The art of the delicate edge
The starting point for “BetteAlva” is the material itself: glazed titanium steel. For more than 70 years, Bette has been working with this combination of malleable steel and a permanently fused glass surface. This combination of materials opens up design possibilities that are particularly evident in precise geometries and finely crafted transitions. The lines, radii and transitions must be developed with a high degree of precision, as even the slightest deviation is immediately noticeable, particularly in a design reduced to the essentials. Often, it is just a few millimetres that determine the overall impact of the product.
To ensure that these qualities can be fully realised, Bette develops its own tools at the Delbrück site, which are precisely tailored to the respective product geometry. Once this is complete, the next crucial step begins: forming. Through the deep-drawing process, the steel blank takes on the contours and balanced proportions that characterise "BetteAlva". The material and design work closely together in this process: only when the material, tool geometry and forming process are precisely coordinated can the characteristically fine edge design be achieved. The material-forming processes are completed by enamelling – during this process, the glass surface bonds permanently with the steel. The result is a non-porous, hygienic and durable surface that withstands the daily demands of the bathroom over the long term.
However, even the most state-of-the-art production facilities cannot replace the trained eye of experienced specialists. That is why manual quality control remains an integral part of the entire manufacturing process at Bette. This is particularly evident in a feature that encapsulates "BetteAlva’s" design philosophy: the wafer-thin edge. The delicate, rectangular shape is the expression of a manufacturing process that demands the utmost precision. "BetteAlva" is thus the result of a development and manufacturing process in which material, design and craftsmanship are consistently considered as a unified whole.
The fact that all stages of production – from tool development through forming and enamelling to quality control – take place at the company’s headquarters in Delbrück underlines Bette’s high standards for all product variants.
