Ideal Standard has revealed a new corporate brand identity at this year’s ISH bathroom exhibition in Frankfurt.
The move comes after sales of €739 million in 2016 with reported profits (EBITA) growing by 14% to €81m. Shareholders have since released an additional €75m to ‘fund further growth’.
Central to the group’s forward strategy is a new logo, consisting of two interlocking rings – a symbol of its “connection with its customers” and of “seamless partnership and dynamic water flow”.
Ideal Standard group chief executive Torsten Tuerling said there was a “full pipeline of innovation ahead”, largely influenced by four global mega-trends – demographic change; resource scarcity and sustainability; healthcare innovation and connectivity, and digitalisation. The overall investment is the biggest the business has seen for 10 years.
Among a number of new products premiered at ISH was the group’s new Ellero range featuring Diamatec – Sottini’s latest innovation in ultra-thin ceramic. This patented new material boasts ‘exceptional robustness’, allowing designers to achieve extremely thin, straight and durable edges.
“This year’s ISH represents a milestone in the evolution of our company,” Tuerling continued. “We present our sharpened long-term strategy and our new corporate brand that represents what we stand for as a company. Our path forward is clear: making significant investments in growth, focusing on the needs of our professional customers and driving innovation through connected intelligence. I am also grateful for the trust and support from our investors, who are as confident as we are in our future and have provided additional funding to grow the company. Ultimately for us, it’s all about delivering value for our customers.”
Tuerling admitted he was “concerned by the implications of Brexit”, but insisted the group was “better equipped than anyone else in the industry” because of its deep-rooted relationships with its partners.
“There is a certain risk that Brexit implications might impact the economy and we’re not immune from that,” he said, “but within the boundaries of what the economy allows we’re best placed.”