Henkel: Turning dirty dishes into data with a smart & sustainable dishwasher dispenser

Verhaert partnered with Henkel to develop a smart, precise dosing system for dishwashers. The Somat Smart adjusts the precise dosage of customized detergent blends, saving consumers money and reducing waste. The device was optimized for cost-effectiveness through collaboration with an ODM partner and underwent extensive testing for accuracy and reliability. The result is a transformed dishwasher that continually learns and improves, ensuring no soap is wasted and dishes are cleaned effectively.

The client

Pioneering sustainable solutions

Founded in 1876, Henkel looks back on more than 140 years of success. The company operates globally and holds leading positions with its three business units in both industrial and consumer businesses. As a recognised leader in sustainability, Henkel is at the top of international indices and rankings. In its Laundry & Home Care and Beauty Care businesses, Henkel holds leading positions in many markets and categories around the world.

The challenge

A wireless device in a metal box

Many dishwashers are not efficient when using detergents because they often dispense an incorrect or inconsistent amount. Underdosing or overdosing results in dishes not being fully cleaned or excess detergent being used which leads to higher costs for the consumer and can be harmful to the environment. Our goal was clear: to create a smart, precise dosing system for dishwashers to reduce waste and save money for consumers.

Developing such a solution introduced some technical challenges:

Design a high performance Radio Frequency (RF) system to guarantee good quality transmission to an app with the dishwasher closed
Integrate smart sensors and a precise dosing system into the smallest package to fit a dishwasher
Integrate a low-cost but performant dosing system
Develop a low power solution for lengthy operations
Manage the full industrialization process from prototyping to market introduction with ODM partners.

The solution

A smart little device with a huge impact

Verhaert supported HENKEL in the final development and production transfer of their smart dosing device. With smart sensors and intuitive AI, we transformed dishwashers into smart connected devices. Somat Smart automatically adjusts the dosage of customized detergent blends that are precisely dispensed at exactly the right time. It learns and improves over time so people will not waste a drop of soap and get cleaner loads at the same time.

Got questions?

Tell us all about them.