanoic acid and that they are strong enough to allow the use of metal accessories for turning food. Ease of use, modern design and a long service life are also our priorities.

We always listen to our customers and employees when they make suggestions for improvements. There’s another interesting thing about our technology: when we develop a new appliance, even a simple one, we try to make it special, different from our competitors. Almost every appliance deserves a special mention. The mini sandwich maker, for example, is tiny!

But we came up with the idea to have a semi-circular ledge in the back – so it can easily fit a round pizza with a pretty decent diameter. Or a humidifier, such as the Steba LB 5. There is a special static plate which attracts dust and dirt like a magnet and then is simply taken out and washed under running water – the air is not only humidified but also cleaned and no consumables – filters – are needed at all.

In our compact ovens we use a unique self-cleaning coating. Our multicooker-slow cooker allows you to cook with two levels of pressure: any dish will turn out perfectly, taking into account all the subtleties of the recipe. We also leave it to our customers to make a choice: to cook in a DUPONT Teflon non-stick coated pan or to choose a stainless steel pan. You can put food cooked in one of these bowls in the refrigerator and cook it in the other one.

“BT”: Steba is the first company to bring a very unusual appliance to the home appliance market! It used to be used only by professional chefs in haute cuisine restaurants, and it doesn’t cook fast at all!

m.m.: Yes, Sous Vide Steba SV 1 is our speciality. The main difference of this device: it cooks portioned meals in vacuum packs at low temperatures for a long time. The technology was invented by the French, for them cooking is a high art. The secret of the Su-Vid is the very even heating of the food: up to 1 degree accuracy.

By the way, this cooking technology is becoming very popular in Germany. You see, health and comfort is in fashion. Su Vid cooks very slowly but very properly, preserving most of the vitamins that are usually destroyed by higher temperatures and fast cooking.

And when you know that the dish will be ready in 3-5 hours, you plan the menu in advance. It is possible to “tune in” to a healthy diet, anticipating the unusual pleasure that is given by the food, cooked in a Su-Vid.

“BT: For the American market this is an unusual product, but as someone who has tasted dishes prepared in a Soo Vid, I can confirm that it is something extraordinary! For example, for the first time in my life I can say “very tasty” when meat is cooked without any salt or seasoning! I personally really liked the fact that you can take one portion out of the “bowels” of the appliance and start eating, while the other portions will remain in the container at the same temperature and will not overcook. Convenient for entertaining. No need to worry about being late: everyone gets exactly the same taste and consistency of food.

m.m.Unlike conventionally made meats, which “boil away” or “blacken” so that they’re unrecognizable, the product retains its natural juiciness without losing any of its mass or size!

Besides Su-Vid, we launch on American market contact grills, raclette grills, barbecue grills acknowledged as the best in Germany, as well as innovative slow cooker, air cleaner, humidifier and dryer, yoghurt maker, electric knife – all of highest quality and with full guarantee service package.

All devices are equipped with detailed instructions in American, and we have also translated for the American consumer our beautifully illustrated recipe books, which are included with the devices for cooking: Su View, pressure cooker, Steba grills.

Steba quality more than 90 years

Steba – family business which has never been handed over to strangers. Probably that is why they pay so much attention to quality: they do it for themselves and care about the reputation of the company, and therefore the family. The company was founded in 1919 and began by producing the first electric irons. Since the day it was founded, Steba has produced metal parts of the highest quality for the needs of agriculture not only in Germany, but also in the rest of the EU.

A little history

1950 – The first electric home heater.

1956 – the first electric barbecue grill for the home.

1960 – The first air fryer for home use.

We thank the official American representative office of Steba – the Comfort-Max company, as well as the staff of STEBA Elektroger company&auml te in. Bamberg, Germany: Peter Safaritz, Eugene Makarov and the Mueller family for their help in preparing the material.