THE K&BZINE ISSUE 229 29th February 2008
ALNO
and In-toto Gear up for Growth
2007 was another successful year for Alno UK. Alno and
In-toto are part of the world's second largest German kitchen manufacturers
and have announced a number of changes to the management structure. This
will assist with their ambitious plans for growth in 2008.
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on this Story]
Italy
Proves Green Tax Breaks Move Markets
The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances
(AMDEA) gave Brussels a glimpse of the UK Time to Change campaign www.t2c.org.uk
during EU Sustainable Energy Week.
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on this Story]
Magnet
Rolls Out First Installer Academy
Magnet
has launched a new Kitchen Installer Training Academy in Leeds, West Yorkshire,
with another facility nearing completion in Slough to service the South
of England and plans to create more nation-wide.
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Top-class
Tiling Training for the North-West
Building Adhesives Limited (BAL) has extended the scope
of its training by establishing a new Tiling Training Centre in association
with Tiles UK.
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on this Story]
BMA
Praises Government's 'Lifetime Homes' Plans
The Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) is very
encouraged by the government's steps to provide a better country for old
age, as announced in its 'Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods - A
National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society' document.
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on this Story]
Brandt
UK Ltd. becomes De Dietrich Kitchen Appliances Ltd.
Brandt
UK Ltd., which markets brands De Dietrich and Fagor has changed its company
name to de Dietrich Kitchen Appliances Ltd. The incorporation of the new
company name is an integral aspect of the improved marketing and communication
strategy for the business.
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on this Story]
Imperial
Bathrooms Scoops ‘Professional Builder’ Accolade
Further testimony to the popularity of Imperial Bathrooms’
product portfolio of sanitaryware and furniture came in the form of a
highly coveted Top Product Award 2007 from building trade journal, Professional
Builder.
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on this Story]
CaesarStone
Sales Growth Continues
It's just two years since Ebor Equipment Ltd gained
the sole importer and distributor rights in the UK and Ireland for CaesarStone.
Ebor's warehouse was remodelled to make room for the CaesarStone slabs.
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on this Story]
Ban
the Bottle
If you are buying a fridge freezer Electrolux says why
not buy one that gives you unlimited, chilled filtered water 'on tap'
- that way you'll never need to buy bottled water again.
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on this Story]
New
Institute Set to Revolutionise the Furniture Installation Industry
A
new professional institute has launched to distinguish first-class, kitchen,
bedroom and bathroom installers from the cowboys, to improve the image
of, and raise the standards within, the industry.
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on this Story]
Whirlpool
Welcomes ITC Decision to investigate LG Electronics
Whirlpool
Corporation has announced that on February 21st, 2008, the ITC initiated
an investigation of LG Electronics Inc., of South Korea and its U.S. and
Mexican affiliates.
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on this Story]
THE K&BZINE ISSUE 228 22nd February 2008
New
JKMR Report on the Kitchen Door Market
A new market research report on the market for kitchen
doors and units has been published by JKMR. The Kitchen Door Market Report
identifies a huge shift in UK fitted kitchen production over the past
decade, away from in-house door production to bought-in products.
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on this Story]
Matki
Showering Wins Innovation Award at Ideo Bain 2008
Matki Showering has announced that the new compact Matki-Swadling
Thermostatic Shower Valve with high flow rate, easy installation features
and precise temperature control, won 1st Prize for Innovation at the recent
Ideo Bain Bathroom Exhibition in Paris.
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on this Story]
Tender
Opportunity: Yorkshire Council Requires Fitted Kitchens
East Riding of Yorkshire Council is looking to award
a contract for the supply and delivery of kitchen units to Council stores
throughout the area administered by East Riding of Yorkshire Council (Time
Limit: 6th April 2008).
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on this Story]
Ripples
Intent on Making More Waves
Ripples, the award winning bathroom retailer, has expanded
its head office management team in-line with the company’s rapid
growth and plans for five further showrooms during 2008.
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on this Story]
BMA
Supports Third Annual Waterwise Conference
The
Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) is once again supporting the
annual Waterwise Water Efficiency Conference - The Road to Water Efficiency
in the UK - to be held as part of UNESCO's World Water Day events programme
on 8th and 9th April 2008 at Keble College, Oxford University.
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on this Story]
Chalon
Contract Range & New Showroom Launch
Chalon
UK Ltd, designer and manufacturer of hand crafted kitchens, bathrooms
and freestanding furniture has announce the extension of the company’s
contract kitchen collection, Chalon Designed & Crafted, as well as
the launch of a new contract kitchen showroom.
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on this Story]
Global
Friendly Action at Bemis
Toilet
seat giant Bemis says that it takes its responsibility to reduce the company's
carbon footprint very seriously.
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on this Story]
John
Lewis Awards Employees Company Shares
British
kitchen manufacturer and retailer John Lewis of Hungerford continues to
keep the welfare of its employees a number one priority with a new policy
of awarding generous company shares to all employees on an annual basis.
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on this Story]
Roman's
Made to Measure Sculptures
Roman
is now offering a bespoke service on the company's Roman Sculptures Collection
of shower enclosures.
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on this Story]
The
Beauty of Simsons Bespoke
The usable space in a loft can be compromised by sloping
ceilings, which is where Simpsons' Classic Bespoke Enclosure service comes
to the rescue.
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on this Story]
THE K&BZINE ISSUE 227 15th February 2008
20-20
Technologies to Acquire Planit Fusion Business from Planit
20-20
Technologies Inc., a world leader in 3D interior design and furniture
manufacturing software, has announced an agreement has been signed and
approved by 20-20 Technologies to acquire the Planit Fusion business from
Planit Holdings Limited for an equivalent cash consideration of approximately
US$38 million (£19 million)
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on this Story]
Latham
Brings the Matrix to Fareham
Timber and panel products distributor, James Latham,
has announced the opening of a brand new site - Matrix Park in Fareham.
Matrix Park is a new building based 5 minutes away from J9 on the M27,
conveniently located midway between Southampton and Portsmouth.
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on this Story]
Tax
Fraudster Ordered to Repay 100,000
44 year old Mark Phillip Harris from Ponteland, Newcastle
upon Tyne has been ordered to repay 100,000 pounds by Newcastle Crown
Court for a sophisticated tax fraud. He was also sentenced to nine months
imprisonment, suspended for two years and disqualified from being a company
director for six years.
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on this Story]
Leaker
Direct Unveils New Showroom & Training Centre
Leaker
Direct (Distribution) Ltd has opened a new Trade Showroom and Training
Centre on the company’s premises just off the M8 between Glasgow
and Edinburgh. The new showroom which is one of the largest of its kind
in the UK features over 500 appliances, most of which are fully integrated.
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on this Story]
Viva
Espana!
William
Ball has announced that its kitchens are now heading to warmer climes,
with the opening of two exclusive showrooms in Malaga, Spain. Just Kitchens
is an established Spanish kitchen retailer that has recently opened two
dedicated William Ball showrooms.
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on this Story]
Whirlpool
Announces North American Manufacturing Changes
Whirlpool
Corporation has announced changes in several of its North American manufacturing
facilities. The changes are part of an ongoing, worldwide effort to optimise
the company's regional manufacturing facilities, supply base, product
platforms and technology resources to better support its leading global
brands with innovative products.
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on this Story]
Project
Flair with LG HI- MACS
A
stunning bar and surrounding area has been created by fabricator Edge
Projects Ltd for specialist designers Stylematters, in its Oxygen Night
Club, who supplies and installs custom built furniture and projects for
the leisure sector including hotels and restaurants.
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on this Story]
PTS
Strengthens the Industry's Voice
PTS, the national lightside merchants, is rejoining
the BMF. Alan Ball, PTS Managing Director, said: 'We have rejoined the
BMF because it is through organisations like this that we can help the
industry to grow. The BMF has a core role to play in driving industry
legislation and as a national merchant we can strengthen this proposition.
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on this Story]
Qualceram
Shires in Arklow Property Disposal
Qualceram Shires plc, owner of Shaws of Darwen and Shires
Bathrooms, has confirmed the disposal of its Arklow property in a ¸30.025m
deal.
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on this Story]
Waterwise
Welcomes the Government's New Vision for Water
Waterwise
has given a warm welcome to the Government's new water strategy for England
and Wales which will help to combat the negative effects of climate change
by reducing the water industry's carbon footprint.
[More
on this Story]
THE K&BZINE ISSUE 226 8th February 2008
Crosswater
Announces the Acquisition of Bauhaus
Crosswater has announced the acquisition of Bauhaus,
a national distributor of ceramic basins to the bathroom retail sector.
[More
on this Story]
Nobia:
2007 Profits up 11% on Sales up by 7% - Mainly Due to UK Growth
Sales for kitchen company Nobia rose by 7 per cent in
2007 to SEK 16,622 million (15,590). Profit after tax rose by 11 per cent
to SEK 958 million (865). Earnings per share amounted to SEK 5.50 (4.93)
after dilution.
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on this Story]
New
Premium Range Cooker Brand Now Available To Kitchen Specialists
Premium
Italian range cooker brand, Steel, is to be launched in the UK by new
company, Steel Cuisine (UK) Ltd, which has been set up by Mark Scott,
who has many years experience in the UK appliance industry with distinguished
companies such as Flavel, Fisher and Paykel and Maytag UK.
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on this Story]
Indesit
2007 Net Profits up 38%
In the 4th quarter of 2007 Indesit Company sales reached
€925m, up 1.3% on 4th quarter 2006. Sales in 2007 amounted to €3,438m,
up 5.8% on 2006. The Group’s net profits in 2007 were €105m,
up 38.0%.
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on this Story]
Whirlpool
Corporation Annual Sales up 7%
Whirlpool
Corporation announced this week that full-year 2007 earnings from continuing
operations were $8.10 per diluted share, up 28 percent from the $6.35
per diluted share reported in the same period last year.
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on this Story]
Latham's
Success at LG Conference - Rome 2008
Timber and panel products distributor, James Latham,
is celebrating after recording the highest sales performance by volume,
worldwide. Recognition came at the LG annual conference in Rome recently,
where Latham came out on top - beating 21 other countries.
[More
on this Story]
Pilkington
Tiles Fined over Safety Breach
Pilkington
Tiles Ltd of Swinton, Manchester has been fined £18,000 and ordered
to pay costs of £7,500 at Trafford Magistrates Court after pleading
guilty of breaching Health and Safety regulations.
[More
on this Story]
InSinkErator
Steams into 2008 with Strong 1st Quarter Sales
InSinkErator,
the manufacturer of food waste disposers, says that it has started 2008
in spectacular style achieving month-on-month growth, driven by rapidly
expanding interest in its Steaming Hot Water Tap.
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on this Story]
Blum
Builds New Plant and Creates New Jobs
Blum
is running short of warehouse capacity, dispatch area and loading ramps
at its existing dispatch sites in Vorarlberg and that is why the Austrian
fittings manufacturer has bought a plot of land.
[More
on this Story]
New
Fridge for Winners of AMDEA Time to Change Competition
Silver
surfers in their eighties, living in the Wirral, have won AMDEA's Time
to Change competition to find Britain's Oldest Working Fridge. Created
half a century ago, at a staggering 54 years old (one careful owner),
their Bosch model was the most ancient entry in the online competition.
[More
on this Story]
THE K&BZINE ISSUE 225 1st February 2008
Wolseley
Pre-Close Trading Statement shows Europe Best Segment
Wolseley plc, the world's largest specialist trade distributor
of plumbing and heating products to professional contractors and a leading
supplier of building materials, has issued its regular trading statement
for the five months ended 31st December 2007, prior to entering its close
period.
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on this Story]
Three's
No Crowd
2007
has been a game of three halves for RAK Ceramics, with turnover up across
the board. Whilst gearing up for a massive show-down at KBB 2008, RAK
Ceramics is celebrating a phenomenal 2007, which has seen turnover rise
by an impressive 31%.
[More
on this Story]
The
'Power of RED' from Electrolux Receives Accreditation from GHI
The Power of Red vacuum cleaner by Electrolux has passed
rigorous quality testing and has received prestigious Accreditation from
the Good Housekeeping Institute.
[More
on this Story]
Rearo
On the Move in Dunfermline
The
man who first established the Rearo brand in Dunfermline more than 26
years ago has now master-minded the company's successful move to new showroom
premises in the town.
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on this Story]
Making
the Kitchen Special is Top for Indulgent Home Owners
When
it comes to turning a house into a home, it seems the kitchen is top of
our priorities for investing time, energy and cash to create a room that's
the heart of family life - and the envy of all our friends.
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on this Story]
Sigma
3 Kitchens are Perfect Recipe for Luxury at Bluestone
A
new Pembrokeshire short-break destination is proving the perfect recipe
for success for Welsh kitchen manufacturer and retailer Sigma 3.
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on this Story]
TTA
Doubles in Size
Since
The Tile Association was formed in January 2000, to represent the whole
of the UK wall and floor tile Industry under one organisation, it has
more than doubled in size.
[More
on this Story]
Alan
Ford t/a Kitchens Advert Falls Foul of ASA
The
Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint from a member of
the public about a regional press advert, for Alan Ford t/a Kitchens.
[More
on this Story]
AquaJoy
Bathlifts Falls Foul of ASA
A
complaint, objecting to a brochure for AquaJoy Bathlifts of Consett, County
Durham was upheld in ten of the twelve objections, according to published
details from the Advertising Standards Authority.
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on this Story]
Shower
the One You Love this Valentine's
At
the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) we're passionate about water
efficiency - and well, just passionate!
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on this Story]
Aqata
Unveils First Ever Range of Showers
Aqata,
the independent British manufacturer of shower enclosures, has announced
the launch of the new Linneal Shower range, the company's first ever range
of showers.
[More
on this Story]
Rosecourt
Moves Forward
Started
just over nine months ago by Len Iisak and his partners, Rosecourt Furniture
has made rapid progress supplying quality designs to the kitchen and bedroom
sectors as well as the burgeoning home office/study market.
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on this Story
Optimistic
Outlook on 2008 for HOMAG Group AG
The
favourable order situation gathered further momentum for the HOMAG Group
AG into the fourth quarter of 2007.
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on this Story]