red dot gala: GROHE designers pick up "design team of the year" accolade

Faucet manufacturer garners fourth "red dot: best of the best" award

Beirut 12^th July, 2011 - One of the year's most important design awards cameto a rousing conclusion when more than 1,200 guests from all over the world convergedon Essen's Aalto Theatre for the annual red dot gala on Monday, July 4.Numerous famous designers, media representatives, business experts andpoliticians attended the "red dot award: product design 2011" ceremony tocelebrate the winners of this internationally renowned award. GROHE, Europe'slargest manufacturer of sanitary fittings and a world leader in this industry,had more than one reason to jubilate. The company not only garnered its fourth"red dot: best of the best" award but was also singled out for the coveted"design team of the year 2011" accolade.

Following the award ceremony which saw GROHE receive the highlyprestigious "red dot: best of the best" award for its Digital Collection, theevening reached its climax when the GROHE design team led by Paul Flowers wasofficially named the "red dot: design team of the year" - an unforgettableexperience for the 17-strong team. The laudatory speech was held by world-classinterior designer Steve Leung. The multiple award-winner's philosophy, "EnjoyLife - Enjoy Design" is a perfect match to the GROHE company's commitment toinfuse its products with emotional added value, as encapsulated in its slogan"Enjoy Water". Having listened to Steve Leung's praise of the company's designexpertise, Paul Flowers, Senior Vice President Design of Grohe AG, was handedthe coveted "Radius" trophy by last year's winner, Hilti's head of designStephan Niehaus. Paul Flowers and GROHE CEO David J. Haines thanked ProfessorPeter Zec, the initiator and CEO of the red dot design award, the jurors andtheir design team and then the team members assembled on the stage were finallyable to lay their hands on the illustrious trophy. Says Paul Flowers: "We haveworked towards this moment for years, daring to believe we could one day joinsome of the best brands in the world, who have received this great honour. Weare overjoyed, proud and thankful for having been singled out for this uniqueaccolade." Being the first sanitary manufacturer to be named "red dot: designteam of the year", GROHE joins the ranks of such prestigious previous winnersas Bose, BMW, adidas, Apple, Audi, Sony and Philips.

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About GROHE
Grohe AG is the world's leading premium brand for sanitary fittings. Asa global brand for sanitary products and systems, GROHE sets standards inquality, design, technology and sustainability, providing water to perfection.

With its headquarters in Hemer and Corporate Center in Düsseldorf, thecompany currently employs some 5,400 people worldwide, including 2,400 inGermany. In 2010, the company's kitchen and bathroom fittings and showers,automatic fittings for the commercial and contract sectors, and installationand flushing systems generated sales of EUR 980 million.

GROHE maintains six production plants, three of them outside Germany inPortugal, Thailand and Canada. 82 percent of the company's sales are generatedoutside its home market.

Media contact: Memac Ogilvy Public Relations
Carmen El Hajj
Layale Abou Antoun
MEMAC Ogilvy PR - Lebanon
Tel: +961-1-486066
Fax: +961-1-486064
Email: carmen.el-hajj@ogilvy.com/
layale.abouantoun@ogilvy.com

GROHE EasternMediterranean, Middle East & Africa
PO Box 27048
CY-1641,Nicosia, Cyprus
Internet: www.grohe.com

© Press Release 2011