Cool idea quenches thirst for bottled water

2009-10-30
Member News

A device being developed in County Durham to provide chilled drinking water from the mains supply is targeting the southern European market.

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The under sink filtering system, designed by developed by Bishop Auckland-based BluCurve, is less cumbersome and more efficient than other products on the market, and aims to reduce reliance on bottled water.

The project has been awarded funding from Design Network North, and the company is now looking to manufacture the systems in the North East for distribution across Europe.

Philip Walton set up BluCurve after seeing an opportunity to capitalise on the systems currently available. He said: “There are a number of devices available which for the most part are unattractive, inefficient, non-integrated or very expensive. The market for mains-fed chilled drinking water dispensers Point of Use Coolers has enjoyed substantial growth over recent years rising from 400 thousand in 2004 to one million.

“With the help of Design Network North we will get a well designed highly efficient and integrated unit which will be more desirable to potential customers.”

Design Specialist at Design Network North, John Hetherington added: “By partnering Blucurve with a design company, DNN funding will enable key issues around aesthetics, functionality, usability and ease of installation to be fully considered. This will enable Blucurve to bring a winning product to market in a shorter than anticipated time frame.”