Braukmann takes Resideo back to the future

One of the key themes of the 1985 film "Back To The Future" is change and transformation. In today's world, where the one constant is change, does looking back still shape how we move forward?

At Resideo we believe it does, and going back to the origins of our Braukmann water portfolio helps us drive forward our vision for the future.

Last year, we announced that we were reintroducing the Braukmann product family name to our high-quality water product portfolio. The changes reflected our on-going journey to build the Resideo brand while, at the same time, acknowledging our more than 75 years' experience in the European residential water control market from our acquisition of the Braukmann company in 1980 from its founder.

But what exactly does that rich heritage involve? And how is it relevant to how we do things now and our vision to imagine a world where homes and buildings are good for the planet, where technology works to simplify everyday life?

To start to answer these questions we took a walk down memory lane with Peter Schott, who started work with Braukmann in Mosbach, Germany, as a training manager for potable water valves during the 1970s. Peter retired in 2011.

Sylvain: What are your favourite memories of working at Braukmann?

Peter: The versatility of the job and being involved in every stage of the product development. There was great collaboration across all the different teams, and a huge focus on continuous exchange and discussion with trade partners and installers. By working closely with the sales team we could turn customer feedback into quick product development action. And I clearly remember my first visit to a transfer shaft of a municipal water supply system, which gave me great insight for our future developments. Overall, we had clear common goals that we worked on as one team.

Sylvain: What was the colleague ethos like at Braukmann?

Peter: We had a log cabin in the factory grounds where our so-called Technicians Club met regularly and we held lot of our social meetings there, including meetings for our company choir. Socialising together as colleagues was a key part of the Braukmann ethos.

Sylvain: What was the market for water products like when the company started?

Peter: Many of the products developed at that time are still standard today. For example, the pressure reducing valves D06F had just been launched and the HS10 was a pioneer in the domestic water market with its integrated components. Competitors watched us closely due to our focus on innovation.

Sylvain: What was important to Braukmann's customers in the early days?

Peter: Product reliability and technical support were already very important back then. We used our log cabin for on-site training and sharing customer experiences.

Sylvain: How does it feel to know that the name Braukmann is still as relevant today for Resideo's water product customers?

Peter: It's great to see it's been reintroduced. However, for me - and I suspect for some customers - it was never really gone. The Braukmann name comes with expectations and it's important Resideo continues to fulfill and build on that.

So, it seems that while a lot of things change, a lot stay the same. Customer centricity, innovation, responsiveness to the market and execution excellence on all product introductions are all things that are very important to Resideo today, and in achieving our vision for the future, just as they were to Peter and the Braukmann company in the 1970s.

One example of our continued innovation is our plan to introduce lead-free models of our products to homeowners across Europe. With the same reliability and efficiency, these newer products will further enhance the environmental benefits.

There is so much more we can do with potable water valves and water treatment products at Resideo and I'm excited for the future and our growth path – at the same time as staying true to our Braukmann past.