Yes, you read it wrong. In the paper towels and hand dryers sector of a war that has been going on for years we talk about. Perhaps for years we have unconsciously taken sides on an issue that we did not attach any importance to or think about.

If we use an outdoor toilet now, we will probably encounter three parties involved in this war. Our old and faithful friend paper towelthe old-fashioned hand dryer and the machine that looks like it was produced with alien technology, which will be our main hero in this story. Dyson Airblade hand dryer…

Let’s back up a bit. In fact, there isn’t much time difference between the invention of paper towels and hand dryers!

Our humble friend paper towel for the first time in 1907 The hand dryer, which brought a new breath to the hand drying industry, was produced for the first time. in 1922 comes onto the market.

Of course, the 1922 hand dryer was very different from the electric and high-speed versions we use today. It was a primitive model. For this reason, paper towels continued to enjoy unwavering popularity, unlike this machine that blew air by the person continuously pressing a pedal.

Over time, models that were powered by electricity and dried hands faster with a more powerful motor also appeared, which slowly spread. But generally speaking, the hand dryer industry in the 20th century He didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry to improve..

Dyson’s decision to enter the hand dryer industry would greatly upset our old friend, the paper towel.

Dyson, who began research in 2003, in 2006 They launched a hand dryer called Airblade.

This new product had a very innovative design compared to other hand dryers on the market. Moreover, the most basic problem of hand dryers is because of the strong and fast air circulation “speed” It was a solution to the problem.

Dyson is confident in its product and has been more competitive than its older dryers, leading to the rise of paper towels, the strongest player in the hand-drying lobby. actively involved in the war causes.

Dyson Airblade claimed to solve many problems caused by paper towels.

Dyson, which has been trying to sell its product since 2006 by very actively making sales calls, has done just that He had no intention of staying silent. They mainly focused on two main points about the benefits of the product. Environmental awareness and low costs!

Because paper towels are expensive and have a very high carbon footprint, from production to transportation, Dyson decided to use their own product, Airblade, instead of paper towels. much more efficient He claimed this would happen.

When using paper towels, Piles of napkins, clogged toilets, risk of roll theft and constant replenishment of paper towels There were also such problems.

Here, Dyson’s telling of the bitter truth put paper towel manufacturers on the attack. Their weapon would be ‘hygiene’!

Even before Dyson was introduced to the market, hygiene was the main argument of paper towel manufacturers. To put its old rivals in a difficult situation, it was even published in scientific journals that paper towels were found to be more hygienic. They funded research.

Peace had been achieved for the paper towel manufacturers, who had financed dozens of items, and Dyson had virtually penetrated this market. It fell like a bolt of lightning.

This caused paper towel manufacturers to continue their research funding frenzy Claiming that hand dryers are unsanitary A lot of work has been created.

Naturally, Dyson did not sit idle during this process. He also decided to support science with the same tactics.

Dyson, just like its competitors will deliver results that are consistent with their own interests. funded research. For example, two rivals have funded over the years A lot of research has been found in the literature.

Made in this process There was only one truly independent investigation.

As a result, it was concluded that it would be more appropriate to use paper towels in places where hygiene is required, such as hospitals and clinics.

Of course, these hand dryer manufacturers It didn’t work very well. Because they claimed their products were at least as hygienic as paper towels.

The research wars have gone so far that Dyson actually crashed a conference of researchers conducting research in favor of paper towel manufacturers!

He attended a conference and during his presentation met Keith Redway, a microbiologist from many paper towel manufacturers, who was thought to have done biased research. They cornered him with questions.

While attending the conference hosted by paper towel manufacturers, the first thing an officer saw were the participants’ Dyson badges. He wouldn’t let him in.

Dyson’s microbiologist, Toby Saville, attended a conference where Redway refuted Saville’s work. Participate under a false nameis known to have listened to the presentation.

As a result, Dyson wanted to dominate the market dominated by paper towels and found itself in a war.

Dyson, entering a market where paper towels easily dominated and greatly disrupted its rival, found themselves scientific articles fly through the air He was in a war.

According to a 2020 study, although sales figures still favor paper towels, hand dryers have lost market share to paper towels from 2012 to 2020. He managed to steal $873 million.

Which side do you support in this war?

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