When Australia’s best-selling manufacturer of bathroom hand-dryers JD MacDonald needed to replace their principal product, they turned to CobaltNiche to provide design and engineering inspiration.

The resultant Autobeam and Touchdry range was an instant sales success with specifiers enthusiastically embracing the range on the basis of their aesthetics alone. However, even more importantly the new dryers exceed the functionality and specification of major competitors from Europe and the US providing a unique and tangible competitive advantage.

Technical wins

The project introduced a number of manufacturing and installation benefits, which provided inventory flexibility and better acceptance from installers. For example, the nozzle can be changed from ‘fixed’ to ‘swivelling’ at installation where previously this had to be specified at the factory.

Looking out for us

One of CobaltNiche’s self-appointed objectives was to represent the everyday user, and make what should be a simple product actually work as expected. Examples of this approach include making the nozzle strikingly obvious, adjusting the sensor orientation so that the dryer activated when hands are within the air flow, and improved internal aerodynamics to increase warm air velocity.

Water ingress protection

The biggest technical advance was increasing the level of water ingress protection allowing the units to withstand hosing-down. Cleaning maintenance was further considered by making surfaces flush to resist dirt build-up.

The commercial, functional and strategic outcomes of this product development are a clear example of the benefits of a design-led intervention.