Aqualisa Quartz and Axis

Creating a product that will appeal to consumers is often only part of the product design challenge: sometimes product innovation can deliver benefits across the whole supply chain. The Quartz shower system, designed by Seymourpowell for Aqualisa, is one such success story.

Challenge
The concept for what subsequently became known as a Digital Shower posited the simple idea that the valve, which controls temperature and flow, could be separated from the user controls, for four simple reasons. First was ease of use, with push button control. Second, was the prospect of absolute precision in temperature control. Third, was the tantalising prospect of new industrial designs for shower controls which were no longer constrained by the mechanical needs of controlling water. And fourth, of most importance, was the possibility of cutting installation time in half.

Response
After significant investment and several years, that simple idea became Quartz - the first in a line-up of ground breaking digital showers, which was followed by Axis, iLux and HiQu. Ilux built on the original digital technology to offer shower memory buttons, record and repeat temperature and flow settings, and automated bath fill - delivering a bath of set depth and temperature at the touch of a remote control.

Result
Quartz and its companion products represent a business innovation which has set the benchmark for digital showers, delivering perfect, pre-set shower temperatures every time. It's a system which won over customers to the tune of more than £30 million in sales in the first four years.

The range has also been embraced by plumbers and installers for one simple reason: installation time can be halved because there is no need to redecorate - the pipe work and electrics can be hidden behind the scenes in the loft or an adjacent cupboard space. This delivers significant time and cost benefits to suppliers and installers.

The press says...

'A symphony of perfection.' - HPM, December 2004

'Shower fittings producer Aqualisa has taken its design focus further than ever before, but not at the expense of functionality and other features.' - Kitchen & Bathroom Designer, September 2004

'Sheer brilliance… a perfect example of form and function.' - Heating, Ventilation & Plumbing Magazine, October 2004