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THE K&BZINE ISSUE 212  26th October 2007

Nobia: Continued Favourable Organic Growth
Sales for kitchen company Nobia rose by 6 per cent - during the third quarter to SEK 3,861 million (3,631). Organic growth amounted to 6 per cent. Profit after tax amounted to SEK 189 million (189).
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Fredrik Cappelen to Resign as CEO of Nobia at 2008 Annual General Meeting
The President and CEO of Nobia, Fredrik Cappelen, has informed Nobia's Board of Directors that he intends to stand down as CEO of the company at Nobia's 2008 Annual General Meeting.
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Indesit Q3: Sales and Profits Up
Indesit's Sales for the Third Quarter of 2007 have risen to €950 million (up 9.1%), Ebit before non-recurring charges to €68 million (up 30.6%) and net profits for Group to €34 million (up 48.8%).
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Whirlpool Corporation Reports Record Third-Quarter Results
Whirlpool Corporation announces that third-quarter 2007 earnings from continuing operations were $175 million, or $2.20 per diluted share, up approximately 31 percent from the $134 million.
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Siemens Extends Free 5-year Guarantee into 2008
Kitchen appliance manufacturer, Siemens has rolled out its very successful free 5-year guarantee scheme into 2008.
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Crosswater Acquires Prospect Sales Co.
Crosswater Limited has announced the acquisition of Prospect Sales (Plumbing supplies) Ltd. Prospect Sales is based in Stockton, Durham, where the workforce will continue to operate from the existing premises as a subsidiary of the Crosswater holding company.
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Safety in the Bath
Villeroy & Boch has launched a safety campaign regarding the risk of heavy falls in certain baths made by its Dutch subsidiary Ucosan.
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Formica Unveils its New London Showroom
Formica Limited has put the finishing touches to its London showroom, designed so both trade and consumer visitors can easily explore the properties of the many decorative surfacing materials now available from the famous Formica® brand.
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Pretty in Pink
In support of Friday’s Wear it Pink campaign (26 October 2007) for Breast Cancer, Franke staff took part in many activities to raise donations.
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Waste Not, Want Not
Food waste represents up to 35% of the total amount of household waste in the UK. As dustbin collection is reduced nationwide to encourage recycling, so the true benefits of waste disposal units can be presented to the ecologically-concerned customer.
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Hat-Trick for GDHA - Manufacturer Scoops TEQ Award for the Third Time
Glen Dimplex Home Appliances (GDHA) has won the Domestic & General's prestigious Total Excellence and Quality Award (TEQ) for the third time in a row, securing its position as the only UK based home appliances manufacturer to retain the high profile title for three consecutive years.
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'Enjoyment Guaranteed' - the Grohe Rainshower Promotion
Grohe is so confident about the quality and performance of its Rainshower® products that it is prepared to offer the consumer an unequivocal 'enjoyment guarantee'. If customers do not 'Love every drop' of their Rainshower® experience, Grohe will refund their money in full.
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Use Water Twice with the AquaCycle® from Pontos®
AquaCycle from Hansgrohe's latest subsidiary Pontos®, is an indoor water recycling system that takes water from the shower, bath and sink and recycles it for use with flushing the toilet, cleaning, washing clothes and watering gardens.
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KBSA Corporate Members Networking Event Drives Forward
The next Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association corporate member networking event and dinner takes place at Ansty Hall in Coventry on November 15th.
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Grey-water Recycling Hits the High Street as Pontos goes Live at Littlejohn
On 17-18th October 2007, Hansgrohe in association with bathroom specialists Littlejohn, launched its indoor grey-water recycling system - the Pontos AquaCycle 900.
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Techno Takeover In British Kitchens
Often criticised as being a nation obsessed with TV dinners, Britons are taking entertainment in the kitchen to a new level with over one in four of Britons, 28% having a television or stereo in their kitchen.
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KBSA Corporate Members Networking Event Drives Forward
The next Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association corporate member networking event and dinner takes place at Ansty Hall in Coventry on November 15th.
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Home And Garden: Domestic Spaces in Paintings
This major exhibition, the final in a four-part series, will conclude the Geffrye's fascinating exploration of paintings of English urban domestic interiors and gardens from 1675 to the present day. This study has provided compelling and intimate glimpses into private worlds not often on display.
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Magnet’s Pick Of Christmas Appliances
Give your Christmas meal the best chance by investing in a new cooker, or why not treat yourself to the latest appliances over the festive period. Anjum Ahmed, Magnet’s Marketing and Product Director, has picked out some of the top buys this Christmas.
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Grey-water Recycling Hits the High Street as Pontos goes Live at Littlejohn
On 17-18th October 2007, Hansgrohe in association with bathroom specialists Littlejohn, launched its indoor grey-water recycling system - the Pontos AquaCycle 900.
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Weeke Nesting at Neville Johnson
The name Neville Johnson needs no introduction. Through the company’s long standing and country wide advertising campaign everyone will have seen an aspired to the outstanding fitted furniture designs of great originality for studies, home offices, dens, living areas and bedrooms.
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THE K&BZINE ISSUE 211  19th October 2007

De Dietrich Launches New Showroom and Training Facility
De Dietrich, the premium appliance brand has launched a new showroom and training facility in its Basingstoke head office. The new 1,500sq ft. showroom has been beautifully designed to offer an experience of innovation, reflecting the products that are featured within.
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De Dietrich Partner with Mike Robinson - Celebrity Chef
De Dietrich has announced its new partnership with celebrity chef, Mike Robinson, and its association with his Game and Wild Food Cookery School, based near Newbury in Berkshire. De Dietrich has supplied all the kitchen appliances from its new 2008 range for use in the expanded cookery school.
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De Dietrich Launches an Innovative New Collection for 2008
When Fagor Electrodomesticos announced at its 2006 Bilbao Press Conference a three year plan for growth and innovation for the De Dietrich brand, the company also promised to invest and extend innovation in 'high end built-in cooker products specialising in induction and pyrolysis'.
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Franke Shorlisted for Award
Acknowledgement of the research, innovation and outstanding quality that Franke invests in each product designed was confirmed at this year's Design Awards 2007, with the Laser sink being short-listed for the Kitchen Manufacturer of the Year award.
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Magnet is First Kitchen Retailer with TrustMark
National retailer and kitchen expert Magnet is celebrating becoming the only company in its sector to be accepted into the TrustMark scheme.
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Environment Minister gives Thumbs Up to Label Scheme
The Water Efficient Product Labelling Scheme launched by the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) continues to receive impressive accolades from key stakeholders.
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Desperate or Dynamic: Hidden Story Behind Job Cuts 
The slowdown in the UK economy could cost 1000 jobs in the kitchen, bedroom & bathroom manufacturers industry, according to leading business analyst Plimsoll Publishing. But it’s the story behind the headlines that will determine the survival of the companies in question.
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Nobia and DMG Acquires German Kitchen Retail Company Asmo
Through Culinoma GmbH, Nobia AB in Sweden and De MandemakersGroep Holding BV in the Netherlands have acquired the Asmo Group in Germany. The Asmo Group is a kitchen retail chain based in Bavaria with 12 fully owned stores in the Munich area with retail sales of approximately EUR 30 million.
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Cash Incentives Add Seasonal Value for Independent Retailers
In the run up to Christmas, kitchen appliance manufacturer Siemens is giving away generous cash incentives to its independent electrical retailers, in a multi level promotional campaign.
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Free Appliance Upgrades for Kitchen Specialists
Between 1st October and 31st January 2008, kitchen appliance manufacturer Siemens is offering kitchen specialists a number of significant upgrades on sales of built in cooking appliances.
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BLANCO Launches Autumn Extra Promotion
From now until the end of the year, BLANCO dealers can offer their customers a free tap upgrade or waste sorting bin, when they purchase one of a selection of sink and tap packs.
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Amana's 5-Year Warranty in Time for Christmas
Amana, the ultra-premium brand of genuine American refrigeration, is offering a free 5-Year warranty on all its refrigerator models from 1st October until 31st December 2007.
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Baumatic Takes the High Road!
With the arrival of its own transport fleet, Baumatic says that it is taking logistics in-house to provide retailers with a personalised service that's second-to-none.
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Davide Groppi Italian Lighting Launches in the UK at Viaduct
Viaduct has introduced Davide Groppi, a contemporary Italian lighting company to the British market for the first time this autumn. Founded over ten years ago in Piacenza, with a showroom in Milan, Davide Groppi has developed several ranges of simple lighting.
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Buy Once, Buy Right, Buy a Kitchenaid® Artisan™ Mixer
Rated ‘Simply the Best’ in a recent test carried out by Good Housekeeping magazine, the KitchenAid® Artisan™ Mixer got top marks for being the best at coping with the heavy mixing of the Christmas pudding and also ticked the box for whipping up less weighty ingredients.
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C.P. Hart Awards Young Designer £2,500
Under-graduate, Jake Powley-Baker from The Glasgow School of Art entered a C.P. Hart competition last year entitled ‘Bathroom of their Dreams’. After being notified he had won, C.P. Hart invited Jake to the successful launch of the new Citterio 'M' collection
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Simple Texting Service Transforms Consumer Credit Sales
A texting service making it easier and quicker for sales staff to set up credit deals for their customers has been pioneered by independent finance company - Consumer Credit Solutions Ltd (CCS).
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Maytag® Brand Celebrates the 100th Birthday of its First Washing Machine
Don't miss Maytag® brand's 100th birthday celebration of its first washing machine. Known for its rich and long-standing heritage, the brand is saluting its first 100 years of laundry with several celebrations in the upcoming weeks.
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This is Carbon Monoxide Awareness week....
This week (15th October 2007) marks Carbon Monoxide Awareness week, a campaign dedicated to raising awareness of the fact that every year, hundreds of people die from Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning
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THE K&BZINE ISSUE 210  12th October 2007

International Deal Heralds New Horizons for Aqualux
The designer, manufacturer and distributor of bath screens and shower enclosures, Aqualux, has announced its acquisition by Swiss Group AFG Arbonia-Forster-Holdings AG. Aqualux will now sit alongside other premium brands including Miele kitchens and Kermi showers as part of the rapidly expanding international group.
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AFG Strengthens Group’s International Operations
Switzerland’s AFG Arbonia-Forster Holding AG, Arbon – which operates in the Heating Technology and Sanitary Equipment, Kitchens and Refrigeration, Windows and Doors, Steel Technology, and Surface Technology sectors – has purchased British company Aqualux Products Holding Ltd, Wednesbury, for CHF 51.9 million (£21.5m).
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Electrolux Investigates Future of its UK Spennymoor Factory
Electrolux has decided to launch an investigation into the future viability of its cooker factory in Spennymoor. The factory manufactures mainly free standing cookers - plus a smaller number of built-in ovens - for the UK and Irish markets and has approx. 500 employees.
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Gaggenau Launches New Collections in London Showroom
Luxury built in kitchen appliance specialist Gaggenau recently launched its new cooking and cooling collections at a unique press event held at the company's prestigious central London showroom in 'Kitchen Alley' aka. Wigmore Street.
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New Report on Kitchen Sales to the Contract Sector
A new market research report on kitchen sales to new build and social housing clients has just been published by JKMR. The Up-Date on Kitchen Sales into the Contract Sector shows that over the last three years sales growth in the 'contract' sector has been substantially out-performing sales growth in the consumer retail sector.
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There's Still a Chance to Book!
There's still time for you to reserve your place at the 2007 Bathroom Conference. Uptake for the calendar-must event, organised and hosted by the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA), is extremely good with more delegates than ever due to attend.
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KBSA Membership For All Wentworth Joint Venture Studios
KBSA corporate member Mereway has embarked on a commitment to the KBSA that all Wentworth Joint Venture studios will take on board KBSA membership and the new ConsumerCare Plus insurance as part of their contract.
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New Glasgow Showroom for Barrhead and Utopia
Barrhead Sanitaryware, now part of the Utopia Group, has completely refitted the showroom at its Glasgow site. The company, which was acquired by Utopia in 2005, is one of the few remaining independently British owned sanitaryware manufacturers in the UK.
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In-toto Opens 'Stunning' Showroom in Belfast
National kitchen specialist In-toto kitchens has opened a new showroom in Belfast. The new showroom includes six displays that 'illustrate the quality, craftsmanship and style of In-toto kitchens'.
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Keller is Showing Off in Loughborough
Keller Kitchens has expanded an already impressive number of showrooms in the UK with a new retailer, ColeRoberts Ltd, and a debut showroom in Loughborough.
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Vogue Kitchens Opens its Doors in Kingston
Vogue Kitchens is launching its exclusive Poggenpohl showroom in Kingston, West London. The second showroom in the Vogue Kitchens group, it is set to bring contemporary, bespoke kitchen design to the London borough.
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Caple Hits the Road
Distribution company Maurice Lay, has introduced a fleet of new delivery vehicles branded for the first time solely with Caple livery. Since its launch in the 1980s, the Caple brand has expanded its product portfolio to include kitchens, bedrooms, sinks and taps and appliances.
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Electrolux Promotes Brita® Fridge Freezers with Free Filters Offer
A free one years supply of Brita® Filter Cartridges is available with any Electrolux Brita® Fridge Freezer. Electrolux is supplying eye catching POS material to retailers to help promote its special offer on the Brita® Fridge Freezer range. The promotion is running from 15th September until 10th November 2007.
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Britannia Hits the Press
Range cooker specialist Britannia has cooked up a high impact new press advertising campaign. Launched in late September, it will run until the end of Spring 2008.
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What Ideas are Made of - Mark Wilkinson at Decorex
On 25th September, an audience of young designers heard Mark Wilkinson speak at the Decorex Exhibition, held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.
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Highly Commended at the Design Awards
The Amana Reflection 228i FIRB has been 'Highly Commended' at this year's Manufacturer Kitchen Product of the Year Design Awards held in London on 3rd October.
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100 Years and Counting: Maytag® Brand Celebrates a Century
Maytag® brand is celebrating the 100th birthday of its first washing machine. In 1907, Frederick Louis (F.L.) Maytag built and sold his first washer, the Pastime, during his farm implement company's off-season.
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Nobia Appoints New Executive Vice President for Continental Europe
Per Skårner (52) has been appointed new executive vice president operations for Nobia's Continental Europe region, effective 1st January 2008.
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Homeowners Must Turn Up Heat to Beat Dog Fleas
Fleas are rife in many dog owners' homes across the country despite widespread access to washing machines, latest research shows. Only one in five dog owners wash their dog's bedding and blankets at a temperature hot enough to kill fleas, although almost three quarters admitted to being concerned about fleas in dog beds, a survey carried out by Electra washing machine manufacturer reveals.
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THE K&BZINE ISSUE 209  5th October 2007

Wolseley plc Preliminary Results
Wolseley, the world's largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing and heating products to professional contractors and a leading supplier of building materials and services, has announced its preliminary results.
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Design Lab 07 Finalists Announced
Electrolux, the household appliance specialist, has chosen eight finalists to compete for first place in Electrolux Design Lab 07, the fifth edition of this annual global competition.
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Bill Smith Promotion Announced
Glasgow based manufacturer TradeStyle Cabinets Group, whose kitchen brands include Scottwood of Nottingham, English Rose, Wrighton International and NOW Kitchens has announced the promotion of Bill Smith to Group Sales Development Director.
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Franke responds to SOS
Used to saving the day with impressive and innovative sinks, taps and appliance ranges, it is with no surprise Franke helped to revitalise and invigorate a kitchen on prime time BBC programme, DIY SOS.
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Triton Hits the Small Screen in a Big Way
Triton is targeting savvy homeowners and property developers alike with its new large-scale television sponsorship campaign, making it the first shower manufacturer to hit the small screen for some time.
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By Popular Demand, Walnut becomes Warm Cherry
Mereway Bathrooms successful Java Walnut range has just been re-branded 'Java Warm Cherry' due to customer feedback with retailers feeling that that the rich, darker wood door finish reflects more of a cherry finish.
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James Theobald's New Addition
Distributor James Theobald is strengthening its portfolio by adding another premier name to its collection, Falcon Appliances. Falcon Appliances, known as the professional's choice provides a high quality choice of range cookers, extractors, refrigeration, wine coolers, ice makers, sinks and taps.
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Gas Fitter Fined £1,500 after Water Heater Failure Poisons 14
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned gas fitters to ensure that they thoroughly check all gas appliances when carrying out gas safety inspections. The warning comes after a Bolton gas heating engineer failed to check a gas powered water heater resulting in 14 members of a family suffering carbon monoxide poisoning.
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Poggenpohl Gains CoolBrand Recognition
Kitchen manufacturer Poggenpohl has been awarded CoolBrand status by the CoolBrands Council, the independent authority on branding, and a YouGov poll for the third consecutive year.
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'A' for Accolade - Energy Efficiency Built-in from Stoves
As energy efficiency becomes an ever stronger sales tool for retailers, Stoves' new 'Accolade' built-in collection not only has the very latest in sleek styling, but now also features an 'A' rating across all of its electric main ovens, American Side-by-Side and integrated cooling options, washing machines and dishwashers.
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Utopia Appoints Design Consultants
Utopia has appointed two well-known industry designers, Phil Allen and Bob Westmoreland, to focus on new product development. Phil and Bob, who have many years' experiences in the bathroom industry, will act as Design Consultants specialising in different but complementary areas.
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Whirlpool Corporation Named as One of the Top Companies for Leaders
Whirlpool Corporation has been named to the 2007 list of Top Companies for Leaders, ranking 12th for North America and 15th globally.
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Marque the New Year with Waterwise
1st October was New Year's Day, at least for the hydrological cycle, when the rainy season begins and the groundwater is recharged. The last two years have seen the wettest and driest weather for a century.
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