Meeting the needs of Installers

MEETING THE NEEDS OF INSTALLERS WITH DESIGNDRIVEN PRODUCTS

Olivia Maycock, Senior Channel Marketing Manager, Ideal Standard UK Industry giant, Ideal Standard, is working closely with installers to ensure the products within its extensive range are not only easy to fit, but also offer unique benefits for their customers. Here, Olivia Maycock, Senior Channel Marketing Manager at Ideal Standard UK, reveals information about the company’s latest product launches and the features each has to offer. “When it comes to creating the perfect bathroom environment and experience, manufacturers need to strike a balance between both design and functionality when developing fixtures for a space. This means making products that appeal directly to specifiers end users, but also to installers as well. This means the key considerations for manufacturers are ensuring that products are easy to install and simple to maintain.

At Ideal Standard, we find the best way to make sure we’re hitting these targets is by regularly speaking to installers at all stages of development. We recently showcased some of our latest innovations at ISH 2019 in Frankfurt, many of which UK installers will soon be working with. Here are just some of the solutions we’re launching over the next year…

Bringing smart design into the bathroom

Let’s start with our state-of-the-art Intellimix® tap. The preview of this unique, smart mixer has been created in collaboration with Ideal Standard’s design and technology partners from around the world, with the aim of overcoming a number of pain points for commercial washroom users and those responsible for maintenance. This tap provides soap and water together in a hand-washing cycle, while also featuring a touch-free screen that enables users to select their washing preferences by simply waving their hand over the 

product. We know that infection control, cleanliness and efficiency are key considerations across a number of environments, so we’ve developed this tap to be highly functional as well as stylish.

The assumption might be that this level of integrated technology could make maintenance more complicated. However, we’ve created an innovative smart servicing mobile app that uses Bluetooth technology to give real-time performance and maintenance data to those who need it. For customers looking to reduce their water consumption, this is the tap for them as exact quantities of water dispense can be pre-set to help reduce the amount of waste with every use, as well as contributing to their overall sustainability goals.

An improved showering experience

When it comes to showering solutions for residential customers, we’ve worked closely with our interface design partner to develop a range that helps meet the needs of homeowners, while also being simple to install.

Our enhanced showering range now includes upgraded thermostatic technology, allowing for precise temperate control no matter what the customer’s budget or style. Our exposed thermostats feature a new, slimmer design and come with cool body technology as standard, meaning the external part of the product stays cool to prevent scolding. We’ve also introduced our pioneering

Navigo® technology, which allows users to easily control the flow rate as well as the temperature of the shower simply by twisting a rotary handle.

Installing Ideal Standard shower systems couldn’t be simpler. Easybox Navigo® is our new built-in shower control product available in square and round designs, to suit every project. It supports up to two outlets, such as a rain and hand showers and has just two key components: a standard plastic box containing a manifold which is built into the wall and has all pipework connected, and a secondary kit which can be quickly bolted on to provide the perfect shower solution. If the Easybox is already in place, installers can easily remove and replace the attached showers, allowing for hassle-free upgrades at any time in the future

Innovative flush plates

Our offering also now includes innovative design solutions across our flush plate range. Created in partnership with two world-famous design studios, Milan’s Palomba Serafini Associati and London’s Studio Levien, the enhanced range builds on our experience in developing products based on an understanding of the needs of both installers and end users.

The new Altes™ and Symfo™ ranges have been designed by Roberto and Ludovica Palomba, and both feature the latest no-touch technology. Sensors in the ceramic or glass detect movement at around 20mm, meaning there is no need for any contact to activate the flush, making it both easy to use and hygienic. These new collections will be launched to the UK market in 2020.

The Oleas™ range, which will be available from Q3 2019, has been developed as part of our longstanding partnership with Studio Levien and features four models which are all minimalistic and highly functional. The collection perfectly matches the design of other bathroom elements, particularly WC bowls and basins, regardless of style.

The full flush plate range has been designed to perfectly fit with the pre-wall systems, giving installers a complete, simple to fit and easy to maintain solution.

At Ideal Standard, we recognise that design also needs to work hand-in-hand with functionality for both end users and installers. We’ve considered that as part of all of our latest product launches, and will continue to use the same ethos for our innovations to ensure we’re meeting their needs now and in the future. For more information about Ideal Standard and its full range of solutions, visit: