diff --git a/akka-stream/src/main/scala/akka/stream/FlowMaterializer.scala b/akka-stream/src/main/scala/akka/stream/FlowMaterializer.scala
index 0a7ba084f4..c1e2b94af0 100644
--- a/akka-stream/src/main/scala/akka/stream/FlowMaterializer.scala
+++ b/akka-stream/src/main/scala/akka/stream/FlowMaterializer.scala
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import akka.stream.impl.ActorBasedFlowMaterializer
 import akka.stream.impl.Ast
 import org.reactivestreams.api.Producer
 import scala.concurrent.duration._
+import org.reactivestreams.api.Consumer
 
 object FlowMaterializer {
   /**
@@ -40,6 +41,21 @@ trait FlowMaterializer {
    */
   private[akka] def consume[I](producerNode: Ast.ProducerNode[I], ops: List[Ast.AstNode]): Unit
 
+  /**
+   * INTERNAL API
+   */
+  private[akka] def ductProduceTo[In, Out](consumer: Consumer[Out], ops: List[Ast.AstNode]): Consumer[In]
+
+  /**
+   * INTERNAL API
+   */
+  private[akka] def ductConsume[In](ops: List[Ast.AstNode]): Consumer[In]
+
+  /**
+   * INTERNAL API
+   */
+  private[akka] def ductBuild[In, Out](ops: List[Ast.AstNode]): (Consumer[In], Producer[Out])
+
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/akka-stream/src/main/scala/akka/stream/impl/ActorBasedFlowMaterializer.scala b/akka-stream/src/main/scala/akka/stream/impl/ActorBasedFlowMaterializer.scala
index 3446337628..69e98f353a 100644
--- a/akka-stream/src/main/scala/akka/stream/impl/ActorBasedFlowMaterializer.scala
+++ b/akka-stream/src/main/scala/akka/stream/impl/ActorBasedFlowMaterializer.scala
@@ -115,15 +115,20 @@ private[akka] class ActorBasedFlowMaterializer(settings: MaterializerSettings, _
     }
   }
 
-  private val identityConsumer = Transform(
+  private val blackholeTransform = Transform(
     new Transformer[Any, Any] {
       override def onNext(element: Any) = Nil
     })
 
+  private val identityTransform = Transform(
+    new Transformer[Any, Any] {
+      override def onNext(element: Any) = List(element)
+    })
+
   override def consume[I](producerNode: ProducerNode[I], ops: List[AstNode]): Unit = {
     val consumer = ops match {
       case Nil ⇒
-        new ActorConsumer[Any](context.actorOf(ActorConsumer.props(settings, identityConsumer)))
+        new ActorConsumer[Any](context.actorOf(ActorConsumer.props(settings, blackholeTransform)))
       case head :: tail ⇒
         val c = new ActorConsumer[Any](context.actorOf(ActorConsumer.props(settings, head)))
         processorChain(c, tail)
@@ -133,4 +138,21 @@ private[akka] class ActorBasedFlowMaterializer(settings: MaterializerSettings, _
 
   def processorForNode(op: AstNode): Processor[Any, Any] = new ActorProcessor(context.actorOf(ActorProcessor.props(settings, op)))
 
+  override def ductProduceTo[In, Out](consumer: Consumer[Out], ops: List[Ast.AstNode]): Consumer[In] =
+    processorChain(consumer, ops).asInstanceOf[Consumer[In]]
+
+  override def ductConsume[In](ops: List[Ast.AstNode]): Consumer[In] =
+    ductProduceTo(new ActorConsumer[Any](context.actorOf(ActorConsumer.props(settings, blackholeTransform))), ops)
+
+  override def ductBuild[In, Out](ops: List[Ast.AstNode]): (Consumer[In], Producer[Out]) = {
+    if (ops.isEmpty) {
+      val identityProcessor: Processor[In, Out] = processorForNode(identityTransform).asInstanceOf[Processor[In, Out]]
+      (identityProcessor, identityProcessor)
+    } else {
+      val outProcessor = processorForNode(ops.head).asInstanceOf[Processor[In, Out]]
+      val topConsumer = processorChain(outProcessor, ops.tail).asInstanceOf[Processor[In, Out]]
+      (topConsumer, outProcessor)
+    }
+  }
+
 }
diff --git a/akka-stream/src/main/scala/akka/stream/impl/FlowImpl.scala b/akka-stream/src/main/scala/akka/stream/impl/FlowImpl.scala
index b40e9c356a..4eec112bc3 100644
--- a/akka-stream/src/main/scala/akka/stream/impl/FlowImpl.scala
+++ b/akka-stream/src/main/scala/akka/stream/impl/FlowImpl.scala
@@ -16,138 +16,19 @@ import scala.util.Failure
 import akka.stream.scaladsl.Transformer
 import akka.stream.scaladsl.RecoveryTransformer
 import org.reactivestreams.api.Consumer
+import akka.stream.scaladsl.Duct
 
 /**
  * INTERNAL API
  */
-private[akka] object FlowImpl {
-  private val SuccessUnit = Success[Unit](())
-  private val ListOfUnit = List(())
-
-  val takeCompletedTransformer: Transformer[Any, Any] = new Transformer[Any, Any] {
-    override def onNext(elem: Any) = Nil
-    override def isComplete = true
-  }
-
-  val identityTransformer: Transformer[Any, Any] = new Transformer[Any, Any] {
-    override def onNext(elem: Any) = List(elem)
-  }
-}
-
-/**
- * INTERNAL API
- */
-private[akka] case class FlowImpl[I, O](producerNode: Ast.ProducerNode[I], ops: List[Ast.AstNode]) extends Flow[O] {
+private[akka] case class FlowImpl[I, O](producerNode: Ast.ProducerNode[I], ops: List[Ast.AstNode]) extends Flow[O] with Builder[O] {
   import FlowImpl._
   import Ast._
+
+  type Thing[T] = Flow[T]
+
   // Storing ops in reverse order
-  private def andThen[U](op: AstNode): Flow[U] = this.copy(ops = op :: ops)
-
-  override def map[U](f: O ⇒ U): Flow[U] =
-    transform(new Transformer[O, U] {
-      override def onNext(in: O) = List(f(in))
-    })
-
-  override def filter(p: O ⇒ Boolean): Flow[O] =
-    transform(new Transformer[O, O] {
-      override def onNext(in: O) = if (p(in)) List(in) else Nil
-    })
-
-  override def collect[U](pf: PartialFunction[O, U]): Flow[U] =
-    transform(new Transformer[O, U] {
-      override def onNext(in: O) = if (pf.isDefinedAt(in)) List(pf(in)) else Nil
-    })
-
-  override def foreach(c: O ⇒ Unit): Flow[Unit] =
-    transform(new Transformer[O, Unit] {
-      override def onNext(in: O) = { c(in); Nil }
-      override def onComplete() = ListOfUnit
-    })
-
-  override def fold[U](zero: U)(f: (U, O) ⇒ U): Flow[U] =
-    transform(new FoldTransformer[U](zero, f))
-
-  // Without this class compiler complains about 
-  // "Parameter type in structural refinement may not refer to an abstract type defined outside that refinement"
-  class FoldTransformer[S](var state: S, f: (S, O) ⇒ S) extends Transformer[O, S] {
-    override def onNext(in: O): immutable.Seq[S] = { state = f(state, in); Nil }
-    override def onComplete(): immutable.Seq[S] = List(state)
-  }
-
-  override def drop(n: Int): Flow[O] =
-    transform(new Transformer[O, O] {
-      var delegate: Transformer[O, O] =
-        if (n == 0) identityTransformer.asInstanceOf[Transformer[O, O]]
-        else new Transformer[O, O] {
-          var c = n
-          override def onNext(in: O) = {
-            c -= 1
-            if (c == 0)
-              delegate = identityTransformer.asInstanceOf[Transformer[O, O]]
-            Nil
-          }
-        }
-
-      override def onNext(in: O) = delegate.onNext(in)
-    })
-
-  override def take(n: Int): Flow[O] =
-    transform(new Transformer[O, O] {
-      var delegate: Transformer[O, O] =
-        if (n == 0) takeCompletedTransformer.asInstanceOf[Transformer[O, O]]
-        else new Transformer[O, O] {
-          var c = n
-          override def onNext(in: O) = {
-            c -= 1
-            if (c == 0)
-              delegate = takeCompletedTransformer.asInstanceOf[Transformer[O, O]]
-            List(in)
-          }
-
-          override def isComplete = c == 0
-        }
-
-      override def onNext(in: O) = delegate.onNext(in)
-      override def isComplete = delegate.isComplete
-    })
-
-  override def grouped(n: Int): Flow[immutable.Seq[O]] =
-    transform(new Transformer[O, immutable.Seq[O]] {
-      var buf: Vector[O] = Vector.empty
-      override def onNext(in: O) = {
-        buf :+= in
-        if (buf.size == n) {
-          val group = buf
-          buf = Vector.empty
-          List(group)
-        } else
-          Nil
-      }
-      override def onComplete() = if (buf.isEmpty) Nil else List(buf)
-    })
-
-  override def mapConcat[U](f: O ⇒ immutable.Seq[U]): Flow[U] =
-    transform(new Transformer[O, U] {
-      override def onNext(in: O) = f(in)
-    })
-
-  override def transform[U](transformer: Transformer[O, U]): Flow[U] =
-    andThen(Transform(transformer.asInstanceOf[Transformer[Any, Any]]))
-
-  override def transformRecover[U](recoveryTransformer: RecoveryTransformer[O, U]): Flow[U] =
-    andThen(Recover(recoveryTransformer.asInstanceOf[RecoveryTransformer[Any, Any]]))
-
-  override def zip[O2](other: Producer[O2]): Flow[(O, O2)] = andThen(Zip(other.asInstanceOf[Producer[Any]]))
-
-  override def concat[U >: O](next: Producer[U]): Flow[U] = andThen(Concat(next.asInstanceOf[Producer[Any]]))
-
-  override def merge[U >: O](other: Producer[U]): Flow[U] = andThen(Merge(other.asInstanceOf[Producer[Any]]))
-
-  override def splitWhen(p: (O) ⇒ Boolean): Flow[Producer[O]] = andThen(SplitWhen(p.asInstanceOf[Any ⇒ Boolean]))
-
-  override def groupBy[K](f: (O) ⇒ K): Flow[(K, Producer[O])] = andThen(GroupBy(f.asInstanceOf[Any ⇒ Any]))
-
-  override def tee(other: Consumer[_ >: O]): Flow[O] = andThen(Tee(other.asInstanceOf[Consumer[Any]]))
+  override protected def andThen[U](op: Ast.AstNode): Flow[U] = this.copy(ops = op :: ops)
 
   override def toFuture(materializer: FlowMaterializer): Future[O] = {
     val p = Promise[O]()
@@ -163,7 +44,7 @@ private[akka] case class FlowImpl[I, O](producerNode: Ast.ProducerNode[I], ops:
 
   override def consume(materializer: FlowMaterializer): Unit = materializer.consume(producerNode, ops)
 
-  def onComplete(materializer: FlowMaterializer)(callback: Try[Unit] ⇒ Unit): Unit =
+  override def onComplete(materializer: FlowMaterializer)(callback: Try[Unit] ⇒ Unit): Unit =
     transformRecover(new RecoveryTransformer[O, Unit] {
       var ok = true
       override def onNext(in: O) = Nil
@@ -172,12 +53,181 @@ private[akka] case class FlowImpl[I, O](producerNode: Ast.ProducerNode[I], ops:
         ok = false
         Nil
       }
-      override def onComplete() = { if (ok) callback(SuccessUnit); Nil }
+      override def onComplete() = { if (ok) callback(Builder.SuccessUnit); Nil }
     }).consume(materializer)
 
   override def toProducer(materializer: FlowMaterializer): Producer[O] = materializer.toProducer(producerNode, ops)
 
-  override def produceTo(materializer: FlowMaterializer, consumer: Consumer[O]) =
-    toProducer(materializer).produceTo(consumer)
+  override def produceTo(materializer: FlowMaterializer, consumer: Consumer[_ >: O]) =
+    toProducer(materializer).produceTo(consumer.asInstanceOf[Consumer[O]])
+}
+
+/**
+ * INTERNAL API
+ */
+private[akka] case class DuctImpl[In, Out](ops: List[Ast.AstNode]) extends Duct[In, Out] with Builder[Out] {
+
+  type Thing[T] = Duct[In, T]
+
+  // Storing ops in reverse order
+  override protected def andThen[U](op: Ast.AstNode): Duct[In, U] = this.copy(ops = op :: ops)
+
+  override def produceTo(materializer: FlowMaterializer, consumer: Consumer[Out]): Consumer[In] =
+    materializer.ductProduceTo(consumer, ops)
+
+  override def consume(materializer: FlowMaterializer): Consumer[In] =
+    materializer.ductConsume(ops)
+
+  override def onComplete(materializer: FlowMaterializer)(callback: Try[Unit] ⇒ Unit): Consumer[In] =
+    transformRecover(new RecoveryTransformer[Out, Unit] {
+      var ok = true
+      override def onNext(in: Out) = Nil
+      override def onError(e: Throwable) = {
+        callback(Failure(e))
+        ok = false
+        Nil
+      }
+      override def onComplete() = { if (ok) callback(Builder.SuccessUnit); Nil }
+    }).consume(materializer)
+
+  override def build(materializer: FlowMaterializer): (Consumer[In], Producer[Out]) =
+    materializer.ductBuild(ops)
+
+}
+
+/**
+ * INTERNAL API
+ */
+private[akka] object Builder {
+  val SuccessUnit = Success[Unit](())
+  private val ListOfUnit = List(())
+
+  private val takeCompletedTransformer: Transformer[Any, Any] = new Transformer[Any, Any] {
+    override def onNext(elem: Any) = Nil
+    override def isComplete = true
+  }
+
+  private val identityTransformer: Transformer[Any, Any] = new Transformer[Any, Any] {
+    override def onNext(elem: Any) = List(elem)
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * INTERNAL API
+ * Builder of `Flow` or `Duct` things
+ */
+private[akka] trait Builder[Out] {
+  import Builder._
+  import akka.stream.impl.Ast._
+  import scala.language.higherKinds
+
+  type Thing[T]
+
+  protected def andThen[U](op: Ast.AstNode): Thing[U]
+
+  def map[U](f: Out ⇒ U): Thing[U] =
+    transform(new Transformer[Out, U] {
+      override def onNext(in: Out) = List(f(in))
+    })
+
+  def filter(p: Out ⇒ Boolean): Thing[Out] =
+    transform(new Transformer[Out, Out] {
+      override def onNext(in: Out) = if (p(in)) List(in) else Nil
+    })
+
+  def collect[U](pf: PartialFunction[Out, U]): Thing[U] =
+    transform(new Transformer[Out, U] {
+      override def onNext(in: Out) = if (pf.isDefinedAt(in)) List(pf(in)) else Nil
+    })
+
+  def foreach(c: Out ⇒ Unit): Thing[Unit] =
+    transform(new Transformer[Out, Unit] {
+      override def onNext(in: Out) = { c(in); Nil }
+      override def onComplete() = ListOfUnit
+    })
+
+  def fold[U](zero: U)(f: (U, Out) ⇒ U): Thing[U] =
+    transform(new FoldTransformer[U](zero, f))
+
+  // Without this class compiler complains about 
+  // "Parameter type in structural refinement may not refer to an abstract type defined outside that refinement"
+  class FoldTransformer[S](var state: S, f: (S, Out) ⇒ S) extends Transformer[Out, S] {
+    override def onNext(in: Out): immutable.Seq[S] = { state = f(state, in); Nil }
+    override def onComplete(): immutable.Seq[S] = List(state)
+  }
+
+  def drop(n: Int): Thing[Out] =
+    transform(new Transformer[Out, Out] {
+      var delegate: Transformer[Out, Out] =
+        if (n == 0) identityTransformer.asInstanceOf[Transformer[Out, Out]]
+        else new Transformer[Out, Out] {
+          var c = n
+          override def onNext(in: Out) = {
+            c -= 1
+            if (c == 0)
+              delegate = identityTransformer.asInstanceOf[Transformer[Out, Out]]
+            Nil
+          }
+        }
+
+      override def onNext(in: Out) = delegate.onNext(in)
+    })
+
+  def take(n: Int): Thing[Out] =
+    transform(new Transformer[Out, Out] {
+      var delegate: Transformer[Out, Out] =
+        if (n == 0) takeCompletedTransformer.asInstanceOf[Transformer[Out, Out]]
+        else new Transformer[Out, Out] {
+          var c = n
+          override def onNext(in: Out) = {
+            c -= 1
+            if (c == 0)
+              delegate = takeCompletedTransformer.asInstanceOf[Transformer[Out, Out]]
+            List(in)
+          }
+        }
+
+      override def onNext(in: Out) = delegate.onNext(in)
+      override def isComplete = delegate.isComplete
+    })
+
+  def grouped(n: Int): Thing[immutable.Seq[Out]] =
+    transform(new Transformer[Out, immutable.Seq[Out]] {
+      var buf: Vector[Out] = Vector.empty
+      override def onNext(in: Out) = {
+        buf :+= in
+        if (buf.size == n) {
+          val group = buf
+          buf = Vector.empty
+          List(group)
+        } else
+          Nil
+      }
+      override def onComplete() = if (buf.isEmpty) Nil else List(buf)
+    })
+
+  def mapConcat[U](f: Out ⇒ immutable.Seq[U]): Thing[U] =
+    transform(new Transformer[Out, U] {
+      override def onNext(in: Out) = f(in)
+    })
+
+  def transform[U](transformer: Transformer[Out, U]): Thing[U] =
+    andThen(Transform(transformer.asInstanceOf[Transformer[Any, Any]]))
+
+  def transformRecover[U](recoveryTransformer: RecoveryTransformer[Out, U]): Thing[U] =
+    andThen(Recover(recoveryTransformer.asInstanceOf[RecoveryTransformer[Any, Any]]))
+
+  def zip[O2](other: Producer[O2]): Thing[(Out, O2)] = andThen(Zip(other.asInstanceOf[Producer[Any]]))
+
+  def concat[U >: Out](next: Producer[U]): Thing[U] = andThen(Concat(next.asInstanceOf[Producer[Any]]))
+
+  def merge[U >: Out](other: Producer[U]): Thing[U] = andThen(Merge(other.asInstanceOf[Producer[Any]]))
+
+  def splitWhen(p: (Out) ⇒ Boolean): Thing[Producer[Out]] = andThen(SplitWhen(p.asInstanceOf[Any ⇒ Boolean]))
+
+  def groupBy[K](f: (Out) ⇒ K): Thing[(K, Producer[Out])] = andThen(GroupBy(f.asInstanceOf[Any ⇒ Any]))
+
+  def tee(other: Consumer[_ >: Out]): Thing[Out] = andThen(Tee(other.asInstanceOf[Consumer[Any]]))
+
 }
 
diff --git a/akka-stream/src/main/scala/akka/stream/scaladsl/Duct.scala b/akka-stream/src/main/scala/akka/stream/scaladsl/Duct.scala
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..30b76c1e46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/akka-stream/src/main/scala/akka/stream/scaladsl/Duct.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,234 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (C) 2014 Typesafe Inc. <http://www.typesafe.com>
+ */
+package akka.stream.scaladsl
+
+import scala.collection.immutable
+import akka.stream.impl.DuctImpl
+import org.reactivestreams.api.Consumer
+import akka.stream.FlowMaterializer
+import scala.annotation.unchecked.uncheckedVariance
+import org.reactivestreams.api.Producer
+import scala.util.Try
+
+object Duct {
+
+  private val empty = DuctImpl[Any, Any](Nil)
+
+  /**
+   * Create an empty [[Duct]]. The transformation steps are executed by a series
+   * of [[org.reactivestreams.api.Processor]] instances that mediate the flow of
+   * elements downstream and the propagation of back-pressure upstream.
+   */
+  def apply[In]: Duct[In, In] = empty.asInstanceOf[Duct[In, In]]
+
+}
+
+/**
+ * A `Duct` provides the same kind of formulation of stream transformations as a [[Flow]].
+ * The difference is that it is not attached to an input source.
+ *
+ * The pipeline must be materialized by calling the [[#produceTo]], [[#consume]] or [[#build]]
+ * methods on it and then attach the `Consumer` representing the input side of the `Duct` to an
+ * upstream `Producer`.
+ *
+ */
+trait Duct[In, +Out] {
+  /**
+   * Transform this stream by applying the given function to each of the elements
+   * as they pass through this processing step.
+   */
+  def map[U](f: Out ⇒ U): Duct[In, U]
+
+  /**
+   * Only pass on those elements that satisfy the given predicate.
+   */
+  def filter(p: Out ⇒ Boolean): Duct[In, Out]
+
+  /**
+   * Transform this stream by applying the given partial function to each of the elements
+   * on which the function is defined as they pass through this processing step.
+   * Non-matching elements are filtered out.
+   */
+  def collect[U](pf: PartialFunction[Out, U]): Duct[In, U]
+
+  /**
+   * Invoke the given procedure for each received element and produce a Unit value
+   * upon reaching the normal end of the stream. Please note that also in this case
+   * the `Duct` needs to be materialized (e.g. using [[#consume]] and attaching the
+   * the `Consumer` representing the input side of the `Duct` to an upstream
+   * `Producer`) to initiate its execution.
+   */
+  def foreach(c: Out ⇒ Unit): Duct[In, Unit]
+
+  /**
+   * Invoke the given function for every received element, giving it its previous
+   * output (or the given “zero” value) and the element as input. The returned stream
+   * will receive the return value of the final function evaluation when the input
+   * stream ends.
+   */
+  def fold[U](zero: U)(f: (U, Out) ⇒ U): Duct[In, U]
+
+  /**
+   * Discard the given number of elements at the beginning of the stream.
+   */
+  def drop(n: Int): Duct[In, Out]
+
+  /**
+   * Terminate processing (and cancel the upstream producer) after the given
+   * number of elements. Due to input buffering some elements may have been
+   * requested from upstream producers that will then not be processed downstream
+   * of this step.
+   */
+  def take(n: Int): Duct[In, Out]
+
+  /**
+   * Chunk up this stream into groups of the given size, with the last group
+   * possibly smaller than requested due to end-of-stream.
+   */
+  def grouped(n: Int): Duct[In, immutable.Seq[Out]]
+
+  /**
+   * Transform each input element into a sequence of output elements that is
+   * then flattened into the output stream.
+   */
+  def mapConcat[U](f: Out ⇒ immutable.Seq[U]): Duct[In, U]
+
+  /**
+   * Generic transformation of a stream: for each element the [[Transformer#onNext]]
+   * function is invoked and expecting a (possibly empty) sequence of output elements
+   * to be produced.
+   * After handing off the elements produced from one input element to the downstream
+   * consumers, the [[Transformer#isComplete]] predicate determines whether to end
+   * stream processing at this point; in that case the upstream subscription is
+   * canceled. Before signaling normal completion to the downstream consumers,
+   * the [[Transformer#onComplete]] function is invoked to produce a (possibly empty)
+   * sequence of elements in response to the end-of-stream event.
+   *
+   * After normal completion or error the [[Transformer#cleanup]] function is called.
+   *
+   * It is possible to keep state in the concrete [[Transformer]] instance with
+   * ordinary instance variables. The [[Transformer]] is executed by an actor and
+   * therefore you don not have to add any additional thread safety or memory
+   * visibility constructs to access the state from the callback methods.
+   */
+  def transform[U](transformer: Transformer[Out, U]): Duct[In, U]
+
+  /**
+   * This transformation stage works exactly like [[#transform]] with the
+   * change that failure signaled from upstream will invoke
+   * [[RecoveryTransformer#onError]], which can emit an additional sequence of
+   * elements before the stream ends.
+   *
+   * After normal completion or error the [[RecoveryTransformer#cleanup]] function
+   * is called.
+   */
+  def transformRecover[U](recoveryTransformer: RecoveryTransformer[Out, U]): Duct[In, U]
+
+  /**
+   * This operation demultiplexes the incoming stream into separate output
+   * streams, one for each element key. The key is computed for each element
+   * using the given function. When a new key is encountered for the first time
+   * it is emitted to the downstream consumer together with a fresh
+   * producer that will eventually produce all the elements of the substream
+   * for that key. Not consuming the elements from the created streams will
+   * stop this processor from processing more elements, therefore you must take
+   * care to unblock (or cancel) all of the produced streams even if you want
+   * to consume only one of them.
+   */
+  def groupBy[K](f: Out ⇒ K): Duct[In, (K, Producer[Out @uncheckedVariance])]
+
+  /**
+   * This operation applies the given predicate to all incoming elements and
+   * emits them to a stream of output streams, always beginning a new one with
+   * the current element if the given predicate returns true for it. This means
+   * that for the following series of predicate values, three substreams will
+   * be produced with lengths 1, 2, and 3:
+   *
+   * {{{
+   * false,             // element goes into first substream
+   * true, false,       // elements go into second substream
+   * true, false, false // elements go into third substream
+   * }}}
+   */
+  def splitWhen(p: Out ⇒ Boolean): Duct[In, Producer[Out @uncheckedVariance]]
+
+  /**
+   * Merge this stream with the one emitted by the given producer, taking
+   * elements as they arrive from either side (picking randomly when both
+   * have elements ready).
+   */
+  def merge[U >: Out](other: Producer[U]): Duct[In, U]
+
+  /**
+   * Zip this stream together with the one emitted by the given producer.
+   * This transformation finishes when either input stream reaches its end,
+   * cancelling the subscription to the other one.
+   */
+  def zip[U](other: Producer[U]): Duct[In, (Out, U)]
+
+  /**
+   * Concatenate the given other stream to this stream so that the first element
+   * emitted by the given producer is emitted after the last element of this
+   * stream.
+   */
+  def concat[U >: Out](next: Producer[U]): Duct[In, U]
+
+  /**
+   * Fan-out the stream to another consumer. Each element is produced to
+   * the `other` consumer as well as to downstream consumers. It will
+   * not shutdown until the subscriptions for `other` and at least
+   * one downstream consumer have been established.
+   */
+  def tee(other: Consumer[_ >: Out]): Duct[In, Out]
+
+  /**
+   * Materialize this `Duct` by attaching it to the specified downstream `consumer`
+   * and return a `Consumer` representing the input side of the `Duct`.
+   * The returned `Consumer` can later be connected to an upstream `Producer`.
+   *
+   * *This will materialize the flow and initiate its execution.*
+   *
+   * The given FlowMaterializer decides how the flow’s logical structure is
+   * broken down into individual processing steps.
+   */
+  def produceTo(materializer: FlowMaterializer, consumer: Consumer[Out] @uncheckedVariance): Consumer[In]
+
+  /**
+   * Attaches a consumer to this stream which will just discard all received
+   * elements. The returned `Consumer` represents the input side of the `Duct` and can
+   * later be connected to an upstream `Producer`.
+   *
+   * *This will materialize the flow and initiate its execution.*
+   *
+   * The given FlowMaterializer decides how the flow’s logical structure is
+   * broken down into individual processing steps.
+   */
+  def consume(materializer: FlowMaterializer): Consumer[In]
+
+  /**
+   * When this flow is completed, either through an error or normal
+   * completion, apply the provided function with [[scala.util.Success]]
+   * or [[scala.util.Failure]]. The returned `Consumer` represents the input side of
+   * the `Duct` and can later be connected to an upstream `Producer`.
+   *
+   * *This operation materializes the flow and initiates its execution.*
+   */
+  def onComplete(materializer: FlowMaterializer)(callback: Try[Unit] ⇒ Unit): Consumer[In]
+
+  /**
+   * Materialize this `Duct` into a `Consumer` representing the input side of the `Duct`
+   * and a `Producer`representing the output side of the the `Duct`.
+   *
+   * The returned `Producer` can later be connected to an downstream `Consumer`.
+   * The returned `Consumer` can later be connected to an upstream `Producer`.
+   *
+   * *This will materialize the flow and initiate its execution.*
+   *
+   * The given FlowMaterializer decides how the flow’s logical structure is
+   * broken down into individual processing steps.
+   */
+  def build(materializer: FlowMaterializer): (Consumer[In], Producer[Out] @uncheckedVariance)
+
+}
+
diff --git a/akka-stream/src/main/scala/akka/stream/scaladsl/Flow.scala b/akka-stream/src/main/scala/akka/stream/scaladsl/Flow.scala
index 3c56e463e2..b0462c98cd 100644
--- a/akka-stream/src/main/scala/akka/stream/scaladsl/Flow.scala
+++ b/akka-stream/src/main/scala/akka/stream/scaladsl/Flow.scala
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ trait Flow[+T] {
   /**
    * Invoke the given procedure for each received element and produce a Unit value
    * upon reaching the normal end of the stream. Please note that also in this case
-   * the flow needs to be materialized (e.g. using [[#consume]]) to initiate its
+   * the `Flow` needs to be materialized (e.g. using [[#consume]]) to initiate its
    * execution.
    */
   def foreach(c: T ⇒ Unit): Flow[Unit]
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ trait Flow[+T] {
    * The given FlowMaterializer decides how the flow’s logical structure is
    * broken down into individual processing steps.
    */
-  def produceTo(materializer: FlowMaterializer, consumer: Consumer[T @uncheckedVariance]): Unit
+  def produceTo(materializer: FlowMaterializer, consumer: Consumer[_ >: T]): Unit
 
 }
 
diff --git a/akka-stream/src/test/scala/akka/stream/DuctSpec.scala b/akka-stream/src/test/scala/akka/stream/DuctSpec.scala
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..91f4bc7561
--- /dev/null
+++ b/akka-stream/src/test/scala/akka/stream/DuctSpec.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,172 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (C) 2014 Typesafe Inc. <http://www.typesafe.com>
+ */
+package akka.stream
+
+import scala.concurrent.duration._
+import org.reactivestreams.api.Consumer
+import org.reactivestreams.api.Producer
+import akka.stream.scaladsl.Duct
+import akka.stream.scaladsl.Flow
+import akka.stream.testkit.AkkaSpec
+import akka.stream.testkit.StreamTestKit
+import scala.util.Success
+import scala.util.Failure
+
+@org.junit.runner.RunWith(classOf[org.scalatest.junit.JUnitRunner])
+class DuctSpec extends AkkaSpec {
+
+  val materializer = FlowMaterializer(MaterializerSettings())
+
+  "A Duct" must {
+
+    "materialize into Producer/Consumer" in {
+      val duct: Duct[String, String] = Duct[String]
+      val (ductIn: Consumer[String], ductOut: Producer[String]) = duct.build(materializer)
+
+      val c1 = StreamTestKit.consumerProbe[String]
+      ductOut.produceTo(c1)
+
+      val source: Producer[String] = Flow(List("1", "2", "3")).toProducer(materializer)
+      source.produceTo(ductIn)
+
+      val sub1 = c1.expectSubscription
+      sub1.requestMore(3)
+      c1.expectNext("1")
+      c1.expectNext("2")
+      c1.expectNext("3")
+      c1.expectComplete
+    }
+
+    "materialize into Producer/Consumer and transformation processor" in {
+      val duct: Duct[Int, String] = Duct[Int].map((i: Int) ⇒ i.toString)
+      val (ductIn: Consumer[Int], ductOut: Producer[String]) = duct.build(materializer)
+
+      val c1 = StreamTestKit.consumerProbe[String]
+      ductOut.produceTo(c1)
+      val sub1 = c1.expectSubscription
+      sub1.requestMore(3)
+      c1.expectNoMsg(200.millis)
+
+      val source: Producer[Int] = Flow(List(1, 2, 3)).toProducer(materializer)
+      source.produceTo(ductIn)
+
+      c1.expectNext("1")
+      c1.expectNext("2")
+      c1.expectNext("3")
+      c1.expectComplete
+    }
+
+    "materialize into Producer/Consumer and multiple transformation processors" in {
+      val duct = Duct[Int].map(_.toString).map("elem-" + _)
+      val (ductIn, ductOut) = duct.build(materializer)
+
+      val c1 = StreamTestKit.consumerProbe[String]
+      ductOut.produceTo(c1)
+      val sub1 = c1.expectSubscription
+      sub1.requestMore(3)
+      c1.expectNoMsg(200.millis)
+
+      val source: Producer[Int] = Flow(List(1, 2, 3)).toProducer(materializer)
+      source.produceTo(ductIn)
+
+      c1.expectNext("elem-1")
+      c1.expectNext("elem-2")
+      c1.expectNext("elem-3")
+      c1.expectComplete
+    }
+
+    "produceTo Consumer" in {
+      val duct: Duct[String, String] = Duct[String]
+      val c1 = StreamTestKit.consumerProbe[String]
+      val c2: Consumer[String] = duct.produceTo(materializer, c1)
+      val source: Producer[String] = Flow(List("1", "2", "3")).toProducer(materializer)
+      source.produceTo(c2)
+
+      val sub1 = c1.expectSubscription
+      sub1.requestMore(3)
+      c1.expectNext("1")
+      c1.expectNext("2")
+      c1.expectNext("3")
+      c1.expectComplete
+    }
+
+    "perform transformation operation" in {
+      val duct = Duct[Int].map(i ⇒ { testActor ! i.toString; i.toString })
+      val c = duct.consume(materializer)
+
+      val source = Flow(List(1, 2, 3)).toProducer(materializer)
+      source.produceTo(c)
+
+      expectMsg("1")
+      expectMsg("2")
+      expectMsg("3")
+    }
+
+    "perform multiple transformation operations" in {
+      val duct = Duct[Int].map(_.toString).map("elem-" + _).foreach(testActor ! _)
+      val c = duct.consume(materializer)
+
+      val source = Flow(List(1, 2, 3)).toProducer(materializer)
+      source.produceTo(c)
+
+      expectMsg("elem-1")
+      expectMsg("elem-2")
+      expectMsg("elem-3")
+    }
+
+    "perform transformation operation and produceTo Consumer" in {
+      val duct = Duct[Int].map(_.toString)
+      val c1 = StreamTestKit.consumerProbe[String]
+      val c2: Consumer[Int] = duct.produceTo(materializer, c1)
+
+      val sub1 = c1.expectSubscription
+      sub1.requestMore(3)
+      c1.expectNoMsg(200.millis)
+
+      val source: Producer[Int] = Flow(List(1, 2, 3)).toProducer(materializer)
+      source.produceTo(c2)
+
+      c1.expectNext("1")
+      c1.expectNext("2")
+      c1.expectNext("3")
+      c1.expectComplete
+    }
+
+    "perform multiple transformation operations and produceTo Consumer" in {
+      val duct = Duct[Int].map(_.toString).map("elem-" + _)
+      val c1 = StreamTestKit.consumerProbe[String]
+      val c2 = duct.produceTo(materializer, c1)
+
+      val sub1 = c1.expectSubscription
+      sub1.requestMore(3)
+      c1.expectNoMsg(200.millis)
+
+      val source: Producer[Int] = Flow(List(1, 2, 3)).toProducer(materializer)
+      source.produceTo(c2)
+
+      c1.expectNext("elem-1")
+      c1.expectNext("elem-2")
+      c1.expectNext("elem-3")
+      c1.expectComplete
+    }
+
+    "call onComplete callback when done" in {
+      val duct = Duct[Int].map(i ⇒ { testActor ! i.toString; i.toString })
+      val c = duct.onComplete(materializer) {
+        case Success(_) ⇒ testActor ! "DONE"
+        case Failure(e) ⇒ testActor ! e
+      }
+
+      val source = Flow(List(1, 2, 3)).toProducer(materializer)
+      source.produceTo(c)
+
+      expectMsg("1")
+      expectMsg("2")
+      expectMsg("3")
+      expectMsg("DONE")
+    }
+
+  }
+
+}