Whirlpool Corporation Reports Record 2006 First-Quarter Result
Whirlpool Corporation announced on 25th April that net earnings increased 37 percent for the first quarter of 2006 to $118 million, or $1.70 per diluted share, compared to $86 million, or $1.26 per diluted share, in the same period last year. The increase reflects strong trade and consumer demand for the company's products around the world.
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Mermaid Kit Sales Have Overtaken Components
Mermaid Kit Systems have been so successful since their recent launch that they have now overtaken sales of individual Mermaid panels and components. The popularity of the Kit System with installers and retailers proves just how much easier it is to specify and order Mermaid waterproof wall panels for shower enclosures, walk-in showers and bathside walls.
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Ahlsell Acquires Cooling-Products Company Tempcold
Ahlsell has signed an agreement with Atle Industri to acquire its wholly owned cooling-products company Tempcold. Tempcold offers a comprehensive range of cooling products throughout the Nordic region and last year had a turnover of around SEK 340 million with an operating result of more than SEK 9 million and 130 employees.
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RAK Ceramics Dealers Compete for a Place in the Sun
RAK Ceramics UK reports excellent uptake of its latest dealer incentive scheme - a competition to win a five star luxury holiday.
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BMA Lends its Support to NTG
As well as running its own Bathroom Academy initiative, the BMA has committed its support to the Kitchen and Bathroom National Training Group.
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JS2 is Top Choice for New High-End Development in Surrey
Designer brassware brand John Sydney has reported that its flagship JS2 range has been selected for a prestigious new Surrey development by Elysian Homes.
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Blum Receives Award for Product Design
The new Blumotion controlled closing system for cabinet doors on the hinge has won the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen ‘red dot’ Award.
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Court Homemakers Scoops PWS National Award
The team at Court Homemakers in Teesside is celebrating after scooping PWS' national award for Second Nature dealer of the year. Facing stiff competition from over 70 PWS Second Nature dealers across the country, Courts rose to the challenge.
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Britannia Proved to be Hot Hit at Homebuilding & Renovating
Range cooker specialist Britannia was extremely pleased with the results from the Homebuilding & Renovating Show held at Birmingham's NEC earlier this month.
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European Introducer of Vetted Tradesmen Welcomes UK Trade Associations
Quotatis, an established European company generating over 1000 leads a day for reputable tradesmen in France alone has been launched in the UK.
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Barwick Announces Jika
Bathroom Distributor Barwick has announced a new addition to the company’s portfolio of brands. Jika, from bathroom manufacturer Laufen, is a comprehensive new collection of design led sanitaryware and bathroom furniture.
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In-toto is 'Going for Gold'
Independent fitted kitchen specialist, In-toto kitchens, is 'Going for Gold' this year, with a focussed campaign to expand its nationwide network of showrooms to 50 strong. Already at 46, with a 47th signed up, the prospects for In-toto look good.
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Whirlpool's Investments in European Factories
Whirlpool confirms its commitment to invest in its European production network in order to further expand the capacity and the efficiency of its factories. Since its appearance on the European market in 1989, Whirlpool Europe invested over 1.1 billion Euros in its production sites, and over 700 million Euros in the development of innovative products.
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BMA Speaks at Waterwise Conference
The BMA's campaign to highlight the need to use water efficiently in the bathroom took another step forward when the Association's Yvonne Orgill and Richard Moss joined the nine other speakers, who addressed a full audience at the recent Waterwise Conference held at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.
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New, 'Green' Water Softener made almost Entirely of DuPont™ Delrin®
A new, environmentally-friendly water softening device, which solely relies on water volume for its operation rather than a power supply, is made almost entirely of DuPont™ Delrin® acetal resin.
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Electrolux Annual General Meeting 2006
The Annual General Meeting of AB Electrolux was held on Monday, April 24th, in Stockholm. Peggy Bruzelius, Louis R. Hughes, Hans Stråberg, Caroline Sundewall, Barbara Milian Thoralfsson, Michael Treschow and Marcus Wallenberg were re-elected to the board.
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AND FINALLY...

So that's What we Mean by 'Wrinklies'
The Bathroom Manufacturers Association reports that when the Consumer Council for Water was carrying out a survey on water usage in the home, it found that personal usage tended to average out around 160 litres per day, until it came to a retired couple, whose home usage was much higher.
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Belling - Building the Brand in 2006
With a variety of new product launches planned throughout the year, Belling says that it is set to go from strength to strength as it aims to broaden its appeal to the younger market.
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SEB Provisional First-Quarter 2006 Sales: A Good Start
Consolidated sales for the three months ended 31st March 2006 showed a solid gain, reflecting both poor prior-year comparatives and generally more satisfactory demand, continuing the late-year 2005 trend.
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Record Number of Visitors to Franke Website
Franke, the kitchen systems manufacturer, recorded over 100,000 visitor sessions on its new look website last month. The company's internet report shows that the figure is up 30 per cent on the same time last year and marks a record number of visitor sessions on the Franke UK website.
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Electrolux £10 Million Advertising Campaign
Following the recent launch of its new communications platform, ‘Electrolux - Thinking of You’, the Electrolux Group announced on 5th April the start of a combined £10 million Consumer Advertising Investment into its portfolio of home appliance brands - Electrolux, AEG-Electrolux and Zanussi-Electrolux.
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De Dietrich Offers Free 5 Year Parts Guarantee
As an endorsement of the build quality and durability of its products, from 1st May 2006 until the end of the year, premium appliance brand De Dietrich is offering a free 5 year parts guarantee on its entire 2006 range.
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De Dietrich Launches Consumer Advertising Campaign 2006
Following the success of its awareness campaign for 2005, De Dietrich is running a consumer press advertising campaign using both glossy magazines and national newspaper weekend supplements in 2006.
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Continued Expansion for Fitted Kitchen Specialist
The UK independent fitted kitchen chain, In-toto Kitchens, has opened three more high street showrooms bringing the company’s nationwide network a step nearer its goal of 50 In-toto studios across the UK by the end of 2006.
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Kitchen Showcase 06 in Partnership Deal with Gaggenau
Gaggenau, European manufacturer of luxury built in appliances for the domestic kitchen, has joined forces with Masterclass Events Ltd, organisers of Kitchen Showcase 06, to deliver the largest UK event in 2006 dedicated entirely to kitchen design.
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New HQ for Victoria & Albert
International freestanding bath specialist Victoria & Albert has moved to bigger premises as part of a strategic development plan for the company's expansion.
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William Ball Unveils New Distribution Centre
As part of its commitment to providing an efficient service for the North of England, North Wales and Scotland, high quality fitted furniture manufacturer William Ball has invested in a new state-of-the-art distribution centre.
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Roman Joins the Best of British
Roman, the UK shower manufacturer, has chosen the biggest bathroom showroom in Europe as the first to display its Roman Sculptures range.
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A New Channel for DEVI
DEVI has a new distributor for the company's range of devimat products - the Sheffield-based tile company, RJ Stokes. RJ Stokes holds one of the largest selections of tiles in the UK.
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OFT Refuses Credit Licence to Rotherham Home Improvements Trader
The OFT has refused an application for a consumer credit licence from Ideal Home and Improvements Ltd, a manufacturer & installer of kitchen, bedroom & bathroom furniture
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RAK Ceramics Launches Platinum Medal Dealer Club
RAK Ceramics has announced a major new initiative as part of its manufacturer support package to KBB dealers throughout the United Kingdom.
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Snaplite Snaps Up the Queen's Award for Innovation
Safe and Sound Lighting wins the Award for the continuous development of its range of Snaplite recessed downlighters with inbuilt fire and acoustic protection.
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RH Morton Holds the Winning Recipe for Baxters Kitchen
Baxters Executive Chef, George McIvor, opened the new demonstration kitchen completed by RH Morton with a show of culinary flair at the Baxters Food Group new Glasgow Office last week.
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The Four Pillars of Whirlpool's European Expansion Strategy
On the occasion of the Eurocucina international kitchen fair in Milan, Whirlpool presented the four pillars of its expansion strategy to over 2,000 trade partners and 100 journalists.
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Wolseley plc Acquisitions Update
Wolseley plc, the world's largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing and heating products to professional contractors and a leading supplier of building materials, announced recently three further acquisitions
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25 is a Magic Number
Cast your mind back 25 years. 1981 was an eventful year for the bathroom industry too - Ideal Bathrooms, the UK distributor of proprietary branded bathroom products, first began trading.
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AND FINALLY...

How Will You Watch the World Cup?
With the World Cup just a few months away, award-winning furniture designer, Halo, has identified favourite seating positions to watch the matches on TV, although some of them could pose a threat to good posture.
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Franke Showcases Latest Innovations at Waterline Show
Kitchen systems manufacturer, Franke, is showcasing a range of new products at this year's Waterline roadshow. The Laser sink with Slimfix fixing system, the Kubus multi bowl sink and a selection of products from the new appliance range are on display.
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Unique Speaker List at this Year's Masterclass Conference
Some of the world's most inspirational product, industrial and award winning designers will be brought together under one roof in London this June, at the Masterclass 2006 conference and seminar, to present their own unique perspectives on design.
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Premium Appliance Brands Announces Record Results for 2005
Premium Appliance Brands (PAB) has announced strong financial results for 2005 with the news it has achieved record sales and more than doubled its turnover, even in a year that was particularly challenging for the consumer durables market. The firm, which only began trading in December 2002, recorded a turnover of £11.3m in 2005, compared to £5.6m in 2004.
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Wider Choice from Ideal Bathrooms
Ideal Bathrooms has added to its choice of premium brands in a new arrangement with Grohe. Ideal Bathrooms now stocks in-depth the Grohe frame system and flushing system for wall mounted sanitaryware, its Hydraspa system, the Grohe brassware range and the latest digital shower technology.
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'Nesting Syndrome' Brings in £0.5bn a Year for the Building Industry
Pregnant women in the UK spend £1/2 billion on home improvement work annually (see note 1) when the ‘nesting urge’ strikes and they rush to prepare the perfect home for their new baby.
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Prevent Scalds, Advises Honeywell
Measures should be taken to prevent scalding hot water in basins, showers and baths warns Honeywell, the manufacturer of water valves and heating controls.
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Electrolux Celebrates World Health Day - April 7th 2006
As World Health Day is upon us, many people realise that they are not living as healthy a lifestyle as they would wish for. Electrolux shows how household appliances can help consumers have healthier homes.
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BSH Appliance Care Celebrates 20 Years in UK
April 2006 marks the 20th anniversary of BSH Appliance Care, the service division of BSH Home Appliances Ltd in the UK. Originally responsible just for the Bosch and Neff home appliance brands in the UK, the company now services all four BSH appliance brands: namely Bosch, Siemens, Gaggenau & Neff.
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Precious Metal from Victoria & Albert
Freestanding bath manufacturer Victoria & Albert has totally revamped its brassware range for 2006. Twenty nine taps and fillers are based around both contemporary and traditional design themes.
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At Your Service
Image Showers is continuing to add to its support services for the company’s UK customer showrooms. Two field service engineers have been appointed to provide showroom display installation and maintenance to ensure showroom displays are always installed correctly.
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Internet Retailer Moves to High Street
The UK independent online retailer of Bathroom products, www.plumbworld.co.uk Ltd has made it's first move into bricks and mortar retailing with a new store in Altrincham, operated under the brand Bathroom World.
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Free Advice from UK Qualified Plumbers
With reports of plumbers earning £100,000+ a year and charging huge hourly rates it is nice to see that some plumbers are willing to give help to consumers entirely for free.
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Bureau Veritas Introduces New Inspector and Auditor Training School
Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services (BVCPS), specialist in consumer product testing, inspections and auditing services, has opened two new Chinese training facilities.
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Businesses Can Save Money with New Water-Saving Products
Twyford Bathrooms recently announced that ten of its WC suites have been awarded a place on the Water Technology List having successfully met the criteria to enable Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) claims.
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Success at CNC Homag Open House
Homag U.K. hosted its first open house exhibition of 2006 with a special focus on CNC technology. Homag MD Paul Cooper said that the company was most gratified with the high number of companies and individuals that attended.
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AND FINALLY...

BMA Link to Gardeners!
The recent announcement of a hosepipe ban in some areas of the country has brought an unexpected spate of phone calls into the Bathroom Manufacturers Association's switchboard. The calls have come from gardeners, who visited the BMA's WaterHog website looking for water-saving tips.
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