The bathroom industry is evolving fast, with design and user experience at the center of innovation. One of the strongest international trends today is the shower trays with piano-type keys, a new way of selecting water outlets that combines intuitive use, premium design, and reliable performance.
What is a Piano shower system?
The concept is simple yet powerful: a flat tray with individual keys, similar to a piano, that independently activate different water outlets. Instead of rotating knobs or push-buttons, users can switch between shower outlets with a single, precise gesture, enjoying a premium and intuitive experience.
It is important to note that the piano cartridge does not mix water. In showers, it is normally combined with a thermostatic or mixing cartridge, which regulates the temperature before water reaches the outlets.
Why is it so relevant for the market?
- Ease of use: much simpler than turning a slippery knob with wet hands.
- Premium experience: each key produces a clear “click” sound for precise control and a feeling of quality.
- Durability: piano systems offer longer product life compared to push-button solutions.
- Design freedom: separating functions into keys allows manufacturers to design cleaner, more modern products.
- Simple installation: no need for complex or costly assemblies.
How the Piano System Works
The piano shower system is the result of three essential components working together:
Piano cartridges
located inside the waterways, they determine which outlet the water flows through when a key is pressed.
Waterways
Polymer body that guides water.
Mixer or thermostatic cartridge
mixes hot and cold water to the desired temperature.
In practice, the water enters through hot and cold inlets, is first mixed by the thermostatic or standard mixer cartridge, then flows though the waterways. The piano cartridges select the active outlet, such as hand shower, rainfall, or cascade, activated by each piano key.
The role of Waterways
At the heart of these systems are the waterways: a solid polymer body that guides the water through the different elements. In a piano system, each key is installed as an individual element in the waterway body, ensuring independent control and distribution of water.
At Sedal, we design and manufacture all types of waterways, adapting them to the needs of different product architectures. This not only ensures performance and reliability but also makes it easier for manufacturers to produce the faucet body around a well defined internal system.
The Sedal Piano Cartridge
Working hand-in-hand with the waterways, Sedal has developed a new piano cartridge (08EX25L0007), designed specifically for these systems. Its smooth operation and robust performance are the qualities that have always defined Sedal products, ensuring confidence for both manufacturers and end-users.
Key Features:
- Pleasant, defined “click” in each position.
- Smooth and stable operation thanks to tight manufacturing tolerances.
- +30% higher burst pressure vs. market average.
- +35% better flow rate.
- +50% improved tolerance control in handle opening.
- +15% higher lever torque resistance.
- Fully compatible with extended industry standards.
A Complete Internal Solution
By combining waterways and piano cartridges, and integrating them with standard mixers or thermostatic cartridges, Sedal delivers a complete internal solution for piano shower systems. This approach provides manufacturers with reliability, ease of production, and the opportunity to bring cutting-edge designs to market.