Blum kitchen inspirations

11 A N D R E A G R U B E R , P R O D U C T T R A I N I N G / M A R K E T I N G You simply can’t imagine how restricted your movements are. I noticed it most when using the wall cabinet. It’s difficult to stretch and you can’t see the items. Even if you’re a normal height, you can hardly reach contents or only get to them if you make a real effort. Cabinets with lift systems definitely make life easier. The front will stay in any position and the handle will always be within easy reach. Siegfried Röck is one of Blum’s team of specialists that investigate customer requirements. He has been involved in the use of the AGE EXPLORER ® suit for many years. How important is Requirement Research to Blum? A kitchen has to be fit for everyday use. That’s why it should not only be beautiful, but above all practical – a furniture lifetime. We see ourselves as mentors for kitchen users whose goal it is to develop useful and lasting fittings solutions. Our Requirement Research Department tells us which features will play an important role in the future. Why does Blum use the AGE EXPLORER ® suit? Direct and personal experience is one of the most effective ways of recognising what is decisive. Prac- tice-oriented research using the AGE EXPLORER ® helps our team gain important new insights – not only in the field of product development. Even Blum employees who work in the fields of develop- ment, sales and marketing get a better understanding of the practical benefits of functional fittings through hands-on experience! That’s why we give everyone the opportunity to try out the AGE EXPLORER® for them- selves. What insights have you gained thanks to the AGE EXPLORER ® suit? We do at least one cooking trial in the age simulator suit every time we develop a new product. We install the new products into a kitchen and use cameras to watch the cooking procedure. This allows us to quickly identify differences in operation and any potential for optimisation. We’re talking about ergonom- ics, quality of motion and user convenience, e.g. how quickly a pull-out with electric drive opens. What do you do with the insights gained? They’re incorporated in the development of our products. This is the best possible way to ensure that our products will always be easy and convenient to use for kitchen users worldwide, regardless of age – today and tomorrow.