Geberit's Building Technology and Acoustics Laboratory the Cave Art

Know- how Customer Magazine December 2017

20 years Geberit’s Building Technology and Acoustics Laboratory 15,000 years The cave art of Lascaux

document553997946950109986.indd 1 13.12.2017 09:09:53 Know-how runs through everything we do.

Publisher Geberit Southern Africa (Pty.) Ltd. 6 Meadowview Lane Meadowview Business Estate Longmeadow, Linbro Park ZA-Johannesburg

Phone +27 11 444 50 70 Fax +27 11 656 34 55 [email protected]

→ www.geberit.co.za

Number of copies Issued: quarterly. The reproduction of individual articles, in part or in full, is subject to approval from the editorial staff.

Photos Ben Huggler (cover picture, page 16, back page) Sergio Grazia (pages 22–23) Michael Suter (pages 10–13) Tribecraft (pages 14–15, 17)

On the cover Vibrometric sensors are positioned in order to analyse sound transmissions.

document8739697254805857473.indd 2 13.12.2017 09:09:46 Contents

A company on the move Ten years Geberit Southern Africa 18

Long-lasting pleasure Products & solutions 14

News/Agenda 5

Building Technology and Acoustics Laboratory 6

Mapress Carbon Steel 10

Online bathroom planner 13

Reference object 22

Diese Schwitzwasser-Isolation wirkt sich überall vor- 26-28 dB (A) leise, nach DIN 52218. teilhaft aus, jedoch besonders in Gegenden mit kaltem GEBERIT* Wasser oder mit hoher Luftfeuchtigkeit, bei stark gebert + cie frequentierten Klosettanlagen sowie in innenliegenden Armaturen-und Apparatefabrik WC-Räumen. Zudem trägt sie dazu bei, daß der bekannt JJJj^j§^omT" am Zürichsee leise GEBERIT-Spülkasten noch leiser wurde, genau: Telex75625 Once upon a time

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Diese Schwitzwasser-Isolation wirkt sich überall vor- 26-28 dB (A) leise, nach DIN 52218. teilhaft aus, jedoch besonders in Gegenden mit kaltem GEBERIT* Wasser oder mit hoher Luftfeuchtigkeit, bei stark gebert + cie frequentierten Klosettanlagen sowie in innenliegendenDas Armaturen-und Apparatefabrik WC-Räumen. Zudem trägt sie dazu bei, daß der bekanntwarJJJj^j§^omT"unseram Zürichsee leise GEBERIT-Spülkasten noch leiserletzteswurde, genau:Schwitzjahr.Telex75625 (Jetzt hat jeder GEBERIT-Spülkasten serienmäßig Schwitzwasser-lsolation-ohne Mehrpreis.)

With the slogan “that was our last year sweating bullets”, 293Geberit announced in this U69 advertisement that from now on, all Geberit cisterns will feature anticondensation insulation as standard – and at no extra charge to the customer.

document8739697254805857473.indd 3 13.12.2017 09:09:48 Editorial

Dear customers, No two buildings are the same. This statement is particularly true when it comes to their acoustic properties. After all, even small details sometimes make a big difference here.

Not long after the Building Technology and Acoustics Laboratory in Rapperswil- Jona was opened, a big wish came true for our customer advisers: they were able to offer the architects and sanitary engineers involved in major residential and hotel projects professional acoustic analyses of the planned sanitary installations.

To give you an example, this is done as follows. In one of the test rooms at the laboratory, a customised bathroom is constructed according to the practices in a certain market. The building materials used are imported from the respective market. The results and findings from the sound measurements then provide the basis for possible sound-related optimisations.

Our acousticians have since carried out sound analyses on hundreds of individual bathroom structures in this way. They therefore have a broad and sound pool of data at their disposal and can estimate the acoustic properties of construction projects with a high degree of reliability. This knowledge and experience is something that our customers all over the world benefit from.

I wish you an enjoyable read.

Mark Schurr, Managing Director

4 Customer Magazine December 2017

document915511041679724590.indd 4 13.12.2017 09:09:48 News

Geberit, proud sponsors of the 2017 Win contestant Design Duos – in the incredible Geberit’s technical team were on hand to a Home Competition at Eye of Africa estate valued at R3 million! The competition assist with last-minute installations and Geberit is one of the proud sponsors of the was divided up into room challenges where adjustments and when the deadline was 4th season of Win a Home, South Africa’s fa- the duo’s were given a brief and time frame called, the bathrooms were done and ready vourite interior design reality TV competi- in which to complete the makeover of a giv- to be judged. All the bathrooms were clev- tion, hosted by SABC3 TV talk show After- en space. Episode 6 & 7 was focussed on erly put together, stylishly functional, max- noon Express. The reality show was flighted the Bathroom challenge with the duos hav- imising the space and were rich with the every Friday from mid-July through to ing to design not just one, but both bath- duos’ individual creative expression. Team mid-November between 4–5 pm. This rooms which was double their usual amount Habitat, with the flamboyant and creative year’s Win a Home Competition was double of work. To better inform their choices for duo of Abiah Mahlase and Brad Muttitt, won the fun and double the drama with the intro- the bathrooms, the design duos visited the the bathroom challenge. Who will be the duction of Design Duos! Contestants who new Geberit showroom and experience ultimate winners … team Visi, team House & were to compete in pairs for the title of the centre where they spent the day to see and Leisure or team Habitat. country’s best emerging interior designers. experience the technology behind the wall Congratulations to the creative and out- Three perfect pairings were chosen from in concealed plumbing first-hand as well as landish Duo of Abiah “Superstar” Mahlase dozens of entries and they were partnered be inspired and excited by design in front of and Brad Muttitt from Team Habitat. They with mentors from three well-known design the wall with the new Geberit Bathroom Col- were judged the overall winners of Win a publications to form team House & Leisure, lection. A place where design meets func- Home 2017. They certainly delivered on team Visi and team Habitat. Their task was tion. Having seen some great designs and their promise of bringing razzle-dazzle to to decorate three newly built homes locat- been inspired by the Geberit showroom, all this year’s reality competition and stayed ed at the Eye of Africa luxury golf and resi- the teams made their selections for their true to their vision and created a home that dential estate, in Johannesburg. Viewers bathrooms. Back on site, the teams were in defies convention. got to vote for their favourite design team a flurry to create their perfect bathroom and stood a chance to win one of the beau- that would impress the judges so that they tiful cluster homes, decorated by one of the would win the challenge. On the final day,

document915511041679724590.indd 5 13.12.2017 09:10:03 Technology & innovation A unique competence centre 20th anniversary of the Building Technology and Acoustics Laboratory

6 Customer Magazine December 2017

document1425196666400913390.indd 6 13.12.2017 09:10:00 ← Acoustics specialist Samuel Pasteur prepares the Geberit Setaplano shower surface for a sound measurement procedure at the BTA-Lab. During this procedure, a water jet with a pressure of 3 bar is directed onto the shower surface from a height of one metre.

↑ Oliver Wolff, Head of Building Physics at Geberit, measures the vibrations of a discharge stack with the laser scanner.

↑ Hidden sound sources – for example, in a discharge pipe – can be located precisely with this state-of-the-art acoustic camera. The BTA-Lab today – acoustics

The BTA-Lab has a total of 19 rooms on four floors for acoustic measurements. This allows realistic tests to be carried out that consider the whole of A laboratory for realistic tests and meas- a building and cover vertical, horizontal and urements in the area of statics and acous- diagonal sound propagation. These 19 rooms tics – this is how Geberit described the boast an infrastructure that includes: new Building Technology and Acoustics → A valve test facility with a measuring room Laboratory (BTA-Lab) in Rapperswil-Jona in which there is almost complete silence. at its inauguration in October 1997. A prolonged stay is difficult for people to tolerate – and fortunately not necessary. The ultrasensitive microphones discreetly Thanks to its technical equipment and many measuring transmit their signals out of the room. rooms, the BTA-Lab at the Rapperswil-Jona site was in → A test facility for the standard EN 14366. a class of its own in the sanitary industry when it was Today, discharge stacks have to meet this opened 20 years ago – and is still very much unparal- standard in more and more countries. leled today. “Building this laboratory was a very far- sighted investment and played a major role in ensuring → A Pluvia roof drainage system for measure- that Geberit is today seen as an innovation leader in the ment purposes that is operated via a closed field of sanitary technology,” explains Oliver Wolff, water circuit. Head of Building Physics. → The possibility of simulating market-specific construction situations. In 2010, ten bathroom Only during the night or at weekends situations were constructed in the BTA-Lab Back when the BTA-Lab was opened in 1997, Geberit according to country-specific criteria. In 2016, already possessed considerable know-how in the 90 bathroom situations were constructed building acoustics and statics fields. The fact that the there. When constructing these situations, highly sound-insulating drainage system Silent-db20 the building materials are often imported was launched on the market that very same year proves from the respective countries. this. The many sound measurements required to devel- → Sound test facilities for shower trays op this system were taken in measuring stations located in small, narrow side rooms in the main building in → State-of-the-art measuring instruments: Rapperswil-Jona. The tests could only be carried out acoustic camera, laser scanning, vibrometry, during the night or at weekends, when the manufactur- multi-channel systems, artificial head for ing equipment in the plant was not in use. The heating psychoacoustic sound analyses, and much and the charging stations for the forklift trucks also had more. to be switched off in order to reduce the noise in the building to the required level.

→

document1425196666400913390.indd 7 13.12.2017 09:10:13 Technology & innovation

← Acoustics specialist Paul Bürgi fills the water basin in the half-height machinery floor under the roof. This enables sound measurements on a Pluvia installation to be taken further down in the BTA-Lab.

The BTA-Lab today – statics

For statics measurements, the BTA-Lab has several rooms and infrastructures – some of which span more than one floor: → A force framework 5.4 m by 6.7 m in size. The load-bearing capacity of room height walls can be simulated and measured within the extremely rigid and torsionally stiff structure of this frame. → A computer-controlled and totally enclosed pressure test facility for ceramic sanitary appliances. A load of up to 500 kg can be simulated here. → A 3-D robotic measuring arm for ↑ A weight of 400 kg is placed on a Duofix installation element. The deformations caused by the load are easily measured thanks to the laser light. statics tests on installation systems → Mobile cranes for the hydraulically controlled lowering of weights → Laser light sources for statics tests

8 Customer Magazine December 2017

document1425196666400913390.indd 8 13.12.2017 09:10:25 Paul Bürgi, acoustics specialist “I can sometimes tell from a photo that it is too loud.”

Visitors from all over the world The new laboratory building was erected on an open greenfield site several hundred metres from the main building. Most of the four-storey building was acousti- cally decoupled from the surroundings so that neither noise from traffic nor other noises from outside can in- terfere with the sound measurements. Furthermore, the building was designed in such a way that virtually any spatial modifications can be made at any time. More than four million Swiss francs were invested in the new building and initial infrastructures.

No sooner had the BTA-Lab commenced test operation than the first visitors came: customers and experts from all over the world, employees, students and many other interested people. “For a number of years now, we have had around 4,000 visitors a year,” explains Paul Bürgi, who has been working in the BTA-Lab as an acoustics specialist for the past 14 years. “Although we are pleased about the great interest shown in our work, the guided tours actually pose more of a hindrance to the ongoing tests and sound measurements.” The construction activities – which have moved closer and closer to the laboratory building as Rapperswil-Jona has grown over the past 20 years – are also proving problematic. It is therefore expected that certain sound measurements will once again have to be taken in the evening and at night.

20 years without an accident The statics tests and measurements – for which the BTA-Lab is also designed – are unaffected by such en- ↑ Statics specialist René Gmür tests the lateral load vironmental factors. The laboratory contains various capacity of a urinal division at the BTA-Lab. equipment, including a five-metre-tall and seven-metre-wide force framework weighing around seven tonnes, which can be used to measure the load-bearing capacity of room-height installation walls. Standard- ised load tests are also carried out in the labs. Indeed, most of the components of Geberit’s tried-and-tested and successful installation systems were put through their paces here. While the statics tests and measurements focused Working with heavy weights and loads requires a cool mainly on Geberit’s installation systems until recently, head and a great deal of caution. “A dowel can rip from the load-bearing capacity of washbasin, bidet and WC the wall when an installation frame is loaded with a ceramic appliances are also tested at the BTA-Lab to- weight of 400 kg,” explains René Gmür, a specialist who day. The statics specialists built a new test facility for has been carrying out the statics tests for the past 18 this purpose. Indeed, the BTA-Lab employs the latest years. “Safety therefore always comes first, an ap- measurement technology across the board in both proach that clearly pays off given that we have not had acoustics and statics. “We invest in our measurement one single occupational accident in the 20 years that technology every year and are state-of-the-art in this the BTA-Lab has existed.” regard,” confirms Oliver Wolff. ←

document1425196666400913390.indd 9 13.12.2017 09:10:39 Products & solutions Prime quality Connecting heating systems with Geberit Mapress Carbon Steel

When it comes to professionally planning and installing closed heating circuits, the Geberit Mapress Carbon Steel supply system has for decades been a well-proven and corrosion- resistant alternative to more expensive products made of copper or stainless steel.

↑ The plastic-jacketed carbon steel pipes are well-suited for surface mounting.

Once installed, a heating circuit has to work ture resistance and resistance to pressure. hectic everyday life on building sites. Only without interruption. In this case, “working” Depending on the application, plumbers the jacketed pipes do not have a coloured means remaining leakproof and corro- can choose from two Geberit Mapress Car- marking. The dimension is printed on the sion-resistant for several decades. In the bon Steel pipe types for heating systems: pipe and fitting and is clearly visible. Every recent past, carbon steel has quite often plastic-jacketed or outside zinc-plated. fitting has a pressing indicator so that un- been linked with corrosion. However, The fittings are also outside zinc-plated. pressed connections can be easily located Geberit uses high-quality materials with all The pipes with the cream-coloured plastic before the pressure test is carried out. Af- its products and subjects them to realistic jacketing are particularly well suited for the ter the pressing operation, the indicator foil application tests in both internal and exter- discreet surface mounting of radiator con- can be easily removed. nal facilities. Correctly installed, Geberit nections. The layer made of polypropylene Mapress Carbon Steel enables prob- reliably protects the pipe against corrosion A black seal ring made of butyl rubber is in- lem-free, corrosion-free operation. caused by moisture and condensation. For serted in the fittings at the factory. The complete corrosion protection, the transi- pressing procedure creates a permanent A proven system tions to the fittings have to be equipped and positive connection between the pipe With the Mapress Carbon Steel product with the self-bonding Geberit sealing tape. and fitting. The product range comprises range, Geberit has a proven supply system This is not necessary when using pipes that over 400 different fittings in 11 pipe dimen- for heating technology. Professionally are outside zinc-plated. Fittings and pipes sions for pipe diameters of 12 to 108 mm. planned and installed, carbon steel is both can also be painted with a standard radiator Suitable adapters ensure system compati- leakproof and corrosion-resistant and con- paint. bility with other supply systems such as sidered a reasonably priced alternative to Geberit Mepla. All pipe ends and fittings are copper or stainless steel in closed heating A wide product range sealed with protective caps so that no wa- systems. Known for its durability, carbon The Mapress Carbon Steel pipes and fit- ter and dirt can enter them on the building steel also meets the toughest require- tings are marked red so that they are not site. ments with respect to stability, tempera- mistaken for other Mapress products in the

10 Customer Magazine December 2017

document2492921406294959832.indd 10 13.12.2017 09:09:56 Installed in a corrosion-resistant manner

Attention should be paid to the following when installing Geberit Mapress Carbon Steel: → Do not store the pipes and fittings on the floor or in damp rooms. → Do not remove the protection plugs from the fittings until immediately before processing on-site. → Where condensate is expected, you should attach protection that forms a barrier against diffusion. → During the initial filling, make sure that the water quality corresponds to the reference values recommended by Geberit (see table below). When using water additives or inhibitors, the specifications of the respective manufacturer have to be observed with respect to suitability and dosage. → Inform the operator about corrosion-relevant The product range comprises issues and advise them of the recommended 400 different fittings in 11 pipe inspection intervals. dimensions.

Corrosion when using carbon steel On the building site, attention should be paid to ensuring that Geberit Mapress Car- Reference values for water quality bon Steel pipes are stored and installed in a dry environment and that the protection Low-saline Saline plugs on the fittings are not removed until the fittings are being installed. When Electrical conductivity (at 25 °C) 100 µS/cm 100 –1500 µS/cm the heating installation is professionally 7,0 – 8,5 (filling) pH value (at 25 °C) planned and installed, damage caused by 8,2 – 10,0 (> 3 months of operation)1 corrosion processes inside is hardly possible. This is because closed heating circuits Oxygen content 0,1 mg/l 0,02 mg/l are virtually oxygen-free after a few weeks Appearance Free of sedimenting substances or months, meaning that a reaction between the metal and oxygen can no longer Suspended solids 90 mg/l2 take place. If condensation on the pipes and fittings cannot be ruled out, as in the Iron 15 mg/l2 case of cooling pipes, they have to be pro- 1 Due to initial chemical processes, the pH value in a carbon steel installation increases during tected from the outside – i.e. a barrier the first weeks of operation and then remains constant. against diffusion must be formed. The min- 2 According to BSRIA guide BG 50 imum requirements in this case are closed- cell insulation material and a corrosion protection coating. ←

document2492921406294959832.indd 11 13.12.2017 09:09:59 document6068981354102283160.indd 12 13.12.2017 09:09:58 ↑ Specify your bathroom according to your needs with interrelating products.

Geberit Specifier Online bathroom planner

Geberit is further simpli Using the Geberit Specifier supports you in All the key product data in one file specifying the sanitary appliances for your Once your specification is completed, you fying the planning of project. You will be guided through the can download a file containing all the rele - bathrooms in project busi product portfolio and depending on the vant information for your project: article ness. From now on, an product you choose, you will only get prod- numbers, technical drawings, product uct suggestions that match your initial specifications and pictures incl. the rele- online specification tool choice. Costly surprises caused by wrongly vant CAD data. This file can be sent to your facilitates the quick and planned products are thus avoided. nearest Geberit office to get an offer. ← correct choice of products A comprehensive range of products Discover the Geberit Specifier now: for sanitary facilities. The new online bathroom planner provides → www.spec.geberit.com product details on:

– Toilets and bidets – Urinals – Cisterns – Washbasins and furniture – Shower drains

document6068981354102283160.indd 13 13.12.2017 09:10:04 Products & solutions Twofold quality Design Meets Function

Anita Leitmeyr, Tribecraft, Zürich “The slim, architectural line on the floor leads to the hidden integrated drain with the removable comb insert, and thus to the core of true design thinking – namely making life more com fortable and also tackling an activity such as cleaning in order to do so.”

← The hair trap in the Geberit CleanLine shower channel can be removed in no time.

14 Customer Magazine December 2017

document5738607798446522767.indd 14 13.12.2017 09:10:08 Geberit products → Ready for the perfect shower impress thanks to experience: the Geberit Setaplano their successful shower surface has a very pleasant balance between feel. elegant design and outstanding func tionality. They are developed by inter disciplinary teams made up of engi neers, draughtsmen, industrial designers and product spe

cialists. This article Tom Stäubli, Tribecraft, Zurich is all about the “Made of a solid surface designers. material that boasts a silky- smooth feel, it is a calm piece of bathroom floor where the inclination is hardly visible. The only thing that stands out is the metal ring, which dis creetly glistens from beneath the drain cover, framing our most important design achievement – an edgeless drain without gaps that is child’s play to clean.”

Geberit products set standards in the sani- bility. On top of this, the shower channel tary industry, not least because they are has hardly any hidden areas where dirt can easy to install and maintain. Building pros settle. Furthermore, hair – the main culprit Inner product values thus know that they can rely on solutions when it comes to blockages – can be easily from Geberit. The familiar blue square with removed by the user in no time with the aid Good design should give you long- the words “Know-How Installed” is a mark of the specially developed hair trap. lasting pleasure. What constitutes good of quality that vouches for this. In addition, design is not just the workmanship the benefits of the Geberit product range Loved from the first touch and quality, but also the functionality are now explained to end users in a way that Floor-even showers are very popular be- that a product offers. This includes, is easy to understand under the motto “De- cause they substantially expand the scope for example, easy cleaning and mainte sign Meets Function” – and this is how it of design possibilities in the bathroom. nance, a sophisticated design that goes. Plumbers love the Geberit shower surface facilitates an error-free installation, or Setaplano because many of the compo- having shelf surfaces and storage space Long-lasting cleanliness nents are delivered already premounted. in the right place. Sanitary specialists A person’s initial enthusiasm for floor-even This greatly reduces the amount of work mostly recognise these inner product showers can quickly dwindle if problems and the risk of errors during installation. values straight away and can advise crop up with the drainage. It’s a good thing With customers, on the other hand, it is their customers accordingly. that the benefits of the Geberit CleanLine mostly the silky-smooth surface and its ex- shower channel are not limited to their ease cellent non-slip properties that leave a last- of installation on-site, where, for example, ing impression – very much in line with the the length can be cut in a straightforward motto “Touch it. Love it”. manner giving the plumber maximum flexi-

→

document5738607798446522767.indd 15 13.12.2017 09:10:15 Products & solutions

↑ Thanks to sophisticated installation technology, the pitfalls of wall-mounted taps are no more.

Nightmares a thing of the past Flushing without touching While many operators of public and semi- Electronic flush actuators are becoming in- public sanitary facilities dream about ele- creasingly popular. The Geberit Sigma80, gant touchless wall-mounted taps, they which is equipped with IR sensors, is de- tend to cause plumbers nightmares. The signed for operating a dual-flush system. ingenuity of the new solution from Geberit Instead of two buttons, the actuator plate lies in the proven installation technology features two light fields of different sizes. featuring a mounting frame, which makes To trigger the flush, all it takes is a brief planning, installing and maintaining such wave in front of either the large or the small Christoph Behling, taps significantly easier. light field. The servo technology integrated Christoph Behling Design, London in the plate takes care of the rest. ← “With the new Geberit Pepped up in a flash tap system, the wall- The family of Monolith sanitary modules mounted tap has not adds a special touch to any bathroom. The only become foolproof, module for WCs combines the technology, cistern and dual-flush mechanism in an ele- it is also easy to main gant, slim body. Thanks to a reworked inte- tain – and it is now at a rior, the module can be installed as easily as price level where it can a conventional Geberit Duofix installation be used everywhere.” frame and optionally fitted with a wall-hung or floor-standing WC ceramic appliance. The Geberit Monolith Plus offers customers added value through its inclusion of an effective odour extraction unit and a discreet, sensor-controlled orientation light.

16 Customer Magazine December 2017

document5738607798446522767.indd 16 13.12.2017 09:10:23 Daniel Irányi, Tribecraft, Zurich “The original goal was actually just to create a new exposed cistern. We then designed an architectural foil for the toilet that establishes the connection to the room. In this context, the glass surface forms the stage on which the WC ceramic appliance can impress.”

↑ As a reinterpretation of the exposed cistern, the Monolith significantly enhances every bathroom.

↓ This is how touchless is done: two differently sized light fields replace the button function on the Sigma80.

Arno Lenzi, Tribecraft, Zurich “In order to convey ‘touchlessness’ to users, we are countering today’s touch screen reflex with a magical sense of depth: only when the user is present does the Sigma80 awaken, with a three-dimensional cloud of bright spots forming the light fields.”

document5738607798446522767.indd 17 13.12.2017 09:10:45 Ten years Geberit Southern Africa A company on the move New facilities, new products

With the move to the new premises in Johannesburg beginning of this year, followed by the move to the purpose-built facility in Cape Town later in the year, Geberit started their expansion in the local market. Reason enough to celebrate these momentous events in style. Durban will be following suit and relocating to larger state-of-the-art premises in 2018.

The new Geberit premises in Johannesburg and Cape Town, with Durban following soon.

18 Customer Magazine December 2017

document1739340903027205421.indd 18 13.12.2017 09:10:08 → The new showroom in Johannesburg was officially opened by the Ambassador of Switzerland, Helene Budliger Artieda (left) who was joined by Ronald van Triest, Member of the Group Executive Board and Erwin Kaelin (right), Head of Developing Markets.

Geberit Johannesburg hosted 300 of their And the journey continues ... esteemed customers at a gala evening at Erwin Kaelin, Head of Developing Markets, their new premises in Longmeadow earlier gave a moving speech on the history of this year, in celebration of the official open- Geberit, focussing on the journey of Geberit ing of the new state-of-the-art facility as in the South African market. He has been well as celebrating ten years as Geberit involved in establishing Geberit in Southern Southern Africa. “Time goes by. Quality re- Africa from before it all started and he mains.” was the campaign for 2017 and per- shared with everyone his first experiences fectly matched Geberit Southern Africa’s and interactions with the various people events and big reveal celebrations. Guests and businesses who were actively involved were welcomed into the new warehouse in marketing of this unknown Swiss brand – where they were treated to cocktails and Geberit, back in the early 1980s and 1990s: canapes whilst an exciting aerial silk dance from the first projects, to agencies and dis- routine unfolded high above the racking tributors to first the first premises and system, highlighting the sheer volume of trainings, leading up to the eventual acqui- the new warehouse. The Goliath Titans and sition of AMS by the Geberit Group in 2007. the band Swing City entertained to rein- Erwin always had a dream to bring a piece force the whole theme of “Time goes by. of Switzerland to South Africa and this year Quality remains.” All around the welcome his dream has finally been realised with the area were large easels with historic pic- impressive hydraulic drainage tower, a sim- tures of Geberit through the ages, clearly ulation of the facility located at the Geberit showing how time goes by and quality re- head office training centre in Jona, Switzer- mains. One area had photographs of the land. In addition, as Geberit Southern Africa very beginning of Geberit, dating back to is the launch market for the new Geberit 1874, when the company was known as bathroom series which encompasses man- Gebert after the founder Caspar Melchior ufactured and Geberit branded ceramics Gebert. and bathroom furniture, a purpose built, ↑ Aerial silk dance routine in the warehouse. architecturally designed, state-of-the-art showroom was officially unveiled and opened; designed to enhance the all-inclu- sive Geberit Bathroom Collection. →

document1739340903027205421.indd 19 13.12.2017 09:10:17 Ten years Geberit Southern Africa

← The tower room is located just beyond the showroom.

↑ Erwin Kaelin, Head of Developing Markets, introduced the different lifestyle settings in the new showroom and explained the products on display.

New showroom and experience centre stalled. Guests were able to see a “before, in Johannesburg during and after” renovation process where The Johannesburg facility was officially a 1970s bathroom was easily transformed opened by the Ambassador of Switzerland, to a modern bathroom of today, using exist- Helene Budliger Artieda, who was joined by ing plumbing points, the same space, with Ronald van Triest, member of the Group Ex- minimal downtime, resulting in an impres- ecutive Board, and Erwin Kaelin. Guests sively functional and elegant bathroom de- were invited to walk through the new show- sign. room which is adorned with a host of new products from the Geberit Bathroom Col- The layout of the showroom is conducive lection. The walk through took them from for people to visualise different scenarios the high end Citterio and Xeno² series to as the products are effectively displayed in the versatile iCon, harmonious Smyle and different lifestyle settings. every day Abalona series. They were introduced to a working display of the Geberit A hydraulic drainage tower AquaClean Mera toilet and in the same area, in South Africa could see how well-crafted and seamless Within the last 20 years, thanks to the the new Setaplano shower floor looked in- hydraulic drainage tower in Switzerland,

20 Customer Magazine December 2017

document1739340903027205421.indd 20 13.12.2017 09:10:23 ↓ Mark Schurr, Managing Director (right) and Ronald van Triest, Member of the Group Executive Board at the opening ceremony in Cape Town.

around 100,000 customers expanded their excellent entertainment, delicious food and cy in both function and design remaining at knowledge about drainage hydraulics and locally produced craft beer and wine. They the core of all Geberit products, from de- experienced real practical examples. From were invited to walk around and see the new sign to completion. At Geberit, we will con- now on, such experiences can be gained in training centre, warehouse space and new tinue to innovate, set trends and position South Africa, too. The working display pro- Bathroom Collection on display. ourselves in the market to being a pioneer vides an insight behind the scenes of a hy- of design, both in front and behind the wall, draulic drainage system. The clear pipe 2018 will see the Geberit facility in Durban for many more decades. ← shows the effective flow of water, giving in- relocate to larger, state-of-the-art premis- sight to the technology behind the wall. es, which will have a modern office compo- nent, fully kitted-out training centre, bigger Opening ceremony in Cape Town and warehouse facility and a purposefully de- relocation in Durban signed showroom, showcasing the latest On 5 October, the new purpose built prem- products and solutions. ises in Cape Town which boasts an impressive showroom, offices and larger ware- We welcome you to the New World of house facility was officially opened by Geberit – where functionality behind the Ronald van Triest, Member of the Group wall meets the design in front of the wall. Executive Board. Guests were treated to With sustainability, innovation and efficien-

document1739340903027205421.indd 21 13.12.2017 09:10:26 Reference object

A perfect copy The new International Centre for Cave Art

In 1940, the village of Montignac in the south-west of France became world-famous from one moment to the next when four young people stumbled upon a cave containing murals painted thousands of years ago. A visitor centre is now providing a whole new perspective on this World Heritage Site.

22 Customer Magazine December 2017

document4456420316484525029.indd 22 13.12.2017 09:10:11 ← The spatial arrangement of the exhibits is exactly the same as in the original cave.

↑ A visit begins on the roof of the building. → The building gives visitors the impression that they are entering a cave.

International Centre for Cave Art, Montignac (FR) Building owner: Conseil Départemental de la Dordogne Architects: Snøhetta Completed: 12/2016 Geberit products HDPE piping system Allia Diedro bathroom series Allia Fontange bathroom series

The creative minds at the Norwegian/ stone’s throw from the original site and had hibits – even the microclimate in the cave American architecture firm Snøhetta were to be as accurate in every detail as state-of- and the sounds are simulated in the new faced with a few tricky issues when plan- the-art technology would allow. This was visitor centre. In close collaboration with ning the visitor centre in Montignac (FR). not the first time this approach was taken. the London-based scenography experts After all, access to the cave – which fea- As the name of the project – “Lascaux IV” – Casson Mann, Snøhetta Architects created tures impressive hunting scenes and pic- suggests, such attempts had already been a building that could easily fool you into be- tures of animals – has been strictly prohibit- carried out in the past. However, in terms of lieving you were in the original cave. ← ed for a long time due to the huge risk of precision, none of them match up to the irretrievably destroying the pigments, synthetic resin imitations created using which had been preserved in their original state-of-the-art 3-D laser technology dur- state for some 15,000 years. ing attempt number four.

Attempt number four Narrative architecture The answer to this dilemma lay in taking the The exact reproduction of the cave art bull by the horns: the interior of the cave does not end with the choice of pigments was to be reconstructed in a new building a and the faithful spatial alignment of the ex-

document4456420316484525029.indd 23 13.12.2017 09:10:24 Raw materials for Geberit During cold Nordic winters, the coastal areas of the Baltic Sea can occasionally lie under a sheet of ice and be unnavigable for ships. The fourth (and final) raw material delivery of the year is therefore particularly important for the plant in Ekenäs, Finland. Immediately after the ship docks, the kaolin is transported by truck from the port to the raw materials warehouse.

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