Okapa explains engineering behind medical-grade water bottle in exclusive video
Swiss brand Okapa has unveiled the materials, mechanisms and manufacturing processes behind its luxury water bottle, as shown in this exclusive video produced by Dezeen.
Okapa founder Hardy Steinmann spent over eight years researching and testing different materials and mechanisms before arriving at the brand's final design.
The bottle, which is protected by more than 70 global patents, is made using what the brand says are "medical-grade" materials, including corrosion-resistant Nitronic 60 stainless steel and anodised aluminium.
"I wanted to create something different – a bottle with the ethics of a medical instruction built around hygiene, yet shaped with the emotion of sculpture", Steinmann told Dezeen.
According to the brand, the bottle can withstand temperatures of up to 110 degrees Celsius and can be fully disassembled into separate components to help prevent bacterial buildup.
The bottle is manufactured using what the brand describes as "advanced engineering processes" such as melting, injection moulding, CNC machining and temperature-controlled mould forming.
"Every Okapa component begins its journey in a pure elemental state," Steinmann explained.
"Material is truth – you can't fake it," he continued. "Each stage reflects a pursuit of absolute precision where science and craftsmanship intersect."
The bottle's interior carafe is made from borosilicate glass manufactured in Germany – the same type of glass commonly used in medical equipment – while push buttons and hinges are made from stainless steel.
The glass is protected by a perforated outer shell made from anodised aluminium and produced in multiple colourways to give each bottle a distinct visual identity.
Colourways include Redd Rumble, Peaches Copperwire and Fetische Noir.
The interior of the bottle features shock-resistant silicone cushioning designed to protect the glass.
The cap is made from Swiss-engineered Grilamid TR‑90 thermoplastic and opens via a push‑button mechanism on the top.
It is fully modular and can be disassembled into multiple pieces for cleaning.
Steinmann says the water bottle is a "luxury accessory" that puts hygiene, health, engineering and longevity at the forefront, with the aim of creating the last water bottle a user will ever need.
The brand plans to introduce additional accessories in the near future.
"[Okapa's] future is not just hydration, it's accessories for human wellbeing – engineered," Steinmann said. "Material isn't decoration, it's our belief system."
The photography is courtesy of Okapa.
Partnership content
This video was produced by Dezeen as part of a partnership with Okapa. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
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