Plumbing Africa May 2017 | Page 11

NEWS 9 2017 iF design rankings: Hansgrohe top German company The Hansgrohe Group once again ranks among the 10 best companies in the world in the field of design. In the current ‘company’ design rankings published by the renowned International Forum Design (iF), the taps and showers specialist based in Schiltach, Germany, ranks sixth among some 2 000 listed companies. With 1 040 points, Hansgrohe improved on its 2016 position, moving up four places and surpassing Audi to become the top-listed German company. The internationally active Hansgrohe Group from the Black Forest also places ahead of world- famous brands such as Apple, BMW, and Siemens. By securing a top position in this list of ‘excellent design’, the taps and shower specialist also further expands its lead over competitors in the sanitation industry. The iF ‘company’ ranking combines the overall results of the iF awards received by a company over the past three years. One gold and eight iF Design Awards The iF Design Awards of the iF is considered one of the world’s most important quality ratings for product design. The Hansgrohe Group regularly places among the winners. In 2017, eight AXOR and Hansgrohe products were awarded, which was decisive for the company’s move to sixth place. Moreover, an international jury of 58 experts distinguished the AXOR Uno taps with a Gold Award. This year, 5 575 products from 59 countries were submitted for consideration. “These nine iF Design Awards, including the Gold Award, clearly confirm our ongoing commitment to combining the aesthetic design of a product with quality, ease of use, and high customer benefit,” says Jan Heisterhagen, vice-president product management, Hansgrohe SE. PA The Hansgrohe Group regularly places among the winners. Incledon appoints new group MD His career has seen him fulfil various roles, from financial controller at AfriSam to financial manager at Gyproc Saint-Gobain. Rankin is a Chartered Accountant. A leading supplier of fluid-conveyance solutions to general industry, agriculture, mining, infrastructure, building, and construction, Incledon celebrated its 110th birthday last year. Today the company stocks over 15 000 preferred products. With green shoots appearing in the bulk water infrastructure market as government investment in major www.plumbingafrica.co.za projects starts to filter through, the company is ideally positioned to capitalise on opportunities here. “Rankin has the necessary combination of company and industry experience to take the company to the next level of its growth and expansion strategy. We wish him all the best in his new role,”