Weekly Email News for the Kitchen, Bathroom and Bedroom Industries
16th December 2005
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Indesit
has launched a washing machine designed to help make the most of consumer's
precious time
More
here:
Smeg
has launched a new group of ovens and hobs that add a distinct new style
to the Italian appliance brand's portfolio
More
here:
Liebherr,
the domestic and commercial refrigeration specialist, has announced
the launch of the WTUes 1653 built-in under-counter wine cabinet
More
here:
Fagor
UK has launched three new electronic single ovens featuring
advanced pyrolytic self-cleaning, under the company's Advanced Cooking
Generation banner
More
here:
Smeg
has added two ‘full height’ appliances to its free-standing
stainless steel cooling products range
More
here:
The growing popularity of its best-selling Lansdowne range has led
Burbidge to introduce a Painted
Oak collection in four colourways
More
here:
Kitchens
and bathrooms can benefit from the timeless appeal of Traditional Character
Oak floor boards from Edwards Cheshire
More
here:
Schmidt
Alize doors feature a handle-free façade
with full width finger recesses in either black, aluminium, pear or
white. The effect is clean and stark accentuating the horizontal geometry
that allows designers to draw worktops, splashbacks, mid-height units
and other features into the whole composition
More
here:
Pfleiderer
Industrie's
recently relaunched Duropal Worktop Collection features an extended
range of High Gloss worktop effects
More
here:
Designed
to fit in the smallest places, the Impulse
Tribune Range, which now has many new additions, has eased many a
bathroom designer's and architect's headache
More
here:
The
new Zeto range just being launched by Impulse
contains all the options needed to meet almost any bathroom design
specification
More
here:
Decorative
Mermaid waterproof wall panels
are so versatile and easy to install that they can be co-ordinated
together in matching or contrasting colours for unique bathroom walls
More
here:
Drummonds
has recently launched a new walnut veneered bath. Drummonds not only
holds a stock of original bathrooms but also has been making new bathrooms
for the past 10 years
More
here:
lnspired
by the heritage of bathroom culture, the asymmetric nature of liquid
and the symmetrical shapes of solid forms, is the new Espace range
from international bathroom brand VitrA
More
here:
Smart looks, perfect cornering and precision engineering, the new Le
Mans storage solution from
PWS has them all
More
here:
Ovation
by Wade, a contemporary range of ergonomically designed and
beautifully finished kitchenware, offers the perfect storage solutions
for keen cooks
More
here:
PWS
has extended its handle collection with a trio of industrial inspired
designs. The new stainless steel effect handles are tactile incorporating
a substantial textured grip
More
here:
Villeroy
& Boch's
NewWave collection of Tableware, glassware, and cutlery is known for
its asymmetrical and organic design. The collection includes NewWave
Caffe range
More
here:
Bottega d'Arte says that its new collection of interior finishes employs a decorative vocabulary of Baroque inspiration, expressing the increasingly obvious links between fashion and habitat
More here:
Ultracolour
Plus is the latest innovation from
Mapei.
'The ultimate solution for perfect
grout joints, free from aesthetic
defects such as uneven colour and
efflorescence, Ultracolour Plus remains
easy to keep clean and will not support
mould growth'
More
here:
RAK
Ceramics has launched a
new range of tilescalled 'Oxodium',
which features an oxodised finish
that comes in subtle orange and blue/black
versions
More
here:
The
Stradivari radiator from Aestus
forms the latest addition to the company's ultra designer radiator collection
entitled 'Collection Inox'
More
here:
As
homeowners continue to get on board the designer radiator phenomenon,
Stelrad Radiators has launched
its latest designer offering, the Concord, to help installers cash in
on the growing trend
More
here:
The
Sorano radiator from designer radiator manufacturer Aestus
incorporates a soft, flowing design
More
here:
Hot
on the heels of the ZX Stone Grey sink launch from Carron
Phoenix comes the new Zinia tap in matching Stone Grey
which 'strikes the balance between stylish neutrality and design
simplicity'
More
here:
The
manual valve and all fittings on the new Rainshower Set from HSK
are made with a chrome on brass finish
More
here:
The
design and quality finish of the new RFP 21 tap from Reginox
UK is set to position it as one of the most desirable
'must haves' for any contemporary kitchen
More
here:
Most
retailers will be familiar with Bristan's
portfolio of showers, but some many not be aware that Bristan also
has a comprehensive range of complementary shower pumps
More
here:
Roman
Ltd,
the UK shower manufacturer, has raised over £6000 for
the victims of the Asian Tsunami disaster
More
here:
Staff
in the Mereway Kitchens
Sales Office all chose to wear something pink on Friday 28th
October in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Day
More
here:
Monday
31st October saw employees from Hotpoint
in Peterborough set out on a cross-country challenge
to raise money for ChildLine
More
here:
The
Bathroom Manufacturers Association's
generic industry guides, which are designed to help everyone in
the bathroom industry to make a more disciplined study of their
profession, are proving a roaring success with over thirteen thousand
downloads of the Guides, since May.
More
here:
Safety and service rate highly on Aqualux’s
priorities – and even more so now, after staff successfully
completed the ILM Team Leader Certificate and the IOSH Health and
Safety Certificate
More
here:
The
BLUMOTION system from Blum ensures
that even when slammed hard the frontals automatically brake at about
80mm from closed and then gently glide shut
More
here:
The
latest furniture collection from Mg Marga Design
is entitled ‘Luce’ and is ideal as a focus piece for a bedroom
More
here:
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'Tis
the Season
Jacuzzi announced its year end and Q4 financial results this
week, which show something of a mixed market. Overall, total group sales
remained flat, but this masks the true story, which was a 14.6% increase
for the plumbing division and a corresponding decline in the bath division.
'The decrease in the Bath Products segment resulted from the slow down
in the U.K. market and softness in the Italian bath and U.S. spa markets',
the company says. The management changes made in the summer are expected
to turn the bath products segment round in 2006.
Other news this week includes the retirement of well known industry
character Bob Ball, of William Ball, who many will have seen
gradually shrinking over the year to lose an incredible 12 stones. Bob
is off to live in Perth, Western Australia and we wish him the best
of luck. Brother and Joint MD Terry will be taking over.
Finally, this is our last K&BZine before Christmas, so may
we wish all our readers happy holidays and a prosperous New Year, The
K&BZine will be back in your inbox on the 6th of January.
• Our preview of KBB 2006 is here,
if you are exhibiting, and have not yet sent information in for our
stand guide, please email to debbie@thekbzine.com.
SUBSCRIBE FREE!
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Enter
Through Poggenpohl at KBB
KBB
incorporating Expotile 2006 has announced the involvement of Poggenpohl
at the event next year. Poggenpohl will be exhibiting in the exclusive
Kitchen Gallery area.
More
here:
Grand
plans for Grand Designs Live 2006
Following
the hugely successful launch of Grand Designs
Live earlier this year, publishing group Media 10 and FremantleMedia
Licensing Worldwide, have announced Grand Designs Live 2006, 2-4 June,
ExCel, London.
More
here:
Britannia
Proves Hot Hit at BBC Good Food Show
Range
cooker specialist Britannia was extremely pleased with the results
from the BBC Good Food Show held
at Birmingham's NEC last month, which far exceeded the company’s
expectations for brochure requests.
More
here:
Grand
Designs Live Attracts 43,451 Visitors
Grand Designs Live's
four shows in one formula proved a great success, allowing all 'Grand
Designers' passionate about their homes and gardens to find everything
they need to create the home of their dreams - together under one
enormous roof.
More
here:
KBB
incorporating Expotile, 22-25 January 2006
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.
More
here:
KBSA
Corporate Members Networking Forum
The
Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association corporate members
networking forum was well attended by more than 50 corporate members,
publishers and journalists.
More
here:
EDP
at ZOW 2006
Components and materials supplier to the KBB sector, European Decorative
Products, will have a strong presence at ZOW 2006 in Bad Salzuflen
next February.
More
here:
Trade
Mouldings at ZOW
British
manufacturer of cabinet doors and wrapped furniture components, Trade
Mouldings, will exhibit for the first time at the ZOW furniture suppliers
exhibition at Bad Salzuflen in Germany from February 20 - 23, 2006.
More
here:
More
Events here
Tile
and sanitaryware manufacturer, RAK Ceramics
UK, has launched a new brochure to promote the company's
range of wall and floor tiles.
More
here:
Maytag
UK
has introduced a new marketing tool to communicate with its retail
partners, Maytag Outlook.
More
here:
Franke,
the sink manufacturer, has produced a CD of its Master Brochure.
More
here:
Kitchen
appliance manufacturer, Siemens
has recently published a new buiit-in brochure for 2005/2006.
More
here:
Newly
released is the seventh issue of Mermaid Tales - Norske
Interiors’ newsletter, designed exclusively for retailers
to offer all the latest information on Mermaid waterproof wall panels.
More
here:
Due
to continuous expansion and success in the kitchen industry Kitchen
Culture welcomes Scott Lawrence to its team of award
winning designers.
More
here:
Merlyn
Industries
has made two new appointments within the sales force, following
the promotion of Regional Sales Manager, Tony Lever, to National
Sales Manager
More
here:
Wellmann
Contracts
has appointed Lyndon Brookes designer to handle the design of all
directly placed kitchen orders from the building sector.
More
here:
Microcad
Software Ltd,
the developer of autokitchen, the Kitchen Design Software powered
by AutoCAD welcomes Richard McCarthy as a Sales Manager UK.
More
here:
Sanitary
ware manufacturer Laufen has
introduced new recruit Scott Taylor as Area Sales Manager for Scotland,
North Cumbria and North East England
More
here:
In
the run up to Christmas, kitchen appliance manufacturer Siemens
is introducing a new quartet of advertisements promoting selected
freestanding products.
More
here:
Freestanding
bath manufacturer Clearwater Collection
has delivered one of its luxury baths to Colin and Justin's show 'How
Not to Decorate'.
More
here:
Leading
sink manufacturer, Franke, has
joined forces with its distributors to deliver over 5,000 Christmas
puddings to retailers this year as a thank you for all their hard
work.
More
here:
Having
announced the nominees for 2006's Bathroom
and Kitchen Awards event, it looks like there will be some
serious in-house rivalry as two leading kitchen and bathroom companies
- Ripples and Houseworks - prepare to compete.
More
here:
An
engineer at Roman Limited, the UK
shower manufacturer, has been named as Student of the Year.
More
here:
Glen
Dimplex Home Appliances has added an on-line image library
to its new-look website to make it straightforward for retailers
to source product images.
More
here:
GE
Consumer & Industrial Appliances
has announced the launch of its new UK consumer website.
More
here:
Specialist
in internet marketing for the home improvement industry, eBuilders
Ltd, has launched a new website www.local-kitchens.co.uk
More
here:
Idéo
Bain is being staged at the same time as Interclima
+ Elec-Home & Building: as a result, between 17th and
20th January 2006 Porte de Versailles will welcome over 100,000 trade
visitors: installers, distributors, showroom sales staff, specifiers,
public and private contractors.
More
here:
Next
year's Ambiente, scheduled to take
place from 10th to 14th February 2006, will again feature some 4,600
exhibitor companies from every continent.
More
here:
SPATEX,
the exhibition for professionals in the pool, spa and sauna industry,
5-7th February 2006 at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Exhibition Centre.
More
here:
The
preparations for the première of the Deutsche
Ausbaumesse in Nürnberg from 27-29 April 2006 are in
full swing.
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:
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.
More
here:
Tim Foley runs a website which includes an excellent Discussion Forum about all things kitchen related.
You'll Find it here:
TheK&BZine Team:
Richard Place
sales@thekbzine.com
MISSED LAST WEEK'S K&BZINE? IT'S HERE
PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Ban
the Germs with Haro Sanitary
You
can now get ultra cleanliness and superior hygiene standards with Haro
Sanitary, from its CareLine model range of toilet seats.
The CareLine range was designed to meet even the toughest hygiene safety
standards in both private homes and the public and welfare sector.
[More
on this Product]
Jacuzzi
Results: UK Bath Division Weakest Link
Jacuzzi
Brands, Inc. announced on December 12th operating results for the
fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 30th, 2005. Net sales
for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005 were $293.3m compared to $308.5m
for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004. Operating income in the fourth
quarter of 2005 was $17.1m compared to operating income of $37.8m
in the fourth quarter of 2004.
[More
on this Story]
Joint
MD Retires from William Ball
After 42 years in the business Bob Ball, Joint Managing Director of
quality kitchen, bedroom and study furniture manufacturer, William Ball,
is to retire. Having lost an incredible 12 stone during 2005, Bob has
now decided to spend his retirement in sunnier climes settling in Perth,
Western Australia.
[More
on this Story]
Franke
Acquires Market Leader in Egypt
The
Franke Group has acquired majority interest in Egypt's leading sink
manufacturer, SAMI. The Egyptian sink market is considered to be one
of the biggest volume markets in Africa and the acquisition substantially
strengthens the presence of Franke in this territory.
[More
on this Story]
Electrolux
Decides to Close Factory in Nuremberg, Germany
After a six-month long investigation, on December 12th Electrolux decided
to initiate closure of the appliances factory in Nuremberg, Germany.
Production will gradually be moved to Italy and Poland. Closure of the
factory is expected to be completed by the end of 2007.
[More
on this Story]
Whirlpool
Production Growth
Whirlpool Corporation announced on December 12th that it invested approximately
$250 million in its North American manufacturing base in 2005. 'We continue
to strengthen and extend our manufacturing base in North America, specifically
in the U.S. and Mexico, to better improve our operating platform and
to continue to remain competitive,' said David L. Swift
[More
on this Story]
Sirius
Crowns Indesit Company White Goods Supplier of the Year
Indesit
Company has accepted the ‘White Goods Supplier of the Year’
award from Sirius. Monday 28th November saw Marco Marini, Indesit Company's
Managing Director, greet representatives from Sirius, a buying group
formed as part of an amalgamation between Solus and Radius.
[More
on this Story]
Siemens
Ties Up with Marks & Spencer for Laundry Promotion
For
the first time, kitchen appliance manufacturer Siemens has teamed up
with UK retailer 'Marks & Spencer' for a laundry promotion due to
appear as an advertorial feature in the Spring 2006 issue of 'M&S'
magazine.
[More
on this Story]
Shires
Bathrooms Working with Wakefield Council
Shires
Bathrooms, the UK bathroom manufacturer, has secured a six month contract
to supply bathrooms to Wakefield District Housing. Following three
years of negotiations, Shires Bathrooms has established a strong working
relationship with Wakefield District Housing and is able to provide
it with a ‘one-stop-shop’
[More
on this Story]
Gateshead
Gets Fabricating
James
Latham's Gateshead depot is giving its existing customers an extra helping
hand in meeting tight deadlines by providing an in-house fabrication
service. The facility is aimed primarily at providing BWF Certifire
Doors sets manufactured to size and with or without glazed apertures,
complete with hardwood frames within a fraction of the normal lead times.
[More
on this Story]
New
Year Retail Bonanza with Imperial Bathrooms
In
support of its growing network of stockists and to provide a New Year
boost to sales, Imperial Bathrooms is kick-starting 2006 with a new
price promotion across its entire brassware range and selected sanitaryware
lines. Display incentives and POS are also being made available in support
of the promotion.
[More
on this Story]
Ideal
Standard Celebrates 25 Years of Robin Levien
This
year Ideal Standard celebrates 25 years of working with Royal Designer
for Industry Robin Levien. To mark the occasion, guests were invited
to an exclusive event at the Design Museum, raising their glasses
to a well respected and talented designer.
[More
on this Story]
KBSA
Regional Meeting Sponsored by Gorenje
One
of the KBSA's newest corporate members, Slovenian appliance manufacturer
Gorenje, sponsored the KBSA regional meeting for region 6 (London and
the home counties), which was held at the company’s Wimbledon headquarters'
last month.
[More
on this Story]
Decorative
Panels at ZOW for the First Time in 2006
British
paper foil laminator Decorative Panels Ltd. is attending ZOW at
Bad Salzuflen in February 2006 for the first time. In fact, says
sales manager Stephen Cadwell: ‘This is the first time in our
90+ year history, that we have attended an offshore exhibition -
and I think that what we have to offer European board manufacturers
and processors will go down very well’.
[More
on this Story]
Bureau
Veritas Hires Consultant to Strengthen Furniture Testing Capabilities
Bureau
Veritas Consumer Products Services UK (BVCPS), specialist in consumer
product testing, inspections and auditing services, has announced
the appointment of David Hawkridge as an Independent Technical Consultant.
David will be primarily responsible for supporting the development
and expansion of BVCPS's furniture testing services in preparation
for the facilities move to new, extensive 'state-of-the-art' facilities
in 2006.
[More
on this Story]
Roman
Holiday at KBB Exhibition
Roman
Limited, the UK shower manufacturer, is offering visitors to the
January KBB exhibition a weekend break for two in the historic
city of Rome. Roman will be running two prize draws, one for members
of the press and another for retail and contract market.
[More
on this Story]
Flower
Power Set to Draw KBB Visitors!
One
visitor to KBB 2006 will go home with a most exclusive bath - if
he or she is the lucky winner of a competition being run by exhibitor
Victoria & Albert.
[More
on this Story]
Easy
Bosch Solutions to Those Boring Christmas Chores
Christmas
should be all about friends, family and enjoying yourself, but all
too often it can become a bit of a chore. Domestic tasks loom, leaving
you little time for the things that really count. For this reason,
Bosch domestic appliances says that it has come up with some great
ideas to help ease the load over the festive season.
[More
on this Story]
Notices
from The Insolvency Courts, November 2005
The following Notices have been posted from the Insolvency Courts
relating to Kitchen and Bathroom companies including C & S
Management Ltd, Castle Bathrooms Ltd, Zenith Kitchens & Bedrooms
Ltd, County Kitchens (Surrey) Ltd, Wycombe Ceramics & Bathrooms
Ltd, Back To Life Kitchens Ltd, Wow Kitchens Ltd, C V Kitchens
Ltd, Zenith Kitchens & Bedrooms Ltd, P D Installations (Thame)
Ltd, Kitchens Kitchens Ltd, Kitchen It Ltd, Imperial Kitchens
Ltd, Moreland Classic Kitchens Ltd, First Class Bathrooms Ltd,
Hammonds Kitchens Ltd, Aston Cord (Bathrooms) Ltd.
[More
on this Story]
MACHINERY MATTERS
Ligmatech
Boomerang Proves its Worth
The
specialist Homag Group member Ligmatech has, as one of its cutting
edge specialities, panel handling solutions for most applications.
But perhaps it is Ligmatech's most simple device, the ‘Boomerang’
that has delivered value and performance to hundreds of factories
and workshops around the UK and Ireland
[More
on this Story]
Industry
Will Benefit from Launch of the KBB NTG
Last
March I welcomed the announcement that the CITB - ConstructionSkills
would fund the formation of a national training group. I am delighted
to report that this group has grown and developed over the last
18 months and that the KBB NTG will celebrate an official launch
at KBB in Jan 2006.
[More
Here]
FRANKE COMMENTS
Getting
Point of Sale Right for Retailers
John
Swain, Product Manager, Franke UK comments on Point of Sale materials:
Retailers invest a lot of time, money and effort in getting their
show rooms just right for consumers, making sure they are up-to-the-minute
and following the latest industry trends
[More
on this Story]
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