ecoturbino® – the original | in use for 20 years! The difference to copies and replicas | exclusive interview with Werner Krenek, CEO and brand owner

YES, we also have to deal with product copiers.

At first glance, the ecoturbino shower adapters from product copiers (almost product pirates) even look like our originals – and some even start with ecowat… in the product name.

What is almost a corporate sport in China, unfortunately sometimes leads to confusion here.

Due to recurring enquiries from customers about our ecoturbino products and the references on the World of ecoturbino, we spoke to the developer and brand owner of ecoturbino, Mr. Krenek, and conducted an interview.

ecoturbino – the original | in use for 20 years!

What the difference is between the copied and perhaps cheaper produced products (presumably from China and Austria), we will now learn from Mr. Krenek.

Our interview with Mr. Ing. Krenek | Owner of the ecoturbino® brand

Question: Mr. Krenek, how did you come up with the idea to develop the ecoturbino back then? What was the trigger and what ideas were behind it?

Mr. Krenek: Originally, 25 years ago, it was discovered that significant biofilm formation could occur in shower hoses and shower systems, repeatedly leading to Legionella contamination, causing people to suffer from pneumonia and face life-threatening conditions or even die.

My first idea was to develop a shower system in which no stagnant water remains in the showerhead and hose after showering. This was primarily of great importance in hospitals and nursing homes.

Question: Since when has the original ecoturbino existed in its current form?

Mr. Krenek: The product development and mass production of the current original ecoturbino were already completed in 2005 and it was also recognized as a patent. Our product has been in use in the same form since then.

The 20 years of the patent application have been reached, and therefore some replicas are now circulating, which are not immediately recognizable to the buyer from the outside. The original ecoturbino, which is internationally protected as a trademark, has met the requirements of the German and Austrian drinking water regulations as well as the applicable EU Taxonomy Regulation since its inception.

Question: When was the ecoturbino awarded the Austrian Ecolabel and what does this ecolabel bring?

Mr. Krenek: The original ecoturbino was first awarded the Austrian Ecolabel at the Welser Energy Saving Fair in 2016. Thus, the sustainability was also confirmed by the Austrian Ministry of the Environment, which also corresponds to the ECO-LABEL guidelines.

Question: Why do you think people are trying to copy the ecoturbino?

Mr. Krenek: There is only one answer: the original product convinces in every aspect.

I am proud that the ecoturbino is being copied, currently even by a company in Altenberg (near Linz). It was originally a construction company that is now copying it in Austria. It makes me a bit sad that it is falsely marketed under its own name and presented as a new innovation.

Until recently, they were even a listed dealer of ours for several years.

Copying is usually easier than creating something yourself. However, often important details are missing, which are only known to the developers through years of experience and further development.

One might be too often tempted to quickly copy a product without knowing the important “tricky details.” For example, even entire lifts from the company Doppelmayr are copied in China; however, customers still prefer to buy the original systems rather than the cheaper replicas.

Question: What bothers you about the ecoturbino copy?

Mr. Krenek: Practically nothing, except that the similar name, like Adidas with two and three stripes, often leads to customer inquiries and confusion. Therefore, all our original products are marked.

References, such as the Stanglwirt now being used as ecowat…, although this replica did not exist at the time of the original delivery. The replicas only appeared in a YouTube video from April 2023 onwards. Currently, residual stocks are being sold under the name ecowat…, and customers sometimes receive ecoturbino parts branded as such – this results in a warranty problem – we do not guarantee the functionality of the copies.

Question: What does the Stanglwirt, for example, say about this?

Mr. Krenek: We are in close coordination with our customers. They are not thrilled about this situation, but in processing it, as with Werzer in Pörtschach, they are naturally required to act themselves. It could be that a single replica was sold and thus can be used as a current reference – Austrian law!

Question: What is ecoturbino planning for the future?

Mr. Krenek: We will soon, perhaps even before these lines appear, present new ecoturbino products, including a Dog & Cats shower for all pet owners.

Question: Where is the original ecoturbino manufactured?

Mr. Krenek: The ecoturbino has been manufactured in Germany from the beginning by an automotive supplier and also meets the material specifications of the DVGW guideline! This ensures the perfect surface quality and accuracy.

Question: What other plans does ecoturbino – the original – have?

Mr. Krenek: We will work exclusively with reliable partners, both in the supplier area and with customers, where we cite hansgrohe as exemplary.

Question: What else does ecoturbino offer?

Mr. Krenek: Not only is ecoturbino certified with the environmental label – we can now also support our customers according to the UZ 200 as accredited consultants of the Federal Ministry and provide official assistance as of recently.

Question: What are you particularly proud of?

Mr. Krenek: That the ecoturbino – the original – is the “most sustainable” product on the market, that we will soon launch our new profit calculator online – easy and free for everyone to use, as well as our World of ecoturbino to show where some original ecoturbino products are in use.

Question: Your ecoturbino motto?

Mr. Krenek: ecoturbino remains ecoturbino – the original in use for 20 years! Even if some product copiers wish it otherwise!