Future-proof water systems Franke Water Systems

Future-prooF

water systems

Franke Water Systems, a division of the Swiss Franke Group, is a leading supplier of intelligent washroom solutions for customers worldwide. The superb quality, durability and futuristic design of its products are not the only attributes that have driven its success: a focus on innovations in line with environmental considerations is what makes Franke Water Systems stand head and shoulders above its competitors. Romana Moares spoke to the CEO of the division, Roger Basler, about the latest developments.

AS the technology market leader and supplier of a complete product range for public sanitary facilities, Franke Water Systems offers both standard products and bespoke solutions, meeting the highest quality standards and customer requirements. The use of water-saving fittings and the newest finishing technologies underline the commitment of Franke Water Systems to developing the products of the future.

Franke Water Systems is an integral part of the Swiss Franke Group, founded in 1911 as a sheet metal business that started producing sanitary equipment in 1925. The group, employing about 9000 people worldwide, is headquartered in Aarburg, Switzerland and operates four core businesses: Franke Kitchen Systems, Franke Foodservice Systems, Franke Water Systems and Franke Coffee Systems. In all four divisions, Franke Group is a leading supplier to the market. In 2016, the group generated a total turnover of about CHF 2 billion.

unique bathroom experience

Franke Water Systems has its own global sales operation and production facilities in Germany, the UK, Finland, Canada, Poland, South Africa, China and the United Arab Emirates. The company still makes 90 per cent of products in its own factories. The business stands on two legs, as Mr Basler explained: “On the one hand our water solutions for the public, semi-public and commercial sectors and on the other hand our taps for the residential kitchen and bathrooms. The washrooms include sanitary solutions and special solutions for a number of applications, such as healthcare, hotel and schools. Our taps are created mainly under the KWC brand, famous for its precision, innovation and aesthetics and lately under the Mamoli brand, a leading Italian manufacturer of taps for the private and commercial sector.”

Although the products are further divided into several minor categories according to their use, Mr Basler insisted they are all equally important as together they make a complete impression. “We do have a strong focus on taps and showers but the idea is to create a wonderful bathroom experience and every component plays an important role in this. We offer whole product systems.” Most products are mass-produced but Franke Water Systems provides a high degree of flexibility to accommodate particular customers’ needs. For example, it provides specific solutions with washbasins for hotels to fit their overall design.

Getting stronger

What makes Franke Water Systems so unique worldwide is the fact that it offers a full range of products under a single roof – they all fit and work together. A second competitive advantage is, as Mr Basler explained, the ability to deliver a hygienic and sustainable solution that is energy efficient throughout the building. “Integration of products as well as the network is what sets us apart,” he said.

Mr Basler confirmed that a lot has been happening in the past few years in both business lines. “Last year, we acquired a majority stake in Mamoli Robinetteria, founded in 1933 and a key player in bathroom and kitchen taps in the Italian and international market. The acquisition will both reinforce our production capacities and our research and development competence and generally strengthen the brands in the residential area. On the commercial solution side, we have divested a small part of the business making mobile sanitary systems for the airline industry to gain a full focus on the commercial applications and commercial washrooms.”

In 2016, Franke Group also acquired a 25 per cent stake in Duravit AG, the German manufacturer of designer bathrooms and wellbeing systems and a leader in ceramics and residential bathrooms. Both companies have a complementary product portfolio and want to develop innovative product series for the bathroom and kitchen area under their respective brands.

At the forefront

“Franke Water Systems works along two trends – hygienic aspects in the washroom and energy savings,” said Mr Basler, adding that this has also been the focus of new product development and the basis of the latest, revolutionary products: “We have launched two fundamentally new tap lines called Franke F3 and F5 for the commercial washroom, based on a new core technology that we have developed,” revealed Mr Basler.

The new F3 and F5 Generation is comprised of two lines which harmonise with different room and building applications. The F3 line has two technologies: self-closing technology (the tap stops automatically after a certain flow time, individually adjusted by the operator, without the need for a second touch) and touch free activation (suitable for washrooms in food processing operations, large-scale catering establishments or in the cleaning areas of hospitals and healthcare facilities). In addition to these two technologies, the F5 line also includes single-lever mixer technology.

The new F5 tap generation is presented with the patent-pending FRAMIC self-closing mixing cartridge with ceramic disc technology – the first of its kind in the world and a milestone in terms of its long service life, function security and maintenance-friendliness. The innovative FRAMIC (Franke Modular Innovation Cartridge) ceramic selfclosing cartridge enables a stagnation-free, hydraulic control of water flow and thus contributes to ensuring perfect drinking water hygiene. The cartridge is an integral part of all of the self-closing taps for washing and showering of the F5 Line. It was first presented in March at ISH 2017 and will be launched onto the market in June 2017.

The new lines will further reinforce Franke Water System’s leading position in its markets. “We certainly want to enhance our presence worldwide and expand geographically. The focus will be on organic growth,” confirmed Mr Basler. “We can see positive development in most of our markets and we will strive to capitalise on this growth with our traditional strengths – outstanding quality and a strong focus on innovation.”