Shadowbrook: Revolutionizing Faucet Design with 3D Printing

American Standard Unveils a Masterpiece of Additive Manufacturing

The Shadowbrook faucet is part of a collection that marks a significant shift in the design and manufacturing of residential faucets. Traditionally, 3D printing has been used to create plastic prototypes, but American Standard has taken this technology a step further by producing ready-for-market residential faucets printed in metal. This innovative approach opens up exciting possibilities for faucet design and function.

The design team, led by Jean-Jacques L’Henaff, found inspiration in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). They meticulously adjusted 19 separate waterways to recreate the poetic and soothing flow of water bouncing on rocks in a stream. The rest of the faucet styling is pure and simple, keeping the spotlight on the mesmerizing play of the water as it gently cascades over the geometric facets on the spout.

The Shadowbrook is manufactured using Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), a process in which a computer-guided laser beam fuses powdered metal into the desired shape with high heat. A solid metal block gradually arises out of the powder, and is then hand-finished to smooth extraneous metal and reveal the design. In a revival of the tradition of bespoke craftsmanship, the faucet is then hand-finished by an artisan who gives it a rich, fine patina and feel that mimics the texture found on antique silver pieces.

Despite its unique design, the Shadowbrook offers superb performance and a water-saving flow rate of 1.2 gallons per minute. The product development process took 18 months and was completed at the American Standard design center in Piscataway, NJ. The faucets are hand-finished, so no two will be exactly alike, and they can be printed to order, eliminating the need for a costly inventory.

The Shadowbrook design was awarded Platinum in A' 3D Printed Forms and Products Design Award in 2016. This prestigious award recognizes world-class, exceptional, and highly innovative designs that showcase unmatched professionalism, genius, and contribute to societal wellbeing. The Shadowbrook faucet is not just a testament to the capabilities of 3D printing technology, but also a symbol of the future of faucet design.