Esher, April 2017. The Hansgrohe Group, with its AXOR and hansgrohe brands, is delighted with the outcome of its performance at ISH 2017. Showcasing more than 500 new products, the two brands of the Schiltach-based bathroom and kitchen specialist ignited a firework of innovations at the world’s largest trade fair for the sanitation, heating and air-conditioning sector. During the five days of the fair nearly 61,000 visitors to the 2,000-square-metre booth were convinced of the innovation and design expertise of the two brands. The stunning LED screens made for an impressive entrance to Frankfurt’s Festhalle. The new AXOR and hansgrohe brand images were reflected in the two separate looks featured in the booth’s overall design. AXOR attracted attention to its showers and mixers for luxurious bathrooms and kitchens with sleek, black elegance and its Form Follows Perfection slogan. With its mixer, shower and kitchen world, the hansgrohe brand turned Meet the Beauty of Water into a real-life experience. "The ISH 2017 was the ideal platform to present our two strong brands, AXOR and hansgrohe, and their new product innovations to a global audience. We are very pleased with the positive response from industry professionals and end consumers, and in particular, with the many important awards we have received. This reconfirms our strategy of creating real added value for all users with new bathroom and kitchen products while turning water into an emotional experience," Thorsten Klapproth, Chairman of the Executive Board said.
Award-winning product innovations
A shower of prizes confirmed the success of the innovative products, before and after the trade fair: the Zero and Select versions of the new AXOR Uno mixer collection were distinguished with the internationally acclaimed prize, the iF gold award, at the ceremony on 10 March in Munich.
With its AXOR and hansgrohe brands, the Hansgrohe Group received a total of nine awards and took 6th place in the 2017 iFrankings. This makes the Hansgrohe Group the best German company in the rankings and the best manufacturer in the sanitation industry, outperforming some 2,000 listed companies, including famous brands such as Audi, BMW and Apple. The German Central Association for Sanitation, Heating and Air Conditioning (ZVSHK) distinguished the hansgrohe RainSelect shower control with the "Bathroom Comfort for Generations" product award. Thanks to its generously sized paddles, the hansgrohe RainSelect, shower control makes it supremely easy to use multi-jet, wellness showers. Readers of the trade journal Si-Informationen honoured the AXOR One central shower control module, created in collaboration with designers Barber & Osgerby, with the "Best of SHK Award".
Not only the design, but also the quality of the new AXOR and hansgrohe products was recognised at ISH. TÜV Süd certified the new hansgrohe stainless steel sinks with a seal for type-tested kitchen sinks. The independent testing, inspection and certification organisation KIWA presented Hansgrohe with the "Swedish Type Approval" certificate for 241 products, and 900 more will follow. The certificates confirm compliance of drinking water conducting products compliance with the Swedish building code that is scheduled to go into effect in July of 2017. A milestone for Hansgrohe in Scandinavian markets.
Experiencing brands
Together with customers and business partners, the successful trade fair presentation at ISH 2017 was celebrated twice. As a new title sponsor in professional cycling, the premium brand hansgrohe held a cycling simulator race, offering the winners a hansgrohe showerpipe. The BORA-hansgrohe professional racing cyclist Emanuel Buchmann, 2015 German Road Race Champion and winner of the 8th stage of the 2016 Tour de France, gave guests valuable advice before the start of the race. AXOR dedicated an evening to perfection of design and music with a brilliant guest performance by star pianist Joja Wendt who played on a Steinway & Sons grand piano. In addition to its own trade fair booth, as host of the AXOR Talks at the trend forum, Pop Up My Bathroom, the brand provided new ideas for topics such as smart hotel rooms, individualising hotel bathrooms and bathroom sharing concepts.