When Sergio started his internship at Quooker in 2021, he knew little about the product. On his first day, he was introduced to Quooker’s history and learned about the origins of the product he would be working on. “The story of Henri Peteri, who dropped everything to work on his idea in his basement, really captured my imagination. When you see the development from the very first prototype he created to the Quooker tap collection we now sell worldwide, it’s truly impressive.”

So many possibilities After his internship, Sergio joined the R&D department as a full-time engineer. There, he works daily with his colleagues on further developing Quooker products. “You might think: the tap is finished, what more is there to develop? But you’d be surprised how many directions are still open,” he says. “Our department has sixty colleagues, all working on numerous interesting projects—from designing new tap models to improving small components.”

New tap: the Flex Square Sergio is currently working on the latest tap, the Flex Square. A round version already existed, but now a square model with a flexible pull-out hose is being introduced. “For a long time, this was considered impossible. But by repositioning and adjusting components inside the tap, we managed to guide the hose through two bends. That’s what makes working at Quooker so enjoyable: you’re constantly developing a product with endless possibilities, working with different materials and techniques, and gaining deeper insight into how everything works. Because R&D and the factory are under one roof, we collaborate closely, which also helps generate ideas to streamline production.”

Wet workshop floor Things occasionally go wrong—that’s part of the job. “We continuously run experiments and tests, and yes, that sometimes results in wet clothes.” One weekend, Sergio woke up in a panic. “I realized I had forgotten to turn off a tap on Friday afternoon, which was being moved back and forth by a robotic arm. For a moment, I feared the entire workspace would be flooded and our test equipment ruined. I went to work on Saturday to shut off the water, but left the robot running. By Monday, the whole test was completely ruined.”

What will Quooker taps look like in five or ten years? Sergio says: “I think our products will be even easier to assemble and disassemble, making it simpler to replace parts. But I’m also looking forward to the near future—when I’ll walk into a place and see a Flex Square tap. That will feel a bit like my own creation.”

Published on 22-07-2024