FLATRISE
The problem: kitchens below 20°C stall yeast activity and sourdough proofing for months of the year. The fixes are all awkward — dedicated electric proofing boxes are bulky and expensive, and running an oven just to keep dough warm wastes energy and ties up cooking space.
The device: classic hot-water-bottle technology re-engineered into a flat, square pad. Fill it with boiling water straight from the kettle, set it on the counter, and rest a baking tray, tin or dough bowl on top — steady bottom warmth keeps dough active for 1–2 hours. No plugs, no cords, no settings.
The business case: the home-baking and sourdough market bought the oven-cloth hacks and the £200 proofing boxes — neither owns the middle. A sub-£30 kettle-powered pad rides the proven sourdough wave, needs zero electronics, and stores in a drawer. Natural fit for bakeware brands, kitchenware OEMs and own-brand ranges.
- Boiling-water rated — heavy-duty vulcanised rubber or moulded PVC
- ~35×35cm footprint — fits standard square tins, half-sheet pans, proofing baskets
- Internal baffle grid — stays level under load, never balloons
- Wide-mouth spout + leak-proof threaded stopper
- Textured non-slip exterior controls heat dissipation
- Drains dry, rolls flat into a standard drawer
DESIGN — OVERVIEW
Proven heat-retention mechanics in a new form factor — the whole UX is a kettle and a cap.
- Bottom-warmth radiance — flat geometry puts gentle, even heat directly under the dough vessel
- Baffled interior — reinforced pillars hold a level surface so trays sit stable, not perched on a dome
- Zero energy running cost — a kettle boil replaces a proofing box or a warm oven
- Universal fit — under any tray, tin, bowl or basket; textured grip suits metal, glass and ceramic
Material selection (vulcanised rubber vs heavy-duty PVC), baffle geometry and thermal retention curves are shared with prospective licensing partners.
TECHNICAL PACK — LICENSING ENQUIRIES
Deeper technical detail is shared with prospective licensing partners via the commercial intake gateway.
- Material & mould optimisation path (rubber vs PVC)
- Baffle-grid & dimensional specification
- Heat-retention targets & validation approach
- Flat-pack packaging & retail concept
Requests route via products@williamsquantum.com — triaged by the agent core, countersigned by a principal.