In February 2012, the German Design Award Goldwill be assigned to the Axor Bouroullecline created by the brothers Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec for Axor by Hansgrohe. This is the third international prize the Axor brand has won in three years. The jury chose the Axor Bouroullec line for its versatility, high-quality finishes and "the pleasant sensation of the surfaces". The German Design Awards, organized by the German Design Council, is the only German competition open only to prize-winning products on an international level. It is a form of recognition, on the part of the German Ministry of Economics, of companies that have introduced innovation on a worldwide level. Axor has had a place of honor for three years in this context, bearing witness to a design culture that has become particularly advanced over the last 40 years of the company, thanks to major research investments.