Savortex Ecocurve 550A

The Savortex Ecocurve 550A is the basic product in the Savortex range, not to be confused with the SMART technology version which is the 550D. We look at whether this dryer stacks up as a premium priced hand dryer without the SMART functionality? Savortex are currently the only company to design and manufacture the dryer in the UK, but at £699 + VAT can being made in the UK justify the price? 

 From £699.99 + VAT

The Savortex EcoCurve 550A - Value

This dryer is the 2nd most expensive of its type on the market retailing at slightly above a Dyson V and under the Dyson 9kj. Performance wise it’s pretty similar and it has a longer-life motor according to the specification. That said we don’t think that Dysons represent good value for money when compared with the rest of the market, so for a relatively unknown brand, it seems overpriced, unless your priority is buying British. The SMART version however delivers a really unique value proposition.

The manufacturer states 11 seconds, this is pretty accurate as we recorded dry times between 12 and 14 seconds, this is quick enough to satisfy the most demanding clients.

The Savortex EcoCurve 550A - Energy efficiency

The energy efficiency of a dryer is measured by taking the rated power of the device and the dry speed to calculate the consumption per dry. The Savortex Ecocurve has a rated power between 0.45 kW – 0.55 kW, which, based on the manufacturer’s stated dry times, means that each dry would consume as little as 1.67 watt-hours per dry. In reality, it’s probably about 10% higher than this due to the slightly longer dry times we found. Nevertheless, consumption is very efficient. To put this into context, the Dyson Airblade AB14 uses 4.44 watts per dry, a traditional dryer uses 20-30 watts per dry, and the best available uses 1-2 watt/hours. It is possible to dry almost 5000 pairs of hands for just £1; this is a 97% saving against paper towels.

The Savortex EcoCurve 550A - Quiet operation

We can’t find an official manufacturer’s decibel level; however, the digital brushless motor provides a smooth and tolerable noise output. If you require exceptionally low noise, this will not be appropriate, but as high-speed dryers go, it’s not bad at all.

The Savortex EcoCurve 550A - Vandal resistance

It’s a really weighty bit of kit, and first impressions are that it’s extremely robust. Further inspection reveals that the steel, reinforced backplate provides extra strength and the fully curved cover provides zero leverage points. The only downside is that the cover is attached with standard screws, although they are well-concealed.

The Savortex EcoCurve 550A - Life expectancy

5000 hours is the stated, tested motor life, which is around 1.5m dries. We haven’t actually tested this, but the digital brushless motor used does appear to be of good quality, so we have no reason to doubt it. A 5-year warranty is provided, which is standard for dryers competing in this price bracket.

The Savortex EcoCurve 550A and the environment

This dryer has a number of things going for it from an environmental perspective. Firstly, it is made in the UK. This is less significant than you might think, as most of the internal components have to be shipped in. That said, the motors are European, and the covers and plastic components are moulded in the UK, which makes up the bulk of the weight. However, where the original raw materials came from is not known, and there is no LCA analysis provided, so we cannot verify the footprint of the dryer. It is quite heavy, which normally implies an increased carbon footprint. The lifespan is a big positive, as you may go through 3-4 lower-cost high-speed hand dryers in the time this one stays operational. The ultra-low energy usage is another positive.

The Savortex EcoCurve 550A - Conclusion

The Savortex Ecocurve 550A as a hand dryer is a really solid, allrounder and clearly a good quality bit of kit, however it’s hard to justify the price tag as a hand dryer alone. There are plenty of hand dryers that perform as well for half the price. The value is in the connected technology which is available in the Ecocurve 550D. 

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