With 60 years of experience, the catalan company is developing water dispensers with sensor technology, patented spouts and filtration systems for public spaces, businesses and new markets.
The way water is consumed in public spaces, businesses, schools, airports, hotels and ships has changed. Today, it is no longer enough to simply provide a drinking point; every hydration solution must meet new requirements in terms of hygiene, sustainability, energy efficiency and the reduction of single-use packaging. In this context, Canaletas has strengthened its position by focusing on drinking water coolers and water dispensers designed to last, adapt to each environment and respond to the needs of an increasingly conscious market.
The catalan company, with its manufacturing facility in El Prat de Llobregat, has followed this path without losing the essence on which it was founded six decades ago. From its first drinking water coolers, created to meet a specific need, the company has evolved to develop water dispensers with sensors, patented spouts, filtration systems, improved energy efficiency and customised products for markets such as the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and German shipping companies. The objective is no longer simply to provide chilled water, but to enable safer and more responsible water consumption with a reduced environmental impact.
Innovation, sustainability and durability
With a product range of more than 50 models, the company has built an innovation strategy focused on hygiene, sustainability and durability. Point of use water coolers (POU),water dispensers designed for reusable bottles, sensor-operated models, foot-pedal systems, chilled, ambient, hot or sparkling water options, and designs adapted to a wide variety of environments are all part of an evolution that has gone beyond simply expanding the product range, focusing instead on anticipating new needs. “We have continuously adapted to market requirements while also anticipating and staying ahead of them,” says Paz Ausín, Export Manager at Canaletas.
This evolution goes hand in hand with a principle that the company has maintained since its beginnings. Its drinking water coolers are designed to last, and this durability can also be found in unexpected places. Some time ago, the company received an image of a drinking water cooler installed in the Spanish Congress of Deputies which, according to its estimates, may be more than 30 years old and is still in perfect working condition. For the manufacturer, examples like this demonstrate better than any marketing campaign what its commitment has always been.
One of the areas where the company has placed the greatest emphasis is hygiene. The pandemic accelerated demand for touchless systems, sensors and solutions that reduced direct handling, but Canaletas had already been studying ways to improve the user experience without compromising safety for some time. As part of this process, the company has developed patented spouts and systems designed to prevent unnecessary contact between the user, the bottle and the water outlet.
“The most hygienic way to drink water is from a spout where the water flows from the bottom upwards,” explains Jordi Morera, Managing Director of Canaletas. According to him, the reason lies in the design itself. When the spout is properly protected, neither the lips nor the mouth of a bottle come into contact with the point where the water is released. By contrast, in certain filling systems that are not properly designed, the nozzle of a reusable bottle may come into contact with the outlet area if it is not used correctly. “If you fill a bottle and the bottle opening touches the spout, you can transfer anything that has come into contact with it. With a properly protected spout, this does not happen,” he adds.
This focus on safety has also been extended to sensor-operated models. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the market accelerated the adoption of hands-free solutions, but the company wanted to go one step further. Its systems are designed so that water is only dispensed when an object, such as a bottle, is placed in front of the sensor, rather than simply when someone walks nearby. In addition, they incorporate safety mechanisms that stop the water supply if the flow remains activated for too long. The aim is to make usage easier, reduce contact and prevent water waste.
Durability, efficiency and lower environmental impact
Innovation is not limited to the way the products are used, as sustainability has become another key area of development for the company. Canaletas manufactures drinking water coolers with internal and external stainless-steel structures, a durable and recyclable material that reflects a philosophy based on extending product lifespan. This is complemented by improvements in cooling systems, with more efficient refrigerants that help reduce energy consumption while increasing cooling capacity. “We have achieved lower energy consumption while providing greater cooling capacity from our drinking water coolers,” the company confirms.
For Canaletas, repairability is another key priority. Rather than replacing a product when it breaks down, the company advocates a model based on maintenance and an extended service life. “We guarantee that we will always repair our drinking water coolers,” emphasises Morera. The company believes that a drinking water cooler should last at least 20 years and maintains that many units can reach 40 or 50 years if they are properly maintained.
Exports and new markets
This combination of durability, efficiency and adaptability has also driven the company’s international growth. Canaletas exports mainly to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, markets where quality, reliability and the ability to manufacture customised products are highly valued. In the Middle East, for example, the company works with facilities that require drinking water coolers designed according to specific requirements and in compliance with demanding regulations.
One of the company’s most recent markets is the shipping industry. Some companies, particularly in Germany, have begun replacing the large-scale consumption of bottled mineral water with drinking water coolers equipped with filtration systems. This solution helps reduce waste, lower costs and ensure a safer water supply on board. In addition, the robustness of the equipment makes installation on ships easier, where units must be securely fixed and withstand demanding operating conditions. “Because our drinking water coolers are extremely robust and durable, they are very well suited for use on board ships,” the company explains.
All of this growth is supported by in-house manufacturing at its facilities in El Prat de Llobregat, with its own moulds, laboratory, prototypes and an extensive supplier network. The company designs its products, develops samples, tests solutions and manufactures its drinking water coolers with direct knowledge of every component. It also has its own technical service team in Spain, an essential asset for continuous improvement. By repairing and maintaining its equipment, the company identifies potential areas for improvement and incorporates them into the design of new models. This ability to adapt has enabled some special projects, initially developed for specific customers, to later become part of the standard product catalogue.
Smart Drinking fountains for more efficient water consumption
The future of Canaletas lies in incorporating new technological tools. The company is currently working on integrating artificial intelligence and connected systems both in its manufacturing facilities and in its final products. It is already introducing new smart features into some of its drinking water coolers and water dispensers, enabling users to monitor consumption, maintenance requirements and filter replacement needs.
In addition, the company believes that the future of the sector will be shaped by greater awareness of the value of water. Drought, climate change and growing health concerns have changed the perception of a resource that was long taken for granted. In this context, Canaletas aims to preserve the principles that have guided its journey for six decades while using new technologies to facilitate safe, efficient access to water through solutions designed for maintenance, repair and long service life.
