Weekly Email News for the Kitchen, Bathroom and Bedroom Industries
3rd June 2005
Links Not Working? Go to http://www.thekbzine.com
The AEG-Electrolux Lavamat
L86810 washing machine can speed through 7kg of washing in only
99 minutes and still produce Energy Label ‘A’ wash results
More
here:
Hotpoint's
new range of Aquarius+ dishwashers offers sophisticated and user-friendly
features including a new 4 in 1 option developed in conjunction
with Finish
More
here:
Indesit
has launched the KP100 IX, a dual fuel range cooker, a stylish
product with good features at the value end of the market and
an affordable price tag
More
here:
A
new addition to Neff’s
award winning built-in cooking appliance range features a central
removable magnetic knob for controlling all zone and temperature
selection
More
here:
The
Brandt 2005 ovens range features
this 'A' rated multifunction pyrolytic single oven with 8 cooking
functions: fan, conventional eco, conventional, pulsed conventional,
pulsed bottom element
More
here:
Offering all
the outstanding cooking, hot water and heating benefits you expect
from a Rayburn, new additions
to the 400 Series, the Heatranger 440K and Heatranger 440KB, are
suited to the smaller home
More
here:
Keller’s Amalfi Marino
boldly coloured kitchen combines modern beech with apple green.
This is not the only combination available, select a different
colour scheme from Keller’s palette of 11 foil finishes and
31 paint colours
More
here:
QM
Natural Stone's Kitchen Work Zone is fabricated from
a visually imposing dark grey Graphite concrete, a part of QM’s
Urban range
More
here:
The
Ruby: Steel kitchen from the Combinations collection from Caple
kitchens is a way of adding a splash of vibrant, rich colour to
the home
More
here:
Timber
and panel distributor James Latham
reports success with its supply of Flamebreak door blanks
More
here:
The
Kitchen Group’s Prima
brand has been upgraded with the addition of a new kitchen furniture
range, the Westport, a beech-effect door fascia with a contrasting
metallic edge
More
here:
From
capacious doubles to discreet food preparation sinks, the Kitchen
Works offers a sink for every kitchen and utility room
More
here:
New
from Franke is the Kubus undermount
range of sinks, which sees the traditional soft curve of the bowl
replaced with a more geometric modern line
More
here:
The
newly launched Compass Pick 'n' Mix showering range from brassware
manufacturer Bristan made
its debut at BK Expo 2005
More
here:
Aqualux
launched its first ever Walk-In shower with Wet Room fitting
option at BK Expo
More
here:
For
the purists and modern traditionalists alike, the Shannon tap
from Carron Phoenix offers
classic styling and old fashioned charm
More
here:
The
Kitchen Works offers a wide range of brassware to
complement both contemporary and traditional kitchens
More
here:
New
from Franke is the Belfast
Tap which is particularly suited to traditional kitchen environments.
Complementing its namesake, the Belfast sink, this large and
individual tap has a chunky ceramic handle and pull out nozzle
More
here:
abode
has introduced a complementary duo in the Arnon 'aquifier' filter
tap and matching Axell 'pull out spray' attachment, sold individually,
both are in high grade 304 stainless steel
More
here:
Square
basins remain a popular feature in today's modern bathrooms and Avante's
square basin in vitreous china fits this specification
More
here:
Shades
has introduced sanitaryware to its portfolio of bathroom furniture,
mirrors and accessories
More
here:
A
new kit system has been introduced by Norske
Interiors, making it even easier to order Mermaid waterproof
wall panels
More
here:
Waterbury's
Proteus range includes all the essential items needed to cover the recent
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) for bathrooms and washroom facilities
More
here:
As
part of its new Bathing Experience collection, Showerlux
has unveiled an improved product offering which strengthens its reputation
as a bathing and hydrotherapy expert
More
here:
A
new
online
retailer,
Allersafe,
dedicated
to
providing
healthcare
solutions
for
allergy
sufferers,
says
that
it
has
become
the
first
retailer
to
offer
the
complete
healthy
sleep
solution
globally
More
here:
Burbidge
has
expanded
the
Emilia
bedroom
range
with
the
introduction
of
a
painted
cream
option
More
here:
Daval
Furniture,
the
UK
independent
manufacturer
of
bedroom,
bathroom
and
home
office
furniture,
has
added
three
new
ranges
to
its
bedroom
collection
More
here:
The
Bemis
Awareness
toilet
seat
is
being
launched
in
conjunction
with
UK
charity
Beating
Bowel
Cancer
and
a
donation
from
every
seat
sold
will
be
given
to
the
charity
More
here:
Portway
Sales
Supervisor
from
the
company's
Andover
office
completed
the
26
mile
London
Marathon
in
support
of
the
Royal
National
lnstitute
for
the
Deaf
More
here:
Bushboard,
official
supporter
of
the
charity
ChildLine,
has
collected
over
two
thousand
pounds
following
a
series
of
fundraising
activities
More
here:
Myson,
the designer heating specialist
has extended its APM system
into the majority of its towel
warmer range
More
here:
Myson's
new contemporary Debussy Décor
radiator produces stylish and
practical heating
More
here:
The
Chrome Classic from Bisque
is a new version of the much
loved Classic radiator, suitable
for any luxury kitchen or bathroom
More
here:
Termosan
Heating Systems
has introduced its new designer
stainless steel radiators line,
Carisa 2005
More
here:
East
Coast
Fittings
is
introducing
two
new
wirework
wine
racks
to
the
company’s
portfolio
of
internal
wirework
storage
solutions
for
kitchens
More
here:
Glazed
doors
have
long
been
a
feature
in
many
kitchen
designs,
but
PWS
has
gone
one
step
further
and
introduced
Aluglide,
a
new
sliding
glass
door
collection
More
here:
Häfele
has
launched
a
built-in
CD
player
and
clock
radio
combined
that
is
equally
at
home
in
the
kitchen
or
the
bedroom
More
here:
The
new Bottega d'Arte
tile collections for bathrooms and kitchens
were unveiled at the showroom in Fiorano Modenese
during the last CERSAIE fair
More
here:
Villeroy
& Boch's Light Tile lighting
concept features state-of-the-art light emitting
diodes (LEDs) integrated into high-quality
wall and floor tiles
More
here:
H&R
Johnson, the UK
manufacturer of ceramic tiles, has unveiled
Elements, an exclusive new porcelain tile
range drawing on the natural weathered appearance
and textures of geological strata
More
here:
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The
Value of Public Debate
The
papers have been full of stories relating to the KB industry in the
last few days. Last week, the proposed legislation to limit hot water
in bathrooms got itself labelled as 'nanny state' interference by the
opposition - tell that to the families of the 20 people who die (and
570 who are injured) every year by bath time scalding. Inta, the manufacturer
of thermostatic mixing valves, are naturally hopping mad and MD Stuart
Gizzi even challenged the Rt Hon Francis Maude MP to hold a particular
part of his anatomy in water at 48 degrees!
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Tim
Foley - who has recently been commisioned to write the 'definitive
book on kitchens' and acts as Project Consultant to ITV's 60 Minute
Makeover - also runs a website which includes an excellent Discussion
Forum about all things kitchen related.
You'll
Find it here:
Ceramica
Dolomite is launching a new A4 size brochure to showcase
its versatile and affordable choice of bathroom solutions, designed
to suit all tastes and budgets.
More
here:
The
new Candy Built-in brochure includes
all the latest product introductions and shows that Candy has built-in
appliances to harmonise with all kitchen styles.
More
here:
Recently
published by Neff is a 225-page
brochure featuring the entire new 2005 built in collection in one
comprehensive volume.
More
here:
Reginox
UK
has launched a new brochure which, for the first time, brings together
the company’s complete and extensive collection of sinks, taps
and accessories.
More
here:
Turnstyle
Designs
has launched its new 64 page 2005 Catalogue, full of new designs.
products and finishes.
More
here:
With
the publication of a comprehensive new full colour brochure to introduce
the Ascento range of bathroom furniture collection, Ceramica
Dolomite gives retailers and consumers a compact reference
guide.
More
here:
The
new Second Nature kitchen collection brochure from PWS
encompasses over 120 pages of classic and contemporary kitchens.
More
here:
Fagor
UK has announced the appointment of Graham Gleave as
Business Development Manager, with responsibility for contract business
development and development of key accounts in the South.
More
here:
Bushboard,
the manufacturer of anti-bacterial Worktops, Splashbacks and Upstands,
has appointed Jason Neve as Northern Key Accounts Manager.
More
here:
Maytag UK, the American appliance
specialist has announced the appointment of a new member to the
management team, Julie Blaylock, Sales Director.
More
here:
Indesit
Company
has announced the appointment of Raff Rochira as Category Manager
for built- in appliances across all brands.
More
here:
Shires
Bathrooms
helped celebrities relax in comfort and style for the third year running
recently on the reality Channel 4 TV show 'The Games'.
More
here:
Swift
Electrical, the national Hotpoint, lndesit and Cannon distributor
with depots in Stoke-on-Trent, Andover and Falkirk, used a roadshow
event to showcase the recently launched Hotpoint Experience built-in
collection.
More
here:
Victoria
& Albert Baths
is refreshing its corporate identity with the launch of a new modern
logo. The company says that the new look reflects the freestanding
bath specialist’s success with contemporary models in the past
four years.
More
here:
Pipped to the number one slot by the quirky Scissor Sisters
and the revolutionary iPOD, Ideal Standard's
ground-breaking Space Toilet took a proud seat at number 5 in the
nation's Essential Top 50.
More
here:
Venetian
Bathrooms has received a surge of inquiries following a
brief appearance on popular Channel 4 series 'Property Ladder'.
More
here:
De
Dietrich, the premium appliance brand is offering a free
six piece pan set with every induction hob purchased until 30th June
2005.
More
here:
Stone
& Ceramic Warehouse has launched a new website to more
accurately reflect the scope of its business as a company which specialises
in both stone and ceramic tiles.
More
here:
BA
Components
has a new web site which offers new features. All 27 colours and 19
door designs in the Bella range are shown in full room displays.
More
here:
A
new, easy-to-use website has just been launched by logistics management
company, Caretakers.
More
here:
The
Bathroom Manufacturers Association
(BMA), the trade association which represents 87% of bathroom manufacturers
trading in the UK, has announced that its dedicated training micro web
site has gone live.
More
here:
Kitchen
manufacturer, Poggenpohl, has won
a coveted Red Dot Award for its progressive +INTEGRATION design.
More
here:
Alan
J. Lacy, Sears Holdings Corporation’s vice chairman and chief executive
officer, honoured Whirlpool Corporation
on April 12th with two Partner in Progress achievement awards.
More
here:
Built
in appliance specialist, Neff has
won one of the top prizes at this year's prestigious 'House Beautiful'
magazine awards.
More
here:
Saniflo
demonstrated its commitment to training earlier this year when over
20 delegates from the Women In Plumbing Group attended an Interactive
Training Day.
More
here:
Yvonne
Orgill Commercial Director of the BMA
talks about how the newly appointed Training Co-ordinator will help
further the implementation of the BMA’s Bathroom Education Initiative.
More
here:
Classic
Woodworking Machinery at Homag Open House
Homag
U.K. will host its June open house on Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th June.
Machines which will feature strongly will be from Martin’s range
of classical woodworking machinery
More
Here:
John
has Grand Designs on Cannon
Cooking
brand Cannon will be taking pride
of place alongside John Burton Race at Grand Designs Live, the all-in-one
event for people passionate about home design and decoration at London's
ExCeL, from June 10-12, 2005.
More
Here:
Shires
at The Chartered Institute of Housing Exhibition
Shires
Bathrooms, the UK bathroom manufacturers, is to exhibit at The Chartered
Institute of Housing Conference and Exhibition (from Tuesday, 21st to
Friday, 24th June)
as
part of the company's ongoing strategy to develop its services in the
social housing sector.
More
Here:
CMP
to Sponsor Launch of KBB National Training Group
CMP Information Ltd, organiser of next year’s KBB exhibition at
the NEC in Birmingham, is to sponsor the official launch of the Kitchen
Bathroom Bedroom National Training Group during the event.
More
Here:
Blum
Launches Aventos at Interzum
Blum introduced its latest fitting
for the controlled and effortless opening and closing of top hinged
doors on wall mounted high and top cabinets.
More
Here:
Interclima
+ Elec home&building 2006
Reed
Expositions France has changed the dates for Interclima
+ elec home&building and Idéo
Bain, which will be held at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.
More
Here:
Epoc Messe Frankfurt, Dubai, has finalised its plans for ISH
Kitchen and Bathroom Gulf.
More
Here:
Interbuild 2006 - The Building Show
takes place at the NEC in Birmingham from April 23 to 27.
More
Here:
The
Federation of Master Builders
has warmly welcomed the announcement by Secretary of State for Work
and Pensions, Andrew Smith, to provide £3m in funding for the
Worker Safety Advisers scheme
More
here:
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More
recently, the papers have been full of the latest Which! report, which
seems to me to be one of those examples of 'stating the bleedin' obvious':
to whit, if you pay more for an appliance it will be more reliable. Congratulations,
nonetheless, to Miele for being at the top of every category in the new
report, and commiserations to Hoover, who have been universally derided
for, in effect, simply trying to serve the bottom end of the market!
Please visit these links, meanwhile, for information on Submitting
Editorial and Advertising
The B2BZine Team:
Tony Higgin
sales@thekbzine.com
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Blum
goes Hands Free at Interzum
At Interzum Blum showed a new system for opening drawers on a hands
free basis by using light pressure on the front to activate even the
heaviest and fully laden drawer to slide out perfectly. Similarly only
the lightest pressure is required to return the drawer to its closed
position.
[More
on this Story]
THIS WEEK'S NEWS
Inta
Fumes over Political Cold Water
Inta
were incensed to read of the Conservatives opposition to new legislation
to limit the temperature of hot water in bathrooms, through the use
of thermostatic valves, dubbing it ‘nanny state interference’.
This proposal is aimed at reducing the 20 deaths and 570 serious injuries
caused each year by bath time scalding and is generally regarded by
the industry as sensible.
[More
on this Story]
BSH
Fills Gap in Entry Market with Viva
Having
spent the last three years defining and implementing a strategy to harness
the equity in its core brands Bosch, Siemens, Neff and Gaggenau, BSH
has plugged the final gap in its portfolio with the addition of a new
range which will be launched under the viva brand.
[More
on this Story]
Gaggenau
Opens First UK Showroom
In June, luxury built in kitchen appliance manufacturer Gaggenau is
opening the doors of its first UK showroom at 40 Wigmore Street in central
London. The 2,500 sq. ft. showroom is designed as a showcase for the
entire Gaggenau collection, incorporating every one of the company’s
flagship appliances under the same roof for the first time in the UK.
[More
on this Story]
Dedicated Sales Director for Gaggenau in UK
Luxury
built in kitchen appliance manufacturer Gaggenau has appointed Adam
Roddan as its first dedicated Sales Director for the UK. In this newly
created role, Adam Roddan will be responsible for further increasing
sales of Gaggenau appliances via the company’s studio partners
nationwide.
[More
on this Story]
Register
your Part P Installations with ELECSA’s New Automated Facility
ELECSA is offering a new solution for electricians to notify their Part
P installations. This automated transmission facility will help businesses
to reduce the time and costs spent on administration issues.
[More
on this Story]
Get
Your Refrigeration Displays Stocked Up - We’re Promised a Sizzlin’
Summer
‘The
summer’s coming and it’s forecasted to be a hot one.’
says Sabarah Hanif, Product and Training Manager at Maytag UK. ‘There’s
no better time to reap the benefits of the hot weather, selling the
latest in refrigeration.
[More
on this Story]
Aqualux
Contract Graduates with Honours
Aqualux, the UK supplier of bath screens and shower surrounds, has scooped
a prestigious deal to supply shower doors for high-level student accommodation.
Aqualux is working in partnership with Custom Composites Services to
supply a large order of shower doors
[More
on this Story]
Top
Health-and-Safety Accreditation for Fagor
The
Spanish appliance manufacturer Fagor Electrodomésticos has added
to its long list of quality awards with a coveted health-and-safety
accreditation. Four of the company's business lines (washing, dishwashing,
cooking and kitchen furniture), along with its warehouse at Vitoria
in the Basque Country, have now been certified to OHSAS 18000 standard.
[More
on this Story]
KBSA
to Sponsor Major Young Designer Award
The
Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association is to sponsor this
year’s National Home Improvement Council Young Kitchen Designer
Award. The award, part of the NHIC annual awards programme, is open
to any designer under the age of 30.
[More
on this Story]
Designer
Stand for Siemens at Grand Designs Show
Kitchen
appliance manufacturer Siemens is taking centre stage at the first ‘Grand
Designs Live’ show to be held in conjunction with ‘The Times’
newspaper at the Excel centre in London’s Docklands from 10th –
12th June 2005.
[More
on this Story]
Kaizen
is the Way Forward for Orama
As
part of its new company strategy, Orama, the independent manufacturer
of worksurfaces and associated decorative products, is adopting the
Japanese Kaizen manufacturing model to achieve optimum efficiencies
and to enable continuous improvements at all levels.
[More
on this Story]
ALNO
'jumbo' Wins Red Dot Award
ALNO's
'jumbo' base unit from the Libero furniture collection has received
the red dot award: product design 2005. The red dot award, from the
Design Zentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen, is one of the most renowned competitions
on the international design scene.
[More
on this Story]
Siemens
Takes Part in Major Lifestyle Research Project
Kitchen
appliance manufacturer Siemens has been selected to take part in a
major research project on 21st century lifestyle, led by the University
of Nottingham’s Institute of Sustainable Energy Technology.
[More
on this Story]
SMART
Reduces Lead Times by 50% for Manufacturer
SMART
software says that it has revolutionised the KBB industry with its
management system. ‘Manufacturers, retailers and distributors
across the country are discovering the power of SMART and are reaping
huge benefits from its implementation into their businesses.
[More
on this Story]
VitrA
Inhabits Another World
'Finding
water on a distant planet is our first hope of other life in the universe.
We are part of a water cycle from birth onwards, and our recognition
of ourselves reflected in a pool is our earliest key to self-awareness.’
says VitrA.
[More
on this Story]
John
Boddy Timber Recognise 25 Years of Loyal Service
At
a recent presentation ceremony held at the Riverside Sawmills of John
Boddy Timber, Managing Director Frank Boddy congratulated Works Manager
Tony Steele and thanked him for 25 years of loyal and valuable service.
[More
on this Story]
Homag
Group Advances at All Levels at Ligna
Continuing
to build on the strong underlying principle of achieving ‘Success
with a System’ all Homag Group specialist companies showed new
and integrated developments that clearly were aimed at both ends of
the market.
[More
on this Story]
Whirlpool
Corporation Named One of Top 20 U.S. Companies for Leaders
Whirlpool
Corporation has been named to the 2005 list of Top 20 U.S. Companies
for Leaders, making this the second consecutive year the company has
been acknowledged for its focus on developing leaders within the company.
[More
on this Story]
AMDEA SHOW REPORT
AMDEA
Exhibition Shows Ingenuity and the Value of a Global Market
The AMDEA 2005 Domestic Appliance Show has been dubbed an 'invitation
only show'. A total of 1,696 visitors attended the three day event,
74 per cent of which were pre-registered. The remaining 26% probably
managed to find the show under their own steam (some possibly via
publicity on The K&BZine?). We visited the show and found much
of interest, not least the range of giant washing machines on display:
a 7KG from Beko, an 8.5KG from Hotpoint and a whopping 9KG (with a
UK largest 41cm diameter opening) from Bosch. We also got a sneak
preview of Bosch's new VIVA 'budget' range, which seems to be aimed
at well off young people.
[More
on this Story]
THE BIG INTERVIEW
Glen
Dimplex Shifts into Fifth Gear
From 1973 Glen Dimplex has grown a small factory in Newry into the
largest manufacturer of electric heating appliances in the world,
and a major player in other household goods, with 22 subsidiaries.
In an exclusive interview with The K&BZine, Group Chief Executive
Sean O'Driscoll explains how the market is shifting so that direct
customers are attracting the heaviest day-to-day investment, while
research is increasingly focussed to meet the demands of consumer
requirements.
[More
on this Story]
FRANKE COMMENTS
Recycling:
It's an Issue That Won't Go Away
John
Swain, product manager of Franke UK, addresses the issue of waste
management in the kitchen… 'In less than two hours the UK produces
enough waste to fill the Albert hall, so it’s little wonder we’re
running out of space to put it all.'
[More
on this Story]
NOTICES
Notices
from The Insolvency Courts, April 2005
The following Notices have been posted from the Insolvency Courts
relating to Kitchen and Bathroom companies from February to April
2005. Some of the recent companies include A W Kitchens & Bathrooms
Limited, Pioneer Contract Kitchens Limited, Limetree Interiors Limited,
Design Zone Kitchens And Bedrooms Limited, Kitchens Kitchens Limited,
RDM Manufacturing Limited, BBK Installers Limited, Kitchen Plus
(UK) Limited, Streetly Village Design Limited, Matchmaker Kitchen
Designs Limited and Libra Kitchens & Bedrooms Limited.
[More
on this Story]
Part
P Training And Assessment From Niceic Domestic Installer Scheme
The
KBB industry has welcomed a programme of assessment and training,
launched by the KBSA, which offers retailers a clear route to self-certification
under the requirements of the new Part P legislation.
[More
Here]
MACHINERY MATTERS
Mark
Cooper Cabinets ‘up for’ the new Hoffmann
Mark
Cooper Cabinets, based near Shrewsbury in Shropshire, is an established
company of 20 years standing supplying top quality products to individual
customers at the top end of the market. The company is primarily a kitchen
maker but also supplies bespoke designs for bedrooms, bathrooms and
some home office products.
[More
on this Story]
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