Archives

By Shirajiv Sirimane

Sri Lanka's bathroom tapware market is very satisfactory and with the ongoing peace process our products will have an unprecedented demand, said Export Manager, Hansgrohe, Matthias Krebs who was in Colombo last week.

Speaking to the 'Daily News' he said that with the economic downturn and the war situation in 2001 they had a bad year in Sri Lanka. "Major development projects and refurbishment programs which were planned in the country were kept on hold due this factor. But today with the ongoing peace process backed by the right political and economic climate things are picking up smoothly," he said. "We are anticipating major investments in the Tourism sector."

He said that up market clients such as Apollo Hospital complex, Triton Ahungalle, Mount Lavinia Hotel, Grand Oriental Hotel, Taj Samudra, Keththarama and Dambulla Stadium, along with housing complexes such as Park West Luxury Apartments, Prince Alfred Towers, Hyde Park and Barnes Place Residencies, Link Apartments and many households are using Hansgrohe specified products. Taj resorts and Hilton Maldives too use Hansgrohe products."

Mr. Krebs who was associated with the company for over 25 years said that their products are moving with time and have come up with water saving devices. "We have introduced a flow limiter which automatically reduces water consumption but gives the same pressure for the spray.

These products which are now available in the local market will certainly save on the water bill," he said. "Our Child safe, anti-scald and energy saving thermostats with futuristic cartridge technology water temperature can be set with accuracy and prevents the accidental selection of temperatures above 38 centigrade." Hansgrohe also offers shower hoses made from various synthetics which are more comfortable than metals and kink-resistant. They are much cooler and suitable for people with Chrome and Nickel allergies," he said.

"We are the only manufacturer to offer an add-on that enables all the concealed fittings to be made from stainless steel which is resistance to highly corrosive water."

Mr. Krebs said that unlike the Indian market it is very easy to move around in Sri Lanka with less red tape problems and an unsophisticated duty system. "Sri Lanka's authorities know how to look after foreign clients and this is why we are in Sri Lanka for the past five years with Access Agencies (Pvt) Ltd as our agent."

"The Hansgrohe's mixing technology has been tried and tested and is continuously improved in line with the latest scientific findings and feather light to operate and protected against scalding for as long as possible," he said.

Hansgrohe, commenced operations in Germany in 1901 as a family concern manufacturing bathroom fittings and spare parts for watches.

Today it has a 25% market share in Germany with a turnover of 350 million Euros in 2001.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager