Personalised Bathrooms (Pty) Limited, started by the Mederer family in 1994, was incorporated as at 1 January 2009 into the parent company, as a new independent distribution company trading as Hansgrohe South Africa.  This makes Hansgrohe South Africa the 29th subsidiary of this global brand.

Hansgrohe AG has appointed Anthony Mederer, son of founder Heinz Mederer, to the position of Managing Director of the business in South Africa, who will continue to steer the organisation along the same lines it has successfully demonstrated over the past 15 years.  Hansgrohe CEO Siegfried Gänβlen and Julian Henco, the Sales Director for the Emerging Markets, will be the remaining Directors of the new distribution company.

“In taking this step, we plan to build on the existing strong base that Personalised Bathrooms has established in this market and leverage the enormous growth potential that South Africa and the African continent as a whole has to offer in spite of the pervading economic climate”, commented Gänβlen.

The group foresees huge growth potential for 2009 and beyond, specifically across the African continent as it continues its expansion plans into emerging markets, particularly in the hospitality sector which maintains unabated development potential and where Hansgrohe products have already established a strong foothold.

There are a number of factors that influence this African expansion, not least of all the steady growth in international travel to the continent particularly from tourists visiting in the 5 star luxury market where Hansgrohe products have left their mark and in the refurbishment and renovation market as homeowners invest in quality products to add value to their homes through the use of cutting edge innovation and quality tapware and showers.

By far one of the world leaders in the technological “green” water industry with its Pontos grey water recycling apparatus and its water saving technology in taps and showers; Hansgrohe also expects to see substantial growth opportunities in the residential and commercial sectors as Africa comes into line with global water wise outlooks and legislation.   This is set to drive exponential turnover growth across the region.

Hansgrohe South Africa will be headquartered in Johannesburg which will form the base to further entrench its presence in South Africa and better able to service neighbouring markets.