Weekly Email News for the Kitchen, Bathroom and Bedroom Industries
3rd February 2006
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The Gallery has further strengthened its choice of kitchen styles with the launch of two new modern styled kitchens and a range of luxury aluminium accessories
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Brass & Traditional Sinks has commissioned and designed its own exclusive Gamekeepers ceramic sinks
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This week saw the release of an updated version of Kitchendraw - the kitchen and bathroom planning software
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The five ALNO Libero cabinet systems - window, corner, zoom, tower and jumbo - are receiving reinforcements in the form of additional window, jumbo and a sixth system, the Libero frame, which creates additional hanging space in cabinets
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The new Angel Birch range from PWS is light and airy, achieving the clean lined look so popular in modern kitchen design
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Bohle has introduced a new range of own-branded heated mirror pads that promise to banish steamed-up mirrors for good by the simple flick of a switch
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Jiffy, the supplier of quality protective packaging has developed a new product which guarantees protection for highly polished furniture in transit
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Always on the look out for interesting storage ideas, PWS has introduced a collection of modern baskets
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Have you ever wanted to change the colour of your lighting, but still have the option of white light for everyday tasks? Well now you can have all this and more with a new product from Verdi Lighting
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East Coast Fittings has introduced a series of tambour doors with assembly and fitting advantages
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Myson has launched new ‘tube on tube’ towel warmers, ‘Tuba’ is an addition to the Myson multi-rail range. ‘Tube on tube’ reflects the design, which sees the horizontal bars laid onto the vertical bars instead of being welded into the product
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Thermic, the Belgian manufacturer of high-quality designer radiators, has launched the latest innovations in the Xtend-Line - Xtend-Horizontal and Xtend-Inox.
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Radiator manufacturer, Aestus, has improved its popular Partito bench radiator allowing it even more universal appeal
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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
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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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KBB 2006: A Feast for all the Senses?

Following our comment last week that KBB 2006 was something of a curate's egg, we have received a number of emails, which we publish here. In the absence of any official data from the organiser CMP, I would guess that visitor numbers were about 10% up on 2004 and most exhibitors we spoke to would rebook for 2008.

There are issues to be addressed - the awkward L shaped arrangement of Halls 6 and 17 to 20 meant long walks for visitors wanting to see bathroom, kitchen and appliance stands, and one wonders about the 6pm finish when personnel on stands away from the epicentre of the main entrance were beginning to lose enthusiasm after 4pm.

A major question mark also hangs over the seminar programme, which suffered from poor attendances. The seminar 'theatres' were a bit 'open plan' for most sensibilities, and showed poor understanding of the needs of potential delegates.

We will be providing a more in depth coverage of KBB2006 next week, so i f you have a comment on the show - from either exhibitor or visitor perspective - please drop an email to news@thekbzine.com. It only needs to be a couple of lines.

A talented designer from KBSA retailer Chiselwood Ltd in Lincoln has won a major national award for kitchen design.
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The imminence of the robot age draws even closer as IFOMIND scoops 2005 prize for Progress towards Machine Intelligence, sponsored by Electrolux.
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A young designer from In-toto Kitchens in Leamington Spa has won a major award for kitchen design in the National Home Improvements Council Awards 2005.
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This year's Ambiente, scheduled to take place from 10th to 14th February 2006, will again feature some 4,600 exhibitor companies from every continent.
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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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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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PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

Revolutionary New Sink Design from Franke
New from Franke, the UK's leading sink manufacturer, is the Laser sink, an ultra-low profile, superslim sink that incorporates a revolutionary new Slimfix(r) fixing system. The Slimfix® system anchors the sink firmly to the work surface without the need for clamps, fixing rails or screws.
[More on this Product]

Working for the Bathroom Industry
We have spoken a lot recently about the marketing work that the BMA does, in respect of promoting and supporting the industry with publicity for ‘news’ subjects such as Water Saving in the Bathroom and understanding what we should be providing in respect of Bathrooms for those of us with Special Needs and also in working towards providing the consumer with the best possible quality of service via Training, Education and Qualifications.
What we don’t often publicise is the precise nature of the work that the BMA does for the industry in respectof Parliamentary initiatives and standards bodies.

Ted Goold – President - Bathroom Manufacturers Association

[More Here]

Comments from KBB 2006
'The KBB show was a roaring success for William Ball and feedback to our new ranges was extremely positive. We belive that the gloss lacquered kitchen is just starting to come into its own and this was certainly bourne out at the show with a number of exhibitors showing this type of look.
[More Comments Here]

TrustMark Opens for Business
TrustMark, the new scheme to help people find reputable firms for repairs, maintenance and improvements in their homes, was launched nationally on Monday 30th January to the general public. The promotional campaign for TrustMark started early Monday morning at the ‘House of TrustMark’, a home in Ealing, London, where TV crews and other media interviewed the gathered experts, including a range of TrustMark-registered tradesmen, Ian Livsey, chairman of TrustMark, and the Construction Minister, Alun Michael MP.
[More on this Story]

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