G E R B E R I T

FEATURE
 I N N O V A T I V E

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Geberit continuously introduces
new and innovative products
to the market to satisfy the
requirements of its customers.
By Ian Armitage
Geberit brand
name products are
innovative, durable
and ecologically
efficient
Geberit Southern Africa FEATURE
W
aiting for a flight from Cape
Town the other day, I stumbled
across the airport’s toilets. In
all honesty I can’t remember
much about them. I do remember a thought I
had though: Where would I go if we didn’t have
access to a toilet? What if there had been no
toilet, no sanitation?
It is a simple fact, life without
sanitation kills.
With that thought on my mind, I then
started to wonder where the sanitation at the
airport came from.
When I got home I did a Google search.
I soon found that Geberit supplied the
toilets and sanitation to Cape Town Airport.
So, it was them I had to thank.
But who are they?
Well, Geberit is a European market
leader in sanitary technology, with what
it calls “flushing technology” as one of its
core competences.
The company officially
entered the South African
market in 2007 when it
acquired AMS, the then
exclusive importer of Geberit
products locally.
“Geberit operates sales
offices in more than 40
countries, including South
Africa,” says Mark Schurr,
operations director at
Geberit Southern Africa. “I
was one of the owners of
the AMS business before we
sold to Geberit,” he adds.
“Having built the business
up from nothing basically,
I have a huge passion for
taking it forward.
“Essentially now, we are
much better positioned and
we have a huge multinational
behind us. I think it is
improving our credibly in the
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country in terms of who we are and what we
stand for.”
That said, AMS did a great job of raising
Geberit’s profile prior to the acquisition.
“Before AMS imported Geberit product,
as a brand it was largely unknown and
unavailable in South Africa,” Schurr says.
“Yes, it was available in isolated cases but
what has happened since we came on the
scene is that we have largely changed the
way that people do plumbing – putting
concealed systems into a wall, for instance,
was once unheard of. So, I think we have
changed the way a lot of people can do
things; that is our great achievement.”
Geberit is today a well-known and reliable
supplier of sanitary solutions in the South
African market. Its marketing concept is
targeted at the plumbing trade, specialist
wholesalers, specifiers and end users.
“We’ve grown a very strong brand here,”
says Schurr.
Geberit continually invests in R&D and
is committed to integrating sustainability
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into all its work practices and products. Its
range of products is designed for use in
new buildings as well as in renovation and
modernisation projects. It comprises six
product lines in the two product areas of
Sanitary Systems (Installation and Flushing
Systems, Waste Fittings and Traps) and
Piping Systems (Building Drainage Systems,
Supply Systems).
“Geberit brand name products are
innovative, durable and ecologically efficient
and provide high-end sanitary solutions
for retailers, plumbers, installers and end
users,” says Schurr.
Close collaboration with customers
and appropriate training and educational
measures are important factors for
Geberit’s success too and it has been
involved in various high profile local projects
including the Nelson Mandela Stadium,
Cape Town Stadium, Crystal Towers Hotel,
One and Only Hotel, George Airport, OR
Tambo International Airport, Nedbank
Phase II, Alice Lane Towers, Lynwood
Bridge, AFGRI Head Office, Soweto Theatre,
Killarney Mall Shopping Centre and the
Moses Mabhida Stadium.
“Geberit continuously introduces new
and innovative products to the market to
satisfy the requirements of its customers,”
Schurr adds. “Three such products are: the
Geberit Monolith which offers a stylish new
alternative to the traditional exposed WC;
the new Geberit shower element where the
shower drain is now in the wall, which is
perfect for the floor even shower; and the
Geberit DuoFresh, which discreetly extracts
unpleasant odours from inside the toilet
bowl, purifies the air and releases it back
into the room.
“We have managed to build up a very
strong brand awareness locally and have
established ourselves as a company people
know and respect. We are seen as
innovative, durable and professional, with
high quality products.
 Geberit Southern Africa FEATURE

“There are many benefits to choosing any one
of our systems.”
Indeed there are. The benefits of
choosing a Geberit concealed cistern
system are not just in terms of
aesthetics (having all the nasty bits hidden
behind a wall), they are practical and
functional too:
Easy to clean toilets: Cleaning becomes
much easier with a clear surface under
the wall-hung WC, the cistern hidden
behind the tiles or wall cladding leaving
no exposed pipe work, ensuring hygienic
surfaces in your bathroom.
Space saving: a Geberit wall-hung solution
takes up less room than a conventional
WC and the concealed installation offers
flexibility in confined spaces.
Invisible luxury: Geberit solutions adapt
perfectly to every environment, no matter
how much or how little space is at your
disposal, providing flexibility and the freedom
to design a truly beautiful bathroom.
Creative bathroom design: Geberit’s
discreet and stylish flush actuator plates
come in a wide range of styles and finishes,
so you can choose the one that perfectly
complements your bathroom style.
Geberit enjoyed a boom off the back of local
investment in infrastructure and the World
Cup. It is now eying growth opportunities
in Sub Saharan Africa and neighbours like
Zambia. This is a player to watch.
To learn more about Geberit visit
www.geberit.co.za. END

Strength and stability: the toilet pan

is bolted simply and securely to the
installation element. In this sturdy
construction, the toilet stays firmly in place
and can support weights of up to 400kg.

Water saving toilet system: Geberit’s dual

flush and stop flush system conserves
water, saving money and
the environment.

Accessible maintenance: Geberit cisterns

are one-piece blow-moulded units and
guaranteed not to leak. No need to break
the wall - easy access, the actuator
plate can easily be removed, providing
ready access to all internal components.
Geberit offers a 10-year service
guarantee on their cisterns.

Silent filling and flushing cisterns:

Geberit’s concealed cisterns are fitted with
silent and fast action filling valves and quiet
flushing valves, ensuring efficient, quiet
and reliable toilets

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