After the double win in 2021, for the second year running Zerica won 2 Red Dot Awards in the Product Design and the Smart Product categories for the Smart-Top water dispensing system. This product for ambient, chilled, sparkling & boiling water is comprised of three connected elements: undersink chilling and boiling units, a dedicated tap, and a touchscreen countertop control pad. The touchscreen is directly integrated into the countertop and allows precision modification of portion sizes plus specification of hot and cold water temperatures. Usage data and key parameters are available to view in real-time for better management and planning. “In addition – the company explains – exceptional levels of two-way IoT-enabled connectivity mean that operating parameters can be modified remotely for fast, convenient and sustainable servicing”. Smart-Top includes patented technical solutions: Zero BAR is the patented boiling system that heats water up to 101°C at only 1.5 BAR of internal pressure; Eco Pulse Boiling uses precise pulses of electricity to heat the water and employs sophisticated AI decision making for heating activation, ensuring target temperature is attained and maintained drink after drink; besides this system minimises and optimises total energy use, reducing energy consumption by at least 15% compared to traditional systems. Smart-Top uses an intuitive touchscreen embedded into the countertop: it’s possible to choose free-flow or one of the 4 pre-set programmable dispensing volumes; it allows to customize preferences such as target temperature, portion size or strength of carbonation; and the user can receive alerts for filter & CO2 canister replacements and reminders for periodic maintenance all based on real-time usage.
