Hansgrohe Group: Once again an innovation leader in 2021

• Plus, all submissions by the Hansgrohe Group honored with an iF Award

DUBAI, UAE: The Hansgrohe Group belongs once again to the top innovators among German medium-sized enterprises – for the fourth time in a row and for the fifth time overall. In the 28th round of the TOP 100 innovation competition, the Black Forest-based bathroom fittings and shower specialist impressed particularly in the "Top Management Promoting Innovation" category.

With the TOP 100 seal of approval, innovation researcher Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Franke and his team attest to the Hansgrohe Group's remarkable innovative strength: "The innovation successes show the positive effect of a good innovation climate and innovation-oriented structures and methods," the researcher explains. In an independent scientific analysis by compamedia GmbH, the company subjected itself to around 120 test criteria in five categories: Top Management Promoting Innovation, Innovation Climate, Innovative Processes and Organization, External Orientation/Open Innovation, and Innovation Success.

At the heart of the matter is the question of whether innovations are the result of a planned approach or a product of chance, i.e. the repeatability of innovative achievements. And whether and how the corresponding solutions are successful on the market. Due to the current situation, this round also included a special section examining the entrepreneurial response to the Corona crisis.

For science journalist Ranga Yogeshwar, who has accompanied the competition as a mentor since 2011, the innovations of the TOP 100 are an expression of a we-culture: "The medium-sized companies are concerned about securing their long-term future. They don't think of progress from the perspective of short-term profit, but rather with an eye to securing the company's existence," says Yogeshwar. On November 26, there will be another reason to celebrate: All award winners of the current TOP 100 year will come together to receive congratulations from Ranga Yogeshwar at the 7th German SME Summit in Ludwigsburg, Germany.

Innovation Requires Curiosity, Courage, and the Will to Change

Innovative thinking and action were already in focus when the company was founded in 1901 – when Hans Grohe was tinkering with his first hand-held showers. At that time, he developed products for the private bathroom, a market that did not even exist until then. Klaus Grohe, son of the company founder and CEO until 2008, continued the company's tradition of innovation with his inventive spirit and hands-on mentality. This became the model for today's innovation team: courage, the right amount of risk-taking, and a good (gut) feeling are essentials for the required creativity.

For years now, new products that are not older than three years have accounted for more than a quarter of the company's turnover. "We at Hansgrohe practice innovation management to improve the quality of life of the individual," says Steffen Erath, Head of Innovation at the Hansgrohe Group. "In other words: The focus of our daily work is on people and their needs. Innovations from the Hansgrohe Group have always offered real added value and made life easier.

But thinking consistently about people also means trying out new ways and structures in product development. Driven by the question of what significance digitalization has for Hansgrohe customers, an interdisciplinary innovation team develops products that fundamentally change the shower experience. In 2017, Hansgrohe founded the "Innolab" pilot project in Schramberg, Germany for this purpose: a think tank a few kilometers from the company's headquarters. In a kind of creative workshop, developers enjoy the freedom to think outside the box, away from daily routine and entrenched streams of thought.

Embrace Change as an Opportunity

hansgrohe RainTunes is a recent example of how successful a systematic focus on the capacity for innovation can be. The novel shower system shows how the trend towards digitalization can be combined with real added value for people. "RainTunes offers a multi-sensory and inspiring shower experience and turns the bathroom into an individualized and very personal place of well-being," says Erath.

In cooperation with experts from different areas of life, hansgrohe has developed the RainTunes scenarios: The synchronization of water temperature and intensity, control of light, fragrance, music and other multimedia applications, combined with the hansgrohe Home App, implements innovative digital possibilities in the bathroom.

More information on Hansgrohe's innovation management for digitization and product development can be found HERE.

More awards! All Submissions by the Hansgrohe Group Honored with an iF Award

Every year, the iF DESIGN AWARD identifies the royal class of outstanding design achievements in various design disciplines with relevance for society and everyday life. This year, the jury of the renowned design award honored all 19 submitted products by the premium brand hansgrohe with a 'Winner' label.

"We are proud that this year, without exception, all hansgrohe products submitted won an iF DESIGN AWARD. It shows us that our strategy of putting people even closer into the center of our product design is proving successful," says Marc André Palm, Head of Global Brand Marketing at hansgrohe. Among the winners was the differentiated design of hansgrohe Pulsify, a new, modern shower collection with a particularly flat profile. The new, modular lines of Hansgrohe accessories, WallStoris and AddStoris, were also greatly appreciated by the international design jury.

The minimalist form and function of the RainButtons and RainPads, the control elements of the RainTunes digital shower system, also won awards. The jury was also impressed by the brand’s new faucets Finoris, the combination of pull-out shower and minimalist faucet for the washbasin, and Vivenis, with a waterfall-like, gentle jet. In addition to the numerous prizes for outstanding product design, hansgrohe was also delighted to receive an award in the Communications discipline for the hansgrohe home app.

The crowning achievement of the joint success was the iF GOLD AWARD won by AXOR, the design brand of the Hansgrohe Group, for the new AXOR One Select faucet from the collection of the same name by the British designer duo Barber Osgerby. "AXOR One completely reinvents the archetype of the single lever faucet, stripping it down to its pure minimalist form. Its elegant and uncomplicated shape blends easily with both modern and classic environments. The cold-water start helps save energy and is environmentally friendly. What a pleasing way to wash hands," stated the jury. In addition, the AXOR One showers and AXOR Citterio with new lever handles were awarded with the iF 'Winners' label.

A high-caliber international, independent group of 98 design experts evaluated 9,509 entries from some 3,693 participants from 52 nations. Less than 95 competition entries received the iF GOLD AWARD from the international jury of experts for exceptional design achievements.

-Ends-

About TOP 100

Since 1993, compamedia has been awarding the TOP 100 seal of approval for special innovative strength and above-average innovation success to medium-sized companies. Since 2002, the scientific direction has been in the hands of Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Franke. Franke is founder and director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration. Mentor of TOP 100 is the science journalist and TV presenter Ranga Yogeshwar. Project partners are the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft for the promotion of applied research and the BVMW. As media partners, manager magazin, impulse and W&V accompany the company comparison. More information is available at www.top100.de 

About the iF Design Award

The iF DESIGN AWARD has been a globally recognized trademark when it comes to excellent design since 1954. The iF Design brand is internationally established as a symbol of design excellence. The iF DESIGN AWARD is one of the most important design prizes in the world. It honors design achievements in all the following disciplines: Product, Packaging, Communication and Service Design, Architecture and Interior Architecture, as well as Professional Concept, User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI). All the award-winning entries are presented in the iF WORLD DESIGN GUIDE and published in the new iF design app.

About the Hansgrohe Group – the Original from the Black Forest

With its brands AXOR and hansgrohe, the Hansgrohe Group, based in Schiltach/Southern Germany, enjoys a reputation as a leader in innovation, design and quality within the bath and kitchen industry. The Hansgrohe Group brings form and function to water with taps, showerheads and shower systems. The 120-year history of the company is marked by innovations such as the first hand-held shower with multiple spray types, the first pull-out kitchen tap, and the first wall bar to hold a hand-held shower. The company holds more than 15,000 active property rights. The Hansgrohe Group stands for long-lasting quality products. With 33 subsidiaries and 22 sales offices supplying products in more than 140 countries, the company is a reliable partner to its customers around the world. The Hansgrohe Group, its brands and products have won numerous awards, including more than 600 design prizes since 1974. Sustainable production of resource-conserving products is central to the company’s business activities around the globe. The products of the Hansgrohe Group are featured in projects around the world, such as the luxurious ocean liner Queen Mary 2, and the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The Group’s high quality standards are ensured by five wholly-owned production facilities: two in Germany, one each in France, the United States and China. In 2019, the Hansgrohe Group generated a turnover of EUR 1.088 billion. It employs more than 4,700 people worldwide, about 60 percent of whom work in Germany.

Further information:
Hansgrohe Middle EastEmma Procter
Email: team@blowfishmediame.com 
Call: +34 665 107 038 

© Press Release 2021