Krups is a German kitchen appliance manufacturer, named after its founder Robert Krups. It is often confused with the Krupp conglomerate. The company also produces a large variety of household appliances. Krups competes with De'Longhi, Sunbeam, Braun, Russell Hobbs, Bosch and Black & Decker. The company began in 1846 manufacturing precision scales and mainly industrial balances, from Wald , near Solingen in North Rhine Westphalia. This was the company's main "bread-and-butter" for the next 110 years.