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THE K&BZINE ISSUE 16 29th August 2003

KitchenVision takes on the High Street with Philips and Sharp
KitchenVision is already established as the UK's first and only supplier of audio visual products designed exclusively for the kitchen environment. The company offers an integrated 15" television to fit a microwave wall aperture plus a fitted TV, DVD, CD, Radio, Web browser and security monitor.
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Maytag's 'Outstanding Soccer Mom'
Maytag's 'Outstanding Soccer Mom Search' in the USA culminated this week during the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) Founders Cup III championship game in San Diego. WUSA star Brandi Chastain, along with Ol' Lonely, the Maytag Repairman, and his Apprentice, announced Laura Belnap, a mother of six from Bountiful, Utah, as the most dependable, fun-loving and supportive soccer mom in America.
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Barwick Becomes Distributor for Laufen
Barwick announces its immediate appointment as distributor for Laufen, a leading bathroom manufacturer based in Switzerland. The introduction of the Laufen brand brings an extra dimension to the Barwick portfolio, with a complete programme of quality products and contemporary designs
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Aquaplus Founded on a Quarter Century of Experience
With over 25 years combined experience in the bathroom industry, Max Finaldi and Pete Mills have set up Aquaplus Solutions Ltd to provide a specialist service to the bathroom industry for those demanding high quality, exclusive bathroom products.
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American Standard Surveys Americans on Home Improvements to Increase Comfort
Do you want to improve your quality of life, while putting cash back in your wallet? A home improvement may be just the answer for comfort today and resale value tomorrow. A recent US poll commissioned by American Standard, a company that specialises in bath, kitchen and central heating and cooling systems, shows that kitchen renovations top the list.
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Swish Look for Hotel Bathrooms
Speed and quality played crucial roles in the refurbishment of bathrooms at a busy upmarket hotel in Salisbury. To achieve this the Hotel chose Alba Grey and Green Marble decorative wall panels from the Swish Marbrex range.
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Zanussi Launches Ergonomic Cooking Range to Suit Modern Consumer Demands
Zanussi-Electrolux has launched Axxis, its new ergonomic cooking range, in response to consumer needs. Available in-store now, the three 60cm double oven cookers - a gas, electric and mixed fuel model - have angled control panels for ease of use and a stylish modern look.
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Mereway Kitchens Specifies Reginox Sinks, Taps and Accessories
Mereway Kitchens has specified Reginox for sinks and taps. In 2002, Reginox was awarded an initial contract by Mereway Contracts to supply a limited range of sinks and taps for its housebuilding operations. On the strength of that relationship, Mereway has decided to extend the specification to include Reginox sinks and taps into its kitchens aimed at high street retailers.
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World's First Chrome Cooker for Belling
Belling claims to be driving the 60cm freestanding sector with the launch of the world’s first gas cooker with a chrome finish, the G745. The company says that the exclusive chrome exterior of this 60cm model offers even greater style and shine than popular stainless steel models.
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Bosch's Zero Degree Chiller Keeps Food Fresher Longer
The near 0°C storage centre from Bosch keeps food fresher for longer because at this temperature, the micro-organisms that cause food decay multiply much more slowly. Normal fridge compartments typically operate at between + 4°C and + 8°C, but the spacious KGF 29223 fridge/freezer from Bosch has two near 0°C chiller drawers.
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Lofra Introduces Curved Stainless Steel Range
New from Lofra is the 'breathtaking' MXC96MFI curved fronted stainless steel cooker. There are two models available, one offering a five burner hob - 1 semi rapid, 2 rapid, 1 auxiliary, and a powerful wok burner; whilst the other has four gas burners and a central ceramic hot plate.
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Miele Builds on its Position as a Premium Brand Worldwide
In business year 2002/2003 the family-owned Miele Company has continued to be able to build on its worldwide position as a premium brand for domestic appliances. Miele sees this as confirmation for the company philosophy of developing and manufacturing domestic appliances with an expected lifetime of at least 20 years.
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Villeroy & Boch Interim Results Point to Declining Markets, Pricing Pressures and Currency Exchange Losses
Villeroy & Boch has filed its first half results, which show a drop in sales of 4.5% compared to the same period last year. Consumer demand in Germany is especially hampered by the uncertainty around corporate tax policy and persistently high levels of unemployment, while exports are being dampened by a high-valued Euro. Excluding currency variations, overall sales would have fallen 3%.
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Sanitec's Success in UK Dented by Sluggish Continental Markets and Adverse Exchange Rates
Stronger sales driven by the U.K., particularly in the DIY market, and a positive product mix in the Southern European region were not enough to offset the continuing slump in the building and renovation sectors, specifically in Germany and the Netherlands. Net sales for the second quarter 2003 were also strongly influenced by currency exchange effects. Net sales for the quarter were EUR 245.2m (257.1m), a decrease of 4.6% or EUR 11.9m
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THE K&BZINE ISSUE 15 22nd August 2003

Electrolux Blames Currency Losses for 35% Drop in Interim Operating Income
Electrolux has released its half-yearly report for 2003, which shows increased sales for consumer durables in Europe (particularly Eastern Europe and the UK), helped by recent restructuring which saw two German plants closed but hampered by a negative currency effect. It has not deterred the group from investing heavily in two major manufacturing facilities, one in Hungary and one in Russia.
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Blum Increases UK Commitment with New High-Tech HQ
Blum UK’s new purpose-built administrative headquarters and warehousing distribution facility is now fully operational. The state-of-the-art complex is situated not far from Blum’s previous headquarters in Milton Keynes, close to the M1 motorway. Both the administrative, sales and training facilities as well as the warehousing and logistics have been comprehensively upgraded.
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ALNO and Wellmann Elaborate on the Aims of Their Planned Merger
ALNO has announced that its proposed takeover of the Casawell Group will be an all share deal with Whirlpool. In return for its 49.5% stake in Casawell, Whirlpool is to receive 10% of ALNO’s new share capital. This amounts to 1.17 million shares after full utilisation of the permitted increase in share capital as agreed at this year’s ALNO annual general meeting. The agreement also includes a supply contract from Whirlpool with ALNO AG
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Orama Commissions New Production Line
Orama, the independent manufacturer of worksurfaces and associated decorative products, has recently commissioned a new production line for its facility in Somercotes, Derbyshire. The new production line has been built to serve a singular purpose, which is to deliver a quality worksurface finish hitherto uncommercialised in the UK.
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Showerlux to Celebrate 30 Years of Trading in the UK
Bathroom specialist Showerlux will be turning 30 this October and is holding a day of celebrations at its new premises to commemorate the special occasion. The Coventry-based manufacturer has invited over 150 of its key customers to join in the celebrations at the company’s new 200,000 sq ft Head Office. Guests will be given a full tour of the new premises as well as the opportunity to preview a number of exciting new product developments. The day will be rounded off with a medieval banquet at the magnificent 12th Century Coombe Abbey.
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Maytag's Fridge Freezers with Exceptional Elevator Shelf
There is never space available in the right place in any refrigerator after shopping. We can spend ages with the fridge or freezer door open trying to squeeze and wriggle the last bottle or package on to a shelf. And often we have to move a shelf up or down to make more space, but not before we have unloaded it. Maytag has a solution, the simple and effective Maytag Elevator Shelf.
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UK Could Make Olympic Sized Savings - UK Tops the Table in Terms of Money Wasted
New research from Electrolux reveals that the UK tops the table of European countries when it comes to money wasted from inefficient household appliances. What’s more, the negative environmental impact from old appliances, prevalent in the saturated UK market, is amongst the worst in Europe.
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Whirlpool's Q2 Results Shows Profits up 34% on Sales up 9%
Whirlpool Corporation announced on 24th July second-quarter 2003 net earnings of $94 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, compared to $63 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, in the same period last year. Second-quarter net sales of $2.99 billion increased 9 percent from last year. Excluding consolidated sales from the company's 2002 acquisitions - Polar S.A. of Poland and Vitromatic S.A. de C.V. of Mexico - and currency translations, net sales increased 2 percent.
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Winners of Dornbrachts’s Solitude Design Competition Selected
Iserlohn manufacturer of fittings and accessories Dornbracht has organised a bathroom design competition in conjunction with bad & heizung concept AG, Berlin. Entrants were given the task of designing a modern bathroom, using the Solitude multifunctional column designed by Dornbracht, which logically incorporated the advantages of the product into the design.
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Rating Agencies Affirmed Sanitec Rating but Revised Outlook
Sanitec's two rating agencies, Moody's and Standard & Poors, have each affirmed Sanitec's previous credit and debt ratings. Both agencies, however, revised their outlook on Sanitec from stable to negative on concerns of liquidity development in late 2003.
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KSA to KBSA - What it Means to You
In-toto is a member of the Kitchen Specialists' Association (KSA) This safeguards you when buying a kitchen in addition to the excellent procedures already in place by In-toto's supplier and parent company, Wellmann kitchens..
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FMB Urges Minister to Include SMEs in New Public Sector Procurement System
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has welcomed the new construction minister's initiative to set up a web-based procurement system for public sector projects. If planned correctly, the procurement initiative, which is due to be unveiled by the government later this year, could have significant benefits for the small and medium sized building firms that make up the FMB's 13,000 strong membership.
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New Director to Strengthen OFT's Consumer Protection Team
Colin Brown, currently Chairman of the Financial Services Consumer Panel, has been appointed the new branch director of Co-regulation and Coordination in OFT's Consumer Regulation Enforcement Division.
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Maytag Corporation Forms New Appliance Services Business in USA
Maytag Corporation has formed a new business to create growth in home and commercial services, with an initial focus on providing in-home consumer appliance service. Maytag Services will expand its existing capabilities of servicing only Maytag brand appliances to the repair and maintenance of all major appliance brands throughout North America
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THE K&BZINE ISSUE 14 15th August 2003

Whirlpool Corporation Sues LG for Technology Patent Infringement
 Whirlpool Corporation has announced that it has filed a patent infringement suit against LG Electronics, Inc., and the South Korean company's U.S. affiliate, LG Electronics USA, Inc. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, maintains that several LG clothes washers recently introduced into the U.S. infringe two patents secured by Whirlpool in 1993 to protect innovative washing technology..
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Electrolux signs agreement to divest shareholding in Vestfrost
Electrolux has signed an agreement to sell its shares in the Danish company Vestfrost A/S to the Esbjerg Group in Denmark. The Esbjerg Group will thereby increase its shareholding in Vestfrost from 50% to 100%..
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Fisher & Paykel Appliances Enter Into Global Alliance with Whirlpool Corporation
 Whirlpool Corporation and Fisher & Paykel Appliances have announced the formation of a global strategic alliance involving the two major home appliance manufacturers. 
The scope of the alliance involves a wide range of cooperative activities between the two companies.  Initially, the alliance will focus on global sourcing of major home appliances, as well as the sharing and co-development of product technology.
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Blum consolidates its position on global markets
At the close of the business year on 6 June 2003, Julius Blum GmbH attained a group turnover of 590.6 million euros (last year’s result was 555.4 million euros). This increase in turnover of 6.3% (last year’s increase amounted to 9%) . Thanks to its consistent orientation towards important world markets in the field of industry and trade, the company still, however, exported 96% of its products. Blum products are regularly delivered to more than 70 countries worldwide..
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Maytag's Second Quarter Sales and Earnings on Target
Maytag Corporation announced its second quarter sales and earnings were down versus a year ago, but in line with management and Wall Street expectations. Maytag reported second quarter consolidated sales of $1.163 billion and operating income of $51.4 million. Reported net income was $25.2 million, or 32 cents per share. Included in these results were after-tax restructuring charges of $18.8 million, or 24 cents per share, for the closing of the company's manufacturing plant in Galesburg, Ill., and a salaried work force reduction implemented during the second quarter.
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American Standard Reports Record Second-Quarter Sales
American Standard Companies Inc. has announced record second-quarter earnings of $1.83 per diluted share, up 7 percent from second quarter last year. These earnings are consistent with the company’s April estimate for the quarter of $1.78-$1.88. Sales were a record $2.265 billion, up 9 percent from a year ago. Net income rose to $133.9 million, up 6 percent. .
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Is Talking To Your Washing Machine The First Sign Of Madness?
Not with Electrolux voice-controlled appliances A new prototype voice-controlled washing machine was recently unveiled by Electrolux engineers. The new appliance will allow people to operate the washing controls through vocal commands and is a response to consumer demand to make household appliances even easier and more convenient to use.
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Expansion at Waterline for new product lines
National distributor Waterline has announced major expansion of stockholding capacity to accommodate new additions to its portfolio of top kitchen brands. The company has acquired an additional 45,000 sq ft at the Newport Pagnell head office site to stock cookers from new suppliers Rangemaster, the complete offer from Candy – again, a new brand for Waterline - plus the entire range of Hotpoint appliances.
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HPS taps into success with Deva
Southern-based heating & plumbing merchants, and Deva customer, HPS, is currently celebrating the completion of its first year of business, having enjoyed outstanding growth and sales throughout the south east, thanks to the help and support of brassware specialists, Deva.
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President changes at Bathroom Manufacturers Association AGM
The Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) held their third AGM at Federation House, Stoke on Trent at the end of June. Along with the regular business of the Association was also the election of a new President for the next two years.
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First Showroom in the Algarve for Nolte
Nolte’s contract division continues to expand both at home and overseas. The latest development in this expansion is in the Algarve where they have secured exclusivity with well established Ishtig – a company supplying a one stop shop for both developers and private clients
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Abacon supplying advanced Löwer technology
UK supplier of finishing and abrasive solutions – Abacon of Sheffield – has teamed up with two world leaders in this field: Löwer machinery of Germany and their existing principal SlipCon of Denmark to offer an entirely new quality level of finishing options..
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