Alessi and Oras have been successfully working together for ten years now in the area of bathroom faucets and fittings.
Recently, after the projects “Il bagno Alessi One”, “Il bagno Alessi Dot” and
“La Cucina Alessi”, our two companies decided to start a new common research in the
area of fittings with the aim to explore the possibilities offered by electronics in the
development of a future innovative scenario of washing experience and bathroom culture.
On one hand, Oras will collaborate in stressing more and more its already strong knowledge in the application of the electronic components to faucets and fittings, in a way that the products resulting will be easily understandable and usable by the private customers.
On the other hand, Alessi will make use of its best knowledge in design management to extend its exploration of the world of creativity, under the briefings received by Oras, in a way to be able to periodically submit to Oras new project concepts in line with the aim of the research.
This agreement will be signed by the both Parties on the 31st May 2010 for the first new project at the launch of the research.
Alessi s.p.a. Oras Group
Alberto Alessi Pekka Kuusniemi
Oras is world leading in electronic faucets
Oras, founded in 1945, is the Nordic market leader and one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of faucets. Oras has from the very beginning been a forerunner on its branch and it has been contributing to the comfortable use, ecology, safety and design of its products.
Oras has been developing and producing electronic faucets since early 90’s. The extensive range of touchless faucets includes reliable and user-friendly faucets for public places as well as for modern homes. The Oras Group has production facilities in Finland, Poland and Norway. The company employed 1030 people and Group turnover amounted to 123.2 million euro in 2009.
Alessi s.p.a.
The Alessi company was founded by Giovanni Alessi in 1921 at Omegna, Lake Orta. Design first appeared at the end of the nineteen-thirties with Giovanni's eldest son, Carlo who designed the 'Bombé' tea and coffee service. In 1970 Alberto entered the company as responsible for design management and now he has been appointed President of Alessi after his father Carlo passed away in July 2009.
One of Alessi’s features today is the ability to reconcile its typically industrial needs with its tendency to consider itself more as a 'research laboratory in the field of the applied arts' than an industry in the conventional sense.
Over the years, Alessi has produced tableware and kitchenware in stainless steel and other materials, created by over two hundred designers. Some of the historic designers of the company include: Ettore Sottsass, Richard Sapper, Achille Castiglioni, Aldo Rossi, Michael Graves, Massimo Morozzi, Philippe Starck, Stefano Giovannoni and Guido Venturini, Enzo Mari, Jasper Morrison, Mark Newson, Ron Arad… and Alessandro Mendini, who has also been design consultant since 1979.
For more information, please contact
Alessi International Press Agency DiPalma Associati, info@dipalmassociati.com,
tel +39 02 76021515
and Mr. Pekka Kuusniemi, President and CEO, Oras Group, tel +358 50 537 3883.