Franke Rondo
Rondo is Franke's round prep bowl range, and all eight items here are prep bowls rather than main sinks. Three are ROG models in granite and five are RDX models in stainless steel. A prep bowl is the second wet point in a kitchen, set into an island or the end of a run so that rinsing does not block the main sink. The rest of the brand is under Franke.
ROG Granite Bowls
The ROG610-41 is stocked in Stone Grey, Polar White and Black. Franke lists it as a round inset bowl at 510mm across the outside, with a 400mm bowl 195mm deep, a 490mm cut-out and a tap landing, and names this granite composite Fragranite. The Black one also appears with the other Franke black sinks, and every prep bowl on the store sits on Franke prep bowls.
RDX Stainless Bowls
The stainless bowls come in four sizes. The RDX610-34 is 340mm across with a 300mm bowl 139mm deep on a 38mm outlet, and the RDX610-44 is 450mm across with a 415mm bowl 157mm deep, also on 38mm. The RDX610-45 is 450mm across with a 380mm bowl 161mm deep on a 90mm outlet, and the RDX610-48 is the largest at 485mm across with the same bowl and a tap landing. Franke lists the RDX610-48 in two versions, one of which adds a slotted overflow, which is why two appear here.
One difference matters more than size if you are anywhere near the sea. Franke's South African catalogue states that the RDX610-44 and RDX610-34 are made from ferritic stainless steel and are not suitable for coastal applications because of corrosion risk. The RDX610-45 and RDX610-48 are specified in austenitic stainless steel, which is the grade Franke uses for coastal work. Near the sea, that narrows the stainless choice to two models.
Fitting a Rondo Bowl
Cut-outs for the round stainless bowls come from the template packed with the product rather than from a published figure, so keep the box until the worktop is templated. On the waste, Franke's specification for Rondo allows either a 90mm basket strainer fitting or a 38mm PVC fitting with a plug depending on the model, and the outlet size above tells you which one you are buying for. Fittings and traps sit on Franke plumbing and waste fittings, and to match a main sink in the same finish, look at Franke Maris.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Franke Rondo ROG and RDX prep bowls?
ROG bowls are made from the granite composite Franke calls Fragranite and are stocked here in Stone Grey, Polar White and Black. RDX bowls are stainless steel. Beyond material, the ROG610-41 is a single size at 510mm across with a tap landing, while the RDX bowls give you four diameters from 340mm to 485mm. If you are matching a granite main sink, the ROG is the obvious partner. If you want a bowl that disappears into a stainless worktop, take the RDX.
Which Franke Rondo prep bowls are suitable for coastal homes?
The RDX610-45 and the RDX610-48. Franke's South African catalogue specifies those in austenitic stainless steel, and it carries an explicit note that the RDX610-44 and RDX610-34 are made from ferritic stainless steel and are not suitable for coastal applications because of corrosion risk. That is a material difference, not a finish one, so it cannot be fixed by care. Along the coast, choose the 45 or the 48, or go granite with the ROG610-41.
What size cut-out does a Rondo prep bowl need?
For the ROG610-41 Franke gives a 490mm cut-out against a 510mm external diameter. For the RDX stainless bowls Franke does not publish a cut-out figure and refers you to the template packed with the product, so keep the packaging until the fabricator has marked the worktop. Templating from a measured drawing rather than the supplied template is the usual cause of a bowl that sits proud or drops through.
Does a Franke Rondo prep bowl come with a waste fitting?
Franke's specification for the Rondo range allows either a 90mm basket strainer waste fitting or a 38mm PVC fitting with a plug, and which one applies depends on the model you choose. The RDX610-34 and RDX610-44 use a 38mm outlet while the RDX610-45 and RDX610-48 use a 90mm outlet. Read the individual product listing to see what is supplied, and ask us to confirm before ordering if a plumber is booked.
Can I fit a tap directly to a Rondo prep bowl?
On some models, yes. Franke lists the ROG610-41 with a tap landing and two pre-drilled tap holes, and the RDX610-48 is also specified with a tap landing. The smaller RDX bowls are not, so a mixer for those has to be mounted in the worktop behind the bowl. Decide this before templating, because adding a hole to a granite bowl afterwards needs a specific diamond bit and is not a job to improvise.
