Zip Water

Zip Water is an Australian-origin water appliance brand specializing in systems that provide instant boiling, chilled, filtered and, in selected models, sparkling drinking water. Its products are designed for kitchens, offices, hospitality venues, hospitals, universities, schools, factories and homes. The brand is particularly associated with under-bench and on-wall water dispensers that combine heating, cooling, filtration and electronic dispensing in a single installation. The business began manufacturing and marketing water heating and water dispensing systems in Australia around 1947. During its early decades, it concentrated on kitchen water heaters and bathroom hot-water equipment. Its manually operated over-sink boiling-water heater, equipped with a ready whistle and automatic shut-off, became a familiar fixture in Australian restaurants, community kitchens and other high-use environments during the 1950s and 1960s. In 1962, the company was acquired by Crouch. Zip expanded during the 1960s to serve canteens, restaurants, factories and offices that required larger quantities of boiling water. It also produced higher-capacity units for dairies. In 1975, the company introduced on-wall instant boiling-water heaters with greater capacity and improved energy efficiency. Further product development produced the compact Zip Miniboil and the Zip Tea Tap, an under-sink, non-pressurized boiling-water system. The Tea Tap used a patented steam-condensing design intended to reduce steam and splashing when water was dispensed close to boiling point. Its adoption in Australia was significant enough that it was specified for kitchens and members' offices in the new Parliament House in Canberra by 1985. During the early 1990s, Zip introduced the Hydroboil range, a more compact and serviceable line of on-wall instant boiling-water heaters. The company then broadened its offer beyond heating. In 1996, it introduced an air-cooled HydroTap system capable of dispensing filtered chilled water as well as instant boiling water from an under-bench installation. A redesigned HydroTap generation followed by 2004, featuring a distinctive electronic lever tap, more precise flow control, safety functions, power-saving features and an optional font that allowed the tap to be installed away from a sink with separate drainage. The HydroTap platform continued to expand. Models introduced in 2012 added chilled sparkling water alongside boiling and chilled filtered water, while the HydroTap All-In-One combined boiling, chilled, sparkling filtered, hot and cold water in one system. This product development reflected Zip's shift from a conventional water-heater manufacturer toward an integrated point-of-use water dispensing business. International expansion included the formation of Zip Heaters (UK) Limited in 1991 to manage British distribution and the appointment of a European distributor based in Germany in 2002. The brand later established or appointed distribution arrangements in China and several other Asian and European markets. In New Zealand, products are marketed through the Zenith Heaters name. In the United Kingdom, the business has customer service offices in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Dereham, warehousing in Dereham and a manufacturing facility in Southport, Merseyside. Its products are sold in more than seventy countries. In August 2017, Zip Water was acquired by Culligan International, now associated with Culligan Water International. It operates as part of Culligan's broader water-treatment and water-delivery portfolio.

Zip Water traces its origins to Australia, where it began manufacturing and marketing water heating and water dispensing equipment around 1947. Its initial business centered on water heaters for kitchens and bathrooms. The company subsequently developed equipment for settings in which hot water was needed quickly and repeatedly, including restaurants, community kitchens, factories, canteens and dairies. One of its notable early products was a manually operated over-sink boiling-water heater. The unit included a ready whistle and an automatic cut-off, features that helped make it practical for busy commercial and communal kitchens. During the 1950s and 1960s, the product became a recognizable part of Australian food-service and institutional environments. The company was acquired by Crouch in 1962. Product development in the 1960s emphasized larger-capacity boiling-water equipment. By 1975, Zip had added on-wall instant boiling-water heaters designed to provide more capacity and improved energy efficiency. The Zip Miniboil extended the concept into a smaller wall-mounted format. The Zip Tea Tap then moved the technology under the sink and used a non-pressurized design to provide water close to boiling point while limiting steam and splashing. Its steam-condensing system was patented. By 1985, the Tea Tap had achieved a sufficiently established position in Australia to be specified for the kitchens and members' offices of the new Parliament House in Canberra. In the early 1990s, Zip introduced the Hydroboil range. These units were described as more compact, energy-efficient and easier to service than earlier comparable products. The company's expansion during this period also became more international. Zip Heaters (UK) Limited was formed in 1991 to take over distribution in the United Kingdom, and a European distributor based in Germany was appointed in 2002. New Zealand distribution later operated under the Zenith Heaters name, while additional distributors were established in markets across Europe, Africa and Asia. The company's most important technological broadening came with the HydroTap platform. Introduced in 1996, the first air-cooled HydroTap combined filtered chilled drinking water with instant boiling water through an under-bench system and electronic tap. A redesigned version introduced by 2004 added a distinctive lever-action electronic tap, more controlled water flow, safety and power-saving functions, and a separate font accessory for installations where the tap needed to be located away from the sink. These developments made the product relevant not only to residential kitchens but also to offices, education, healthcare, hospitality and other commercial environments. HydroTap models introduced in 2012 added sparkling chilled and filtered water to the existing boiling and chilled functions. The HydroTap All-In-One combined boiling, chilled, sparkling filtered, hot and cold water in a single system, reinforcing Zip's move toward integrated water hubs rather than standalone heaters. The company diversified accordingly into water chillers and commercial boiling equipment. Zip's manufacturing and distribution footprint has included Australia and the United Kingdom, with British customer-service offices in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Dereham, warehousing in Dereham and manufacturing in Southport, Merseyside. Its products are sold in more than seventy countries, with distributors or commercial arrangements reported in Germany, South Africa, mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines, Cyprus, Taiwan and Thailand. In August 2017, Culligan International acquired Zip Water. The brand now operates within Culligan Water International while continuing to serve residential and commercial users with instant hot, chilled, filtered and sparkling water systems.

• 2017

  Acquired by Culligan

  [1]Zip Wateren.wikipedia.org

  Culligan International acquired Zip Water in August.

• 2012

  Sparkling and all-in-one HydroTap models

  [1]Zip Wateren.wikipedia.org

  New HydroTap models added sparkling chilled filtered water, and the HydroTap All-In-One combined several temperature and dispensing functions.

• 2004

  HydroTap redesigned

  [1]Zip Wateren.wikipedia.org

  A redesigned HydroTap generation introduced an electronic lever tap, improved flow control, safety and power-saving features, plus a separate font accessory.

• 2002

  European distribution expanded

  [1]Zip Wateren.wikipedia.org

  A distributor based in Germany was appointed for Europe.

• 1996

  First HydroTap introduced

  [1]Zip Wateren.wikipedia.org

  Zip introduced an air-cooled HydroTap system dispensing filtered chilled and instant boiling water from an under-bench installation.

• 1991

  United Kingdom distribution company formed

  [1]Zip Wateren.wikipedia.org

  Zip Heaters (UK) Limited was formed to take over distribution in the United Kingdom.

• 1985

  Tea Tap specified for Parliament House

  [1]Zip Wateren.wikipedia.org

  Zip Tea Tap systems were specified for kitchens and members' offices in Australia's new Parliament House in Canberra.

• 1975

  On-wall instant boiling-water heaters

  [1]Zip Wateren.wikipedia.org

  The company added on-wall instant boiling-water heaters with increased capacity and improved energy efficiency.

• 1962

  Acquisition by Crouch

  [1]Zip Wateren.wikipedia.org

  Zip was acquired by Crouch after its early focus on kitchen and bathroom water heaters.

• 1947

  Australian manufacturing begins

  [1]Zip Wateren.wikipedia.org

  Zip began manufacturing and marketing water heating and water dispensing systems in Australia around this time.

A premium point-of-use water dispensing brand focused on convenience, workplace and hospitality productivity, filtration, energy-conscious operation and multi-temperature access from a single tap.

• Integrated water dispensing system · 1996

  Zip HydroTap

  The HydroTap is Zip's principal integrated dispensing platform. It combines instant boiling water with filtered chilled water and, in later models, sparkling chilled water. The system is generally installed under a bench and connected to an electronic tap, making it suitable for homes, offices, hospitality venues, healthcare facilities and educational institutions. Later engineering revisions emphasized controlled flow, user safety, energy-saving functions and flexible installation through a separate font accessory.

• Multi-function water dispensing system · 2012

  Zip HydroTap All-In-One

  The HydroTap All-In-One extended the HydroTap concept by combining boiling, chilled, sparkling filtered, hot and cold water in one dispensing system. It was designed to reduce the need for separate taps and appliances in residential and commercial kitchens while providing filtered water in several temperatures and formats.

• On-wall instant boiling-water heater · 1990

  Zip Hydroboil

  Introduced in the early 1990s, Hydroboil units represented Zip's next generation of on-wall instant boiling-water heaters. They were developed to be more compact, energy-efficient and serviceable than earlier equivalent equipment and were intended particularly for commercial and institutional locations requiring repeated access to boiling water.

• Under-sink instant boiling-water system

  Zip Tea Tap

  The Tea Tap was an under-sink, non-pressurized instant boiling-water system that delivered water within approximately one degree of boiling point. Its patented steam-condensing system was designed to minimize excessive steam, splashing and spatter. The product became well established in Australia and was specified for the new Parliament House in Canberra by 1985.

• Compact on-wall boiling-water heater

  Zip Miniboil

  The Miniboil was a small on-wall instant boiling-water heater developed after Zip expanded its commercial boiling-water range. It brought the convenience of instant boiling water to installations with lower capacity requirements than the larger commercial units used in canteens, restaurants, factories and offices.

• 2017

  Culligan acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Zip had developed from an Australian water-heater manufacturer into an international supplier of boiling, chilled, filtered and sparkling water systems.

  Action taken

  Culligan International acquired Zip Water in August 2017.

  Aftermath

  Zip Water became part of Culligan's international water business, with its products continuing to be sold across residential and commercial markets.

  Source

1. 1Zip Wateren.wikipedia.org