Producing cutting-edge designs for the real world
Milwaukee — Graff is unique in the industry. It is a true manufacturer of premium and luxury kitchen and bath faucets, shower systems and accessories. Under the direction of Ziggy Kulig and one of the most talented design teams to be found anywhere — including some Italian and Swiss designers — Graff is creating faucet designs unique in form and function and the company is gaining recognition internationally for their exceptional products.
This aggressive manufacturer actually fills a void in today’s marketplace. “Graff is totally, vertically integrated, meaning we make everything we sell and it all goes together — from the way the valves fit together, the matching accessories and all of the finishes,” said Troy Merkl, director of operations for Graff who has been with the company for over 20 years. “Our surface finish esthetics are nearly perfect and we have unmatched repeatability from piece to piece.”
Graff has built a team of exceptional customer service and technical support personnel. They have a full-time certified plumber leading their technical team to assist with all matters relating to product installation and technical questions. This hands-on experience combined with an amazing customer support team enables Graff to assist customers with any need they may have.
“Graff also utilizes state-of-the-art engineering and testing to ensure we deliver the highest possible quality in our products,” said Merkl. “In additional to stocking a large number of products in our North American warehouse, Graff is able to ship 96% of the orders within 24-48 hours.”
Graff marketing specialist Andrew Shannon added, “We deliver innovative products that are more closely associated with sculptures than bathroom or kitchen fixtures. While our faucets and showers do draw attention, they also have lasting designs that will always be in style.”
The Luna lavatory faucet is a fascinating example of the superior designs Graff has been recently unveiling. The Luna received a Merit Award for the 2008 Interior Design Best of Year Awards in the Bath: Plumbing Fixtures Category. Arched to perfection, this suite features a vessel filler, tub filler and thermostatic shower system. The stellar mélange of geometrics is offered in finishes of polished chrome and Steelnox™ satin nickel for an ideal blend of style and function.
“Many recent Graff pieces have garnered a great deal of attention, including the futuristic Stealth and Fontaine series,” noted Shannon. “But what really makes people stop and stare is our Luna wall-mounted faucet. With a sweeping curved body similar to that of a crescent moon, I’m often asked to explain how the Luna faucet actually delivers water!”
In addition, Graff recently re-launched the Signature Collection essentials — a collection of modern designs that truly define the Graff style. The company is expanding these lines into full collections with matching accessories and hardware so customers can sell complete bath suites. Marked by a sleek, contemporary aesthetic, the Signature Collection is the embodiment of Graff’s cutting-edge design philosophy and manufacturing expertise.
The Stealth Series is an excellent example of the modernist look and a hallmark of the Signature Collection. A geometric conglomeration of angles and planes, the Stealth resembles an abstract sculpture more than a simple bathroom fixture.
Also part of the Signature Collection is Sade. Featuring a fluid profile that demands attention, the new Sade Collection elevates bathing to new heights, moving water as nature intended. It re-defines bathroom elegance and adds the finishing touch to even the most decadent decors.
The Oscar kitchen faucet is also part of the Signature Collection. “The kitchen is the most celebrated room in the home and sets the tone for style,” Kulig explained. “Graff understands this and has put special emphasis on designing a collection of kitchen products that are not only extremely functional but make an impressionable design statement revealing the attitudes and lifestyle of the owners. The modern-day kitchen is no longer a utilitarian space but a deeper expression of who you are.”
More traditional in design is Graff’s Classic Collection. These products may have more mass-market appeal and can be targeted towards hotels and resorts, commercial developers and large-scale residential builders.
Another area of expansion for Graff is collaborative efforts with the design community both in the U.S. and on the international scene. This is a growing sector of Graff’s business — with products that appeal to upscale architects and designers of boutique and specialized commercial projects. Graff sees collaboration as the future and a way to work on more specialized projects. No matter how talented a manufacturer, collaborations allow products to be placed in the proper context and opens doors on specialized projects. So it’s a winning situation for both partners.
In fact, Graff has recently launched a collaborative design brochure highlighting their customized capabilities. With many of the industry’s most forward thinking designers and the manufacturing ability to customize unique bathroom projects, Graff is now working with leading hotel designers on unique projects including the W Hotel in Minneapolis, Rockefeller Plaza in New York, Eloquence on the Bay in Miami, and the Hyatt Regency in Schaumburg, Ill., to name just a few.
“With extensive manufacturing facilities and capabilities throughout Europe and the U.S., Graff is positioned to exceed your expectations,” said Kulig. “ We have the artisans, the technology and the management team to make the design community’s vision a reality.”
The market’s concern for the environment is shared by Graff — it’s at the forefront of everything they do. Complete manufacturing control has enabled them to implement internationally accepted iso 14000 green processes, which comply with rigorous Environmental Management Systems standards. Even with all the foundry, metal finishing and plating, the company has a zero discharge system. Everything in the factory is either recycled or recovered.
Graff also works closely with the leed green building rating system. This third-party certification program is the nationally accepted benchmark for design, construction and operation of high-performance buildings.
Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Graff is one of five companies owned by Meridian International Group, an iso 9001 certified company. Meridian strategically combines a strong European history of producing oem mixer (faucet) and valve products since the early 1920s, with over 30 years of American excellence in oem machined parts. Their prestigious customer list includes some of the world’s leading plumbing companies.
Graff’s products are now sold at more than 500 kitchen and bath showrooms domestically. For more information, visit www.grafffaucets.com, call 800/954-4723 or e-mail pr@graff-faucets.com.