Weekly Email News for the Kitchen, Bathroom and Bedroom Industries
4th November 2005
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Maytag UK has recently launched the new 60 Series range of premium laundry appliances featuring the Adamas washing machine
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Electrolux's cyclonic upright vacuum cleaner features a powerful cyclonic action and a new integrated turbo nozzle with risor visor
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New World has expanded its range of competitively priced 'Vision' freestanding products to include six new 50cm and 60cm stainless
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The creative team behind the Rayburn Cookmaster XT have taken the solid, workmanlike lines of the traditional Rayburn and crafted a work of art which sets a new benchmark in kitchen appliance design
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Premium Appliance Brands (PAB) is poised to launch a new range of larger than life American-brand, White Westinghouse XXL fridge/freezers
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Maytag UK brings to the market a new side-by-side refrigerator by Admiral. The new Admiral Duo is available in three practical finishes, with the added retailer bonus of competitive entry level pricing,
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J&J Ormerod's new eco kitchen range will enable kitchen retailers, builders' merchants and contractors to offer the quality of kitchen associated with J&J Ormerod and its existing Colonial kitchen brand at a competitive price
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The Glass FX colour treatment from Glass UK offers an unlimited choice of colours for almost every glass type. It is suitable for a wide range of applications, from kitchens, bathrooms and showers to imaginative developments such as hotels and style bars
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Blending minimalism with chic, the Arcade from Keller by Grovewood is distinguished by functionality and clean lines, allowing housebuilders to incorporate contemporary European styling without supply chain hassles
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Burbidge has extended its best-selling Lansdowne range with a new Black Walnut collection of kitchen frontals and accessories
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Cova Products has announced the addition of Lancelot PA, to the Cova Press Premier range of 3D forming veneers
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The T12 and LT12 Series of remote transformers, from ventilation expert Manrose Manufacturing, has now been completely re-designed to provide a stylish new look that will complement any bathroom
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Responding to customer demand for a compact heating solution for the kitchen, PWS has introduced a new plinth heater
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Scott Brothers has announced the launch of Pack-Mate® AnyLock™, a reusable food freshness storage bag with unique sealing rods
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Ideal Bathrooms has recently taken into stock the 'Essential collection' a new range of designer heated towel rails
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Myson has unveiled a new glass towel warmer and radiator which the company says is unique to the UK domestic heating market
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Moods Bathrooms has introduced a new range of heated towel rails to its expanding bathroom collection
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The latest furniture collection from Mg Marga Design is entitled ‘Luce’ and is ideal as a focus piece for a bedroom
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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
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Burbidge has expanded the Emilia bedroom range with the introduction of a painted cream option
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Masco Down, Wolseley on the Up and Up

Last week we reported on a patchy kitchen market, based on several companies' third quarter performances; this week it seems to be the turn of the bathroom industry. Masco has reported profit margins down by 1.5 percentage points (from 15.4% to 13.9% quarter on quarter), and warns that it will get worse before the end of the year, with cost cutting measures not having a positive effect before 2007 and additionally warning of 'recent additional commodity cost increases, most of which are not expected to be offset by selling price increases until the first half of 2006'.

A report from AMA Research suggests a slowdown in the £11.2bn UK Builders and Plumbers Merchant Market, which grew 8% in 2004, but which is slowing down to growth rates of 2-3% for 2005 and 2006 before picking up again in 2007.

Meanwhile, Wolseley, still firmly on the acquisition trail, has picked up William Wilson for £81m, which gives Wolseley its entry into the electrical market, which chief exec Charlie Banks is very excited about: 'The Electrical Wholesale Division will be expanded by an aggressive programme of branch openings which should provide additional scale benefits. The operational management of William Wilson will remain with the business and join the Wolseley group reporting to Adrian Barden, Managing Director, Wolseley UK.' We also find out where Wolseley is getting its cash reserves from, with news of a $1.2bn share offer.

• Finally, our congratulations to Kermi MD Gwynn Smitham, whose team (Tom Edmond, Chris Hamilton and Ian Ritchie) has won the Regional Final of The Times Corporate Golf Challenge at the Grove Club in Hertfordshire to qualify for the Grand Final at the La Manga Course in Spain.

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The design competition, Electrolux Design Lab, has attracted a total of 3,040 design students from 88 countries around the world. The contest, entering its third consecutive year, is designed to encourage students from around the world to design household appliances for the future.
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The heat is now on to enter the annual House Beautiful Awards 2006 and be recognised as the best of the best in the homes industry.
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The Good Housekeeping Institute has subjected the Whirlpool Prêt-à-Porter to a selection of tests covering performance, ease of use, design and clarity of the included instructions and has passed it on all counts.
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The Active Kitchen sink from Franke won a top honour at the Kitchen and Bathroom Designer’s Manufacturers’ Awards 2005.
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SPATEX, the exhibition for professionals in the pool, spa and sauna industry, 5-7th February 2006 at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Exhibition Centre.
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KBB incorporating Expotile, the biennial event for the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and tile industry is all set to make a big splash in January at the NEC, Birmingham. From 22-25 January 2006, five halls of the NEC will be the home of the biggest and best industry event to date.
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The preparations for the première of the Deutsche Ausbaumesse in Nürnberg from 27-29 April 2006 are in full swing.
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Epoc Messe Frankfurt, Dubai, has finalised its plans for ISH Kitchen and Bathroom Gulf.
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Interbuild 2006 - The Building Show takes place at the NEC in Birmingham from April 23 to 27.
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With the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) pushing its 'Better Backs' initiative this summer, Granada Material Handling (Granada), one of the nation's leading material handling solutions specialists, is the sole UK distributor of Fezer VacuPowerlift handling units.
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Tim Foley runs a website which includes an excellent Discussion Forum about all things kitchen related.
You'll Find it here:

 

Richard & Debbie Schwarz
news@thekbzine.com

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PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

Hotpoint Provides a Space Saving Solution
Hotpoint is introducing a new laundry stacking kit, providing a space saving solution for kitchens that lack sufficient space for both a washing machine and tumble dryer. Compatible with all new Hotpoint and Indesit washing machines and tumble dryers, the stacking kit enables the dryer to be securely fixed above the washing machine saving on valuable space in the kitchen.
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Buying A Sauna? Your Decision Has To Be More Than Skin Deep
The leisure market is being tempted with an increasing amount of extravagantly designed saunas. Elegant sculptured benches with panelling down to the floor, curved walls and intricate ceiling profiles all encased behind an entire wall of glass. All very sumptuous, but peel away the glossy image and you will find increased running costs and growing maintenance problems. With today's emphasis on energy savings and efficiency, just how effective are they? Pam Senior, manager of Viking Saunas Ltd, explains:
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Masco on Downward Trend but £200m Cost Cutting Measures in Place
Masco Corporation reported on November 1st that net sales from continuing operations for the quarter ended September 30th, 2005 increased six percent to a record $3.4bn compared with $3.2bn for the third quarter of 2004. Income from continuing operations for the third quarter of 2005 was $262m compared with $289m m for the comparable period of 2004. Operating profit margins were 13.9% in the third quarter of 2005 compared with 15.4% in the third quarter of 2004
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Wolseley Acquires William Wilson for £81m
Wolseley plc announced on November 1st that it has acquired William Wilson Holdings Ltd, a leading distributor of plumbing, heating and electrical supplies in the UK. The acquisition provides Wolseley UK with a substantial entry point into the electrical market.
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Wolseley plc - Record $1.2 billion Private Placement
Wolseley plc, the world's largest distributor of heating and plumbing products to professional contractor markets and a leading supplier of building materials, announced on 19th October that it has, in principle, raised $1.2 billion through a private placement of fixed and floating senior unsecured notes
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AMTECH's Part P Software for Contractors Endorsed by ELECSA
ELECSA announced on 1st November that it has associated with market leader AMTECH Power Software to fully endorse its Part P software. This has been designed for ease of use by Engineers and Contractors who need to meet the requirements of Part P.
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BMA Attends Commons Launch of New Water Body
Yvonne Orgill, commercial director of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, along with technical director Mike Rymill, attended the House of Commons launch of new water advisor body - Water Wise, which has been set up by the water companies.
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Richard Moss joins BMA as Education Supremo
One of the Industry's keenest proponents of qualifications, education and training over the years, Richard Moss, has taken the position of Head of Education and Marketing for the Bathroom Manufacturers' Association (BMA).
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Maytag UK's Latest Promotions
Maytag UK is supporting the launch of its new 60 series laundry and dishwashing appliances with consumer promotions from now until the year-end.
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Grab Yourself a Bargain
Shower surround and bath screen manufacturer, Aqualux aims to make the run up to Christmas a little easier by offering trade promotions on three of its most popular products.
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OFT Urges SMEs to Come Clean and Fix the Fixers
Businesses involved in price-fixing, market-sharing, bid-rigging or other cartels can wipe the slate clean and remove the risk of severe penalties, says the Office of Fair Trading.
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