At the ISH 2013, Laufen is lifting the veil from its new SaphirKeramik just slightly by showing two very delicate washbasin bowls made of the innovative material as pilot examples. Thanks to its extreme hardness and bending strength, SaphirKeramik permits extremely thin-walled designs and narrow radii without compromising on stability and break resistance. Wall thicknesses of no more than about 4 mm and defined edges with radii of 1 to 2 mm are possible. “The ISH is the ideal platform for starting a revolution in the design of bathroom ceramics”, says Alberto Magrans, Senior Managing Director of Laufen, “and I am certain that we will surprise the industry with our novelties made of SaphirKeramik.” The outstanding level of innovation of the new ceramic material also impressed the expert jury, which granted this material the Designplus Award offered by Messe Frankfurt in cooperation with the German Design Council.
The washbasin bowls made of SaphirKeramik were created by the designer Andreas Dimitriadis based in Stuttgart (platinumdesign). “The new ceramic material from Laufen offers me unprecedented creative scope in design and requires a whole new way of thinking”, Dimitriadis comments enthusiastically. “We now think in terms of precise edges and slender wall thicknesses instead of surfaces and tolerances”. Of course the effect of the new “sapphire” basins on viewers also had to be considered anew, since they were to retain the natural, man-made character of ceramics in spite of all their preciseness, and feature well-balanced, harmonious proportions.
Laufen will also present two new series of fittings at the ISH, Cityplus and Twinplus, designed by Andreas Dimitriadis as well. Cityplus is a genuine icon of urban lifestyle, which stands out by its generous surface design and clean, horizontal lines. The Twinplus stands out by its slender, puristic geometries, which please the eye in bathroom interiors by their architectural unpretentiousness. Both series of fittings include the complete range and, thanks to their excellent functionality, offer users great convenience and top quality in the bathroom.
The latest additions to the Palomba Collection, which have already won several awards, will also be shown at the ISH in their entirety for the first time in Germany. The models taking the centre stage among the novelties will be the floorstanding Menhir washbasin, which recalls a rock formed and polished by the tides, and a unique bathtub with dynamic, asymmetrical geometries and a high back. Four new countertop washbasins, two washbasin bowls and a range of new bathroom furniture are grouped around these main protagonists. “The new products of the Palomba Collection are only the tip of the iceberg”, says Magrans, “since our portfolio includes many more new solutions, designs and innovations – our visitors will be in for a few surprises!”
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