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THE K&BZINE ISSUE 126 16th December 2005
Jacuzzi
Results: UK Bath Division Weakest Link
Jacuzzi
Brands, Inc. announced on December 12th operating results for the fourth
quarter and fiscal year ended September 30th, 2005. Net sales for the
fourth quarter of fiscal 2005 were $293.3m compared to $308.5m for the
fourth quarter of fiscal 2004. Operating income in the fourth quarter
of 2005 was $17.1m compared to operating income of $37.8m in the fourth
quarter of 2004.
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on this Story]
Joint
MD Retires from William Ball
After 42 years in the business Bob Ball, Joint Managing Director of quality
kitchen, bedroom and study furniture manufacturer, William Ball, is to
retire. Having lost an incredible 12 stone during 2005, Bob has now decided
to spend his retirement in sunnier climes settling in Perth, Western Australia.
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on this Story]
Franke
Acquires Market Leader in Egypt
The
Franke Group has acquired majority interest in Egypt's leading sink manufacturer,
SAMI. The Egyptian sink market is considered to be one of the biggest
volume markets in Africa and the acquisition substantially strengthens
the presence of Franke in this territory.
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on this Story]
Electrolux
Decides to Close Factory in Nuremberg, Germany
After a six-month long investigation, on December 12th Electrolux decided
to initiate closure of the appliances factory in Nuremberg, Germany. Production
will gradually be moved to Italy and Poland. Closure of the factory is
expected to be completed by the end of 2007.
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on this Story]
Whirlpool
Production Growth
Whirlpool Corporation announced on December 12th that it invested approximately
$250 million in its North American manufacturing base in 2005. 'We continue
to strengthen and extend our manufacturing base in North America, specifically
in the U.S. and Mexico, to better improve our operating platform and to
continue to remain competitive,' said David L. Swift
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on this Story]
Sirius
Crowns Indesit Company White Goods Supplier of the Year
Indesit
Company has accepted the ‘White Goods Supplier of the Year’
award from Sirius. Monday 28th November saw Marco Marini, Indesit Company's
Managing Director, greet representatives from Sirius, a buying group formed
as part of an amalgamation between Solus and Radius.
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on this Story]
Siemens
Ties Up with Marks & Spencer for Laundry Promotion
For
the first time, kitchen appliance manufacturer Siemens has teamed up with
UK retailer 'Marks & Spencer' for a laundry promotion due to appear
as an advertorial feature in the Spring 2006 issue of 'M&S' magazine.
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on this Story]
Shires
Bathrooms Working with Wakefield Council
Shires
Bathrooms, the UK bathroom manufacturer, has secured a six month contract
to supply bathrooms to Wakefield District Housing. Following three years
of negotiations, Shires Bathrooms has established a strong working relationship
with Wakefield District Housing and is able to provide it with a ‘one-stop-shop’
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on this Story]
Gateshead
Gets Fabricating
James
Latham's Gateshead depot is giving its existing customers an extra helping
hand in meeting tight deadlines by providing an in-house fabrication service.
The facility is aimed primarily at providing BWF Certifire Doors sets
manufactured to size and with or without glazed apertures, complete with
hardwood frames within a fraction of the normal lead times.
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on this Story]
New
Year Retail Bonanza with Imperial Bathrooms
In
support of its growing network of stockists and to provide a New Year
boost to sales, Imperial Bathrooms is kick-starting 2006 with a new price
promotion across its entire brassware range and selected sanitaryware
lines. Display incentives and POS are also being made available in support
of the promotion.
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on this Story]
Ideal
Standard Celebrates 25 Years of Robin Levien
This
year Ideal Standard celebrates 25 years of working with Royal Designer
for Industry Robin Levien. To mark the occasion, guests were invited
to an exclusive event at the Design Museum, raising their glasses to
a well respected and talented designer.
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on this Story]
KBSA
Regional Meeting Sponsored by Gorenje
One
of the KBSA's newest corporate members, Slovenian appliance manufacturer
Gorenje, sponsored the KBSA regional meeting for region 6 (London and
the home counties), which was held at the company’s Wimbledon headquarters'
last month.
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on this Story]
Decorative
Panels at ZOW for the First Time in 2006
British
paper foil laminator Decorative Panels Ltd. is attending ZOW at Bad
Salzuflen in February 2006 for the first time. In fact, says sales
manager Stephen Cadwell: ‘This is the first time in our 90+ year
history, that we have attended an offshore exhibition - and I think
that what we have to offer European board manufacturers and processors
will go down very well’.
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on this Story]
Bureau
Veritas Hires Consultant to Strengthen Furniture Testing Capabilities
Bureau
Veritas Consumer Products Services UK (BVCPS), specialist in consumer
product testing, inspections and auditing services, has announced
the appointment of David Hawkridge as an Independent Technical Consultant.
David will be primarily responsible for supporting the development
and expansion of BVCPS's furniture testing services in preparation
for the facilities move to new, extensive 'state-of-the-art' facilities
in 2006.
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on this Story]
Roman
Holiday at KBB Exhibition
Roman
Limited, the UK shower manufacturer, is offering visitors to the
January KBB exhibition a weekend break for two in the historic city
of Rome. Roman will be running two prize draws, one for members
of the press and another for retail and contract market.
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on this Story]
Flower
Power Set to Draw KBB Visitors!
One
visitor to KBB 2006 will go home with a most exclusive bath - if he
or she is the lucky winner of a competition being run by exhibitor
Victoria & Albert.
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on this Story]
Easy
Bosch Solutions to Those Boring Christmas Chores
Christmas
should be all about friends, family and enjoying yourself, but all
too often it can become a bit of a chore. Domestic tasks loom, leaving
you little time for the things that really count. For this reason,
Bosch domestic appliances says that it has come up with some great
ideas to help ease the load over the festive season.
[More
on this Story]
THE K&BZINE ISSUE 125 9th December 2005
Finance Director Roger Williams has been promoted to the position of Managing Director of the Bristan Group and took over the role from Steve Lee last month. Steve has moved into the role of Chief Executive of the Bristan Group and will, in his new position, continue to be heavily involved in the business.
LG
Opens Window to the Future in Harrods
LG
Electronics is partnering with Harrods to demonstrate the future of technology
that will enrich people's lifestyles. The room, called the 'LG i-Gallery',
displays innovative, inspiring, imaginative and infotainment technology
such as a gold 71" plasma screen, a 5 mega pixel mobile phone and
a vacuum cleaner that does the vacuuming for you.
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on this Story]
Clean
Cooking with Fagor's Pyrolytic Oven Range
Fagor
UK has launched three new electronic single ovens featuring advanced pyrolytic
self-cleaning, under the company's Advanced Cooking Generation banner.
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on this Story]
Smeg
Launches 'Linear Series' of Cooking Appliances
Smeg
has launched a new group of ovens and hobs that add a distinct new style
to the Italian appliance brand's portfolio.
Smeg's Linear Series exploits the minimalist fashion aesthetic of today,
combining sleek geometric lines with stainless steel and glass.
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on this Story]
Hurry
– Get a Free 'Periodic Inspection' Assessment with ELECSA Before
Xmas
ELECSA
announced on 1st December that it is offering assessments of competence
for its full scope scheme (level A) registered electricians and installers
to undertake Periodic Inspection and Testing as an optional extra Assessment.
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on this Story]
Roaring
Success of BMA Generic Industry Guides
The
Bathroom Manufacturers Association's generic industry guides, which are
designed to help everyone in the bathroom industry to make a more disciplined
study of their profession, are proving a roaring success with over thirteen
thousand downloads of the Guides, since May.
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on this Story]
In-Toto
Shows 'Britain's Worst' How it Should be Done
Channel
5's 'Britain's Worst' series is now focussing on builders. Three bad
builders are put through their paces on various tasks, with a flat bed
truck for the 'most improved'. In-toto kitchens, as one of Britain's
best, was invited to show how a small kitchen installation should be
done.
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on this Story]
Roman
Holiday at KBB Exhibition
Roman
Limited, the UK shower manufacturer, is offering visitors to the January
KBB exhibition a weekend break for two in the historic city of Rome.
Roman will be running two prize draws, one for members of the press
and another for retail and contract market.
[More
on this Story]
Flower
Power Set to Draw KBB Visitors!
One
visitor to KBB 2006 will go home with a most exclusive bath - if he or
she is the lucky winner of a competition being run by exhibitor Victoria
& Albert.
[More
on this Story]
Indesit
Board Approves the Results for 3rd Quarter 2005
The
board of directors of Indesit Company recently approved the consolidated
figures for the 3rd quarter, drawn up to international accounting standards.
Ebitda is in line with expectations and sales in line with the same period
in 2004, confirming a recovery with respect to 1st quarter 2005 in spite
of very weak demand, especially in the UK.
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on this Story]
New
Design Heralds Success for Contract Kitchen Venture
Carleton
Furniture Group Ltd recently commissioned Yorkshire based brand and design
agency 10, to design the first ever brochure to promote its contract Kitchen
range. The ‘A la carte’ kitchen range has to appeal to varying
clients and customers, so the brief was explicit - to ensure the new brochure
and image was eye catching, innovative and stylish.
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on this Story]
Church
Conversion Heats Up, Thanks to Myson
Myson
is counting its blessings after being chosen not only to have its products
sold in a unique new showroom, but also to heat the outlet, which is
being converted from an old Methodist Church.
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on this Story]
Stoves
Makes its Television Debut with New Advertising Campaign
Stoves
is launching its first ever television advertising campaign in a bid to
maximise exposure for the brand and generate consumer pull-through in
line with Glen Dimplex Home Appliances' comprehensive support package
for its trade customers.
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on this Story]
De
Dietrich Offers Free Casserole Dishes
From
1st December 2005 until 31st March 2006, premium appliance brand De
Dietrich is offering the opportunity to claim two free casserole dishes
for end users who buy an oven plus one other appliance from the 2005/6
range.
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on this Story]
Tara
Fittings in the World’s Leading Luxury Hotels
Dornbracht
is continuing to expand in the high-priced hotel segment: from the
designer hotel Q! in Berlin, the InterContinental Düsseldorf,
the Mandarin Oriental Cancun in Mexico, the Conrad Hilton Tokyo and
the Four Seasons Biltmore in California to the Al Fattan Marine Towers
in Dubai.
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on this Story]
Complaint
Against AquaSoothe Ltd Not Upheld
An
industry complaint objecting to a magazine ad for 'Britain's best
bathlift' from AquaSoothe Ltd, Sale, Cheshire was not upheld according
to information published by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
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on this Story]
New
Electrolux Research Reveals ‘What’s Cooking’ in UK
Kitchens
Clearly
the need for kitchens to fulfill social and culinary roles in the
home has implications for design. To understand more about what people
need and want from their kitchens we looked at how people are cooking
and entertaining at home today.
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on this Story]
Whirlpool
Enters Into $2.7 Billion Credit Facilities
Whirlpool
Corporation announced on December 6th that it has entered into an
amended and restated $2.2 billion, five-year revolving credit agreement,
with $1.2 billion immediately available and $1.0 billion available
upon final clearance of the Maytag Corporation acquisition by the
Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice.
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on this Story]
THE K&BZINE ISSUE 124 2nd December 2005
The management team of kitchen and bathroom software vendor easyquote has announced that it has completed a management-buy-out from the Mereway group of companies.
Indesit
Board Approves First Half Results
The first half of 2005 for Indesit Company was characterised by efforts
to offset higher raw material costs (which increased costs for the Company
by around 3.5% on the previous year) both pricing policies and by measures
to contain sourcing and production costs.
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on this Story]
Marrakech
is Setting for new Indesit/Hotpoint Launch
Indesit Company launched its Aqualtis washing machine in the evocative
setting of Marrakech. Aqualtis will be marketed under the Ariston label
in Italy starting November and in mainland Europe in early 2006. In
the UK, Aqualtis will be a Hotpoint product.
[More
on this Story]
Drummonds'
Chelsea Showroom Gets a Designer Refurbishment
Drummonds
opened its newly refurbished Chelsea showroom on Tuesday 22nd November
2005. The premises, at 78 Royal Hospital Road, have been totally refitted
to a design by Ivan Speight.
[More
on this Story]
Simple
and Free to Transfer your Part P Registration to ELECSA
With
the Christmas festive season here, many electricians and tradesmen will
be thinking of next year’s plans. Issues like renewing their registration
for self certifying under Part P will be on the horizon.
[More
on this Story]
Top Chefs Use Whirlpool Products
Once again the organisers of the BBC Good Food Show Birmingham and London
selected Whirlpool as the supplier of products for all the major cookery
theatres. Whirlpool UK also sponsored the 'Friends for Dinner' Theatre.
Top chefs Gordon Ramsey, Gary Rhodes and Rick Stein prepared dishes
on Whirlpool products to an audience of 1,700 people six times a day.
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on this Story]
John
Burton Race Demonstrates to Fenwick Guests on his Favourite Range
Cooker
Customers
of Fenwick in Newcastle have been treated to a cooking demonstration
from renowned chef John Burton Race. John cooked a number of delicious
dishes while further entertaining his audience with stories of his
Channel 4 series, living in France and cooking for six kids!
[More
on this Story]
De Dietrich Offers Free
Saucepans
From 1st December 2005 until 31st March 2006, premium appliance brand
De Dietrich is offering the opportunity to claim a FREE set of four
saucepans with every purchase of a touch control hob from the 2005/6
range.
[More
on this Story]
Contract
Glass, the Kitchen & Bathroom Glass Specialist
Best
known for its work producing glass tops and splash backs for the kitchen
and bathroom industries, Contract Glass's new waterjet machine allows
virtually any finished shape to be cut to bespoke designs or mass
manufacturing quickly and efficiently.
[More
on this Story]
RAK
Ceramics' Sales Force Grows as Company Expands
Ceramic
tile and sanitaryware manufacturer, RAK Ceramics, has appointed two
new key managers to work within its rapidly expanding UK sales and administration
team. Dean Pamphilon and Kimberley van Eyssen have joined RAK Ceramics.
[More
on this Story]
New
Offices and Sales Manager for Microcad Software in UK
Microcad
Software Ltd, the developer of autokitchen, the Kitchen Design Software
powered by AutoCAD welcomes Richard McCarthy as a Sales Manager UK.
Richard brings with him over 15 years experience in Kitchens design
and sales.
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on this Story]
Miele
'Takes Control' of the Ceramic Hobs Market with New Innovations for
2006
Following
the successful launch of Miele's front control ceramic hobs in 2004,
the brand is set to further boost its ceramic offering by introducing
two new control types to provide greater differentiation between models,
and by launching a completely new range of induction hobs.
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on this Story]
Kitchen
& Bathroom Designer Magazine joins Bathroom Academy Sponsors
The
Kitchen & Bathroom Designer magazine has become the first Professional
Magazine to sponsor the Bathroom Manufacturers Association's virtual
bathroom academy.
[More
on this Story]
Lucky
Couple Bathe Baby Like the Beckhams
Clearwater
Collection celebrated the first baby born on the day one of its
retailers opened a showroom, by organising one of its baby baths
for the couple.
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on this Story]
Whirlpool
and Maytag Agree Timing with Antitrust Division
Whirlpool Corporation and Maytag Corporation yesterday announced
that both companies have certified substantial compliance with the
Antitrust Division.
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on this Story]
We’d
Rather Slave Over a Hot Sink than Buy a Dishwasher!
Recent
research by Electrolux and Future Foundation Group confirms we’re
nuts about doing the dishes! While the vast majority of Swiss, Germans,
Swedes and Austrians prefer to employ the services of a dishwasher
to wash up – nearly 7 out of 10 British households don the
rubber gloves and wash up by hand.
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on this Story]
Easy
Bosch Solutions to Those Boring Christmas Chores
Christmas
should be all about friends, family and enjoying yourself, but all
too often it can become a bit of a chore. Domestic tasks loom, leaving
you little time for the things that really count. For this reason,
Bosch domestic appliances says that it has come up with some great
ideas to help ease the load over the festive season.
[More
on this Story]