Sphere
#36
2014
19
<<
Stringent procedures to produce
distilled water: multi-step
filtration and boiling water at
105°C.
long-term outlook mean that NWG is well
positioned to become the water bearer for
the over four million people they serve in
England.
Sphere
has shown how water can be
sourced from the sea and collected from
the sky. The oldest part of the Hutchison
water story has its origins in a part of the
world where indoor plumbing didn’t even
exist, water quality was always suspect and
was a threat to people’s health. Demand
for pure water is still high in Hong Kong and
China, the birthplace of Watsons Water.
Watsons Water: 100 per cent pure
Watsons Water has the oldest origins of
any part of the Hutchison water story.
The century-old water manufacturer was
the first company in Hong Kong selling
distilled water and was a pioneer in the
carboy business (large replaceable water
bottles used in dispensers). The company
originated from a vision of Dr Alexander
Skirving Watson, founder of the A S
Watson Group. He wanted to provide
people with clean water – a challenge in
1903’s Guangdong – to help them look
after their health and well-being.
Nowadays, Watsons Water uses a
multi-part process to ensure the purest
water. It puts the water through a three-
layer filtration – sand, then carbon, then
micron-filtration. Next, the water is
boiled at 105°C, the optimal temperature,
according to the Manufacturing Director
of A S Watson Industries Ltd, Mr Teo
Keng-peng. It is distilled from steam at a
lower 30°C, then treated with purifying
ozone before bottling.
Pure water, pure image
Purity and hygiene are vital safety
considerations and also a marketing
strategy. “We share the same water source
with other water companies but what
differentiates us is that we adopt multi-
step filtration and distillation processes,”
says the Managing Director of A S Watson
Industries, Michelle Chan. “We don’t think
price is the major concern for customers.
The main concern lies in the confidence of
the customers in the products they buy.”
Emphasis on quality assurance and quality
control builds trust in the marketplace.
Inside the factory plant of the company
in Hong Kong, Mr Teo opens the doors to
a room where machinery booms and the
temperature is as high as a sauna. This is
where the distilled water is produced. The
testing room, however, is a sharp contrast.
It is cool and tranquil, with all the right ISO
certificates on the wall. The staff in the
testing room perform frequent tests on all
Watsons’ products and every incoming
batch from suppliers.
The company holds to one principle, lending
to its success in Hong Kong and China.
“There is a personal touch,” explains Ms
Chan. In 2002, the company revolutionised
the design of the water bottle to make it
easier to grab. Also, its award-winning
two-capped design is unique in the market
and gives the product a distinct appearance
compared to its counterparts.
Trust
Watsons’ bottled water is also a big
success in China since it made its return
in 1996. It was first imported from Hong
Kong in glass bottles for consumption in
five-star hotels. In 2003, the brand rolled
out a mass market version for consumers
following the switch to the two-capped
design. As a trusted brand selling distilled
water in China, Watsons Water has fulfilled
its customers’ desire for safe water.
Water in China is supplied by water
departments in local cities, either from the
public water supply or designated water
sources approved by the local government.
Watsons Water’s factories in Guangzhou,
Shenzhen, Dongguan and Beijing go
through the same stringent procedures to
produce distilled water – the multi-step
filtration and boiling water at 105°C – as
undertaken in Hong Kong.
Quality control is critical in China. The
company has conducted research on the
Chinese market and confirmed that most
consumers expect bottled water to be safe
and reliable to drink. To meet customer
expectations, Watsons’ factories in China
conduct rigorous testing of their products
to guard against bacteria, heavy metals and
toxic substances.
Watsons’ use of technology and strong
customer communication is similar to that
used by NWG, albeit to different ends.
Along with Sorek, all three operations use
solid engineering to ensure that people in
Asia, Europe and the Middle East have a
steady supply of aqua. The Group-wide
investment in people, engineering and
technology means that as water becomes
more valuable, HWL will be ready to both
help its customers provide for their needs
and to take care of the planet.
