| | | Here at GROHE, good design is backed up by years of research and development; this allows us to produce a range of products that is both visually exciting and technically superior. We invest more in quality than any other sanitary fittings company in the world and are market leaders in our field. By choosing GROHE, you're not only buying a technically advanced product but one that is designed to give a lifetime of enjoyment and service. Below, Detlef Spigiel, Executive Director, and Paul Flowers, Vice President Design, discuss the importance of quality and design and the philosophy behind the new company strategy 'Enjoy Water.' | | |
| | | What does 'Enjoy Water' mean for GROHE? Paul Flowers: When we talk about 'Enjoy Water' we're defining an experience and how the delivery of water can change and enhance that experience. We are incredibly fortunate that nature has given us so many examples from which we can take inspiration, from waterfalls to rain. We believe we have captured a unique way for people to enjoy one of the most precious resources our planet has to offer. Detlef Spigiel: Our technology allows you to enjoy water in a way you never thought possible. GROHE products encourage interaction; they offer you choices and give you tactile feedback. GROHE DreamSpray® technology - at the heart of all our showers - efficiently distributes an equal flow of water to every single shower nozzle and offers a range of spray patterns; this allows our customers to choose from the variety of experiences that our products deliver. | | How has the bathroom evolved over the last five years and how does this influence the development of new products? PF: The set parameters of the home as we know it today are slowly dissolving, making room for hybrid spaces. Bathrooms are no longer purely functional spaces for cleaning and grooming - they have become "wellbeing" centres. People enjoy the personal time they spend in the bathroom and expect products which will enhance that experience. DS: We have a responsibility to society to enhance people's lives and to design products that satisfy their expectations. Our products must be simple to operate, reliable and durable, yet they must also provide exciting experiences for the user. | | Installing a new bathroom is an investment. How do you ensure that the design of a new product is still relevant in ten years' time? PF: We work with trend forecasters to identify long-term societal trends. This ensures that our designs are relevant today but they will also be relevant in the future. This, combined with our constant search to understand and explore human behaviour and desires, helps to ensure the longevity of our designs. DS: Our products are designed to withstand years of stress and exposure. GROHE SilkMove® technology uses the finest ceramic discs in the industry ensuring a lifetime of maintenance-free operation, while our dazzling GROHE StarLight® finish is soil repellent and resists scratches and tarnishing guaranteeing good-as-new looks for years to come. | | How will GROHE satisfy the consumer's desire for a product that is environmentally friendly and economically efficient? PF: The obvious way is to reduce the negative impact our designs have on the planet. The other way is to design products with which consumers form relationships; this encourages them to keep products for longer and use them more efficiently. DS: GROHE is a responsible company. We listen to our customers' opinions and care about the environment. Our products are made from highgrade materials, and combine the economical and ecological use of water with excellent design to ensure years of function and enjoyment. GROHE TurboStat® technology is an example of this - our superior thermostats reach the desired temperature in a flash and respond to changes in water pressure instantly. As a result they use less water. | | What can we expect to see from GROHE in the future? PF: We have an impressive history of quality and products that function to perfection; this is a fabulous foundation from which to create world-class design. Trends suggest environments will be less defined in the future and that technology and entertainment could affect the concept of the bathroom. GROHE will create new iconic ways in which to enjoy and experience water. DS: A change in lifestyle trends, whereby our bathrooms play an increasingly important role in our homes, requires that our technologies are always one-step ahead. As the boundary between bedroom and bathroom dissolves, future-proof features such as GROHE Whisper® technology - which transforms the sound of running water into a gentle, hypnotic flow - will become increasingly important. | | |