How the R&D Department at Tres operates
Within the Tres Grifería R&D Department, everything begins with the end user and their needs, as well as the commitment by Tres to water. After defining those needs in product form or sometimes just a necessary feature (a feature that is later transferred to a range of products), the Design stage is launched to establish the look, ergonomics and functionality, etc.
Once a satisfactory design has been obtained, this is passed to the Engineering department. This is where that look is embodied into a mechanical and manufacturable prototype using the very best tools available (CAD 3D, 3D prototype printing, prototype manufacturing in the workshop, functional validation in the laboratory, etc.). Whenever the idea contains a significant innovation, this development by Engineering can require anything up to dozens of iterations until excellence is achieved.
Excellence at Tres is when a look has been obtained that offers something new for the end user, including of course the water flow aesthetic, ease of installation for the product, when functionality and comfort during use are guaranteed, when durability is beyond doubt and when a prototype manufactured in the factory can ensure quality in the end product. This entire process takes place at the Tres facilities in Vallirana (Barcelona).
Interview with Pedro Jiménez, Head of Innovation and Development at Tres
Pedro Jiménez, a professional engineer with extensive experience, joined Tres in 2019 after being attracted (in his own words) by the strong commitment from the company to R&D and its capacity to innovate.
What requirements does a bathroom tap need to have before it can include the latest technology?
All bathroom and kitchen taps can include the latest technology. What we do at Tres is develop technologies and solutions that are tailored to each product, each range and even each target customer. We have “technology” projects such as our Shower Technology, an electronically controlled shower focused on providing maximum comfort and maximum ease of use for the end user. We have projects dedicated to wholesale tapware, for which we invest a great deal of time and effort aimed at making assembly easier for installers and lowering their price, and we have projects aimed at producing design improvements that will make our product become the top choice among interior designers and architects. So, as you can see, we have different products, ranges and needs, but they are always supported by R&D work.
What are the most highly in-demand technologies for tapware products? Is
there a difference between residential customers and others? (hotels,
hospitals, etc.)
Every market and every customer is a universe unto themselves. There are parts of the world where the thermostatic mixing valve reigns supreme, others that prefer single lever mixer taps, customers who opt for electronics... Our goal is for the level of satisfaction with the product to be as high as possible in terms of the look, comfort, usability (comfort, ease of cleaning, etc.) and quality, whatever technology is chosen.
In terms of any difference between residential customers and others, there are indeed many differences. Some relate to safety so that accidental burns (thermostatic taps or our TRES-PROTECT) or incidents can be avoided (always-open sink valves). What we have seen in the public sector (hotels and hospitals) is a huge surge in technologies that help contain water and energy consumption. Along these lines, we have flow limitation solutions for the vast majority of our taps, which lead to an enormous saving in not only water but also energy because they prevent unnecessary water heating.
How important is investing in technology and innovation at the company?
It’s fundamental. Without the capacity that Tres has to research new solutions, manufacture prototypes in our workshop or 3D print pieces using our printers, make moulds for prototype series... without all that, which requires a significant investment already, we would not be able to offer the solutions we can offer to our customers today or those that we are developing at the moment to release over the coming years.
What do you think about when
developing the R&D strategy at Tres?
To answer that, I can point you to the Vision adopted by the entire R&D team: “To boost brand value for TRES by developing products and technologies that make a difference for the customer and end user”.
We seek to make a difference that, as I said before, might be found in a technology product or an improvement in tap installation. Of course, to identify those factors that need to make a difference, we always consider the market feedback we receive via the Marketing and Sales teams.
Which Tres products stand out for their cutting-edge technology?
Of those that are already included on our Price List, I can highlight our Shower Technology or the Block-System. But I invite everyone to take a look at our upcoming Price List, which includes a good number of innovations that clearly demonstrate all the R&D work undertaken at Tres.
