Duravit AG has announced it is welcoming Christian Brinkmann to the team as “Head of E-Commerce Europe” on April 1, 2021.

In line with the company’s consistent strategic orientation, Duravit is substantially bolstering its expertise in the field of e-commerce in order to better serve its customers’ varying needs and requirements. Having graduated with a focus on marketing and strategic management followed by more than ten years’ experience at Philips GmbH, Christian Brinkmann’s role at Duravit will be to drive forward the company’s e-commerce business.

In his previous role, Christian Brinkmann handled accounts for international e-commerce customers
including Amazon and also set up online shops, subsequently developing them into drivers of revenue. In his new position at Duravit, Brinkmann will report directly to CEO Stephan Tahy.

“I’m delighted and honored to be asked to manage Duravit’s e-commerce operations during this new and
exciting chapter in the organization’s development. I’m especially looking forward to working with the
Duravit team to develop our business and to create added value for our customers and partners as a result,” said Brinkmann.

About Duravit AG
Founded in 1817 in Hornberg in the Black Forest, Duravit AG is today a leading international manufacturer of designer bathrooms. The company is active in more than 130 countries worldwide and stands for innovation in the fields of signature design, comfort-enhancing technology and premium quality. In cooperation with high-profile international designers, such as Philippe Starck, sieger design, Kurt Merki Jr., Christian Werner, Matteo Thun and Cecilie Manz, the company develops unique bathrooms that enhance the quality of life for users on a sustained basis.

Duravit’s product portfolio comprises sanitary ceramics, bathroom furniture, bathtubs and shower trays, wellness systems, shower-toilets, tap fittings and accessories as well as installation systems.

Whilst applications for the smart home are growing in popularity, and this technology is still primarily to be found in the fields of entertainment, communication, energy management and security, ISH organisers tell us drinking-water installations also offer considerable potential, albeit one that has so far been rarely been exploited to any degree.

According to MesseFrankfurt, intelligent sanitation fittings are setting new standards in digitalisation. Smartphone apps not only increase product functionality but also make them much easier to use. At the same time, the individual fittings are more than the sum of their components. Through digitalisation and connectivity, the various parts combine to make intelligent drinking-water systems – for greater comfort, efficiency and hygiene.

“Today, fittings can deliver much more than just water. They are digital, high-tech products that offer an impressive demonstration of the sector’s innovative power. Manufacturers of brand-name products are focusing more and more on people and their needs. Their aim is to create genuine added value, to offer greater convenience and to increase both health and vitality”, explains Wolfgang Burchard, Managing Director of Germany’s VDMA Fittings association and spokesperson of the Blue Responsibility initiative.

Manufacturers are creating interconnect fittings that work together cross-brand to make them controllable via smartphones, thus enabling the user to centrally regulate, for example, the flow rates and temperatures of the shower, washbasin and kitchen fittings.

The result is bathtubs can be filled with water (at the desired temperature) at the click of a mouse while smart-control solutions in the kitchen ensure that hot water is available for the pot straight from the fitting. But that is not all: intelligent sanitation concepts mean house owners can automatically be sent notifications to their smartphones as soon as the system detects unusually high water consumption or a blocked pipe, so they can take all the steps necessary to repair the fault without delay.

Hygiene in corona times – drinking-water technology is the key
The Covid-19 pandemic has not only reduced the pace of life in many respects. The circulation of drinking water has also been slowed considerably. With many facilities being closed and the number of people in the office having been reduced significantly, numerous buildings have had none or hardly any water flowing through their pipes.

Water stagnation is a problem because biofilms can form and provide a potential breeding ground for harmful pathogens and bacteria. Anyone wanting to prevent this must also ensure that a basic rule of hygiene is not broken even in unused or little-used buildings: water must flow. When water is in motion it is difficult for biofilms to form and the danger of water contamination is reduced significantly.

In this respect, digitalisation is the key to optimum water management. For instance, hygiene systems permit drinking-water installations to be flushed regularly or spontaneously, to counteract the formation of pathogens and bacteria. A click on the manufacturer’s app is all it takes to start pumps, activate valves and open taps. The temperature can also be regulated, thus permitting the installation to be flushed with hot water if required. Thanks to these measures, it is possible to reduce the danger of legionella, which multiply most rapidly when the water temperature is between 25 and 55 °C.

Important in this connection is not only the individual fittings but the whole system. For this reason in particular, manufacturers of brand-name products have their eye on the drinking-water installation as a whole. Combining hardware and software, they offer innovative solutions that guarantee excellent drinking-water quality even in times of an international pandemic.

ISH digital offers additional information and innovative products for drinking-water installations at www.ish.messefrankfurt.com

Roca Group has reinforced its presence in Brazil with the acquisition of a sanitary ware plant located in the state of Ceara, northeast of the country. Roca Group will invest 16 million euros in this operation, with which the Spanish group reaffirms its bet on Brazil, where it already has 11 factories and 4,170 employees.

The acquired asset comprises an industrial plant (buildings and machinery) of 37,000 square meters, as well as the land on which it is located, which covers an area of 122,000 square meters. In addition, the production unit is strategically located close to the Port of Pecem and in one of the regions with the highest economic growth in Brazil.

CSC, the owner of the plant until now, was also dedicated to the production of sanitary ware, but filed for bankruptcy in 2018. Roca Group has been the successful bidder of the facilities after submitting the highest bid in the auction held and receiving the approval of the judicial authorities and the Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE) from Brazil.

As part of its strategy to contribute to the economic growth of the countries in which it operates, Roca Group will create 270 jobs in this center. Recruitment will begin in February and priority will be given to staff who previously worked at the facility. The company’s aim is for the plant, which has been shut down since April 2020, to gradually come into operation from May onwards, with the forecast that it will be fully operational by February 2022.

The factory, which has a production capacity of 1.4 million pieces per year, will be dedicated to the manufacture of sanitary ware for the Group’s brands and to the export of the Roca brand to the Central and North American markets.

The facilities, built in 2016, are considered one of the most modern in their segment. Additionally, the group will implement its EcoRoca sustainability program, based on the reduction of emissions, energy savings and revaluation of waste.

Roca Group’s CEO, Albert Magrans, highlighted that the operation increases the company’s commitment to Brazil and the American continent. “This acquisition strengthens and enhances our growth in Brazil, one of our most important markets and one with high demand for bathroom products, while reinforcing our global leadership in sanitary ware.”

Yvonne Orgill, MD at The Unified Water Label Association (UWLA) is urging KBB retailers to realise the benefits of promoting bathroom products that carry the Unified Water Label to consumers.

Yvonne says, “Research has shown that consumer attitudes have changed over the last 12 months. The Covid pandemic has had a huge impact, not only on how much time people now spend at home but also in terms of their views on environmental responsibility and climate change. There is a growing interest in products that can help save water and energy, helping keep household bills down and contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle.

“The good news for retailers is we now have a huge selection of innovative products that are designed to use water wisely, without compromising on quality. Retailers do not have to compromise on design or performance when selecting environmentally friendly products to promote to their customers. These products can be sourced easily from our database of over 13,000 products.

“Many of Europe’s most well-known and well respected brands offer bathroom products that carry the UWL, providing taps, showers and toilets that use water wisely and offer great choice to the consumer.

A recent survey by The Bathroom Manufacturers Association revealed that consumers would like to make better purchasing decisions but lack the knowledge to do so. The survey found that half of those surveyed would like to improve their household water efficiency (55%), and state it influences their purchasing decision (51%). The survey also reported that four in ten adults are not sure how to improve the water efficiency in their home (41%) and three in ten (28%) don’t know how much water they use daily.

“These results clearly illustrate that retailers could benefit by providing this information to the consumer.

“We have produced an information sheet for retailers to help them understand the benefits and will be promoting our #dontforgettheplug campaign to them over the next three months to build awareness.”

Information on the UWL can be found here

Homelessness is always hard – not least at Christmas and certainly not least in the midst of a pandemic. In response to this crisis, Knightsbridge – one of the UK’s leading manufacturer of wiring devices, accessories and lighting – has donated a percentage of sales revenue from its weatherproof range to Signposts, a Dunstable and Luton charity dedicated to supporting the homeless in the company’s local area.

Signposts doesn’t simply provide accommodation to its clients: it offers a wider range of support that seeks to holistically address the causes and consequences of homelessness such as social isolation, mental ill health and substance/ alcohol abuse through a strengths-based approach which includes learning, sharing, developing and using skills.

The £12,000 donation stems from Knightsbridge’s social responsibility initiative Committed to a Brighter Future, which encompasses charity work, increased sustainability – such as a move to sustainable packaging that is both 100% recyclable and made from 100% recycled materials – and research into and investment in energy-efficient products.

The donation will be used as a starting point to set up ‘Knightsbridge bursaries’, a service that relieves the stress of electricity, gas, and food costs for people who have come into accommodation directly off the streets. Tim Archbold, Chief Executive of Signposts, said, “We are so grateful to Knightsbridge for their support. These bursaries will make a real difference to people’s lives and enable them to get back on their feet and back into society.”

Other Knightsbridge milestones realised under Committed to a Brighter Future so far include a 95% reduction in single use plastics, 98% of packaging being biodegradable; and contributions in both goods and volunteers that have helped feed over 1300 people at the company’s local food bank.

For donations to Signposts, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/signpostsbursaryfund