Presto Ibérica anticipates the new era of professional tapware: more regulation, more efficiency and greater technological control
With the update of the Technical Building Code and stricter water-saving requirements, Gustavo Díez, sales director of Presto Ibérica, analyses how the sector is evolving towards more efficient and technologically advanced solutions.
With more than 40 years of experience, the company is preparing for a new strategic phase that will strengthen its position in professional tapware.
Professional tapware is going through a period of technical redefinition. The update of the Technical Building Code, stronger water-efficiency criteria and the requirement for low-lead materials are raising the level of specialisation in public and private projects. Installations are no longer judged only on how they perform on day one, but on their ability to maintain efficiency, hygiene and durability over time.
In this context, anticipation plays a decisive role. As Gustavo Díez, sales director of Presto Ibérica, explains, market needs must be addressed before they become regulatory obligations. From the development of the first self-closing system to the introduction of low-lead brass, the incorporation of antibacterial solutions and the adaptation to Spain’s first water-saving regulations, the company’s history has been tied to this way of understanding product evolution.
Regulatory anticipation and technological development
The evolution of the sector is directly linked to the regulatory environment. Requirements for water efficiency, material quality and hygiene conditions force manufacturers and specifiers to work with a perspective that goes beyond immediate compliance. Technical planning is being done further and further in advance, and products must be ready for that scenario.
In this context, anticipation has been part of Presto Ibérica’s history. As Gustavo Díez points out, the company has sought to stay ahead of market changes. The introduction of low-lead brass, the development of antibacterial solutions and the adaptation to the first regional water-saving regulations in Spain are examples of an evolution guided by an early reading of the regulatory environment.
Today, the same logic applies to the upcoming update of the Technical Building Code. Presto is working on the necessary adaptations in order to offer installers, distributors and specifiers solutions aligned with the requirements that will apply in the short term. Preparing the product before a requirement becomes mandatory is part of this way of understanding technological development in the professional sector.
Products designed for the reality of each installation
Market demand does not respond to a single criterion. As Gustavo Díez explains, the technical decision varies depending on the profile of the project and the installer. In certain projects, especially in intensive-use environments such as schools or prisons, durability remains the priority. Presto offers a standard five-year warranty, although some installations have been running continuously for more than 30 years, reflecting a product concept focused on reliability and on reducing incidents in the long term.
In other cases, the focus is on savings. Water and energy consumption has become a standard decision-making criterion, both because of regulatory requirements and the need to optimise costs. However, as Gustavo points out, it is not just about reducing the flow rate, but about doing so while maintaining user comfort. Efficiency must be integrated without compromising the user experience, especially in high-frequency installations.
Control is increasingly added to these factors. Although it is not always the first feature requested, advanced tapware management is starting to be included in certain projects. Presto offers solutions that allow comprehensive control of the product and more precise consumption management in installations with a higher level of technology.
Specific solutions for demanding environments
Presto’s range adapts to each type of installation. In environments such as sports centres, schools or sports halls, some PrestoDuc models incorporate systems that make maintenance easier and allow disinfection processes against legionella to be automated, an increasingly common technical requirement in this type of space.
In the hospital sector, healthcare centres themselves require specific equipment such as bedpan washers, while in the day-to-day of collective installations, grab bars are part of projects where accessibility, strength and design integration are technical factors to take into account.
This practical focus on the reality of each installation has also been reflected in specific situations. During the pandemic, for example, Presto developed a specific project for AENA, designing solutions adapted to the new health needs of several airports. It is a case that illustrates how the company adjusts its technical development to real professional market contexts when circumstances require it.
A new phase in the evolution of Presto Ibérica
Changes in the regulatory framework, the inclusion of water saving in specifications and the development of control systems are redefining the requirements of professional tapware. Anticipating this evolution is no longer seen as a competitive advantage, but as a necessity in product design and in the technical planning of installations.
Presto Ibérica’s history has been tied to this way of working: developing solutions conceived for intensive use, aligned with regulations and designed to maintain their performance over time. The transformation of the market reinforces the importance of approaching water equipment in public spaces and collective facilities from a broader technical perspective, consistent with today’s requirements.
At this time of transformation, the company is preparing to take a further step in the field of professional tapware. An evolution that responds to the dynamics of the market itself and will broaden its reach without losing the principles that have defined its journey. The sector is moving forward and Presto Ibérica is already working on the solutions that will accompany that evolution.