New Ultra-Low flow shower wins 2010 Sustainability Award

Methven has released a new proprietary low flow shower specifically designed to address key water and energy saving and guest satisfaction requirements from commercial property operators, including international hotels, schools, gyms, hospitals and other high occupancy facilities.

The new to market Kiri Low Flow Shower won Gold in the Sustainable Product category at the prestigious Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards 2010 held on 1 October. The product judges, led by Professor Tony Parker, Head of Massey University’s Institute of Design for Industry and the Environment, said “This entry demonstrates an organisation’s ongoing dedication to improving the sustainability of their product portfolio. An almost twofold improvement on their previous shower products brings new levels of water-saving to an increasingly important common resource”.

The average flow of mains pressure showers in New Zealand is 12.5 litres per minute according to independent research by BRANZ. The revolutionary Kiri low flow shower provides a great shower at a flow rate of just 5.0 litres per minute, a 60% water saving (compared to the average flow rate of 12.5 litres per minute). The new shower is suitable for mains pressure installation only.

“There’s a worldwide demand for water and energy conservation and at the same time people want a great showering experience,” said Design Director Kent Sneddon. “The Auckland team has designed, tested and now commercialised a new generation Kiri Satinjet, an ultra low flow shower which produces a high velocity, all over body spray to deliver a terrific experience to users.”

This next generation shower, harnessing the unique Satinjet twin jet technology, was developed to add to the competitive appeal of Methven’s hotel bathroom refit offer which is based on being able to deliver energy and water conservation and a pleasurable showering experience.

Methven has already retrofitted around 13,000 hotel bathrooms with Satinjet in Asia and Australia and is making progress in establishing Methven showerware and tapware as the ‘brand standard’ for a number of international chains, including Accor Group in Australia and IHG and Hilton in the UK and Europe.

Methven has also acquired the exclusive licence for Jemflo™ technology which was designed with multi-storey buildings, particularly hotels, in mind, to regulate water and temperature spikes. Jemflo has already been installed in 60,000 rooms and is offered as part of the package of solutions Methven has available for the hotel sector.

“We have an all consuming passion to deliver sensational showering experiences while still being environmentally conscious. Sustainability is a core value and a primary focus in the products we develop,” said Mr Sneddon. “We will continue to find new solutions in design and technology innovations to save water and energy and at the same time delight our customers with a unique showering experience.

“That is our business and it is very pleasing for all the team to have our products acknowledged internationally and in New Zealand with a BEST Award – for us that is a creditable win for what matters most to our customers – savings, satisfaction and sustainability.”