GROHE and HSB join forces to Fight Against Water Damage

GROHE and HSB Join Forces to Fight Against Water Damage

- Largest US water management platform launching Q1 2019 addresses one of the most critical issues in the insurance industry.
- Turnkey solution for US insurance carriers to offer the GROHE water management system in property insurance to dramatically reduce claim costs, improve profitability and increase customer loyalty.
- The GROHE Sense & GROHE Sense Guard Water Management system monitors humidity, detects water leaks, gives warnings and shuts off the water supply automatically.

LAS VEGAS -- InsureTech Connect (Oct. 2 2018) -- GROHE, the world's leading provider of sanitary fittings, and Hartford Steam Boiler (HSB), a multi-line specialty insurer and provider of inspection, risk management and IoT technology services today announced they are forming the largest US water management platform, launching in early 2019.

Bert Depiere, director digital innovations of GROHE, and Nancy Onken, executive vice president of the HSB Group said the turnkey solution enables US insurance carriers to offer the GROHE Sense & GROHE Sense Guard Water Management system with their homeowner insurance programs. Companies that provide the GROHE water management system can dramatically reduce their claim costs, improve their profitability and increase their customer loyalty.

The GROHE Sense & GROHE Sense Guard Water Management system is an intelligent solution to reduce water damage. It monitors humidity, detects water leaks, gives warnings and shuts off the water supply automatically. The smartphone-operated technology is particularly appealing to insurance companies as GROHE and HSB together provide a turnkey solution for US carriers.

GROHE and HSB Complement Each Other Perfectly

“Our goal is to create the largest water management platform in the US. GROHE and HSB complement each other perfectly,” says Bert Depiere. “HSB has an excellent reputation and is well connected in the insurance world with over 100 home insurer clients. That helps us to efficiently provide end users the option to install a GROHE Sense system via their well-known insurer.”

Adds Nancy Onken: “The partnership combines the holistic approach of the GROHE Sense system to leak detection and mitigation with HSB’s technical expertise, analytics, and IoT services capability to bring a turnkey solution to the market. Together, we will look to help solve one of the leading loss issues facing homeowners and their insurers.”

GROHE Sense and GROHE Sense Guard Protect Your Home

The GROHE Sense & GROHE Sense Guard system consists of the water sensor, GROHE Sense, and the control unit, GROHE Sense Guard. The water sensor measures room temperature and humidity, detects floods, and sends an automatic alert when things go wrong. The smart water controller, GROHE Sense Guard, measures the system temperature to indicate the risk of frost, detects leaks and shuts off the water supply automatically in the event of an alert. Together, GROHE Sense & GROHE Sense Guard protect homes from unpleasant surprises caused by water pipes.

For more information, please visit insurer.grohe.com.

GROHE Sense and GROHE Sense Guard are trademarks of Grohe AG CORPORATION.

Nancy Onken, executive vice president of the HSB Group, and Bert Depiere, director, digital innovations of GROHE, attended the InsureTech Connect 2018 trade show in Las Vegas in October. There, they jointly announced the 2019 launch of a new turnkey solution that enables U.S. insurance carriers to offer the GROHE Sense & GROHE Sense Guard Water Management system with their homeowners insurance programs.

About GROHE
GROHE is the world’s leading provider of sanitary fittings and has a total of over 6,000 employees, 2,400 of which are based in Germany. GROHE has been part of the LIXIL Group Corporation since 2014. As an international brand, GROHE pursues the brand values of technology, quality, design and sustainability, seeking to offer the “Pure joy of water”. GROHE has been developing new product categories since its inception. This includes the GROHE Blue and Red water systems and the recently-introduced GROHE Sense water security system, which is an innovative component in the growth market of smart home technology. Innovation, design and development are closely aligned with one another and are enshrined in the German site as an integrated process. As a result, GROHE products carry the seal of quality “Made in Germany”. In the past ten years alone, more than 300 design and innovation awards as well as several top rankings at the German Sustainability Award have confirmed GROHE's success. GROHE was the first in its industry to win the German government’s CSR prize and was also featured in the renowned Fortune® magazine’s ranking of Top 50 that are “Changing the World”.

About LIXIL
LIXIL makes pioneering water and housing products that solve every day, real-life challenges, making better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere. Drawing on our Japanese heritage, we create world-leading technology and innovate to make high quality products that transform homes. But the LIXIL difference is how we do this; through meaningful design, an entrepreneurial spirit, a dedication to improving accessibility for all and responsible business growth. Our approach comes to life through industry leading brands, including INAX, GROHE, American Standard and TOSTEM. Over 70,000 colleagues operating in more than 150 countries are proud to make products that touch the lives of more than a billion people every day. Learn more at www.lixil.com

About HSB
Hartford Steam Boiler (HSB), part of Munich Re, is a multi-line specialty insurer and provider of inspection, risk management and IoT technology services. HSB insurance offerings include equipment breakdown, cyber risk, specialty liability and other coverages. HSB blends its engineering expertise, technology and data to craft inventive insurance and service solutions for existing and emerging risks posed by technological change. Throughout its 150 year history HSB’s mission has been to help clients prevent loss, advance sustainable use of energy and build deeper relationships that benefit business, public institutions and consumers. HSB holds A.M. Best Company’s highest financial rating, A++ (Superior). For more information, visit www.hsb.com and connect on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

GROHE
Feldmühleplatz 15 • 40545 Düsseldorf • Germany • Phone: +49(0)211/9130-3030 • www.grohe.com

GROHE Media Contact
Sarah Bagherzadegan, PR & Communications Manager
E-Mail: media@grohe.com

GROHE US Media Contact
Nora DePalma
nora.depalma@betterpr.com
770-772-4726