Simplehuman Cans

"People tell us, ‘I love my trash can,’" says Simplehuman founder Frank Yang in a USA Today piece by Matt Krantz (8/9/10). Frank’s cans get that kind of response because Simplehuman trash cans "are crafted from stainless steel and have pedal mechanisms that gradually open and close the lids." For this kind of love, some folks are willing to spend between $100 and $200 for a trash can. Simplehuman also makes "sleek and functional automatic soap dispensers, dish-drying racks and shower caddies."

To keep his high-end edge, Frank created "a separate team of engineers who specialize in broad functions, such as hinges and pumps" that pushes Simplehuman "to come up with new designs a product engineer might say are impossible." Such was the case when Frank said he "wanted a trash can that could sit flush against a wall and have no external hinge attached to the lid." The product engineers said it couldn’t be done, but the design engineers "found a way to put the hinge inside the can." (link)

Durability is even more important, says Frank, who insists that function always trumps form. Each Simplehuman trash can is tested by "robots that pound on the foot pedal of trash cans over and over." The cans come with a ten-year warranty. Frank established his fancy brand identity during the housing boom, when people were thinking in terms of $200 trash cans. Now that times are tough, he’s introduced cheaper plastic versions that also claim durability (link). "My products will always be a step above," says Frank.