At first glance, the Cyprus looks much the same as its predecessor. But beneath its familiar exterior, the unit has been completely re-engineered.

At the heart of that transformation is a ceramic heating element, chosen for its fast-acting, even warmth.

Integrating that element, however, was far from straightforward.

Vynco's product development team rebuilt the heater from the inside out, refining airflow pathways, adjusting element density and carefully managing electrical inrush control to safely accommodate the new technology.

Then, to ensure the heater would perform reliably across a range of conditions, Vynco went large — bringing in a temperature-controlled 10ft coolstore container and putting Cyprus through a series of ambient extremes.

The container provided a confined, controllable environment for rigorous testing across temperatures ranging from 0°C to 25°C. Why? Because ceramic elements respond differently depending on their surroundings.

Rather than outsourcing the process, Vynco chose to carry out the testing at its Christchurch facility, allowing engineers to observe performance firsthand and make refinements along the way.

"We pushed the limits of what we could achieve inside the existing form," says Vynco Product Development Manager Ben Soppit. "Every single component was reviewed and refined to improve safety, while maintaining the same look and the same performance."

There are a few fishhooks with ceramic elements.

In warmer environments, they naturally restrict electrical flow. And while this helps keep internal temperatures down, it can also reduce total power output and slow room heat-up. Conversely, colder conditions require a higher electrical inrush at start-up.

That’s where the coolstore came into its own.

"The chiller allowed us to gather our own data, make our own refinements and validate every design decision in-house," says Vynco Managing Director Simon Vale. "It was about taking ownership of the product's performance from start to finish."

Alongside standard operation checks, the team simulated a wide range of real-world and extreme-case scenarios — from rapid on-off cycling and sudden ambient temperature changes to irregular usage patterns, such as children repeatedly switching the unit on and off (we've all been there).

The heater was also tested under partial component-failure conditions to ensure the heater's safety systems kicked in as intended.

The process was exhaustive, with testing running from early November through to late March.

Yet throughout the redesign, one key requirement remained unchanged: maintaining the performance homeowners expect from a 2000W bathroom heater.

That's what months of testing, refinement and real-world simulation were ultimately designed to prove.

Improved safety doesn't have to come at the expense of performance.

Available in brushed stainless steel, powder-coated satin white and powder-coated satin black, the Cyprus bathroom heater delivers a modern aesthetic to suit a wide range of interiors.

This winter, homeowners can enjoy warmth with added peace of mind.