The BSH factory in Santander has manufactured 6 million Step Valve valves, a new milestone for the company! Find out what this success means personally for three employees.

The Step Valve (SV) started as a "radical innovation" in 2012. Thanks to the efforts of an international multidisciplinary team, this product for gas hobs saw the light in 2015. Since then, 6 million Step Valve valves have been produced!

What is a Step Valve and what does it do?

This advanced technology controls the gas flow in nine precise steps and is protected by a large family of patents, it allows a "precise regulation" of the burner power to obtain a perfect result for different recipes. This precision is extremely useful as it helps you follow various recipes step by step and repeat your favorite dish with the same deliciously perfect results.

What Step Valve means to a Team Lead, Quality Control Manager and Process Engineer from Santander: 

David Andrés, Team Lead

For David Andrés it all started in January 2013: "It seems like yesterday when we were going over and over the technical specifications, the parts and imagining what the day-to-day could be like," says David. 

"I’m proud to be part of this factory as there are many departments involved in getting the job done right. Many people who have collaborated in the project are no longer working at BSH, but their work has also been very important. Every day the goals are more ambitious, but if we keep working hard, we will achieve them all", says David. 

Ainhoa de Carlos, Quality Control Manager

For Ainhoa "Step Valve means innovation, challenge and future, but it is also control, quality, accuracy and analysis". Undoubtedly, those working on SV has been and still are a great team: Creating with enthusiasm, energy, effort, frustration, overcoming, learning and a great tolerance for error as a tool for improvement. 

“From my point of view”, says Ainhoa, "it is a success story of technological innovation thanks to the effort and involvement of people”.  

Ignacio Gualda, Process Engineer

For Ignacio "the SV valve is special because, although it has an apparently simple functionality, it regulates the power in a precise way. It is a very complex component, where simply with mechanics, one of my passions, a unique product is achieved". 

"When I started working at BSH, I left a job as an engineer to start an internship program. I made this decision because I had heard about the SV project, where the latest technology was used for manufacturing, even the transport was done by magnetic levitation! All my expectations were exceeded, it is an engineering masterpiece! Even today, after 4 years as a process engineer, I am still discovering new things. It makes me feel proud having the opportunity to discover new things every day with a team that has no limits and I also feel good when I am cooking at home with flame select", Ignacio concludes.

When I started working at BSH, I left a job as an engineer to start an internship program. All my expectations were exceeded, it is an engineering masterpiece! Even today, after 4 years as a process engineer, I am still discovering new things.

We are so proud of our employees from Santander and hope you enjoyed hearing their stories.