Sustainability, environmental protection, and responsible behavior as the core of the company’s strategy and tap production. Find out more.
“It is every man’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it” Albert Einstein
For a long time, Gattoni Rubinetteria’s company strategy has been focusing on “green” themes by improving and modernizing the processes of all manufacturing phases. That is why their taps can be identified as environmental-friendly for their innovative functions aimed at proposing responsible management of water consumption.
It can be defined as <<GREEN ATTITUDE>>, which is an orientation towards putting the values based on sustainability, environmental protection, and responsible behavior at the forefront, applied both to the manufacturing and distribution of the taps.
An additional element supporting such a foresighted attitude is also the choice of the suppliers, who are selected among those that offer certified raw materials, processed by highly professional and specialized workers, coming from the most important Italian taps-and-fittings production district, located on a territory far from highly urbanized and industrialized suburbs and therefore characterized by a healthy quality of life.
All of the above contribute to defining Gattoni Rubinetteria as a firm grounding on environment-friendly and environmental sustainability principles typical of a company that takes to heart the milieu surrounding it and is respectful of all the partners it works with down to the final consumer.
The aspects in which the company has invested are:
1) GATTONI RUBINETTERIA AND SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION
2) PHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY FOR THE ENTIRE PRODUCTION PROCESS
3) LOW ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT PRODUCTION CYCLE
4) BRASS-CERTIFIED RAW MATERIAL
5) WATER AND ENERGY-SAVING CARTRIDGES
6) AERATORS WITH FLOW REDUCERS
7) COMPONENTS MADE OF NON-TOXIC MATERIALS
8) RECYCLABLE PACKAGING
9) NO ACOUSTIC POLLUTION
10) RESPONSIBLE USE OF THE TAP
GATTONI RUBINETTERIA AND SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION
To innovate means to take advantage of know-how and technology to achieve a safer and more environment-friendly production process. That is why Gattoni Rubinetteria has for quite some time adopted a manufacturing policy aimed at guaranteeing a safe and healthy environment and be already now and continue to be in the future, a technologically advanced and innovative company always in the forefront.
PHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY TO KEEP THE PLANT ACTIVE
80% of the company’s total energy need is satisfied by a highly advanced 197.34 KW photovoltaic system: all production machinery, as well as the entire lighting system, is fed by internally produced energy with a drastic reduction of costs and very low emission of CO2 in the atmosphere.
The ultimate generation system extends over a 1,400 sq. m. surface and is composed of 880 modules and 7 inverters, which turn the continuous current produced by the system into the alternate current necessary to activate the company’s entire production cycle. The photovoltaic system produces annually about 209,000 kW of energy equal to 150 tons of CO2 released into the atmosphere.
LOW ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT PRODUCTION CYCLE
Specifically, the chrome plating-in-galvanic bath phase is carried out according to a patented system, called PWP (Pure Water Process) – which through two separate treatments inhibits the release of toxic metals into the potable water: the first is for the chemical elimination of lead, the second consists in a deposit of corrosion-resistant electrolytic nickel to which must be added special products that limit the release of nickel ions when coming in contact with water.
Furthermore, all wastewater resulting from the entire production process is almost entirely depurated and re-circulated with a substantial saving of the water itself and a lower impact on the environment. The water resulting from treatments with higher environmental risk, such as chrome plating and degreasing, release exhausted eluates, which are at first stocked and stored internally and then periodically delivered to specialized disposal-and-recovery centers.
Every phase of the production process is constantly monitored and undergoes continuous improvements.
BRASS: CERTIFIED RAW MATERIAL
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc to which other components are added based on the performance required for the product. For the taps and fitting products, nickel and lead are added, which however can be toxic if present in heavy quantities. The chemical composition of the brass used by Gattoni Rubinetteria is in compliance with international standards and guarantees the best performance both to satisfy the modern aesthetic taste during the production phase and to respect the environment (thanks to treatments such as the trivalent chroming called PWP).
WATER AND ENERGY-SAVING CARTRIDGES
The adoption of a new type of cartridge, a small pulsating heart of the tap that enables the mixing of the water, makes it possible to optimize consumption and avoid useless energy overloads. Gattoni Rubinetteria offers three different types of water mixing cartridges that comply with the performance required for the taps they are installed in and a thermostatic cartridge.
The Ø 25 mm cartridges are installed in the design series and offer a water flow of 10 lt/min way below the capacity required by law, while the Ø 35 mm cartridges are installed in the more commercial versions and respect the standard of 12 lt/min.
The company offers additional water and energy-saving cartridge installed in some mass-produced series. The water flow capacity of 6 lt/min is set at production through a flow limiting device, while a special temperature limiter makes it possible to set a minimum rotation of the hot temperature level, thus preventing useless functioning of the heater to produce unnecessary hot water. The mechanism is similar to the “stop” level present on the thermostatic mixers, that setting the temperature at 38°C not only avoids energy waste but also prevents possible scalding when used by children or elderly users.
AERATORS WITH FLOW LIMITERS
Modern aerators are equipped with flow limiters, small devices screwed onto the mouth of the tap, that by mixing water with air allow up to 30% water saving. while obtaining a better flow jet (same power with no spurts).
COMPONENTS MADE OF NON-TOXIC MATERIAL
All soft rubber components and connectors of the taps are made of polymers, obtained from non-toxic compounds which are highly elastic and have excellent mechanical properties. The washers and o-rings fitted inside the tap must guarantee tight-fitting between the parts and fight all degenerative phenomena caused by the warping effect generated by the pressure exercised by the rubber molecules (including resistance to the formation of fungi and mildew).
All showers as well, either handheld or those with large shower heads, are fitted with environment-friendly washers: anti-lime, shockproof, abrasion resistant that can be used even with high temperatures and are homologated for use in contact with hot and cold potable water (NSF, WRc, KTW, DVGW…)
RECYCLABLE PACKAGING
For quite some time Gattoni Rubinetteria has been complying with standards that only recently have become compulsory and that require the use of sponge instead of polystyrene inside the packaging cartons to protect the tap all through the time between the shipping from the warehouse to the destination. Carton is a material easily recyclable that can also be recovered for further use.
NO ACOUSTIC POLLUTION
This is an aspect that characterizes the plumbing hydraulic system and not just the tap, which is only the externally visible part of the installation; in fact, it is actually the latter that amplifies an irritating noise, which some European countries already regulate quite strictly. That is why Gattoni Rubinetteria’s series, rigorously tested in the laboratory, satisfies all these requirements. Among others, the French certification (NF) focuses upon both the single-lever mixers and the traditional taps imposing the use of sintered ceramic instead of brass screw downs.
RESPONSIBLE USE OF THE TAP
In Italy also, possibly just recently as compared with other countries of the world, a more and more growing civic awareness is contributing to producing good results in terms of a conscious behavior towards nature and the riches it offers us.
Water, a primary necessity that apparently we consider an unlimited resource, is the element we must deal with when turning on a tap or mixer. Responsible use of water contributes to improving the innovative performances already developed by the manufacturer. Four useful but not to be taken for granted precautions must be kept in mind:
1) Remember not to let the water flow uselessly when brushing your teeth or doing the dishes;
2) After finishing the job make sure the tap is securely turned off and that there are no drippings because even if drippings seem to waste just a little water, they actually do waste a whole lot. Federconsumatori (consumer Union) has calculated that 60 drops a minute represent 864 liters per month, 90 drops a minute are equal to 1395 liters a month and 120 drops a minute equal to 1930 liters per month!
3) Let’s not forget that when we choose a shower over a bath we consume about 50 liters of water instead of 150.
4) Especially in case of a prolonged absence from home make sure to shut off the main water supply before leaving.
Gattoni Rubinetteria Press
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