Issue 29 | Cooler Innovation by FoodBev Media Ltd

COOLER innovation

foodbev com A world of food and drink

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The logical step Mains-fed manufacturer Waterlogic discusses organic expansion and calculated acquisition

PLUS

SPECIAL REPORT

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Bottled water cooler manufacturing EVENT

FOCUS

Coolers and vending

MARKET PROFILE

EBWA arrives in Prague

West Europe

INSIDE latest cooler industry innovation, business and technical news 漏 Cooler Innovation 2010. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

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Issue 29 - October 路 November 2010

Inside this issue 5 6 6-11 12-16 18-19 24 26-28 29-31

17 20 65

72 74

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The editor’s view

A word about the issues in the industry.

COVER STORY

The logical step

Cooler business For regular industry news updates, visit www.foodbev.com/cooler

We talk ambition and acquisition with Waterlogic as the mains-fed manufacturer seeks to expand territory and technology.

Business Associations Innovations Events Drinking water Watershorts

Cooler work

SPECIAL

33 REPORT

Diary of a cooler industry workplace.

Keep it bottled

Event preview special EBWA trade fair and convention.

Bottled cooler manufacturers discuss current models and industry challenges.

Insight Product and function diversification: could it help cooler business?

sponsored by

Cooler views In a two-part special, Mike Hurst explores cooler sanitation.

FOCUS

Return to vendor

Marketplace Cooler Innovation products and services guide.

Why the cooler industry’s connection with vending could be pushing the right buttons.

Light at the end Paris gets effervescent.

MARKET

62 PROFILE

foodbev com

West Europe

Cooler news and opinion

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A world of food and drink

Regional overview of water consumption and cooler penetration.

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

CONTENTS 3

The editor’s view

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Full agendas

t seems everyone’s agenda is full. Half the team has just come back from Orlando, from the hugely successful InterBev 2010 Beverage Innovation Awards, and they are due to head off again any moment to beautiful Prague for the EBWA table-top trade show and conference. Meanwhile there’s been the AGMs of the BWCA and EPDWA (soon to be EDWCA), and the Water Innovation Awards and Vending Paris are just round the corner. While it’s unfortunate we haven’t mastered time-travel in order that we can be in all places at once, we can take comfort and pride in the fact that so much buzz and activity in the water industry is being sustained - by enthusiasm, yes; but also, practically, by post-recession growth, forecast-driven optimism, and business plans that see event attendance as a vital part of marketing and visibility and deal-making. All these events converging around the same time, attracting many of the same players and certainly sparking the interesting of many more, shows us one thing: water, drinks, coolers and vending all share an important relationship. Although considered

COOLER innovation

individual - and possibly ‘niche’ in the case of water coolers - they move in and out of each other’s worlds, whether it be through shared legislations, shared technology or mutual distribution channels. In our Focus feature you’ll see a glimpse of the ways we ride alongside vending, and in our Insight article industry boundaries are blurred once again as we investigate additional functions - and flavours - for water coolers. The upshot of it all is that sometimes diversity is the key to survival, which is why many manufacturers and distributors are bringing mains-fed alongside bottled, and vice versa, in their cooler catalogues. But while the spotlight is on the share growth of mains-fed, it’s often forgotten that the unit market share is still currently in favour of bottled, and in our Special Report we’ll be asking bottled cooler manufacturers what their sites are on for the future of the industry.

Recently, while visiting 3M Filtration I noticed a quote on their wall. It said: “The only way to predict the future is to invent it.” With Waterlogic’s aggressive acquisition plan (which you’ll know from reading last issue’s Business Insight can be a knife-edge decision), it seems the company is not waiting for the future but creating it. That’s why we chose mainsfed manufacturer Waterlogic to be our cover story this issue. I am certain the forthcoming trade fairs will instil that motivation in everyone, and that visitors will go away with a sense of ‘can do’ - as well as business cards, pipeline collaborations and bright ideas. Where do we see the future of the industry? We see it happening right here, in the present. Enjoy the shows, and if you can’t make it, then read about them in the next issue.

Rachel Delahaye

In the next issue Don’t miss all of this: Coolers and the environment As the green debate hots up, we look at how the industry is reacting. Membrane filtration We catch the latest advances in water purification Efficient logistics When eco-expectations are raised, how are we delivering? Market profile Australia and the Pacific Event review EBWA’s trade show and convention

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EDITORIAL 5

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International cooler industry news

Business Company moves: BDW technologies Hungary

t the beginning of last year aluminium manufacturing company Alcoa Inc made the decision to exit the European automotive business unit of its portfolio, based in Hungary and Germany. On 1 May, 2010, BDW technologies GmbH - a Bavarian casting company specialising in high-end aluminium casting technologies for the European automotive market – bought Alcoa Truck Bodies, and it was renamed BDW technologies Hungary. “Our business has two major activities,” says Mihály Kovács, General Manager of BDW technologies Hungary. “The first one is making automotive parts and welded structural components for the highend cars like Ferrari and Porsche, and the second part is the custom-designed beverage truck bodies for water, soft drinks or beer.” Unlike general transportation trucks, beverage delivery vehicles require modifications to enable efficient stacking and optimum pay loads. “Our truck bodies are highly customised, so we are open to design almost anything starting from scratch,” said BDW technologies Hungary Sales Manager, Sandor Kastura. “We talk to the individual water companies, one on one, trying to figure out what the delivery requirements are - starting

from types of racks and numbers of bottles - and we coach and guide them to the solution in terms of optimal payload and ergonomics of their water delivery fleet. At the end of the day the individual truck body is based on the requirements for weight, type and number of bottles that each water delivery company would like to distribute throughout the given delivery routes.” The truck bodies rolled out by BDW technologies

We can make decisions faster and form partnerships with major players Hungary are lightweight, 100% aluminium, consisting of structural components made with aluminium castings, extrusion profiles and sheets, and customdesigned for any European chassis-type. “If it’s a beverage truck,” said Mihály Kovács, “we are specialising on the body part of the vehicle which

Sandor Kastura of BDW technologies Hungary is in fact a real tool for the driver, for efficiency.” But how has Alcoa’s old division thrived under a new name, and with a smaller company? “Being part of a big international group like Alcoa was good,” said Mihály Kovács, “but the decision-making took longer due to the size of the conglomerate.” “Decision processes were slow,” Sandor Kastura adds. “Now, since we are part of a smaller group, we can make decisions faster and quicker and form partnerships with major players in the truck market. We have been already able to extend our product lines and product range.”

As with many businesses during the recession, BDW saw a two-year stall in growth. However, as of August this year, BDW has begun experiencing healthy growth once again - and, says Sandor Kastura, the new BDW technologies Hungary is pleased to be part of it. He added: “We appreciate the support and understanding of our customers in the past during our time at Alcoa Truck Bodies, and we look forward to offering our know-how and personal touch to future challenges and solutions in the water delivery industry as BDW technologies Hungary.”

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Business

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Premier Watercoolers announces healthy figures

remier Watercoolers has released its interim results for the year, showing an increase on the same period last year, with profit increase of 45%. Turnover has increased by 29%, achieving £1.9m for the same six-month period. Managing director of Premier Watercoolers, Phil Langley, told regional business website SouthWestBusiness. co.uk: “These figures are clearly very encouraging given the tough trading

environment, and give us confidence that we’ll meet our business plan goal of a doubling in net profits during 2010. “This is a testament to the efforts of our sales team in

developing new partnerships and business opportunities,” he said, “but also confirms that our strategy of pursuing excellence in customer service is paying dividends. Mains-fed supplier Premier Watercoolers is based in Swindon, Wiltshire, and follows a rental business model with around 2,500 clients in the UK.

Spectrum Water Coolers absorbed by Quench

S mains-fed water cooler company Quench has bought competitor Spectrum Water Coolers.

Spectrum Water Coolers, which claimed to the be ‘the fastest growing POU cooler company in the country’, servicing all 50

states and many companies in the Fortune 500, has been bought by Quench USA, a mains-fed water cooler company that has been

running for more than a decade. While nobody has offered a statement as yet, it’s now recognised that Spectrum has become part of the Quench ‘family’.

Forsta cuts costs for environmental initiatives

iltration manufacturer Forsta Filter has introduced what it calls the Water Stewardship Discount, offering price reductions for clients who are making efforts to better their business. The discount, which is applied to Forsta products, is available to projects involving improvements to industrial, infrastructure and agricultural/irrigation design. In a press release Forsta stated: Sustainable development has emerged in consumer awareness as a result of increased public

demand for conscientious business practice and added regulations. Forsta’s full line of self-cleaning screen filters are distinctively designed to assist customers in improving their environmental performance.

to: make freshwater more available by reducing, recycling and reusing water in industrial, municipal and irrigation systems; reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improving energy efficiency; reduce waste generation and hazardous materials exposure through responsible filtration and effluent treatment.

Implementing a Forsta self-cleaning filter supports an inclusive social mission

Further details of the discount price quote can be found on Forsta Filters site.

Microfilter’s NSF certification Microfilter Co Ltd in Korea has acquired NSF/ ANSI Standard 58 by NSF International. The Standard deals with drinking water

quality, by inspecting drinking water components for contaminants. Regional Sales Manager, Kyomoon Na, said: “We do our best to

give a credible guarantee to our loyal customers and back them in front of their customers by confirming that all products supplied by Microfilter contribute to improving the quality

Atmosphere’s look at HCFCs

t Atmosphere 2010, held in September in Brussels, 180 top level policy makers from the European Union and United Nations, as well as national government representatives, met with industry experts, industry delegates and interested parties in the field of natural refrigerants to discuss the prospects of hydrocarbons (R290 R600, CO2, ammonia) as a replacement for ozonedepleting substances commonly used in heating and cooling appliances. Among the participants from the refrigeration industry were Carrier, Mayekawa, Sanyo, Johnson Controls, Axima Refrigeration and Blupura (who has been manufacturing water coolers using zero-impact hydrocarbon R290 since 2008). Non-Governmental Organisations such as Greenpeace and Green Cooling participated, and giant companies such as Carrefour, Tesco and Unilever spoke about their experiences of using fridges and freezers with natural refrigerant in their shops in Europe.

of human lives with the purest drinking water. The NSF Standard 58 for components will enable Microfilter to offer its customers fully certified water treatment solutions.”

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Business

Wilkes wins royal appointment

he Wilkes Group has won a contract to supply water coolers to the headquarters of Prince Charles’ (above) food business. Mains-fed coolers will be installed at the Duchy of Cornwall’s London base, Buckingham Gate, through the company’s water dispense arm, Thirsty 4 Water. In a statement, Simon Wilkes, head of Thirsty 4 Water, said: “We were only too happy to assist in the thirst quenching of staff and visitors at the Duchy of Cornwall’s premises, and we’re assured that Thirsty 4 Water’s branding and charitable connections have played an important part in assisting us to win this contract. It’s a great success for our company and I’m thrilled that we’re able to include the Duchy of Cornwall to our ever-growing list of customers from around the UK.” Following five years of service to the Prince, Wilkes Group may be able to apply for a Royal Warrant of

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

Appointment, something which is of high regard in the trade industry. Simon Wilkes added: “It also proves that just because we’re based in Yorkshire, it doesn’t mean that we can’t compete and win against ‘the big boys down south’. Overheads and rates are much more affordable in the north, which helps us keep costs down for ourselves and our customers, while remaining committed to the highest standards of service and excellence.” The Wilkes Group is based in Wakefield, Yorkshire, and has been operating for 64 years, supplying catering products and services. The firm has also won business recently with London’s Tower Bridge and with Channel 4 television soap opera Hollyoaks, in Liverpool, providing water on set.

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Aquentium approaches Australia

quentium, a company with a self-proclaimed focus on ‘green technologies’ has announced that it is now offering distributorship opportunities in Australia for its complete line of non-chemical food processing, sanitation and water treatment equipment. The Aquentium ozone sanitation equipment is designed for food and beverage processors, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and schools

and has the sanitsation technology to combat e-coli, salmonella, listeria and other bacteria or viruses without having to stop processing.

Aquentium has the technology to battle e-coli

EFSA updates advice on bisphenol A

ollowing a detailed and comprehensive review of recent scientific literature and studies on the toxicity of bisphenol A at low doses, scientists on the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) CEF Panel have concluded they couldn’t identify any new evidence that would lead them to revise the current ‘Tolerable Daily Intake’ for BPA. The current TDI is 0.05mg/ kg bodyweight set by EFSA in its 2006 opinion, and reconfirmed in its 2008 opinion. The Panel also stated that the data currently available doesn’t provide convincing

evidence of neurobehavioural toxicity of BPA. One Panel member expressed a minority opinion, saying some recent studies point to uncertainties regarding adverse health effects below the level used to determine

the current TDI. Although the Panel member agrees with the rest of the Panel’s general view that these studies couldn’t be used to establish a lower TDI, the expert recommends the current TDI should become a temporary TDI. The CEF Panel members acknowledge that some recent studies report adverse effects on animals exposed to BPA during development at doses well below those used to determine the

current TDI. These studies show biochemical changes in the central nervous system, effects on the immune system and enhanced susceptibility to breast cancer. However, these studies have many shortcomings. The relevance of these findings for human health cannot be assessed, though should any new relevant data become available in the future, the Panel will reconsider this opinion.

Cool Clear Water and WaterFirst merger announced

ool Clear Water and WaterFirst have combined to become the largest mains-fed water filtration rental business in Australia. Cool Clear Water Group (CCWG), based in Western Australia, has completed an effective merger with WaterFirst Pty Ltd, a major provider in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

“After talking for a number of years, the merger was completed recently with the single goal of becoming a truly national company with the ability to service anywhere in Australia.”

In a press release announcing the merger, it was stated:

Both the owners of WaterFirst have joined the

board of CCWG as executive directors and will continue in their roles in the business. Adam Cornell, Chief Executive Officer of WaterFirst, said: “We saw significant benefits in combining with CCWG. There’s an opportunity for us to build a strong national business in a market that’s

growing significantly faster than the commercial bottled water delivery market, which is dominated by one company in Australia owned by Coca-Cola. We believe the continued switch of clients from bottled water delivery to mains-fed will drive growth in our market for some time to come.”

Tap into the latest news online at www.foodbev.com © Cooler Innovation 2010. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

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Tetra Pak’s caps company Novembal acquires Crealise

etra Pak company Novembal announced its acquisition earlier last month of Crealise Conditionnement Incorporated. On 2 August 2010, Novembal, a Tetra Pak company involved in the design and manufacture of caps and closures, announced the acquisition of the Quebec-based Crealise,

which manufactures plastic closures for the HOD bottle closures market, for 3.5 and 5 gallon bottles. Novembal’s MD, Lorenzo van Haelst, said: “We look

forward to welcoming Crealise to the Novembal family. The company’s strong commitment to innovation and product development perfectly fits with our own philosophy.

Novembal’s global caps and closures portfolio, we’re able to offer our customers in the bottled water market more innovative and cost-effective solutions.”

“In uniting Crealise’s North American bottled water market expertise with

Crealise will be renamed Novembal Canada effective immediately.

Sparkletts acquires Utah water business from AquaOne

parkletts, a division of DS Waters of America Inc, has acquired the Utah-based home and office bottled water delivery business assets from AquaOne, enabling operation in a part of the country not previously serviced by the company. It also will allow Sparkletts to enhance the product offerings currently available to customers in the metropolitan Salt Lake City area, including office coffee service and water filtration.

“This is an exciting acquisition for us,” said Tom Harrington, COO of DS Waters. “In recent years, we have explored many options on how we might expand into this region, and this opportunity is a natural fit into our growth strategy.”

Craig Brewton, CEO of AquaOne, said: “AquaOne is excited to find such a great company (DS Waters) to continue to service our customers. “This divestiture will allow us to put more focus on our other markets, while leaving our Utah customers in the hands of another customer-oriented company.”

“We welcome the Salt Lake City area AquaOne customers into the Sparkletts family and look forward to delivering their bottled water, office coffee service and water filtration needs with the same superior level of customer service provided to DS Waters service locations around the country,” added Ray McGillis, West Division President for DS Waters.

Appointments Management changes at Brita

fter 11 years as Managing Director of Brita Water Filter Systems UK, David Banfield has been promoted to the Commercial Director Consumer Products International with responsibility for global customers, partners and distributors. David said: “I am excited to be taking up my new position at a time when our business is performing exceptionally well and becoming increasingly relevant to an even larger audience worldwide.”

Diane Koyich joins ICBWA

rystal Mountain Products Limited has announced the appointment of Diane Koyich (left), Crystal Mountain International Liaison, as the Chair of the International Council of Bottled Water Associations (ICBWA). Diane’s work with Crystal Mountain rotates between Europe/China/ Canada, and she has been a longtime member of the ICBWA Board as an International

Supplier Member, and has also served on the Executive at the BWCA. She still currently holds Executive and Committee positions at EBWA.

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

NEWS 11

Associations

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European Drinking Water Cooler Association AGM

ooler Innovation reports on the event, held on 29 September at 3M in Bracknell.

Making inroads into Europe was the significant message of this year’s AGM. The recent name change from European Point-of-use Drinking Water Association (EPDWA) to European Drinking Water Cooler Association (EDWCA) was just one step in becoming more inclusive and reaching further across the continent. In addition, it was discussed that connections with AVA and the EVA will also help broaden horizons. Hans Krohn from AA First spoke more about the very close link between Vending and Coolers - “one you put a coin in, and one you don’t” - and how the associations could help each other in the face of changing legislations. Watermark Consultancy’s Mike Hurst spoke about the recent hype over

microbiological testing in coolers - “it’s important we don’t waver from our standards.” He also said there was possibly turbulence ahead, with talk of post Scottish Consumer Report TVC trials being rolled out on mains-feds and filters for the NHS; and he recommended including UV units in the portfolio to ‘combat the paranoia’.

how a shared integral marketing platform could aid everyone - members and association. To build a reputation and recognition of the EDWCA logo as a ‘badge of quality’, members need to ‘talk it up’. It’s a “selffulfilling prophecy”, he said.

As with association AGMs the world over, there was talk of the importance of membership and the reasons for auditing; but it was marketing that took centre-stage here, and David Matthews of PHS Waterlogic presented a case for investing in communication infrastructure. Making no bones about the fact that members are in fact competitors, he explained

Good marketing comes with confidence in product, and for the EDWCA confidence in product comes direct from the members. There is talk of a fully-functioning website that will not only educate and inform - of association news and legislations - but will fill holes in communication, so that members (and site visitors), in every corner of Europe can see the quality of the EDWCA community.

Visa Europe joins EVA Visa Europe has joined the European Vending Association (EVA). Lewis Nolan, Visa Europe said: “Visa Europe continually adapts to the growing and changing needs of its Members and the merchant community. Being associated with the EVA will play an important part in ensuring we are able to keep close to the particular needs of the vending industry. “This will enable us to work towards providing opportunities to include acceptance of Visa payment products helping the industry provide consumers greater flexibility, convenience and control through innovations such as contactless payments.”

GWCA’s mains-fed moment

hirty-six participants took part in ‘POU Training’, organised by the German Water Cooler Association (GWCA). The training was held by Mr Herbert Zerbe of SGSInstitut Fresenius, and was opened with a talk on the development of mains-fed in Europe by EBWA’s Gustav Felix. All the participants passed the test and received Certificates. Right: Gustav Felix (third from left) with participants from ‘POU © Cooler Innovation 2010. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

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Associations

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EDWCA expands distributor audit team report by Kate Binks, assistant to the EDWCA Secretariat

he unprecedented growth in EDWCA Membership (144 at the time of writing) meant that the number of audits required outpaced auditing resources. In order to keep audits on schedule the EDWCA has quadrupled its team of auditors. The carefully chosen highly experienced professional auditors have strong food and water hygiene backgrounds and will be well known to many in our industry. Bob Tanner supervises and coordinates the distributor audit team of Tessa Blewchamp, Tom Clifton, and Ken Driver, ensuring consistent interpretation of audit standards. He also reports any issues that arise to the EDWCA Audit Committee. The Committee is constantly reviewing the audit standards taking note of auditor and auditee experiences. For obvious reasons guidelines are only updated before an audit year begins. The 2010/2011 audit window started on 1 September and finishes on 31 March, avoiding the busiest months for our members. With four auditors working defined geographical areas, members can be sure that audits will be carried out to time and that auditor

travel costs will be kept down. Although primarily a mainsfed based organisation EDWCA includes bottle coolers in its remit and carries out Bottling Plant Audits. These are carried out by Bob Tanner who has unrivalled experience in auditing bottling plants. The purpose of the EDWCA Distributor and Bottler audits is to give reassurance to cooler users that they may choose EDWCA members as suppliers, secure in the knowledge that they are working to high standards of hygiene and best practice and that they are being independently assessed to ensure that they do not slip from these standards. Each EDWCA Distributor and Bottler member must be audited annually. The distributor audit should last no more than three hours - the bottling audits somewhat longer. On passing, the audit members are issued with an Accredited Member Logo valid for one year. Members who do not pass

first time are given a chance to remedy deficiencies spotted in the audit. Those who fail to deal with critical point failures within a set time limit will be suspended from membership until those points have been dealt with. Persistent failures to satisfy the audit parameters may result in expulsion. Individual audit results are held in strictest confidence by the Auditors and the secretariat and are not made available to the Executive of the EDWCA or to the wider membership. EDWCA Accredited Membership is not just a badge but a symbol of audited quality. The EDWCA Audit is now widely recognised by Public and Private sector Institutions and, importantly, those bodies organising purchasing and tenders for supplying major cooler users. A list of Accredited Members and the dates of their accreditation will be kept in the public access section of the new EDWCA Website. Companies awaiting their first audit are deemed Applicant Members. They

The auditors may not use the Accredited member logo. For individuals either servicing the industry or just setting up there is the option of Individual Membership. This is open only to individuals not companies. There is no logo. Individual Members may benefit from EDWCA training, guidance and advice. EDWCA is there to support its members - not make life difficult for them. It offers a Helpline run by EDWCA Consultant and Cooler Innovations columnist Mike Hurst for all categories of members - especially those struggling to prepare themselves for an audit. If you are interested in joining the EDWCA, contact Secretariat: +44 (0) 1189 712298. EDWCA Helpline: +44 (0) 1491 871022 or watermark@w-mark.demon.co.uk

IBWA’s new board

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he International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) announced its 2010-2011 Board Members during IBWA’s Convention, held in conjunction with the InterBev Trade Show in Orlando, Florida. The new board consists of: Chairman: Scott Hoover, Roaring Spring Bottling Company Vice Chairman: Philippe Caradec, Danone Waters of America Treasurer: William Patrick Young, Absopure Water Company Immediate Past Chairman: Stewart Allen, DS Waters

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Associations

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British Water Cooler Association AGM

hillipa Clow reports from the BWCA AGM, held on 22 September, 2010 at Crewe Hall.

Michael Barnett, former Chairman of the BWCA and now non-executive Chairman, Eden Springs UK, proved a formidable keynote speaker. His talk was entitled: ‘Where is the market heading? A review of the water cooler market over the past five years culminating with the latest trends for POU and BWC’. Figures based on factual volume and financial data provided directly from members revealed a modest growth for BWC and a continuing reduction in the growth for mains-fed, with improved margins for BWC against plummeting margins for mains-fed. BWCA members are winning more dual supply contracts with attractive margins that reflect their flexible service. What of carbon emissions? Well, through the Carbon Trust calculation the BWCA carbon footprint for a litre of water delivered is down year on year, and lower than any food item that the Association can find. The BWCA initiative to calculate, reduce and offset is placing BWCA members as one of the most carbonefficient industries and products in the food industry. Cameron Wilson from carbon management experts Carbon Clear showed how they could help to ensure members make the right choice with offsetting initiatives; and the BWCA also has a dedicated Environmental Accreditation process, currently being undertaken by a number of members, which will give BWCA Members the highest

environmental credentials in the UK. BWCA Chairman John Dundon took to the podium to launch a new project. Currently, in its infancy, the BWCA will be working with the NHS to investigate the true scientific data related to the use of mains-fed installations. The aim will be to offer members and customers guidelines for best practice, to educate the industry and the consumer and ‘elevate’ the Members’ mains-fed offering.

John Dundon in action at the event

Nick Brown, from Brown & Company revealed the design of the new website, which is fresh, modern with easy functionality for both the consumer and industry. New Members Trevor Douglas, from Aqua Express and returning Members Nick Swan from Love Water and Jim Redford from Divine Water Coolers were warmly welcomed to the occasion. The meeting was followed by dinner in the stunning Great Library and afterwards, where the revolving bar proved a popular diversion.

The new BWCA website

Both members and nonmembers can look forward to a one-day Industry Conference/Trade Show/ Dinner on Thursday 31 March 2011, again at Crewe Hall, which will be open for all. Watch this space for more information and exhibiting opportunities.

BWCA: +44 (0) 1923 775770 info@bwca.org.uk www.bwca.co.uk © Cooler Innovation 2010. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

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Cooler work A day in my job

A day in my life

ate Binks is the assistant to the appointed secretariat of the EDWCA, Lorraine Atkinson. She tells us what it’s like to be at the questions and answers end of an association. What is your background? My core background is in the Corporate Hospitality Market, working for a contract caterer both operationally and in a senior sales role.

What different people do you get to meet? The secretariat role is officebased; however we speak to members and increasingly to end users, all of the time. One of the best times to meet members is at EDWCA events and at Industry Exhibitions.

Kate Binks association is building on and achieving gives a sense of pride and ownership. What part of your job would you rather not do?

Well apart from this article deadline and feeling a touch fragile after our AGM on 29 September, the most challenging and exciting part of the job is to be proactive and widen the scope of the EDWCA reach within the UK and Europe.

If I had to choose one thing it would be keeping the minutes of the Executive Council meeting. It’s strange that the minutes always take longer and it’s a real skill to capture the key points and reflect the differing views from around the table. The hardest part is when you’ve stopped to listen and realised you’ve lost the thread. Dropping coffee on your notes and not being able to read your own handwriting are another hazard post meetings.

What do you like about your job?

How important is what you do to the cooler industry?

I like the varied nature of the job. The best thing is talking to the members and being able to make a difference, and helping them to get the best out of their membership. The Executive Council are ever helpful with Advice and Knowledge of the industry. Being proud of what the

I think our role for members within the Industry is paramount. The drive for audited standards, training and above all recognition of the EDWCA with customers will continue to highlight industry standards and achieve growth for both members and the EDWCA.

What’s the most challenging part of your job?

rank van Heusden has been Product Marketing Manager for Norit Filtrix for five years. His job involves creating the filtration company’s new products and getting them off the shelves. He takes us through his typical working day. 8.30 After taking my kids to school, I step into the car and check my emails on my smart phone. It is about half an hour drive to work, just long enough to catch the headlines of the news.

What skills does your job require? Good communication skills, attention to detail and a healthy dose of passion and pride always reward. Patience and diplomacy are vital!

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9.00 I get into the office and start up my computer, respond to the emails that have piled up during the night.

Frank van Heusden

10.00 I have a meeting with R&D on a new type of filter cartridge that we are working on. It is a project for the residential market in South-East Asia. Sorry, not allowed to tell you more about that just now.

Certification Institute. We recently acquired the Gold Seal Certificate for our WaterPurifier product (UF membranes). We now have one of very few products that are certified according the US EPA protocol for WaterPurifiers.

12.30 Lunchtime. Nothing fancy, you know us Dutch. Just a couple of cheese sandwiches and then it’s back to work again.

16.00 Back to the computer again, replying to emails and trying to work on my Marketing Plan for 2011.

13.00 Monthly meeting with the sales guys. We review all markets Norit Filtrix is involved in: residential, commercial and medical point-of-use and point-ofentry filtration. It is amazing how sales people always seem to come up with new products wishes! 15.00 The US are awakening. Time for a telephone conference with the WQA

18.00 Back to home. Dinner with the family. But quite often it is back to work after that. What do you love about your day? Working with different people of different disciplines and trying to get them to work together. What would you rather do without? Administrative tasks!

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

BUSINESS VIEW 17

Innovations

Norland’s Earth Caps

New wipe product from Abbeychart Abbeychart has introduced Lavette super cleaning cloths. The product guarantees superior dirt pick-up and efficient absorption by drying quickly and thereby remaining

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fresher for longer to ensure optimal cleanliness and minimal odours. This cloth’s special fibre and binder composition prevents bacterial growth.

Bottling and packaging giant Norland International has introduced what it claims to be the industry’s first oxobiodegradable cap for 5 gallon water bottles. The caps, made from low density polyethylene (LDP), are being sold under the trade name Earth Cap. The injection molded caps contain a unique additive that accelerates the degradation process, with a biodegradable non-adhesive tamper evident label and 2mm foam seal,

making the entire cap structure totally biodegradable within five to ten years. Sam Noordhoff, Vice President of Norland International, said: “This is a significant milestone in meeting the sustainability needs of water bottlers throughout the world. This is an environmentally friendly option that goes far beyond lightweighting and other recycling strategies, offering a truly effective means of reducing the environmental impact of these plastic products.”

18 PRODUCT NEWS

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

Innovations Aeroflow’s flexible solution Closure specialist Worldwide Dispensers (WD) has introduced four new sizes of Aeroflow taps. The new ‘din couplings’ taps have been created for four standard openings - 45mm, 50mm, 51mm and 61mm - and are able to be used with a variety of container types, including plastic, metal and semi flexible packs, and a variety of contents, including water, edible liquids, chemicals and viscous liquids. The Aeroflow tap has been designed for single opening containers with a flow rate of 70ml/ sec when fully open, and dispense can be easily

controlled by adjusting the lever accordingly. Olivier Martin, General Sales Manager of WD Europe said: “With our ever expanding range of products, our key objective is to provide innovative dispensing techniques to help our customers meet market demands. The Aeroflow tap has been very successful thanks to its flexibility, and the new sizes will offer even more options for end user markets. “We have plans to expand the range in the future as well as looking as bespoke, custom moulded dispense projects.”

Fast filter change-over from Fairey Fairey Industrial Ceramics has launched the EcoFast quick change filter housing, specifically developed for fast changeovers in the Doulton range of ceramic dinking water filters for mains-fed water cooler applications. A quarter turn of the housing body automatically shuts off the water supply allowing removal of the main body that contains the Doulton ceramic filter. The body is then unscrewed and the ceramic is quickly removed and replaced using a quick push-fit mount. The housing body is then inserted back into the

head and a quarter turn reinstates the water supply. The product is claimed to be eco-friendly as the housing material is reused and the disposable ceramic filter candle is made of natural materials.

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Canada’s Watair Watair - the atmospheric water generator by Watair - is on sale for the first time in British Columbia. The Watair holds up to 14 litres of water and a litre of near-boiling water for hot drinks, and can make up to 24 litres per day. Moist air is drawn in through a filter where it condenses, before being run through filters and sterilised by ultraviolet light. Trevor Bentley of Watair said: “It’s no different than when you take a cold drink out of the fridge and you put it on your counter and you get that puddle of water under there. That’s basically the concept that we are using.” The more humid the climate the better, so it works well on the coast but may not work year round in some areas of the Interior.

The units cost $1,500, but Watair is claiming that it can generate water at a cost of two cents per litre including power and changing filters, while decreasing humidity in the home and removing the need for plastic water bottles.

Eastman’s Aspira Eastman’s Aspira copolyester EN177, launched for the use of beverage packaging, offers a gloss and clarity similar to glass, yet the material allows designers to create containers with curves, features and functional handles. Sam Glover, Market Development Manager for food, beverage and consumer packaging at Eastman, said: “Eastman Aspira copolyester EN177 has the potential

to change the way brand owners and customers view products within the beverage industry. Packaging created with Aspira EN177 showcases the product inside, rather than simply containing it. “With this material, brands can reinvent and differentiate themselves and their products by positioning premium, eye catching merchandise that engages consumers upon contact.”

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

PRODUCT NEWS 19

Event preview

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Special report

What: EBWA trade fair and convention When: 24-27 October, 2010 Where: Intercontinental Praha Hotel, Prague Info: www.ebwa2010.com

Cooler Innovation catches up with EBWA’s event attendees to reflect on the significance of the year’s only international industry trade show. With last minute listings on what not to miss.

Event management interview EBWA Managing Director Gustav Felix What is so special about this year’s trade fair? Since October 2009 there has been no other international trade fair taking place in Europe and being at least partly dedicated to the water cooler industry. This was a good opportunity for international suppliers to have more time for new developments and to come up with fresh ideas. As to the information we received until now, most of the suppliers will bring new products to Prague. Some other trade fairs with water cooler participation like Avex or Aquatech have been postponed to the coming years. Going to Prague EBWA took notice of suppliers’ expectations to open up new business opportunities in the Eastern Europe. What commercial benefits will there be for those attending? The exhibitors will take advantage of a low cost

exposure due to the tabletop setup in a luxury and attractive environment. EBWA, as usual, has tried to reduce all related costs to a minimum to fit the current industry needs and keep the high interest of members in these events as an event that they can not afford NOT to attend. The participants will get the latest know-how about products, ability to benchmark, networking, business opportunities, diversification, cooler trends and developments in Europe. How does the event serve the industry as a whole? The event strengthens the position of the industry in Europe, allows EBWA members to identify with their Association and is an opportunity for new members to join. The event is also a significant PR opportunity for the industry towards governmental bodies, European regulators and national health controllers. What for you will be the highlights of the event?

Besides the trade fair itself, participants will be taking advantage of the experts’ knowledge at the announced conferences, could improve their daily operation through the offered workshops, and are invited to present or visualise the industry achievements at the Aqua Awards. Last, and not least, they will be part of the

always exciting Networking Dinner and Chairman’s reception. One other major highlight for EBWA members will be the announced presentation of the ‘EBWA - Vision’ for the years to come which will take place at the General Meeting scheduled for Monday 25 October.

Generally speaking

f you saw last issue’s Preview Special you’ll have noticed that there are a great many experienced and significant speakers at the conference, which runs alongside the trade show. They’ll be looking at the industry as a whole, the challenges and the opportunities. But there is also a lot of practical knowledge to be imparted. Mike Hurst of Watermark Consultancy is no stranger to workshops and he’ll be taking The Best Practice in POU Installations seminar. He tells us why it’s important:

“It is essential training for any company or individual thinking of introducing mains-fed coolers, or even those whose bottle cooler business may be threatened by mains-fed activity. It examines the many pitfalls both physical and microbiological in installing a mains-fed cooler. Mains-fed coolers often cannot directly replace bottle coolers. Correct installations to appropriate water supplies are vital for the satisfactory longterm retention of mains-fed business. A mains-fed cooler is only as good as its feed water.”

20 EBWA

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

EBWA matters

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Trading places where we play a significant role in the water and water coolers arena. Our presence at the EBWA show is meant to emphasise our strong commitment in the innovation of this market.

Trade Fair times Where: Congress Hall, Ground Floor When: Tuesday 26 October: 11am - 6pm; Wednesday 27 October: 9am - 1pm

he trade fair would be little without the efforts of its exhibitors, who must not only book space and design eye-catching stalls, but decide what products are going to be of interest to the public and to potential business. We spoke to bottle

manufacturers Siapi about their participation. Why do you think it is important to have a stand at the EBWA trade show? One of Siapi’s main markets is the so-called ‘Big Containers’ niche,

How do you go about designing your stand?

What do you hope having a stand will bring to your business? The goal of our presence at the show in Prague is to increase the brand awareness of Siapi in the watercooler market and in the PET big containers in general.

Our stand will be simple and will focus on the final product, ie, the bottle, and our innovation in terms of shape, design, physical resistance and weight.

The Aqua Awards

hen business is done, what remains is a celebration. Not just with fine dining and wine, but with recognition of the incredible achievements within the industry. There is no better way to mark these achievements and reward them than with an Awards Ceremony, as Gustav Felix explains. Why are the Awards important? These Awards were set up to recognise outstanding contributions in marketing and public relations in the entire European water cooler industry. The contributions and achievements of water cooler professionals are especially important to promote the industry’s proficiency. Who is able to enter?

It is free to full members of EBWA, either directly or through their National Association. There are six categories - one of them could provide your company with a treasured EBWA Aqua Award. Who is judging? Judges are carefully selected industry Marketing & PR experts, who are not entering the Awards themselves. What will the judges be looking for? There are a number of factors that the judges will look at when judging the Aqua Awards and it is therefore difficult to specify exactly what makes a winning entry in each category. However, as a general guideline, judges appreciate the following: • Dynamic and forward

thinking initiatives • Marketing that promotes the industry as a whole • Clear meaning • Effective use of colour and images to attract and hold customers’ interest • The appropriateness of the nomination compared to its stated objective How will the awards be presented? The winning companies will be presented with their trophies at the Awards Ceremony being held during the Chairman’s Reception as part of the EBWA Convention and Trade Fair. Your colleagues and many serious players in the industry will be present and winners will be featured in the industry magazine Cooler Innovation and the EBWA website. Those in 2nd and 3rd places will be acknowledged at the ceremony and be presented with certificates

in recognition of their achievement. What are the categories? • Best promotion of health & hydration • Best environmentally friendly practice • Best product design/ innovation suppliers • The bottled water cooler of the year • The mains-fed cooler of the year • The bottle design of the year • Other products • Best initiative for customer retention • Best flexibility of a bottled water plant in bottling for HOD business bottlers (eg bottling facilities being able to bottle besides PC 5 gallon in alternative formats and sizes like: 4 gallon; 3 gallon; 10 litre; PET single use; PET refillable; bag in a box container etc).

22 EBWA

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

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Training & Workshops Where: Klementinum and Belvedere Room, top floor When: Tuesday 26 October 13:00 – 16:00 Hygiene training for POU - Mike Hurst, Watermark Consultancy 16:00 – 17:00 Train the Auditor - Ewa Hagstedt, Chairperson of Education & Training Committee and Mike Hurst When: Wednesday 27 October 13:00 – 13:45 Ultra clean filling systems Michele Brindani, R. Bardi 13:45 – 14:30 Bisphenol A–based materials are safe for use - Dr Melanie Möthrath, Plastics Europe, Chairperson of PC/BPA Group 14:30 – 15:15 Materials for water bottles

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

(PC; PET; PP; Polyesters) - Jean Hinschberger, Nestlé Waters 15:15 – 16:00 The HOD opportunities in home markets: from 2.7% to 15% market share - Theodore Argyriou, Zireia Bottling Co 13:00 – 13:45 Logistics; racks & crates - Laurent Alozy, Op-Crate and Craig Scott, Polymer Solutions 13:45 – 14:30 Best practice for bottling plant operation - Dr Terence Child, Hygiene Consultant 14:30 – 16:00 Best practice in POU installations - Mike Hurst, Watermark Consultancy

Talks to attend Where: Klementinum and Belvedere Rooms, top floor When: Tuesday 26 October 09:00 – 09:15 Welcome & Opening Speech 09:15 – 09:35 Cooler market trends and developments across Europe - Charmaine Holmes, Senior Market Analyst, Zenith International 09:35 – 09:55 The future of bottled water - Hubert Genieys, Head of Corporate Communication, Nestlé Waters 09:55 – 10:15 The challenge of opening new markets in East Europe - Roland

Bengtsson, Honorary Chairman of EBWA 10:15 – 10:35 How to exploit POU to grow your BWC business - John Dundon, CEO, Angel Springs 10:35 – 10:55 Challenges and opportunities for effective communication - Joe Doss, President and CEO, IBWA 10:55 – 11:10 7,000 new coolers without sacrificing margins speaker from SipWell 11:10 – 11:30 Open podium discussion

EBWA 23

Event review

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EBWA 16th Trade Fair & Convention

Global Bottled Water Congress

Event review: InterBev 2010

When: 26-27 October 2010 Where: Prague, Czech Republic Info: www.ebwa2010.com

When: 1-3 November 2010 Where: Gleneagles, Scotland Info: www.zenithinternational. com/events

Joanna Shilton reports.

EBWA’s only table top trade event this year, and convention, will take place in Prague. Dedicated to the European water cooler industry it provides an opportunity for members and stakeholders to get together and share visions, ideas, challenges and opportunities. The conference will look at the future of water coolers and how to exploit openings and opportunities within the European market.

Vending Paris 2010 When: 27-29 October 2010 Where: Pavilion 4, Porte de Versailles exhibition centre Info: www.vendingparis.com This year’s Vending Paris will take on a whole new dimension, with events and themes in tune with the latest market trends: quality-focused innovation, sustainable development, automatic canteens, with talks and one-to-one interviews with prominent industry figures.

Vending Paris

Keynote addresses from Danone, Nestlé and Tesco, and overviews from Highland Spring and Coca-Cola Hellenic Ireland with communication strategy from the Natural Hydration Council and production insights from San Benedetto, Niagara Bottling and Bericap. There will be contributions on sustainability from North and South America, on brand building in emerging markets from India and Africa, and on product innovation from Europe and the United States. Market briefings from Voss and Zenith International will conclude the proceedings. The winners of the Water Innovation Awards will be announced at the Gala Dinner.

2010 UK Bottled Water Industry Conference When: 3-4 November 2010 Where: Gleneagles, Scotland Info: www.zenithinternational. com/events The schedule features a television producer view from BBC2 The Money Programme and presentations by leading UK producers Brecon, Coca-Cola, Danone and Highland Spring. There will also be contributions from the Natural Hydration Council and waterdirect, closing with workshops on environmental improvements and media strategies.

Everyone knew that this year’s InterBev wasn’t going to be as big as previous years, but size isn’t always everything and it was just as good if not in some ways better. The intimacy of a smaller show created a different buzz, which generated the feeling that there were a lot of quality beverages as well as innovations on show; and with faces old and new to catch up with there was still a lot to take in. Never mind the vinegar based health drinks and Dr Pepper Museum stand, cooler companies on show included Clover, iGo Direct, Crystal Mountain Products Limited, MTN Products Inc, Oasis International, Ovio Corporation and Thermo Concepts. Filter technologies were represented by 3M Purification among others, and caps and closures were big news with products on show from Blackhawk Molding. Of course, bottles, packaging, hygiene and labels are always big news so it was great to see regulars such as CapSnap Equipment - Midbrook, Greif Packaging and SIP Technologies, as well

as Eastman Chemical Company and LabelTech. Transport was covered by Group Hesse and Norland was there, too. Polymer Solutions International did well in the Beverage Innovation Awards as a Finalist with their DLR Pallet in the ‘Best new bottling, manufacturing or distribution innovation’ category, and as well as exhibiting, Portola Packaging also got more involved with the event by sponsoring the Beverage Innovation Awards ‘Best new packaging innovation’ category. New water cooler innovations and technologies are still strong, and it will be interesting to see what new products will become available over the next 12 months. Getting out and about and visiting or exhibiting at events really is a great way to find out what else is happening in the industry, and I love meeting everyone we speak to. The next big show in the United States will be WQA Aquatech in San Antonio next March, but before then I will be visiting the EBWA Trade Show in Prague and Vending Paris in October. See you soon!

24 EVENT REVIEW

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

Drinking water issues Water dispensers installed under Thailand’s new fast food ruling

nder a new ruling by the Department of Internal Trade, self-service fast food restaurants throughout Thailand are obliged to install free drinking water dispensers. Food courts at department stores will also be asked to provide free drinking water. The rule became effective on 28 August, and while vendors will continue to sell bottled water, customers will now have a choice. Fast food outlets typically sell bottled water at a price above that set by the government, which

vendors say is unrealistic as it doesn’t take into account business running costs. The department plans to impose controlled prices this month, but will exclude street vendors and some small businesses.

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Italy asked to lift the cap on bottled water

ccording to recent reports from the European Union news website, the European Commission will be requesting that Italy change its legislation on bottled water. The European Union website stated: The European Commission has today decided to request Italy to amend its current legislation on bottled water so as to ensure its full compliance with EU rules on the free movement of goods. The Commission considers that current Italian legislation unduly restricts the marketing in Italy of water for human consumption, which is neither natural mineral water nor spring water. These restrictions on bottled drinking water create obstacles to the importation into Italy of drinking water lawfully manufactured or marketed elsewhere within the European Union. The

request takes the form of a reasoned opinion under EU infringement procedures. Italy is renowned for its stringent testing on bottled water that go further than the EU’s own bottled water safety guidelines. The EU’s concern is that Italy’s testing on bottled waters already tested by EU member states is creating an obstacle to free trade with the Union. If Italy does not inform the Commission within two months of measures taken to ensure full compliance with its obligations under EU law, the Commission may decide to refer Italy to the EU’s Court of Justice.

Slimming drink

cientists from Virginia have discovered that those trying to lose weight can find their efforts aided by drinking water. The test group drank two glasses of water before each meal and lost on average 5lb more than the control group.

The study was funded by the Institute for Public Health and Water Research.

26 NEWS

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

The reasoning behind it is simple: water has no calories and can give the sensation of fullness. Excess water consumption, however, can lead to health problems.

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Drinking water © Cooler Innovation 2010. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com. For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

Foggy thinking creates drinking water

tudents from Rice University in Texas have discovered a way of converting the fog from the Atlas mountains into drinking water for Moroccan villagers. Large netting structures grab liquid from the fog, which drips down the nets into collecting tubes. Gravity propels the drops down pipes that terminate at a water storage tank at the bottom of the mountain. The sustainable projects could theoretically provide clean, safe water for people in the area, putting an end to their daily trek for water.

Kevin Liu, who was one of the project’s participants, said that the design wasn’t ready to service metropolitan areas yet, but he estimated that the nets, which cost around $1000$1500 in materials and maintenance and should last a solid decade “can provide anywhere from 200 to 1,000 litres of water per day for a village.”

Operation: Clean Water

n initiative to improve the water quality in developing countries has been launched.

The Computing for Clean Water Project will allow scientists to investigate new ways of creating efficient low cost water filtering, which can be utilised on a wider scale. The researchers from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, joined together with scientists from other institutions in an attempt to improve

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

access to safe drinking water in under-developed areas of the world. According to WaterLink International, it is intended to “understand the molecular scale properties of a new class of efficient and inexpensive water filter materials, which may help to satisfy demand for inexpensive, clean drinking water.”

NEWS 27

Drinking water issues Doosan’s prize pinch

Lobbying for water price

ccording to ArabianBusiness.com South Korean firm Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction has won a $1.46 billion deal to build the Ras Al Zour water desalination plant on the Gulf Coast of Saudi Arabia. The Ras Al Zour plant is set to be the world’s biggest desalination project and will provide one million tonnes of drinking water a day to the capital, Riyadh.

The water will be transported via a vast water transmission system, and the $5.5 billion facility will also provide 2,400 megawatts of power per day.

Future’s fizz?

nceladus. It sounds like a designer water, and perhaps in a few light years it could be.

Enceladus is Saturn’s moon, and it has recently been discovered that the water jets that spray from the ‘south polar’ region of it might consist of warm, bubbly mineral water from the moon’s core.

NASA Planetary Scientist Dennis Matson said at a press briefing: “What is happening is that water comes up and pressure is released. Gases and water come out and the bubbles come near the surface

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and supply materials to the plumes. Water also transfers laterally, to a great extent, from the point of the plumes. This transfers heat to the surface, by analogy, like the radiator on your car. You have water coming out, which transfers heat to the thin ice layer, and then the heat is radiated to space. Cooled water goes down through cracks in the ice where it gets ready for another trip to the surface.”

he UK’s Chartered Institution for Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) has called for the Government to consider the real value of water and set rates that reflect its importance to communities and the environment - what CIWEM calls a ‘shadow price’. In the report - Regulation for a Sustainable Water Industry - Chair of CIWEM’s Water Panel, Dr Colin Fenn, stated: ‘. . . the challenge of the day and the future is dealing with scarcity, pinch and uncertainty. And uncertainty requires adaptive approaches from us, as we seek to address pinch in resources whilst caring for the environment. So we need to ensure that the sector is governed and managed in as flexible and as smart a way as possible, to enable it to continue to provide safe and secure supplies of water to those who reasonably

demand them, subject to availability, environmental management and social equity constraints. So too to enable it to deliver wastewater collection, treatment and discharge services that recognise the value of return flows to receiving waters and the environment, but also the costs of treating effluent to higher and higher standards. And all at a price not just that customers can afford and are willing to pay, but at a price that the environment, the economy, society and customers can afford. Whatever the future holds.’

America’s water restructure

ommunities across the US could be looking at revamping their drinking water infrastructures under a new policy from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The aim of the Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Sustainability Policy is to increase the sustainability of water and wastewater within the country, and while the repairs and improvements to existing ageing infrastructures may be costly, the longterm goal is to provide more efficient delivery of safe water. EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe said:

“Through cost effective, resource-efficient techniques - like green water infrastructure alternatives - this policy aims to make our communities more environmentally and economically sustainable. These smart investments in our water infrastructure, along with increased awareness of the importance of these investments, can keep our water cleaner and save Americans money.”

28 NEWS

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

Watershorts

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A round up of ‘lighter’ news

European Federation of Bottled Water issues sustainability report

ottled water has the lowest water and carbon footprint of all packaged food and beverages, according to the first sustainability report for the sector published by the European Federation of Bottled Waters (EFBW). EFBW - representing over 500 producers of natural mineral and spring water across Europe - has published its first sustainability report to illustrate the sector’s long commitment to good environmental stewardship. The publication highlights achievements in the field of source protection, recycling and efficient energy and water consumption.

European producers of natural mineral and spring waters have been protecting the environment for centuries to guarantee the natural purity of underground water. This is done either directly or in partnership with local communities. Europe boasts some of the oldest and largest protection zones around its sources, some of which cover up to several

thousands of hectares. Natural mineral and spring water are a renewable resource always abstracted at sustainable rates.

also implements water saving techniques such as recycling industrial water for re-use to maximise resources.

Recycling has always been a top priority for the industry. All packaging used by the sector is 100% recyclable and companies are continuously investing in national recovery and recycling schemes such as the green dot systems. Great results are also being achieved in relation to package light weighting. On average, the weight of a 1.5 litre PET bottled has been reduced from 50g in 1986 to 35g in 2009. Also, more and more European producers are integrating recycled plastic (rPET) into new bottles.

The carbon footprint of a typical bottle of natural mineral or spring water is significantly lower than that of any other packaged beverage. In addition, producers are working hard to improve their overall energy efficiency by integrating low carbon or renewable energy sources throughout their operations and optimising transport.

On average it takes fewer than 2 litres of water to produce 1 litre of bottled water, by far the lowest water ratio of all packaged drinks. The industry

Commenting on the report, EFBW President Hubert Genieys explained: “Protecting the environment is a top priority for the sector. Our objective is to provide consumers with a natural, pure and safe product whilst ensuring that resources will be available for future generations.”

US ruling on water positive for immigrants

he conviction of an activist for littering, while leaving bottles of water on the Arizona-Mexico border, has been overturned. Dan Millis, a volunteer with the faith based organisation No Mas Muertes (No More Deaths), had been convicted in September 2008 for placing water bottles in the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (BANWR), in the middle of one of the

highest corridors of death along the Arizona border, where illegal immigrants from Central and South America travel across desert conditions in an attempt to get into the US. The Las Vegas ruling concluded that the bottles of

drinking water does not constitute littering, because they were not cast off but had the humanitarian purpose of preventing death by exposure. Although it’s good news, it doesn’t make the situation any easier. Last month BANWR officials rejected a permit request from No More Deaths and Samaritans

to legally place water at designated sites on the wildlife refuge. And according to No Mas Muertes, this year alone more than 214 human remains have been recovered from the southern Arizona desert, putting 2010 on track to be the deadliest year on record along the ArizonaMexico border.

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

NEWS 29

Watershorts

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Victory for IBWA against Eco Canteen ads

n 17 September 2010, Judge Robert Conrad of the US District Court for the Western District of North Carolina granted the International Bottled Water Association’s request for a permanent injunction against the false and misleading advertising of Eco Canteen, a distributor of reusable stainless steel canteens.

The Court entered a broad permanent injunction prohibiting Eco Canteen from continuing to make false or misleading claims in ads or on its website, including:

• that plastic bottled water containers contain ‘phthalates’ and/or that plastic bottled water containers leach ‘phthalates’ into water • that PET single-serve bottled water containers contain BPA • that BPA is dangerous or threatening to public health • that the act of recycling PET plastic releases deleterious substances contained in plastic bottled water products.

‘The Water Guy’ celebrates 20 years in business

he Shinn Spring Water Company, otherwise known as The Water Guy, is celebrating its 20th birthday.

The Birdsboro company was established in June 1990 by Doug and Bryan Shinn, two brothers who put everything into the bottled water industry,

running every aspect of their company from sales and accounting to delivery. Since its humble beginnings it has not only expanded within the bottled water industry, serving 20 counties across four states, becoming the largest family owned spring water company in South-Eastern Pennsylvania, but it also found a niche within the coffee market by creating its own coffee blend, Signature Collection.

Judge Conrad also prohibited Eco Canteen from engaging in other acts or practices that tend unfairly or deceptively to compete with or injure the business reputation and goodwill of water bottlers or the IBWA. “IBWA is pleased that the Court has ordered Eco Canteen to stop making false and misleading claims about bottled water,” said Joe Doss, President and CEO of the IBWA. “This should send a signal to bottled water critics that making

Eco Canteen has been ordered by the Court to immediately halt and remove all print, internet, television and any other media advertisement campaigns or commercial communications containing any false and/ or misleading statements regarding plastic bottled water products.

Water treatment’s woes

ccording to business analysts Plimsoll, new figures show water treatment companies in the UK are still struggling financially. Reported on Edie News site, Plimsoll stated that of 750 businesses, 226 have lost more than a third of their value during the last year. The reporting continued to suggest that many are not expected to survive. However, it’s not all bad. David Pattison, author of the report, said: “In all we identified 331 companies that have increased in value - quite an achievement considering current market conditions. Their performance adds to the growing belief that the market has stabilised and companies with their house

The IBWA initiated the lawsuit against Eco Canteen because it felt that Eco Canteen was engaged in a deliberate scare campaign to mislead consumers into believing that steel containers are safer than PET plastic bottles.

false and misleading advertising claims about bottled water products isn’t permissible. The truth about safe, healthy, convenient bottled water will carry the day as both consumers and the courts examine the facts.”

in order can once again prosper and add value. “It’s certainly been a tough few years,” said Mr Pattison. “Values have fallen markedly from their peak but the number of companies that are worth more this year than last is encouraging.

30 NEWS

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Watershorts

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Brita supports Breast Cancer Awareness

rita has launched an ‘All Pink’ designer water bottle in support of the Breast Cancer Awareness month this October.

M&H Plastics and filtration company Brita worked in partnership with designer Orla Kiely to create The Wottle, launched in 2008 as the world’s first designer, eco-friendly reusable water bottle. The Wottle is a custom molded 500ml HDPE bottle made from 100% recycled materials. Shaun Catchpole of M&H Plastics said: “M&H is delighted to have worked on such a high profile project. The custom molded product is unique to Brita, and Orla Kiely has an immediately recognisable design language developed through the use of original graphic patterns, and creating instant

appeal. This project demonstrates that recycled packaging can look stunning while being kind to the environment.” The Hot Pink Wottle is available to purchase individually or as part of the Breast Cancer Care Marella Hydration Pack, which contains a Pink Marella Water Filter Jug, three Maxtra cartridges and the Hot Pink Wottle. Purchasing this particular pack will ensure that a donation of at least £1 will be made to Breast Cancer Care.

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NEWS 31

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Keep it bottled

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Bottled water cooler manufacturing

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About our sponsor

On the factory floor

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What drives innovation

Environmental responsibility

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Competition and challenge

Product showcase

The bottled water cooler market is flooded with news of mains-fed threat and the troubled economy. But increased awareness of the industry globally means bottled water coolers are holding their own. Cooler Innovation looks at the present and future of the sector that founded, and continues to support, the industry.

漏 Cooler Innovation 2010. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

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Keep it bottled

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Sponsor profile: Clover

lover marked its 20th anniversary in February 2008. David Ilmook Moon, President of the enduring Korean water cooler company tells us a little bit about its humble beginnings and bold future. Clover has been dedicated to the development of water dispensers ever since it started business in 1988. Around the time it began manufacturing water dispensers, the bottled water market was limited to American military posts or the upscale town of Seoul. President Moon still remembers when he first built his factory in Uiwang city, a suburban area south of Seoul. “I forecast that this market undoubtedly would expand as people put more importance on quality of life,” he said. At the end of 1980s, there were few competitors in the market and their quality level wasn’t very good. He wanted to release high quality products that he assumed would be the most critical point in health related business. When the first Clover cooler (B2CH) was released, the public’s reaction was astonishing. Indeed, the quality of the finished product was flawless. In the beginning of 1990s, Clover B2CH profoundly accelerated and elevated the Korean bottled water market’s expectation. Beginning with a big hit machine, B5CH, while the Korean economy was badly affected in the late 1990s, Clover expanded its customer base from China to the US, Japan and Western

Europe with series of new products. Then Clover notified the market trends of the drinking water industry expanding to mainsfed cooler business at a phenomenal speed, which motivated the whole organisation to spur to regain another momentum to the growth in 2010. Clover has since re-identified itself as Total Cooler Maker, expanding its product range to mains-fed coolers. “Our short-term goal is to increase our revenue up to $50 million by 2013,” said Mr Moon.

In September 2009, Clover launched Aquverse, an innovative cooler with affordable ranges of filter combination. The Aquverse P15 cooler is equipped with a patented cooling system, CFDD*, adapting a new concept of hygiene reinforcement. “Aquverse P15’s KSF is non-preserved water,” Mr Moon said. “While conventional coolers inevitably have a problem caused by airborne bacteria, P15 has overcome this issue with our patented system.” Longterm success built on partnerships would be a good way to explain Clover’s business acumen. Indeed, Clover has a number of clients with whom it has had more than a decade’s partnership. In addition,

while Clover puts great effort to launching new products, it has been concentrating on and introducing core technologies that are subsequently patent-pending or patented. For the past 22 years in doing business with more than 50 countries, Clover has always strived to meet its clients’ expectations, from various specifications to custom processes. Thanks to its efforts and experiences, Clover is now undergoing a number of projects with global corporate by OEM, ODM basis. Clover has not only looked for innovation in technologies, but keeps innovating itself in management and social responsiblility activities. At the start of 2010, Clover adapted SaaS web-based groupware by which the organisation has facilitated its communication between departments. For the last ten years, Clover has been annually donating a fixed sum to Anyang Engineering High school and Daerim College of Engineering to award scholarships to students under financial stress. Nowadays, Clover’s manufacturing facilities are in full capacity for the coming summer peak season orders. Among them, mainsfed coolers comprise almost a third. Clover expects, after new coolers including D16 are launched this April, it will achieve its annual sales target while advancing by one or two years the $50 million goal.

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The panel

Dieau Edafim Anouk Averous (AA), Marketing Manager

What drives innovation in bottled water cooler manufacture? DK: Customer and market influences shape the changes and innovations - end user consumers and technical requests are equally important to our design process. Of course, firm orders (for enough coolers to pay for the innovations) are quite important in actually implementing those innovations! FD: Innovation is usually driven by research and

Clover David Ilmoon Mook (DIM), President

Ebac Laura Newby (LN), Sales Manager

Cosmetal Federica Diotavelli (FD), Marketing Manager

Oasis - Pete Benua (PB), Managing Director, Oasis Europe

development, which works to satisfy the customer need to improve efficiency. Hygiene is a masterpiece in this sector; as a consequence all the main players act to simplify the sanitisation procedures and reduce the cost and time needed to carry out such operations.

products that are reliable and innovative.

LN: We have a company-wide belief that “we only succeed if our customers succeed”. By both listening to our customers and monitoring market trends we are best able to offer a full range of

DIM: We need to have products which will address the difficulties our partners are having most frequently - among others, quality and hygiene. These drive our innovation all the time.

AA: Hygiene is the most important factor today. Also a robust, well-designed machine - and you have to make sure your cooler is hygienic and ecological by using as little as possible of chemical products.

Crystal Mountain Diane Koyich (DK), International Liaison

Paz Ausin, Canaletas

Canaletas Paz Ausin (PA), Export Manager

“There is pressure to innovate and create more economic and progressive products”

PA: Innovation comes from the distributors, end users, competitors, the environment and the company itself. Distributors are looking for economic products, good delivery time and a good service. Consumers also want economic products, but they give more importance to the longevity of the product, whether it’s easy to use, and sanitisation. The competitors add another pressure - to innovate and create more economic and progressive products. The environment creates

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innovations through legal and ecological advances, demanding products that are efficient. Most important is the company itself and its desire to innovate. The key people in the company need to know the market and be aware of all these points, in order to give proposals to the research and development department. How does the bottled cooler manufacturer see its future alongside mains-fed? DIM: Bottled water dispensers will last for many years as new innovation overcomes current issues. Bag-in-Box (BIB) dispensers will be the best example. DK: I don’t know. We would call ourselves a water cooler manufacturer, full stop. We began in the bottled sector, but very quickly developed products for use in both plumbed-in and bottled applications . . . and we intend to continue our presence in both of them. PB: Both bottled coolers and mains-fed serve specific niches. Bottled is perfect for consumers who want great tasting spring water and for those without ready access to a mains supply. Mainsfed is good for high volume service applications. FD: Bottled water coolers will always be a valid product for those who prefer a plug and play approach, or do not have the possibility to install the cooler in proximity to the water mains. Furthermore, bottled water coolers are usually cheaper than mainsfed, especially the Asian ones, thus they will keep on being the first choice for price sensitive customers.

A number of areas such as Eastern Europe are still bottled cooler-oriented, which means these models will keep a protagonist role in the near future in some countries. LN: The bottled water cooler market has continued to face tough competition from mains-fed coolers but within certain areas such as Eastern Europe traditional bottle coolers are still popular. We believe both markets will continue to increase. AA: It is true that mains-fed coolers are growing. So now 80% of our manufacture is for mains-fed. The bottled cooler has its advantages over mains-fed though - you don’t have to pipe water to it,

so it can be placed anywhere where there’s power, and also, even with powerful filters some water is not drinkable. So in those cases the water cooler comes into its own. PA: Canaletas manufactures three types of coolers - bottled, mains-fed and drinking fountains. We believe that the bottled cooler complements the other two. And depending on the country and the market, one will be favoured over another.

current market through global membership in trade associations. Some issues affect us as a manufacturer less than they do our customers, but we choose to ‘stay tuned’ to what is being thrown at them from media, consumers, governments or regulatory bodies. And as a global manufacturer, of course, we have to keep an eye on currencies, economies in customer countries - a whole other level of challenge!

What are your biggest challenges?

DIM: Source water quality and the maintenance service quality are the challenges we are having nowadays.

DK: We generally address the challenges of the

FD: Our biggest challenge comes from Asian

The necessity of invention Making technological advances creates publicity and attracts new custom.

Ebac: Watertrail allows fast sanitation at dispense

Ebac: Hedgehog Spike addresses hygiene at the cap

Canaletas: Fast steam sanitisation with Canvap

Oasis: Removable Reservoir offers ecological and efficient chilling

Oasis: Two-piece hot tank means sanitation and long life

Cosmetal: Coolers are becoming increasingly high spec

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Keep it bottled competition. Many bottled water cooler customers are very price sensitive and are attracted to cheap products. Such products however are very poor, and it’s very common that after a trial customers come back to 100% ‘Made in Italy’. In a world where there’s affordable multipack bottled water and filtration, jug or in-tap, what is the bottled water cooler’s unique selling point?

PB: With regards to multipack bottled: HOD 19 litre bottles provide an environmentally responsible alternative. There is far less hassle in transporting the water and a cooler prevents having to store multi-packs in valuable fridge space. With respect to filtration, bottled water is all about taste and good mineral content. DIM: People still love the taste and the service of some brands of bottled

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water, and simple structures let users be assured of cleanliness and easy maintenance. LN: Some people find that they prefer the taste of purified bottled water opposed to water filtered from the mains. Some of our customers have also advised that bottled water coolers can be favoured in small to medium size offices of up to ten people where the consumption is fairly low.

AA: It is possible to have cold water of good quality, as much as you want and all just from pressing a button. That’s the particular joy of the water cooler machine: it brings all of these qualities together in one! PA: Mineral water is generally accepted as the best type of water, therefore in my opinion it is clear that this is the main advantage for bottled water coolers, although it’s not the only one.

Factory Settings We often hear and see the ‘showroom’ product, but what is the physical progress of cooler manufacturing? Cosmetal and Zerica take us onto the factory floor.

Cosmetal

1: Start of the production line: the compressor is fixed on the metallic base. 2: R 134 gas is loaded into the cooling circuit and the tank is fixed on top of the metallic structure. 3: Further installations - cable wiring and plastic covers assembly. 4: Functional tests - 100% of production is tested with water. Water coolers are checked one by one. The test takes into consideration all the relevant functionalities: functioning, cooling capacity, carbonation capacity, watertight and electrical safety. 5: Once the water cooler is complete and well functioning, it goes through a visual test to verify the quality of the exterior look. In the very end it is packed.

Zerica

Zerica has two separate processes inside the factory. One is for metal sheet work where stainless steel and other raw materials are processed to create the parts that will be used in the second Zerica sector, where water coolers are assembled. With ‘homemade’ part manufacture we have a totally complete in-house process with full tracking system for each cooler, and for all models: bottled, mains-fed and horeca. © Cooler Innovation 2010. Reproduced with the kind permission of FoodBev Media - www.foodbev.com For details about syndication and licensing please contact the marketing team on 01225 327890.

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Keep it bottled DK: The benefits of good hydration are well known, and water coolers provide a convenient, and now often attractive focal point for providing hydration. Further, water, and what people believe about what constitutes pure water, is a subject about which there are many opinions, and the bottled water cooler gives a choice to those who demand a bulk supply of, say, alkaline water (processed) or

traditional natural mineral water or water with other particular characteristics that are often only available in large bottles through HOD distributors or operators. How are you tackling the increasing ‘green’ pressure? PA: At Canaletas the coolers are made mostly with stainless steel. They are recyclable, which has an important advantage in this point over other materials.

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We have over ten years’ experience in recycling Canaletas coolers that obviously we pass to our distributors. FD: We are reducing the energy consumption of our products and using recycling plastics. LN: Energy efficiency is vey important to customers. Combining superior performance with optimum efficiency, Ebac’s Hot

Face value With units so visible, water cooler design without doubt must take into consideration aesthetics. And because bottled water coolers find themselves in a variety of environments, from home to office to public space, there’s no limit to fun, form and function.

Fun

Form

Function

Hello Kitty and the Mini Penguin: two examples of novelty and kid-friendly coolers

Dieau Edafim’s Star Rouge (top), Ebac’s colourful collection (middle) and Oasis’ ‘Jeweltones’ (bottom) show how coolers can adapt to décor - and that there’s a market for designer coolers

For working appeal, traditional cooler design has been revamped by adding sleek covers (Crystal Mountain), introducing bottom loading (Electrotemp) and exploring added purpose such as brand advertising (Ebac)

Tank maintains water at a constant high temperature to deliver a better hot beverage for the customer, whilst reducing energy consumption dramatically for lower running costs, using up to 89% less energy compared to other water coolers. It runs from just 0.12kwhr a day. AA: By prioritising and recycling and better controlling the cost of the transport in order to respond to the growing political need to think about sustainable development. DK: Our internal priorities have focused on best practice in-house at Crystal Mountain factories, warehouses and office premises the world over. Crystal Mountain has joined other forward-looking manufacturers to look for ways to ensure total recycling during production, support cradle-to-grave programmes, reduce use of petrochemicals, and otherwise do their part to reduce environmental impact. Some of our products now conform to the Energy Star standard, and we learned a lot on the way to that certification about improving our product designs, wherever practical, to improve their ‘eco-quotient’. PB: Designing energy efficient refrigeration and heating systems, using long life recyclable materials and components, and reducing product packaging also helps the effort. We source components in Europe to reduce our transportation carbon footprint. DIM: BIB coolers are the best solution to decrease the carbon footprint by eliminating fuel consumption.

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to different needs and specifications of a client.

What are you currently working on?

FD: Cosmetal’s bottled water coolers are usually sold in offices, factories and waiting rooms.

DK: We check market sectors regularly for ways to sell more water coolers all over the world. We follow a path of high quality and so this automatically means they won’t be the cheapest coolers on the market, so we always look for that niche. We sell to the HOD sector.

LN: Currently Ebac is working closely with suppliers to develop a compressor which will be used within the Fmax bottled cooler to reduce energy consumption by a further 10%.

PB: The majority of our products are installed in offices. However, in some markets our bottled coolers and Onyx countertop units are popular in homes. LN: Ebac are very much active in both the domestic and commercial water cooler markets. AA: We have presence in a number of markets and have a particularly large selection of quality products that allows us to respond

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Federica Diotavelli, Cosmetal

What bottled cooler markets have you explored?

Bottled coolers are the first choice for price-sensitive customers

PB: Affordable, design conscious models that incorporate our most popular technologies - the RR refrigeration and the HT3 two-piece heating tank - so there is modularity of parts. DK: Stay tuned. See you in Prague! PA: We have been advancing our sanitisation method, working on a more

automatic process but with the same basic principal of steam disinfection. We are planning to make some improvements so that the coolers look more ‘vanguard’, and we have recently developed some models more focused on the domestic market. AA: We are currently working on a cooler that can be used mainly in sensitive areas, and particularly hospitals. This new range of fountains Wintact - is the solution to controlling bacterial quality of water. The Wintact pulverises biofilms for a complete sanitation of contaminated water.

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Keep it bottled

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Product showcase Cosmetal - Avant

Clover - B14A

FD: Avant is the result of thorough research into an attractive, innovative design that fulfills the requirements of end users while offering a high hygienic standard. The reservoir is made of a special material (SST), which inhibits the proliferation of bacteria inside the tank and preserves water quality inside the bottle for a period of 12 months, thus optimising maintenance procedure frequency. The water cooler delivers high performance, even in critical situations where the external temperature really puts its cooling capacity to the test. The four models offer various water combinations.

DIM: B14A is Clover’s flagship bottled water dispenser with slender outfit and powerful performance. The design of B14 was inspired by the figure of a ship when looked from the top view, and its side look boasts beautiful curves. B14 has powerful cooling system as well as energy-efficient heater, so its energy consumption rate is 30% higher than its competing models.

Ebac - Emax LN: The Emax is Europe’s best selling bottled water cooler, with over half a million units sold since its launch in 2000. This is the cooler which cemented Ebac as the market leaders in the water cooler manufacturing industry. Renowned for its strength and durability, the Emax can be sanitised in seconds with our patented Watertrail system and features our award winning hot tank that is 30 times more energy efficient than competitor models.

Crystal Mountain - SublimO DK: Modern appearance and a smaller (10 litre) ergonomic bottle combines with a hygienic internal water path for a compact, sanitisable water cooler built using Crystal Mountain’s tested technology and materials. It is perfect for domestic and small space installations, but its fabulous style makes it an end user choice even where a bigger cooler would fit.

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Canaletas - M77

Oasis - Removable Reservoir (RR) cooler

PA: The M77 has had a very good reception because it has a competitive price and a very elegant design. It is also a very reliable product, and we can guarantee it will last many years without incident.

PB: The RR bottled water cooler sets the standard for ease of sanitisation and refurbishment. The reservoir and all water contact parts can easily be removed from the cooler and sanitised and re-used, eliminating the need to discard or recycle used plastic parts. The chilling probe technology insures only one ambient: the water is chilled. This maximises energy efficiency and eliminates the possibility of ‘freeze-ups’ in warmer conditions. All models of the RR cabinetry are designed to remain relevant over the long life of this European-made cooler. The RR refrigeration operating system is modular and fits into a variety of cabinets (polyethylene, polycarbonate and stainless steel), simplifying cooler fleet management.

Filter Lock Seeking Strategic Partner and/or Licensee of Patented Filter Lock Features: • Simple and affordable filter protection. • Lock permits only authorised personnel from removing filter cartridge after installation. • Locking technology can be incorporated into virtually any filter system while maintaining current certifications (i.e., NSF, etc). • U.S. patent number 7,658,840; European Patent Pending.

Benefits: • Protects business model in the event of a criminal or terrorist attack via public water filters. • Allows greater flexibility in water cooler design and installation. • Provides customer with the most secure filters in the marketplace. • Proprietary technology provides an opportunity to take market share from competitors. For more information contact Zenith International Ltd 30 Old Kings Highway South, Suite 113 • Darien, CT 06820 USA Tel: 203-202-2068 • email: rcolbert@zenithinternational.com

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Dieau Edafim - Star AA: The Star models are our most innovative they incorporate design, technology, hygiene and simplicity; a flow of 45 litres per hr and simultaneous 50 cup capacity (cold water), high performance ice bank system, direct chill stainless steel cooling system, patented steam auto-sanitisation system (under 20m).

Next issue: Coolers and the environment In the tide of ecoawareness we’ll be looking at the water cooler industry’s recycling practices, research and development and emerging technologies to ensure the cooler industry keeps its head above water.

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The logical step

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Waterlogic is taking up column inches with news of acquisition and expansion. Key people from the mains-fed company talked to Cooler Innovation about operation and ambition.

Moshe Gazit joined Waterlogic in 2004 in a senior business development role. He is now Group Business Development Director, based in Rome.

laf Wilhelm is a typical example of a water business entrepreneur who has come into contact with, and ultimately joined, Waterlogic. Olaf recalls: “My natural interest in new opportunities led me to the Aquatech exhibition in Amsterdam in 1998. This was my first contact with the mains-fed concept. My primary idea was to supply high consumption accounts with mains filtered and purified drinking water, achieving huge cost savings against bottled water.” By 1999, his initial machine trials with Waterlogic showed good results - 60 machines were sold in the first two months, and other heavybase customers followed. A joint venture between Waterlogic and Olaf Wilhelm’s business was established and Waterlogic Germany came officially into being. “In those early days we had four staff: myself, one salesman, one technician and one

In 2001, Olaf Wilhelm set up Waterlogic Germany and has since risen from Managing Director of the German subsidiary to the COO of the Waterlogic group worldwide, based in Stuttgart.

Jonathan Ben-David joined Waterlogic after the successful sale of his manufacturing business in 2004. He is CEO of Group Manufacturing and R&D and is based in Qingdao, China.

Colonel Kim was one of the original members of the company in Korea, and was responsible for much of the design initiative. He is Group R&D Director, also based in Qingdao, China.

administrator. We started with zero sales and zero turnover, but 100% motivation and 100% support from the Waterlogic team,” said Olaf. “I come from a region in Germany called Swabia, and Swabian principles of solid financing (do not spend money you do not have) helped the company to grow steadily as well as remaining financially stable. Profits were reinvested in the company to ensure further growth.

operations of Waterlogic in 2000 and created PHS Waterlogic, and the two organisations signed a longterm exclusive distribution agreement. By mutual agreement PHS Group is pleased to supply the Waterlogic product range in Ireland and the Benelux region.

researched the industry and saw the huge potential. The emergence of new filtration and purification technologies would enable mains-fed water coolers to offer better water at more economical cost than the traditional bottled water cooler. In 1992 Waterlogic commenced trading and soon found an excellent market opportunity selling mains-fed coolers to the commercial sector. Having created a successful business in the UK, which was sold to PHS Waterlogic, it grew outside of the UK, organically and by acquisitions in Norway, Germany, France, US, Denmark and Sweden.

Today Waterlogic Germany employs over 40 people and has regional branches in Duesseldorf, Hamburg and also Austria.”

What were Waterlogic’s beginnings? Olaf Wilhelm (OW): Founder and CEO, Jeremy Ben-David

We talked to Olaf and other key Waterlogic figures about the company’s achievements and aspirations - and aggressive acquisition.

About Waterlogic What is the relationship between Waterlogic and PHS Waterlogic? Moshe Gazit (MG): The PHS Group acquired the UK

Installing a Waterlogic cooler

When the first factory in Korea was relocated to China in 2004, the international management team gave Waterlogic the critical control over product quality. One of the most notable employees at this time is Colonel Kim, who joined Waterlogic in Korea over 14 years ago and was instrumental in creating

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The Waterlogic range

the mains-fed dispensers that were key to the success of the business. Colonel Kim (CK): It may come as a surprise to many that Waterlogic spends on certification (in China alone, excluding the local certifications and approvals that we undertake in France, Germany etc) over a quarter of a million US dollars per annum, and a further several hundreds of thousands on testing products and new technologies. I know that this fact is not lost on our customers from the direct feedback that we receive every day. Does Waterlogic have a working ethic? Jonathan Ben-David (JBD): If we were to state the key things that are

really important to us, they would be: quality - both in terms of the quality of the water dispensed and the quality of our products, demonstrated through our product certifications and the performance of our machines in use; innovation - in technology, design, development and manufacturing; positive approach - the positive attitude, expertise, support and service from our people around the world. MG: Many people may have read the management books about virtual organisations. In Waterlogic we are living that vision, and it is a great source of pride to me to be working with such international people. In addition to the factory team in China (made up of Chinese, Korean, British

and German staff) and the fact that our CEO is based in Rome, our COO is based near Stuttgart, we also have a Czech IT manager based from Czech republic, two Lithuanian people run our sales office in Dublin and are supported by a logistics team based in both Rome and Korea. As you might imagine, IT connectivity and communication is nearly as important as the water we drink!

it is the best way in which we can demonstrate our quality and innovation and is also a truly impressive place to take visitors. Of the 200-strong team in China, we have over 20 R&D staff dedicated to the next technologies and next dispensers. Their efforts resulted in Firewall, and if this new technology achieves the market acclaim that we expect, then the R&D investment will have been clearly justified.

What is Waterlogic’s company breakdown?

Growth and expansion

JBD: It’s quite simple, virtually all our manufacturing is done at our 100% owned and operated factory in China. We have an international team of managers running the business, and our manufacturing is one of the ‘jewels in our crown’ in that

Since start-up how has Waterlogic diversified and expanded its offering? MG: The range has grown, but has always remained in mains-fed water coolers. Today we have eight core models, which can come in a variety of derivatives.

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The logical step What financial/production challenges has Waterlogic faced and overcome? JBD: The factory has been the biggest investment. Moving from Korea to China consumed a huge amount of management focus. But we got through these challenges and we were all stronger because of it. Our factory is a major factor in our sales proposition to our dealers. The fact that we can directly control quality, and that their feedback is acted upon by our team in the factory, means that we have struck the perfect balance optimising the cost/quality trade-off. At a time when most are tightening their budgets, Waterlogic is busy with acquisitions. Why? OW: Although this is a time of economic uncertainty, Waterlogic is a profitable and cash-generative business. Times like these often provide interesting opportunities for strong companies, and Waterlogic is well placed to realise those opportunities. In addition to market share (organic) growth, it is part of our strategy to grow

Waterlogic’s production line

via acquisition. Naturally, Waterlogic is very ‘picky’ in proactively looking for companies that are the right fit, and to that end Waterlogic is less likely to acquire speculatively. Sometimes we have acquired to enter a new market sector, for example, the recent acquisition of Frangart in Germany facilitated access to the health sector. In the case of Health Concepts (as with other acquisitions) the team were retained and could possibly go on to grow into bigger and better roles around the group, should they wish. In the case of other acquisitions like Escowa in Sweden, the previous owners were retiring and wanted to pass on the business into good hands. In all cases the staff and customers remained loyal to the new group. What’s Waterlogic’s long-term strategy? OW: We want Waterlogic to be the most preferred choice in mains-fed coolers. This means expanding our global reach and continually developing our capabilities. Firewall was

the result of a two-year project to develop the ultimate water dispenser. We are really excited by this development. We want to maintain a leadership position in our chosen markets and to continue growing with new products and new technologies, which are the ‘lifeblood’ of our business. Why isn’t Waterlogic a recognised name in the US? OW: The name may not be prevalent, but Waterlogic has two separate US operations. Innowave supplies a great many coolers to a strong dealer network across North America; when innowave was acquired in 2006, the name was retained due to a very strong dealer loyalty to the existing company. Direct to end-customer sales are managed by CoolerSmart (a distinct organisation and brand identity).

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CK: “We assert that Waterlogic Firewall machines will (when measured over time and in realistic situations) dispense water that is purer than any other mainsfed dispenser available on the market. We challenge any other manufacturer, anywhere in the world to beat it.”

Is there plan for further expansion? MG: We plan to continue aggressive organic growth and to leverage our technologies into slightly new fields (watch this space). We assume that no company would say there are no further plans for expansion, but we have been doing this for over a decade now and have learned to expand profitably and to do it in combination (synergistically) with successful acquisitions. We also have the resource (people, strong balance sheet etc) which enables us to do many projects simultaneously and take appropriate risks.

Firewall in action

New product development What is Waterlogic working on at present? CK: Firewall - please make no mistake, this purification technology is a world apart from the many tricks we see across the industry. This is a genuine innovation, and a patent application is in process. We believe this to

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be the most effective water purification system ever seen in drinking water dispensers. Independent tests on the new purification process showed that the internal firewall UV technology is capable of reducing bacterial and viral contamination by 99.999% overall, and in most cases, by 100%. The purpose of the new purification system was to overcome the inherent weakness of any faucet, which by its nature of being exposed is where most contamination takes place, either by airborne bacteria and viruses, or by human contamination from contact. As the UV purification system is placed at the point where the water flows from the faucet, no bacteria or viruses that are in the water can get out, and no airborne bacteria or viruses can get into the faucet and infect the water. Hence the name ‘Firewall’. Furthermore, this is the first system to purify ambient and sparkling (as well as cold) water, all to class ‘A’ purification standards.

The environment Environmental pressure is mounting. Does Waterlogic have this is mind? MG: Yes - absolutely. We in the mains-fed industry are fortunate to be marketing a product that is fundamentally environmentally friendly. Our latest machine, the WL4, houses all our latest environmental technologies such as an auto-sleep mode, which stops the heating and cooling after periods of inactivity, and leak detection to prevent waste of water.

We have a few developments that we are launching in Q4 2010/Q1 2011 that will further improve our carbon footprint. Green products are part of what we are; it is a key part of our competitive edge. Does Waterlogic have end-of-life recycling programmes or any other ‘green’ commitments? MG: Yes - in some places we remove machines, and then dissemble them at our service centres, separating the parts for re-use or recycling. In some cases, if we can refurbish and hence re-use an existing dispenser, by either replacing some exterior panels or some key internal parts, then we do that too. Not only does this make good environmental sense, it’s good business sense also. Furthermore, some of our customers ask us for details on our environmental actions. We find that many clients are quite sophisticated now in that they can see through the ‘greenwash’ that many of their suppliers quote, and hence are looking for evidence that we really are practicing what we preach. Waterlogic in Norway is the first in the industry to be adopting service vehicles powered by Biogas. The fleet of vehicles are being welcomed by Scandinavian customers who value the environmental actions of their suppliers very highly.

We are fortunate to be marketing a product that is fundamentally environmentally friendly

What do you see happening to the industry in terms of environmental pressures and consumer awareness? MG: It can only grow. End customers will become more

Waterlogic is continually innovating

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The logical step sophisticated and more demanding. This is excellent for the mains-fed industry and very problematic for the commercial bottled water industry. One thing we have noticed is that environmental awareness has extended to that of total sustainability. This includes ethical aspects in the way the company operates and also the products provided. Waterlogic is a signatory of the UN global compact (a widely respected framework on human rights) and for three years running has complied with the reporting requirements of this United Nations framework document. Waterlogic China Manufacturing has also been given the accolade as an ‘Outstanding Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Company’. Criteria for the Outstanding FDI Company award received includes: rapid growth, job creation, uncompromising attitude with respect to Chinese regulations, social responsibility and financial responsibility.

Waterlogic China not only met, but exceeded all of the benchmarks for these award criteria.

principles. Sell a good product at a reasonable margin and service your customers well.

Market Outlook

Of course, cost controls are also an element, but many companies take the short-term view of winning deals at any price. These companies will not survive and are harming the industry. A mains-fed product is a food product. It must be properly certified, have good purification technologies and must be serviced regularly and professionally. You cannot do this for $6 USD a week.

As with any industry, the water cooler industry is going through an unsteady time. How do you feel coolers can weather the storm? OW: The industry must stick to basic, sound economic

We at Waterlogic have weathered the storm partly due to our sound financials, but also by having the ability to walk away from business opportunities that do not make financial sense.

Receiving the outstanding FDI Company award

For the latest on Waterlogic and other industry news, visit FoodBev.com

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Waterlogic fact box Established 1992. Approximately 400 employees worldwide - 95% of these are in the factory or in local businesses close to the customer, in Germany, France, Scandinavia and the US. Waterlogic operates directly in the US & Canada, Germany, Austria, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark. We of course have our manufacturing facility in China and the international trading business (which supplies distributors around the world) operates from Dublin, Ireland. Waterlogic is available in 40 countries on all continents. The factory is located on 140,000 sq ft of land in the city of Qingdao, China. The factory has 130,000 dispensers per annum from one shift with the ability to double.

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Cooler Innovation explores the multifaceted relationship of coolers and vending - two industries worlds apart, working together.

Coffee mate

threatening the business of the other, they can promote each other; and if not promote, then feature as a component of a company’s extended services and offerings.

common relationship between vending and coolers is that of the ‘package deal’, where vending suppliers, in order to add value to a contract, will throw one in with the other, either completely free or on a set period of free rental.

“If you take bigger companies engaging in this practice, like Bunzl and Selecta - they are very often contracting with the larger corporations and institutions on a level that the everyday water distributor would not get to; and the practice of giving away coolers is very often a make-weight in the overall deal,” said Fred Cairns Palmer, of WaterCoolersDirect. “For example, when you take Barclays corporate offices in Bristol - on the third floor we found a vending machine supplied by Bunzl and a Waterlogic 3000, which was the make-weight in that contract; on every other floor of that building were coolers supplied by water cooler distributors. In fact there were three different suppliers. So they are separate parts of the procurement process. It doesn’t impact on companies as a whole, looking to supply their whole business.”

the customer ends up having, but it has sown a seed. As a water cooler company that also sells coffee and vending machines it is important to make this pay and a good customer would have both, or we up-sell later - we make a conscious effort to go back later or talk to the customer to entice them to have the other option.” For distributors looking for the higher volume contracts to bigger businesses as opposed to the single unit sale, it seems the vending cooler give-away does not impact on water cooler contract rental and sales. What’s more, the deal can help the industry as a whole, especially for the manufacturer of the apparently sacrificial makeweight cooler. Not only does it help brand awareness and increase visibility, the unit purchase of the makeweight coolers by the vending

company is a valuable contract in itself. “Our vending clients are important to us,” said Chris Garner, Marketing Manager for Waterlogic, “as they have an excellent market reach, by virtue of being larger, more established organisations. In fact we have found that our vending clients around the world place our water machines on rental contracts at market rates. This makes sound business sense for them as the regular and dependable rental income balances out the more variable income from a vending machine. Furthermore, vending operators gain economies of scale as they therefore service more machines on each call (ie water + coffee + snack vending etc).”

“Ultimately the coffee boys are not going to damage the water business,” said Ron Hounsell, Managing Director of Cameron Water. “They tend to have smaller vehicles and when customers start taking significant volumes of water they have to look at bigger vehicles, which is a real pain for less profitable business. I think the vending companies should be more concerned about water companies looking at coffee, with bigger margins per kilo, it being easier to deliver and easier to add to the product list.” There’s lots of money to be made in coffee, said Ron Hounsell, and Cameron Water has been offering coffee for over ten years. When looking at the great coffee and water vending strategy, it works whichever way you look at it.

The symbiotic nature of the coffee and water business means that far from one

“In the offer you allude to, the cooler and the coffee machine are equally important really in the deal,” said Rupert Cox from Crown Water & Coffee, which offers coffee and cooler deals. “Quite often it may not be a Flavia coffee machine that

When water coolers are given away, it raises the question as to whether for the small distributor it’s undercutting business; after all, who can compete with gratuity?

“There’s lots of money to be made in coffee, generally a 100% mark-up, so a case of coffee at £40 means a £20 profit. Coffee weighs heehaw as opposed to a 19 litre/ kg bottle giving about £1.50 profit, so it’s easier to give away a water cooler when you are getting the coffee business, and interestingly I see more water companies now offering coffee, like we do.”

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The business of buying water

“The market for cleaned, safe, drinking water at a low cost is unlimited,” he said. “Water is what we call the ‘lowest denominator’ product. Everyone in the world, every day, must drink water regardless of wealth, race, or any other distinctions. A vending machine provides the delivery system of high quality water at a very low price. We went through many processes to design a simplified unit in order to keep costs down and be competitive with the Asians, as well as make the manufacturing process quick and easy.

elling water unbottled - tap and mains-fed style - isn’t new. In the Americas ‘filling’ stations are commonplace, as are water vending machines, which have under-dispense space for multi-gallon containers. Many approaching industry-size, they tend to look more part of the vending family than the cooler. But there are smaller machines making an appearance, and in the vein of the cooler industry it’s brave entrepreneurs like Edward Gale of ChemFree Industries, that are taking ideas to the factory floor. “I got the idea about going into the water vending business when we sold our home and moved into a high rise condominium,” said Edward Gale. “In my home we had an under-sink filtration system and when we moved I found that we had to run to the supermarket two or three times a week to buy water from the vending machine. It dawned on me that perhaps if I could design and make a small and inexpensive unit then I could place them in buildings such as the one we were living in and actually make some money by providing this unique resource to the residents. “The only models that were available at the time were

much larger and costly units, which were much too large and the return on the investment would have been inadequate. Hence, my Model 1000 was conceived and became an instant hit when we introduced it to the various condo boards. We have since added additional models to fit into specific types of locations based in large part on how much revenue the location would produce. Getting a very high return on the capital cost was essential.” Like cooler purification, the Model 1000 consists of two filters - one designed to remove solid particles and colour and the other, a 5-micron block filter,

used to trap organics, inorganic chemicals and other contaminants. The water then is sterilised by a patented ultraviolet system and dispensed through a stainless steel nozzle. As a diversification product for existing water cooler businesses, Edward Gale said the profitability lies in the location.

“Our assessment is that Europe will become as huge a market for vended water as the US currently is. Our customer in Kazakhstan is having much success with our equipment and has sold his gumball vending business to concentrate on water.”

Edward Gale’s Model 1000

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Cool demands

uch fresh food and beverage vending relies on cooling. It was only a matter of time before the very function of traditional water coolers stepped up to offer water vending its technology. We talked about the cool collaboration with Isaac Mayer of Aquapolar - a vending system that dispenses bottles, single-serve and 5 gallon, of chilled water, alongside ice.

How is water cooling technology and vending linked? Water cooling technology in a vending machine is a very new innovation. We are the leaders in linking these two technologies, and we have had our first product out in the market now for almost a year. All major water vending machines across the globe dispense room-temperature (ambient) water. Our N2LS is the first production model that also vends chilled water. We now have machines at three universities in the US. What technologies do you use? We use reservoir chilling, and both ozonation and dual UVs for sanitation. For purification we have five stages of filtration (three pre-filters - two sediment and one activated carbon; two post-filters - one

sediment, one activated carbon) plus RO membrane. What factors persuaded you that there was a market for a water vending machine? Ambient water vending is a mature market across the US and South America. The practice reduces plastic bottle waste, and at the same time is significantly less expensive for the consumer. Nearly every major supermarket and many convenience stores in America have one or many ambient water vending machines outside the establishment. The market for chilled water vending machines is uncertain at the moment, but the intense drive to eliminate small plastic bottle waste and the high popularity of reusable water bottles indicate there is a pent-up demand for filling them with purified chilled water.

Where do you see the future of water and ice vending?

“Ice vending will be the preferred mode within a few years”

Ice vending will be the preferred mode of consumers within a few years. The carbon footprint of making ice in a big central factory and trucking it all over the countryside is enormous and unsustainable. Making ice locally, on-demand, with purified water for better taste, has the minimum carbon footprint, and this translates into lower cost for all consumers and environmental benefits for all.

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Master and Sub-Distributors required - join our growing network

Glencar Water Company Ltd

Danish Bottling Company A/S

Harrogate Spring Water Ltd Fachingen Hell- und Mineralbrunnen GmbH

Aqua Palentina s.l.

Global Distributor interest welcome, email: kieran.mckenna@aqueduct-h2o.com

• Bag in Box Water returns profitability to each and every delivery. • No hassle with return bottles – a ‘leaner, cleaner, greener’ alternative to the outdated and increasingly under pressure returnable bottle system - ONE WAY DELIVERY Opens New Routes to market (POU/HOD/Vending/ B2B/Coffee/Catering/FM/etc). • Master distributors required – spearhead our launch in your regional market. Two staff run a packaging line (Aqueduct can organise ‘Turn-key’ Installations). • Sub Distributors wanted – from a small investment assess customer reaction and drive your business into profitable growth. Our machines sell as customers just get the inherent lack of contamination and total hygiene, the lack of BPA, the ease of storage and handling and the simplicity of the concept! • ‘Shrink’ the HOD business model by 50% - and watch it hit your bottom line!

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Easy storage Profitable delivery

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Water and vending, a match played in Brussels

he relationship between the water cooler and vending industries are now seemly closer than ever before; and there are many reasons why, writes James Anderton, Director of Blue Direct. Since the economic down turn most industries have had to more urgently inwardly reflect and outwardly develop to survive in a market where customers are gripping their wallets tightly and where convincing them to open them up is increasingly difficult. It is against this backdrop of increased competition that both the water and vending markets have noticed each other more seriously, perhaps sometimes as a threat and at other times an opportunity. The target client base is generally the same, with the same decision makers and often even the same locations in buildings.

When the core business models of vending and water are placed side by side the parallels are remarkably similar Both industries have a number of common threads that have aligned them for a symbiotic partnership. Each has a wide range of equipment with varying layers of technological complexity delivered by a large number of regional providers topped up with a handful of national organisations. Both have a similar contract, installation

procedure and routine maintenance model and on coffee vending also the cross over of water fitting regulations, hygiene and filtration systems. It seems inevitable that these industries which are rapidly approaching a crossroads in a maturing market, driven by lower margins and higher expectations as well as concerns over pending legislation, need to diversify by offering additional services to existing clients. The natural progression of diversification is to look to your core competencies and see what can be easily delivered without completely reinventing the organisation. When the core business models of vending and water are placed side by side the parallels are remarkably similar. Over and above the regulations are the obvious similarities including an equipment rental model, supported by an engineering and operator backbone. As an increasingly obvious direction for business progression trade associations have also tried to keep up with the pace by being more supportive of each other and where suitable creating strategic alliances. In June 2009 the EPDWA vocalised its plans to join forces with EVA (European Vending Association) so that the core topics already identified by the market

could be better vocalised in one united voice. EVA has a proven track record on positively influencing EU policies on behalf of the vending industry; the relationship now directly has benefits for the EPDWA with its experience networking in Brussels. The EPDWA has recently undergone a name change to become even more inclusive of emerging technologies within the market, heralding innovations such as the latest bag in box systems currently being rolled out across Europe. The newly fashioned EDWCA (European Drinking Water Cooler Association) plans to offer its support to a wider membership across Europe and help further support existing water cooler companies and vending companies that are planning to add these services to their existing portfolio. Since the EVA partnership started the combined forces have tackled numerous issues for the benefit of both membership groups. From the EDWCA’s perspective it is imperative that every competitor in the market or organisations considering entering the market are all using the most applicable standards. In this role the EDWCA has guided EVA on issues experienced by the water cooler association that also affect their vending

members, particularly surrounding hygiene, installation and filtration. The EDWCA offers a wealth of experience from its affiliated microbiologist Mike Hurst and various Executive Council members, including Derek Callaghan who has assisted on the numerous EVA topics. Currently projects include the legislation in regard to HFC gas R=134a.

These industries need to diversify by offering additional services to existing clients When the EPDWA reviewed its European strategy it believed that as mains-fed units spread throughout Europe, the knowledge gained by the association work over the past decade can be used as a benchmark and template for other national suppliers and distributors. The EVA relationship further supports the credibility of the EDWCA to spread the message across Europe. At a press meeting the EDWCA stated that “the overlap between the two associations is simple: many vending solutions include the utilisation of a mains water source, connection and even filtration. Therefore any future policy decision in these areas would represent a similar

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issue to mains-fed cooler providers. The relationship with EVA will ensure that the voice of the European water cooler industry and its members are represented during policy shaping.” Arnaud van Amerongen, Chairman of EVA expressed that “whilst influencing policy is an intricate and involved process, it is imperative to gets ones message across clearly as early as possible and most important before legislation is created. Contrary to popular belief, Brussels politicians encourage industry input,

recognising that they need specialist knowledge to ensure that policies are robust and workable.” The relationship underpins the importance that EVA places on the water cooler industry and likewise how important vending is becoming to the water cooler industry. However, the core benefit of this partnership has been to create a more focused approach to the assisting the policy making game played out in Brussels for the benefit of the two interlinking industries.

Pay per cup While Aquapolar has devised a vending cooler, the aesthetics of which are very much like traditional vending machines, Donald M Burdeny, based in Canada, has developed what he claims to be the first coinoperated water cooler from patented parts. “The reason I created this package was because I wanted a glass of water at the pharmacy where I had just had a prescription filled and needed to take the pills asap. I asked for a glass of water and got a blank look from the person who just gave me my prescription. She suggested I go and buy a gallon, or a litre . . . I just wanted a glass of water! I went away and did the research and ended up with a coin-operated water cooler.” The prototype is currently for sale through: www.mrmoxy.com

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One vend beyond

ieren McKenna, owner of Aqueduct - Purity by Design, has developed another link in the vending chain. A specially adapted model of the bag-in-box cooler dispenses water for free, but with a distinctly commercial aftertaste. Kieren McKenna talks to Cooler Innovation about the LCD cooler. “Aqueduct has developed a new and innovative range of water coolers for the home and office market. The new contemporary design of the coolers has attracted much attention and positive comment - and the optional addition of a back-lit advertising space allows the company brand and message to literally be “up in lights”. “However, the real advantage is in the fact that the Aqueduct Pro range will also have an option of a LCD which can carry digital images and video. This transforms the cooler into a medium for imparting information - from it being company information on, for example, domestic

water filter or cooler products, to it becoming a company notice board for updating information on a weekly/ monthly basis, effectively becoming the office bulletin board.

a decent sized office to have a water cooler virtually - if not totally - free of charge.

“A further development of this theme will come in the ‘modem controlled’ LCD screen, allowing remote users the possibility of advertising their message - in an easily changed or updated format - to multiple sites throughout the country.

“Our manufacturing partner makes over 10 million refrigerators, 20 million air conditioning units and millions of flat screen TV sets - so we are with the ideal partner when it comes to LCD development. The systems are designed so that the LCD can be retro-fitted to our current coolers, hence in time it will make an exciting addition or ‘up-sell’ for our distributors.

“The idea here is that the actual cost of the unit and water could be subsidised by advertising revenue - hence allowing virtually anyone with

“As our Bag in Box coolers also make the ideal ‘template’ for advertising, a large corporate could take the further step of doing a print run of 50,000

water boxes and really going for it - with all six sides of a 10 or 15 litre box, offering a huge scope for promotional brand reinforcement. Essentially the scope to ‘think outside the box’ is immense!” Aqueduct is currently looking for master distributors and sub distributors globally and all enquiries should be emailed to: kieran.mckenna@ aqueduct-h2o.com

A different bottle

ingle-serve bottled water might look like a different industry but increasingly, with the advance of ecosolutions, they’re becoming interlinked. Vivreau’s bottling system, for example, began with the mains-fed revolution and has built its application on cooler technology. This particular brand has been embraced by the Biohotels group as an in-house solution to purifying water, racking up eco-credits by replacing plastic single-serves with refillable and brandable glass bottles. But it was only a matter of time before the purifying and bottling sectors of the cooler spectrum were

embraced by less niche and more commercial thinking. The Boomerang bottler by Clearwater is still very new, barely out of prototype stage, but this collaboration of cooler expertise and ethics has huge potential, depending where it’s installed, to make money. The machine sanitises, fills and caps glass or aluminium bottles at a rate of six per minute - and the bottles can be returned and reused. “It is simply a machine that combines many machines’

efforts in that it sanitises bottles, purifies water, fills water and lids the water all while eliminating the need for plastic bottles. Our machine is not intended for end-consumer usage,” said Boomerang’s marketing

person, Lindsey Long. “It is intended for someone that works in a campus/ company’s kitchen area to use and the consumers see the end product which is an aluminium or glass bottle of water.” It may not be strictly vending and may not be strictly water cooler, but the hybrid combines the cash element and the cooling technology, creating a machine that offers potentially no waste, no delivery and logisitics issues and an open door for profit - for manufacturers Clearwater and for the Boomerang purchaser.

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West Europe

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with the media that our industry is beginning to successfully communicate the ‘whole picture’ regarding bottled water to consumers. It is also increasing the popularity of mains-fed.”

Coolers have been part of office and hydration culture in Western Europe for decades. But could the culture be cooling off? We look at the facts and figures of the industry’s most dedicated market.

Cooler culture In water cooler terms, West Europe is considered a mature market - which on one hand could be seen as a stable tried-and-tested business environment, but on the other could be susceptible to saturation, and to change. If there’s one influence on change in business it’s economic confidence, and following the latest recession, and even in countries such as the UK and Italy - which claim a unit share in excess of 40%, there have been signs of decline. According to a very recent report by Zenith International, after 20 years of strong growth the West Europe market saw a dip of 0.6% to 2.69 million units in 2009. More countries recorded net declines than in 2008, with many customers tightening their cooler requirements in order to save costs. Austria, Greece and Denmark were

the strongest performers, making solid gains in terms of overall placements.

Greece especially hard hit by the severe economic conditions.”

Bottled and mains-fed

”These are challenging times, as the financial crisis has had a large impact on the bottle coolers sales all over the world and more particularly in Southern Europe (Greece, Spain),” said West Europe Sales Director for Oasis, Florent Perrin. “There are also environmental issues that have become very popular

The number of bottled water coolers fell back again by 5%. Zenith Senior Market Analyst Charmaine Holmes said: “It is not surprising to see a further decline in more mature markets such as the UK, but 2009 also saw previously strong growth markets such as Spain and

Sustainability’s cold front The cooler industry is adopting recycling initiatives and smarter design; but, as Luca Costantini of Blupura explains, there’s change ahead for refrigerants. Denmark and Austria are already prepared, but the rest of Europe could soon follow. “Natural refrigerants are environmentally superior and technologically proven, and they are

already commonly used in some industries. In the water cooler industry however the majority of manufacturers still use the R134 refrigerant gas that is an HFC and contains fluoride, one of the major causes of the global warming. Natural refrigerants are not just a business opportunity but a solution which could greatly contribute to solve some climate problems.”

With countries improving their municipal water supplies, the environmental backlash against bottled water - not purely its containment, but the perceived ‘ownership’ of a free element - and with economic belt-tightening, bottled water is experiencing uncertainty. Certainly in single serve style. Water giant Nestlé at the end of 2009 admitted its water business was suffering. Speaking of the bottled cooler figures, Charmaine Holmes added: “Against the backdrop of a widespread economic downturn, the cost saving potential from mains-fed was a major factor in this big change.” The Zenith report stated: Plumbed-in mains water coolers, known as point-ofuse or mains-fed, continued their advance, rising by 10% to a 35% share. The importance of mains-fed is increasingly being recognised by industry associations, which are in turn helping to raise standards within the industry. The UK and Italy are also the largest mains-fed markets in West Europe. Mains-fed share is expected to continue making gains on bottled coolers, approaching 50%. Despite predicted ‘market share’, there is still a good understanding that bottled water coolers are here to stay: West Europe’s affair with mineral water and small business is likely to see to that, and

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neighbouring countries to the East with younger bottle-centric markets are bound to ensure that manufacture within the West is supported. For the moment, bottled cooler manufacturers, despite many adding mains-fed to their portfolios, don’t publicly appear concerned. “In our opinion it is a slow declining market,” said Antonio Zerilli of Italian manufacturing company, Zerica. “We began investing much more in mains-fed systems for many years, even when the bottled market was at its top. But the bottled market will never expire because of easiness of installation and possibility to operate where you have no mains water.”

The future

Like many companies affiliated to the cooler industry, Oasis’s sales are up and, said Pete Benua, new-tomarket product innovations are proving successful.

Creating change Creating and innovating new products that ‘plug in’ to the population psyche is one way to increase sales and boost industry figures. And in Western Europe, where access to clean water is, in majority of areas, not a huge concern, the driving factors are health and environment. “Any technology that makes sanitisation easy is environmentally friendly and saves energy is going to be popular,” said Pete Benua. The green cleaning of machines will no doubt create and motivate advances in the industry

- and cooler and filter companies are already speaking of recyclability in the same breath as informing of product specifications. Recent murmurs out of Brussels for legislation for ‘clean’ refrigerant compressor gas will spark part replacements and new designs, all of which will appease the greener public and potentially increase sales. Change can be uncomfortable, but adapting accordingly can be a sound business plan. “We are noticing a change in buying patterns,” said Laura Newby from Ebac. “Customers are becoming more aware of the energy savings on our products which is resulting within further sales. And at Ebac we believe that the demand for clean and fresh water is rising

Zenith International forecasts that the combined cooler market in West Europe will have grown to 3.2 million units by 2014, 480,000 more than in 2009. And despite the decline of Powwow and the perceived consolidation of the industry, the sentiment of optimism appears to be shared by the general cooler community. “Despite all, the water cooler market is still growing in Western Europe but at a smaller rate than before the crisis,” said Pete Benua, Managing Director of Oasis Europe. “The € vs $ conversion rates combined with increasing freight costs have made Asian products more expensive, providing a lot more opportunities for European manufacturers who can supply competitively with more responsive lead times.”

year by year and therefore the market for both bottled and mains-fed coolers will also continue to increase.”

The challenge Market penetration of ‘cheaper’ products from Asia has been a common theme throughout all the market profiles. But is it is the same in Europe, traditionally the home of the cooler design? Yes, said Antonio Zerilli. “Bottled machines are really simple inside, for that reason there is a huge production coming from China that offers very cheap products but with very low standard quality. Many coolers have the same look and customers are not so informed about internal technology, so these products have a deeper distribution.”

The solution “Last year people seemed to be closer to water quality and are looking more for good quality products with safe distribution of water,” said Antonio Zerilli.

Source: Zenith International

Despite the region’s fairly good standard of municipal water overall, quality drinking water appears to be an issue engrained deep into the West Europe psyche. Therefore, maintaining high standards and educating the customer is considered the current answer to pushing forward the market in West Europe. Pete Benua: “We need to continue to educate the consumer on the positive aspects of good hydration and provide solid facts to offset the naysayers in the media who over exaggerate small pieces of non-factual information to the detriment of our industry.”

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Water cooler add-ons, there are plenty. Cups, cup holders, cooler stands, taps, covers, carbonators, pressure gauges . . . But the industry also has its added value techniques and additional functionalities. For the consumer they might be optional extras, but for the industry it’s an illustration that manufacturers and distributors are willing to go the extra mile.

Tasteful extras

here have been attempts in the past to introduce ‘added taste’. There was JustADash - which was bought by Global Flavours - a cooler-side concept that enabled water drinkers to add just a dash of fruit flavouring to their cups from individual dispensers; and Yes Café, which added coffee to dispensed hot water. Both products disappeared. That was some time ago. But with the current climate forcing companies to diversify their offerings, could added taste make a return? Hans Krohn, who originally took up the Yes Café and then dropped it, doesn’t rule it out. “The market is changing. Not only is the economic environment much tougher, the cooler market has also matured,” he said. “The effect of both is slower growth (this will have been masked somewhat by the ‘feeding frenzy’ that developed as a result of the Powwow decline). As a result, cooler distributors will be looking at adding value to their offering. That could be in the form of such add-ons as added flavours, Yes Café or JustADash, but perhaps more likely a backward integration into

or cabinet. With a simple change of a part it can be converted from a 5 gallon bottle, a reservoir-fed device utilising tap water, or 5 litre bottle of water to become a plumbed-in, mains-fed cooler,” said Fisapac’s Director, Max Dumont. Could concepts like Yes Café make a return?

the large and established coffee and vending market per se, as was done the other way round when vending companies went into mains-fed water.” One company that is banking on added flavours is Fisapac. Fisapac markets a ‘dispenser’ that provides hot or cold water, and makes flavoured drinks in an instant. “The water cooler may sit on a countertop

The dispensers release a single-cup serving of freeze-dried drinks into a waiting cup at the press of a button. But with the markets unpredictable as they are, is the cup half full or half empty for the added flavour sector? “Following the way of distribution for the products

(free or with payment), the enthusiasm can change a little bit,” said Max Dumont. “Now, with the device being very simple, the take-up by the users is nearly immediate in all cases - we have competitive prices and huge range for gourmet tastes such as Cream Cappaccino and Hazelnut Coffee, and also crouton soups for consumers who don’t drink coffee. “Any company in the world has somewhere where coffee or tea needs to be dispensed, for the worker or the visitor or both. One small office device for water and drinks is perfect.”

True value Water + flavour is a re-emerging trend, with products such as 100-count box True Lemon sachets a regular stock item for office coffee and cooler services in the US.

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INSIGHT 65

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Health sticks to water

SM’s business is adding taste and nutrition to food and beverage. We talk to Theodor Graser, Vice President Marketing - DSM Nutritional Products Europe, about the DSM Health Benefit stick - an instant water soluble vitamin shot that could offer the cooler distributor a healthy marketing solution. How did you come up with the idea for instant vitamin water? Office water dispensers can be found in nearly any office environment, and have now even found their home in high rated stores and shopping malls. In stores it is still an attraction, be it because the consumer is thirsty or be it because he is accompanied by his kids, who would like to experience the dispenser. In a purely office environment the attractiveness of water dispensers has reached its maximum: the water does not transmit taste and freshness or pleasure and energy. Water is bland and often its lack of taste leads consumers to prefer to drink tea, coffee, juices and carbonated beverages. Instant vitamin water adds

an excitement factor to water and at the same time addresses consumers’ health benefit desires. How will you market the additional provision of vitamin sticks to offices? We see the business idea of health benefit sticks as a possible value added business opportunity for water cooler dispenser companies or their refillers. What’s important is that the benefit for the office worker is transmitted in a professional and appealing way. One option could be that with each refilling the supplier would also supply a respective number of health benefit sticks - and the office worker would then have the chance to get his water and the stick with the health benefit of his desire. [We would also

want to] show the additional value of having water; for the water dispenser brand owner this could be a way to lead to higher volumes of water consumption, thus increasing their sales of water drums; and for the consumers, it’s water that offers more.

This could be a way to lead to higher volumes of water consumption, thus increasing sales How do you think ingredient extras will help drive the water dispense industry? Taste and health are consumers’ top interest. Plain water can deliver these desires only marginally. What’s relevant is that the health benefit sticks offered are addressing health interests

specifically for the office worker - for instance, to empower your mind, power your performance, upgrade your vision, enhance your immune system. These add-on benefits could help employees with tired eyes, sneezing noses or after-lunch dip to stay fit and healthy, and could also help the water dispenser industry to rejuvenate quite significantly. We think that the major employers are open to providing more health solutions for their employees, and this route is also affordable. And it is necessary. Water alone is not enough to woo consumers, and [water cooler water] is not as appealing as an individual bottle of water. Flavoured water has already blossomed, low calorie water has come, and now is the time to move some of the functionality we see in bottle water into the water dispenser market to make it more than just about thirst quenching.

66 INSIGHT

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

The function of extra function

re coolers that do extra just a nice idea, or do they have a real foothold in the market?

“Functionality and added value are absolutely where I think the market is. If we look at the standard mains-fed or bottled offering, it really is a much more clued up and diverse market place,” said Fred Cairns Palmer of WaterCoolersDirect. “One office might want Zip taps and boiling water, another plumbedin coolers offering chilled and sparkling. It really is right cooler, right location.”

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

WaterCoolersDirect stocks the ultimate compact multifunction cooler, the Koolbabe. From a primary water cooler function it has evolved as a table-top dispenser of just about anything - water, wine, juice - therefore stretching the water cooler spec and exploring the boundaries of functionality. Its tenacity is due to its flexibility. Two screw caps, two silicon rubber caps and exchangeable top plastic mouldings allow the unit to hold a variety of bottle necks; the design means that

not only does it capture the kitchen-counter market, but it also attracts the parent market, who see the childfriendly design as a promotion of hydration alongside a household ‘gadget’ with multiple functions. According to the Acrokool site: ‘The Koolbabe is versatile, and can also be used to chill other drinks,

such as wine or fruit juice. As it uses no refrigerant, but rather a unique electronic cooling process, it is also environmentally friendly compared to other desktop units. The unique universal moulding allows the use of virtually and size bottle easily and spill-free.’ “What people want at home is subject to people’s needs,” said Fred Cairns Palmer. “On one level people are buying bottled water, on the other they’re drinking from the tap. And there is so much more diversity and products coming available and being of interest.”

INSIGHT 67

With complements Getting cooler

Unit offering

hile we can add interest and saleability by introducing flavour, raising specifications and diversifying the offering, there is value to be had head on. Sometimes it’s the more obvious elements that get overlooked, although in the case of Aqueduct, the bag-in-box company has been looking at the possibilities straight on for some time: the cooler unit surface space. In the new Aqueduct Pro an LCD advertising panel on the cooler front will allow the cooler to either become a bulletin board for the establishment where it’s installed or a medium for advertising commercial messages, which can be controlled remotely. Rather than added functionality, it’s duel functionality, and Aqueduct owner Kieren McKenna believes that as well as being a revenue solution for the unit buyer, such added functionality is unique selling point for Aqueduct. And added functionality, he says, is no longer just an accessory to the catalogue; for any manufacturer it’s necessary for business. “The issue of added functionality in the water cooler business environment today is not one of ‘gimmick’ but of survival,” said Kieren McKenna. “From my discussions across

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a wide range of mainsfed and HOD players it is clear that in the more mature established markets margins are under severe pressure. Yes we are in one of the worst recessions in living memory, but it goes deeper than that - are water cooler companies making enough margin to drive truly profitable returns for their business, or are they running fast to stay still . . . or in some cases hitting reverse? Anything that adds real margin and real benefit to the end users, whilst adding to the bottom line of our dealers, is a good commercial decision. “The ability to up-sell a feature (be it to a bank group who should be advertising their latest life insurance: “Have a drink of water - its good for you - so is our life assurance/insurance”) moves the conversation out from a ‘lowest price’ discussion into a sales and marketing arena . . . an area where the purse strings are much looser.

dded value often defines ‘little extras’, add-ons and accessories ‘thrown in’ to the deal. But added functionality - at the dispense - is another area of product development that coolers have embraced. From a plain cooler producing chilled water we’ve gone to hot & cold and ‘cook’ models, allowing tea and coffee to be consumed alongside water, chilled, ambient and carbonated. And now we’re going superchilled. Mike Rice of the Follett Corporation talked to us about innovative solutions, inspired by ice. “Follett manufactures ice machines along with ice and water dispensers, all featuring chewable ice. The icemakers are popular in food service applications, convenience stores, restaurants, corporate and university cafeterias. Our ice and water dispensers are very popular in hospitals for patient care and are growing in popularity in offices. ”We see opportunities in the office market for an ice and water dispenser to help operators grow their business with ice and as a way for end users to provide a more upscale refreshment opportunity. In

the US ice is very popular, especially chewable ice like our Chewblet ice, which consumers prefer over 2:1 compared to cube ice. We believe that the addition of ice, which provides the opportunity for greater supply of cold water, can encourage better hydration since drinks stay colder longer. It also supports ice beverage programmes like iced coffee and iced tea. “Most importantly, ice and water dispensers are the safe and sanitary alternative to manually scooping ice from an ice machine or from an open bin. Follett currently provides ice and water dispensers that can make about 15 pounds of ice an hour and storage anywhere from 12 to 90 pounds, perfect for medium to large offices and for manufacturing facilities. We are currently exploring concepts for dispensers to serve smaller offices so stay tuned for future developments.”

”So in my books added functionality opens up opportunity and does so as an ‘up-sell’ of a core product - not a ‘gimmick’ sell or a peripheral”.

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

INSIGHT 69

See us at booth B4 at EBWA Trade Fair in Prague

Cooler views

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Sanitisation revisited part 1: Introduction Watermark Consultancy’s Mike Hurst tackles the sensitive issue of cooler sanitisation in a two-part investigation.

Unfortunately, and in the UK especially with its excessive ‘health and safety’ culture, water from both mainsfed and bottled coolers is tested microbiologically regularly and at an increasing frequency, despite the pointlessness of the operation. Oh that the customer would pay a more realistic servicing price rather than spending a fortune on unnecessary testing! The test results can spook the customer and I sometimes have to point out that effective sanitisation cannot be carried out at the low price they have negotiated. However they have paid (albeit at an unrealistic price) for sanitisation and have a right to ask that it is done properly. It is the fault of the cooler company whose service prices are too low. Last year’s report on the microbiological quality of water dispensed by coolers of both kinds by Consumer Focus Scotland expressed concern at the poor quality of cooler care and promised a bigger follow-up

investigation. The results for that should appear soon. I would like to think that the bigger survey will show better results but as I have seen no evidence of closer attention being paid to cooler care procedures I am not confident. None of this is helped by a weakness of most Distributor Audits. Yes they demand that ‘sanitisation’ is carried out but not that it be effective. Some so called ‘sanitisations’ I have witnessed have been little better than a cosmetic wipe of the outside of a cooler but they help the operatives achieve their targets yet are counted as sanitisations. No wonder some companies can undercut prices.

What is the purpose of sanitisation? Sanitisation is defined as the cleaning and disinfection of the water contact surfaces of a cooler. It is designed to remove the organic matter of biofilms and kill any bacteria that

may remain after cleaning. In mains-fed especially, undesirable organisms that may have entered from the water supply such as Legionella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa will need to be controlled even though if found they are usually in trace amounts. Their presence in a cooler may cause a lot of concern even though both are not generally regarded has harmful to the general population if consumed. In bottle coolers the main concern is with contaminants that may have entered when the bottle is loaded or from careless tap handling. Hospitals are generally not keen on bottle coolers because they are uneasy about what happens when bottles are changed. Have you ever thought what hospital dust might contain?

What happens if you do not sanitise? You will get in increase in customer complaints about the taste and appearance of

Mike Hurst the water. Bottles may turn green and the water may smell as bacteria have a field day with all the organic matter available. Dead biofilm is still organic matter and a problem. And beware that any tests will soon show up the problem as the recent Scottish investigation revealed. One could argue that a cooler company sanitises to protect itself as well as maintaining water quality. A cooler should not dispense water with more bacteria in it than that from the bottle sitting on it. If it does it needs sanitising. In the next issue Mike Hurst will be addressing specific questions about effective and necessary sanitisation procedures.

Sanitisation has always been central to European cooler operations. However, as the golden years of the industry fall behind us and times get tight there are understandable pressures to reduce cost. This is not helped by a self-inflicted downward pressure on prices where, to put it simply, sanitisation cannot be properly carried out at the prices charged.

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

EXPERT OPINION 71

Products and services

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Bag in box dispensers

Cups

Filtration

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Closures

Jo Shilton

Point of use water coolers direct chill system Acrokool Ltd Unit 1, Veerman Park Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 2UP, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1799 513631 Fax: +44 (0)1799 513635 E-mail: sales@acrokool.co.uk Website: www.acrokool.co.uk

Pressure Coolers Ltd POU’s, Fountains, Chillers Discount prices and install service 67-69 Nathan Way London SE28 0BQ TELEPHONE:

+44 (0)20 88 55 3333 www.pressurecoolers.co.uk

BERICAP 1 Boulevard Eiffel BP 96, 21603 LONGVIC Tel : +33 3 80 63 29 31 Fax : +33 3 80 63 29 30 E-mail: info.france@ bericap.com Website: www.bericap.com

foodbev com daily industry news and opinion Making a splash online now

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Racking and storage

For the latest industry news, views and opinions, visit www.foodbev.com/ cooler

Lamaplast S.A. 6th km Old Oreokastrou str. P.O. Box 40150 560 00 Thessaloniki, HELLAS Tel: +30 2310 683 490 Fax: +30 2310 683 276 E-mail: info@lamaplast.gr Website: www.lamaplast.gr www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

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Sanitising

Aqua Dosa™

Aqua Dosa™ range of Sanitiser products. 4 pack sizes from 100ml to 5 litre, including 100ml spray. Environmentally friendly, award wining stabilised hydrogen peroxide. Range also includes miniDosa, easy dispense bottles and test strips. Dosing pumps available for professional controlled dosing.

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Onnic International Ltd.

Truck bodies

Hesse Europe Ltd Wilczy Stok 19, 30-237 Kraków, Poland Tel: +48 (0)12 425 13 64 Fax: +48 (0)12 425 12 62 E-mail: wiktorl@kki.pl Website: www.grouphesse.com

Water filters

Aqua Cure plc

Manufacturers of water filters, housings and suppliers of an extensive range of valves, fittings, tubing accessories and water treatment products.

Aqua Cure House Hall Street, Southport PR9 0SE United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1704 516916 Fax: +44 (0)1704 544916 E-mail: sales@aquacure.plc.uk Website: www.aquacure.co.uk

designs and manufactures universal ozone generator kits for coolers, both Bottled Water and POU units.

12 St Tristan Close Locks Heath Southampton, SO31 6XR United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1489 578087 Fax: +44 (0)1489 578180 E-mail: sales@onnic.co.uk

www.foodbev.com/cooler Issue 29 - October · November 2010

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MARKETPLACE 73

Light at the end

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The lighter side of the industry

Eau la la!

a Petillante, France’s first ever fizzy water fountain, has been unveiled at Paris’ Jardin de Reuilly.

Eau de Paris, an organisation committed to sustainability in the French capital, unveiled the new breed of public fountain where Parisians will now be able to get sparkling water for free. On the Eau de Paris website, it states: ‘Now, at a picnic or a stroll in the garden, learn other aspects and other benefits to the water of Paris: bubbly, fun, practical and sustainable. Gone is the sparkling water in bottles - lively bubbles come directly from the tap!’ Separate taps will mean that filling up with fizz won’t be at the expense of choice. La Petillante also provides still, ambient and chilled water, all from the city’s municipal supply, which comes from underground springs and filtered river water, principally the Seine.

Where did the idea come from? The opening of the new fountain is also the result of a collaboration with other innovative European public enterprises which fall under the network umbrella of Aqua Publica Europea (APE). La Petillante is an adaptation

of a previous concept, called Casa dell’Acqua (Water House), which was developed in the Milan area by Cap Holding and Amiacque to provide a free water-filling station for thirsty passers-by and households. Early versions of Casa dell’Acqua appeared in Italy, and at present there are 215 stations. The primary objective is to promote a new water culture and style sustainable living, by changing consumption patterns. La Petillante aims to do the same, while addressing the French love of ‘eau gazeuse’! Anne Le Start, Deputy Mayor of Paris, responsible for water and sanitation, and Chairperson of Eau de Paris, welcomed the installation: “For the first time in France, a public fountain dispenses sparkling water for everyone, and for free. We owe this initiative to Eau de Paris, the new operator of public water in Paris.”

cooler innovation

It is thought that more water points are in the pipeline.

How does it work? Water is obtained by cooling fresh water from the public network using an ice-generated cooling system. A heat exchange takes place: the water arrives from the municipal supply at around 12°C, meeting ice temperature of 0°C, to distribute water from the taps at around 7°C. CO2 is then injected into the chilled water, which has an optimal dissolving temperature of between 6-8°C.

Advertiser Index

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3M 59 4 Aces 35 Activewhere 27 Allpure 23 Aqueduct 56 Aqua Cure 67 Aquis 18 Asset 2 BDW technologies Hungary 25 Blackhawk Molding 25 Blupura 64 Clover 32 Cosmetal 31 Crystal Mountain 9 Divine Water 39 DSM Nutritional 68 Fairey Ceramics 13

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Great Idea Kleena Coola Krystal Kritis Lamaplast Microfilter OP Sarl Onnic Polymer Solutions Samjin R&D Co Siapi Sigma Home Products Speciality Media Tana Water Wongbong Young One Zerica

41 70 26 45 61 70 55 7 67 43 70 44 21 15 75 4

74 FINAL WORD