Electronically controlled faucets and fittings have become the standard in most sanitary facilities at airports, arenas or motorway service stations. But what about washrooms in cafes, doctor’s surgeries or offices? Even though such locations are less heavily frequented, no compromise should be made with regard to hygiene, comfort and sustainability. GROHE offers operators of semi-public sanitary facilities a wide range of products that contribute to users’ well-being while at the same time helping save water and energy – a win-win solution for the modern washroom.

While semi-public washrooms, e.g. in offices or libraries, are not that heavily and regularly frequented, the constant change of users requires the sanitary facility to perform certain functions to ensure that it stays clean at all times and does not become a haven for potential pathogens. Capable of recognising hand movements or the presence of bodies, infrared electronic sanitary products are the most hygienic solutions thanks to their touch-free operation.

Intelligent product solutions

Installing an electronically controlled GROHE faucet makes sense also in a washroom with only one or two wash basins. It is quick and easy to install, has a brilliant, long-life surface and blends in with virtually any environment thanks to its modern design. Most importantly, however, it is full of innovative technologies. The latest exciting additions to the GROHE range include the touch-free Europlus E, Eurosmart CE and Euroeco CE faucet lines with efficient low-energy electronics. They draw their energy from the mains supply, the GROHE LongLife battery or the GROHE PowerBox, which converts the energy of the flowing water into electric energy.

The touch-free faucets, just like the latest electronic Tectron flushing technology, feature a single infrared window. The electronics behind this window facilitates a bidirectional data transfer – these sanitary fittings not only receive commands for individual programmes and settings but also deliver consumption data. This way the faucets and the flushing system provide a transparent overview of the frequency, duration and times of use. Setting the automatic cleaning mode and thermal disinfection cycles in accordance with actual requirements has never been easier and any necessary maintenance can be planned in good time. This greatly facilitates both operation and maintenance while reducing water and energy costs at the same time.

Comfortable control

GROHE infrared products are controlled and their data are transferred to the remote control. This allows many of the previously manual settings such as flushing duration, automatic flushing, thermal disinfection and other functions to be set even more flexibly and precisely. By defining the flushing processes in detail, operators prevent stagnation and the formation of hazardous germs and unpleasant odours.

Hygienic, intelligent, sustainable and comfortable – four strong arguments to install GROHE infrared electronics also in semi-public sanitary facilities.

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The sanitary industry is populated by technological pioneers and brims with creative ideas. There is hardly a faucet, shower or WC which has not been optimised and refined time and again over the years. More often than not, it is the small elements and technologies, hidden deep inside the products that make the big difference. Take the cartridge for example. It is at the heart of every faucet and a masterpiece of modern engineering. GROHE is one of only a few manufacturers worldwide to produce all the cartridges for its faucets internally, which has earned the company its reputation as an international innovation leader. But what is the secret behind GROHE cartridges and what are their most important features?

Aerospace-proven materials

GROHE high-tech cartridges have a special feature that is shared by no other cartridge: they offer the unparalleled GROHE SilkMove^® experience of silky lever action and precise fine-tuning of the water flow and temperature. This unique user comfort is the result of the interaction between more than ten different high-grade components in each cartridge. The most important element are two discs, made from an aerospace-proven ceramic alloy, that glide across each other with great precision. A special lubricant with Teflon technology is applied to their mirror-smooth surfaces during production. Micro pores in the ceramic alloy serve as a lubricant reservoir to ensure that the discs retain their smoothness throughout the life of the faucet.

So how does the cartridge work inside the faucet? The operating lever is connected to the ceramic discs via a solid connecting element, which transmits its movement to the control element. Lifting the lever clears the way for the water, while the swivelling movement changes the relative amounts of hot and cold water. Even after many years of use, the low amount of force required to operate the lever remains the same – a great advantage that makes GROHE faucets stand out from the rest.

Unique comparative test of international manufacturers

This long-lasting functionality has also been confirmed by Germany’s TÜV SÜD, whose experts have tested the mechanical resilience of the faucets from nine renowned international manufacturers in a large-scale comparative test. This endurance test simulated 20 years of use and maximum strain. Among the aspects tested were the operating forces in the movement of the lever, the breakaway torque after an extended rest period, the operating precision and the tightness. Thanks to the excellent GROHE SilkMove^® technology, GROHE came out as the clear winner.

The cartridge competence centre

Hemer is the home of the GROHE cartridges. This is where the company produces different cartridge variants in sizes of 28, 35, 46 and 56 millimetres for its global faucet production. Different sizes are used depending on the faucet diameter and the draw-off point, as well as the required flow properties. The new 28 millimetre cartridge, for instance, can be found inside the S-size Essence faucet launched this year, which is the most slender faucet introduced by GROHE to date. Featuring a spout height of 111 millimetres and a very small operating lever, it offers great operating comfort and perfect proportions.

The GROHE plant in Hemer can produce up to 5.4 million 46 millimetre cartridges and 4.8 million 35 millimetre cartridges per year. All cartridges manufactured in Hemer are made from high-quality precision components. The individual components are assembled on two production lines operated by three workers per shift. All parts must pass a 100 percent pressure test of 16 bar and are precisely calibrated. Even the smallest deviations would affect the world-class performance of the cartridges.

For over 140 years, GROHE has been influenced by their “Masters of Technology” – the inventors, developers and manufacturers whose creative DNA has been instilled in the company. The great enthusiasm for innovative technologies, which is also shared by today’s GROHE employees, is felt by customers day in and day out, year in and year out, whenever they control the water flow of their faucet with the same unfailingly high comfort and precision. This unique experience comes courtesy of GROHE cartridges and GROHE SilkMove^® technology.

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Individual considerations

As humans, we are all unique and we have unique tastes as well. The things that will influence your choice will be your taste in either a more traditional or modern style. The style you choose should obviously be taken for the whole bathroom, otherwise it would extremely cheap and confusing.

Consider your budget

Your budget is one of the most important aspects, since it will determine what you can afford. You do not just use the cost of the tap, but all the related accessories must be brought into the equation. If you are on a tight budget, beware of the models with plastic shells or handles. The price might be attractive, but the overall durability and and resistance to scratches are likely to disappoint you. High quality bathroom taps cost a pretty penny but they can make a cost-effective upgrade in the bathroom look expensive and professional.

The bottom line is that you can overspend on other items but your taps will be of low quality, low durability and it might not be as visually pleasing as you would like.

Practicality is everything

Think about who will mainly use the bathroom and it will support your choice of bathroom taps. A popular selection for the elderly or children is a lift tap instead of the traditional screw tap, which is easier to open and close, while allowing you to choose the right water temperature without scalding yourself. Due to their design, screw taps can be a bit more difficult to open to close and they are harder to grip.

Please note that if you install any special features, they might require specific taps to be installed and some of them can be quite expensive.

Keep your ceramics in mind

You have to look at the design elements of your ceramics. If you have a round style basin, you can balance this feature by selecting bathroom taps with rounded handles and even a curved spout. If you have a geometric or angular styled are, a tap with a lot of curvature would stick out like a sore thumb and ruin the whole look.

Aesthetic tips for bathroom taps:

• See your tap as an investment and take your time to consider your personal taste, the style of your bathroom and the timelessness of your choice.
• Contemporary faucets usually have a smooth, minimalistic design and a polished finished. The levers that operate water flow are often slim and sleek.
• Traditional designs include crossbar-handle faucets that are usually available in chrome or brass.
• Ceramic-covered lever faucets have an old-fashioned appeal. It is an alternative to chrome and brass finishes, and you can give a classically-styled faucet a more contemporary look with a matte finish.
• The general theme, shapes used and design style of your bathroom ceramics need to be taken into consideration in order to create a synergistic appeal.
• If you desire a more traditional look that combines classic and modern styles, you could get a gooseneck matte-finish faucet. It might do the trick and maximize the space available for hand-washing.
• Timelessness should be one of your focus points but you should also invest in quality. When you are compiling your budget, give preference to bathroom taps because they form a fine focal point in any bathroom.

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