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| Tuesday, 6 January 2004 |
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Hansgrohe tapware eyes Lanka for permanent base by Shirajiv Sirimane Hansgrohe tapware manufacturers from Germany are exploring the possibility of setting up a permanent base in Sri Lanka. The possibility of establishing a manufacturing unit in Sri Lanka to export its products to India would also be examined as a long-term option by the parent company in Germany. According to General Manager Sales and Marketing, Access Agencies Rohan Jayasinghe the agents for Hansgroghe products, this is because their products have had over a 100 percent growth last year. "This is as a result of new constructions and refurbishment projects during recent times. New hotels too have been built while most of the leading hotels have gone in for refurbishment." "In 2003, Access Agencies generated a turnover of approximately Rs. 35 million over a six-month period through Hansgrohe orders alone." Hansgrohe export Manager Matthias Krebs visited Sri Lanka on two occasions this year and was happy with the progress their products were making in Sri Lanka. According to Krebs the success of such a step would depend on the outcome of the investigations into the rules and regulations and infrastructure availability of skilled labour. Krebs said that all Hansgrohe products available in Sri Lanka are manufactured in Germany. Hansgrohe products are manufactured to be environmentally friendly and include features which place them among the most sought after products in the industry. The Raindance shower is the latest product introduced by Hansgrohe and has received world - wide acceptance Jayasinghe said that bulk of the hotels, apartment complexes and house builders believe in the theory that building materials once fixed should be forgotten and this was the main reason for them to insist on Hansgrohe products. "Our products are manufactured by a family owned company based in Germany. Established in 1901 Hansgrohe has become one of the leading names in the tap ware industry and it is the only business owned by the Grohe family," he said. Hansgrohe has received many prestigious awards for its tapware. In 2002 the company received the Red Dot from the Design centre in Essen and the iF Product Design award for the Axor range. In 2003 the Axor Cittero range in Hansgrohe received the iF Product Design Award and the Design Plus award at an international exhibition. The turnover achieved by Hansgrohe worldwide is over 360 million euros and the leading markets are Germany, USA, UK and Italy. Jayasinghe said that Hansgrohe products are very functional, well made products, which face competition from cheap duplicates selling at a third of their prices. This is a serious problem in countries where international trade regulations are not as tight as in Europe. Access markets a products range from sanitaryware to Solar heating systems and water pumps and their branches are in Negombo, Colpetty, Rajagiriya, Anuradhapura, Nawala and Kandy. |
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