Methven is celebrating its 140th anniversary by reaffirming its commitment to water-saving innovation “as drought conditions, rising water costs and increasing regulatory pressure bring water efficiency into sharper focus across the UK construction and housing sectors.”
Originally founded in 1886 as a brass and iron foundry by Scottish born George Methven in Dunedin, New Zealand, the firm began manufacturing taps in 1896, acquired UK tapware brand DEVA in 2007 before fully launching in the UK in 2011. A division of the GWA Group based in Australia, it employs just under 500 people across the UK, Australia, New Zealand and China, with a UK & Ireland HQ in Warrington and sales staff covering all regions across England, Scotland and Wales, as well as Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.
This year’s drought has heightened public awareness of the need to use water more efficiently, while rising utility costs and tightening regulatory requirements are accelerating the demand for change. CEO Martin Walker said: “As pressure on water resources continues to grow, we see a significant opportunity for manufacturers, developers and merchants to work together to drive meaningful improvements in water efficiency. We are committed to playing a leading role in that journey.”
The business offers an extensive range of taps and showers featuring patented water-saving technologies such as Satinjet, Vjet and Aurajet, which are “designed to combine outstanding performance with greater water efficiency.” And Martin believes the firm is well positioned to lead that transition by helping customers save water without the frustration traditionally associated with low-flow showering.
“As pressure on water resources continues to grow, we see a significant opportunity for manufacturers, developers and merchants to work together to drive meaningful improvements in water efficiency. We are committed to playing a leading role in that journey.”
He continued: “Our commitment to engineering water-saving technologies that enhance the user experience has been central to our success. As pressure on water resources grows, we are well positioned to help developers meet stricter Part G requirements, future-proof developments and create more sustainable buildings.
“Our current team in the UK are committed, talented and ready to support our customers in meeting and exceeding water saving targets over the coming years.”
Indeed, its design and engineering have won the brand a host of prestigious design awards over the years – this year, its Minimalist shower head featuring Vjet was named Best Shower Head in the Ideal Home Awards, whilst also being named one of the best water saving shower heads by The Independent. The Aio headset also recently featured on ITV’s This Morning in a segment on money-saving gadgets for around the home.
