LAKE FOREST, Calif. – January 21, 2015 – It’s no secret that value engineering has become a staple of life in the construction industry and that plumbing is one of the top categories for value engineering on jobs. Despite this, trade customers aren’t willing to completely sacrifice ease of installation and quality in pursuit of lower costs. In fact, a 2013 survey of plumbing engineers found that “73% of value engineering changes had a negative contribution to the quality of the finished product.”

On the surface these two trends are seemingly contradictory, but for 100 years Pfister has been at the forefront of balancing quality, innovation and value. With the introduction of the new PermaBalance™ valve, UltraSeal™ cartridge and SecurePfit™ tub shower trim, Pfister has taken the next step in offering quality and value to the trade.

“The professional customer definitely wants to find ways to save money on projects,” said Bryce Rickert, Sr. Marketing Manager for Pfister. “But they aren’t willing to trade quality to do it. At a time when many manufacturers are taking metal out of their products, we looked at ways to add it back in. We focused on making improvements to the quality of the product, the installation process and the end user experience all the while trying to maintain a high level of value for our customers.”

PermaBalance™

The Pfister PermaBalance™ valve represents a large jump forward in tub and shower valve technology. With a new brass stem, larger ceramics, a more flexible install depth for shallow wall installations, and a high precision spool balancing unit, the PermaBalance™ valve is Pfister’s best in-wall valve yet. It offers years of trouble free service while still being able to pressure balance down to flow rates as low as 0.5 gpm at the shower head.

SecurePfit™

The handle on a tub and shower trim is the main point of contact in the shower. Pfister’s SecurePfit™ creates the strongest connection between trim and valve on the market while having one of the easiest installations available. With no exposed screws, a flush handle and tool-less installation, it’s easy to clean too.

UltraSeal™ Cartridge

Pfister’s UltraSeal cartridge improves the overall user experience with Pfister’s showroom preferred widespread lavatory faucet. While competitors convert to plastic stemmed cartridges, Pfister is ensuring the strongest connection point to the handle with larger ceramic discs and a brass stem, offering a lifetime of trouble free, smooth operation.

PermaBalance™ and SecurePfit™ are currently available. UltraSeal™ is available in select faucets. All can be found through select wholesale distributors, plumbers and builders across the country. Visit www.pfisterfaucets.com for more information and pricing.

1) Jillian K Seidel, Value Engineering Trends in the Construction Industry 2012, p12
2) Contractor Magazine, Value Engineering Survey Shows Downside to Cost Driven Decisions, 2/7/13

About Pfister

Pfister® is part of Hardware and Home Improvement (HHI), a major manufacturer and supplier of residential locksets, residential builders’ hardware and faucets with a portfolio of renowned brands, including Kwikset®, Weiser®, Baldwin®, National Hardware®, Stanley®, FANAL®, Pfister® and EZSET®. 

HHI is a leader in its key markets with #1 positions in U.S. residential locksets (Kwikset), Canada residential locksets (Weiser), U.S. luxury locksets (Baldwin), and U.S. builders’ hardware (Stanley-National Hardware), #2 in Mexico residential hardware (Fanal), and #3 in U.S. retail plumbing (Pfister). Headquartered in Orange County, California, HHI has a global sales force and operates manufacturing and distribution facilities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Asia. HHI is a division of Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPB). Spectrum Brands is a global, diversified consumer products company and a leading supplier of consumer batteries, residential locksets, residential builders’ hardware and faucets, shaving and grooming products, personal care products, small household appliances, specialty pet supplies, lawn and garden and home pest control products, and personal insect repellents. Spectrum Brands employs over 13,500 employees worldwide and sells to the top wholesalers and retailers with products in more than one million locations across the globe.

Media Contact

Danyel Tiefenbacher
Brand Manager
949/672-4000
danyel.tiefenbacher@spectrumbrands.com