At the same time, we make sure our R&D process has water conservation built in.
Since 2014, our 17,000-square-foot Zurn Innovation Center in Cary, North Carolina, has facilitated product development with testing, quality control and system innovation for our finish plumbing products.
For example, our product lifecycle testing of flush valves includes up to 28 valves that are each cycled 500,000 times. Faucet testing often includes up to 32 units that are cycled 300,000 times.
But that water isn't going to waste! The Innovation Center recycles the water used in its tests, meaning that through recycling, a lifecycle test of a ZER EZ Gear-Driven Flush Valve will conserve more than 17 million gallons of water. Testing of Zurn Aqua-FIT Sensor Faucets with water recycling will conserve more than 2 million gallons.
In 2019, we added a 20,000-square foot engineering laboratory in Erie, PA. This lab allows us to conceive, design, prototype and test drains faster than ever, while again building water recycling into the R&D process. In its first three years of operation, the Erie lab has recycled more than 98% of its test water, equal to more than 17 million gallons of water recycled.
Our R&D teams focus on innovation and continuous improvement, helping us deliver breakthroughs that address pressing sustainability needs:
Zurn is the only manufacturer to offer a high-efficiency carrier and a 1.1 gallons per flush toilet system. With 31% water consumption savings over traditional 1.6 gallons per flush toilet systems, we deliver an industry-leading line carry that no other manufacturer can match.
Our touchless hand dryers include HEPA filtration and antimicrobial technology, while performing at a quieter sound level than similar models from competitors.
Our smart products suite combines touchless plumbing fixtures, a cloud database and user-friendly software to help building owners conserve water, improve hygiene and reduce operating costs.