Weekly
Email News for the Kitchen, Bathroom and Bedroom Industries
17th October 2003
http://www.thekbzine.com
W&G
Sissons
lmpera range includes five designs of toilets, urinaIs and washbasins,
which are manufactured from Sissons' newly-developed composite resin
material called 'Quartsan', in combination with stainless steel
More
here:
Teuco
Hydrosonics is the first and only (domestic) whirlpool bath with ultrasound
(10 year international patent)
More
here:
Bathstore.com
introduces an addition to the company’s range of sanitaryware in
the form of the ‘Reprieve’ four piece suite
More
here:
BA
Components has introduced a new toilet seat to its Bathroom
and Bedroom range
More
here:
Showerlux
has developed four new additions to its range of luxury baths to sit
at the forefront of the Showerlux Bathroom Collection
More
here:
Schneider,
has developed the CLASSICplus collection of illuminated mirrors
More
here:
Teuco
UK has introduced the ‘quadrifoglio’ (four-leaf
clover) mini-pool
More
here:
Within
its enhanced Moods bathroom collection Hopkinsons
Fourways has introduced a new range of ceramicware
More
here:
Further
innovation from the in-house design team at BA
Components has resulted in a solution to the problems in
fitting a Plate Rack feature in a kitchen
More
here:
Over
many years Blum has developed products
that allow kitchen manufacturers to design progressive storage solutions
More
here:
The
Kindred undermount collection from Carron Phoenix
is a premier range of undermount stainless steel sinks designed to complement
the growing trend for solid surfacing and granite worktops
More
here:
With
a single feature door taking more than eight hours to construct, Charles
Yorke's new Jakarta range is an example of the company's
marriage of furniture making skill and contemporary design
More
here:
Aquaplus Solutions has launched a diverse
range of frameless enclosures to suit virtually any bathroom
More
here:
Water
Front
has added new showerhead and brassware options to its Cross range and
introduced two new designs to its accessory ranges
More
here:
The
Evolution shower cabinet from Teuco UK
is described by the company as a marriage of innovative styling, ‘multi-functionality’
and ergonomics
More
here:
Koralle
has developed Geo System, a range of highly engineered enclosures and
trays that not only look good but perform well too
More
here:
Kermi
has launched a range of Rectangular, Quadrant and Pentagon Shower Trays
in Acrylic capped resin stone
More
here:
Premium
Appliance Brands Ltd,
exclusive importer of the ATAG brand into the UK, has added a Domino
hob system
More
here:
Neff
already offers two standard 60cm wide four plate models in its cooking
range and the company says that the extra-wide T4872 is a much-requested
addition to the line-up
More
here:
For
those seeking something different when it comes to range cooking, the
PC5 range style hob from CDA may
provide the answer
More
here:
As
part of its 2003 built-in range De Dietrich
has introduced the DHD357Z flat 90cm glass and aluminium hood with soft
touch controls
More
here:
Claiming
‘uncompromising style and heating efficiency’, The Big One
from MHS Radiators features up
to five towering pillars of polished aluminium in a display of cutting
edge design.
More
here:
Aestus'
new 'Collection Inox' is a range of stainless steel radiators featuring
funky and innovative designs that are suitable for all areas of the
home
More
here:
Myson
has launched a towel rail specifically for the kitchen to complement
the Kickspace plinth heater
More
here:
Villeroy
& Boch
presented its 'Creative System New' tile concept at this year's 'Cersaie'.
It offers a range of tile colours, which has been designed exclusively
for Villeroy & Boch. Its colour series create virtually infinite
combination alternatives and cover every lifestyle
More
here:
Villeroy
& Boch
Wellness Division says it has revolutionised the often time consuming
process of fitting and maintaining a bath by developing the Multibox
More
here:
Designed
to complement Vitra's contemporary
selection of sanitaryware, furniture, baths and accessories the 'Modern
Elegance collection' of ceramic wall and porcelain floor tiles
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:
Keeping
your Head when all Around are Losing Theirs
Reading this week's news, you would be forgiven for
thinking 'not everyone can be right'. On the one hand, a Plimsoll report
suggests that the Kitchen and Bathroom Industry is in freefall with
18% of companies currently making a loss. At the same time, we hear
that UK suppliers are turning up their noses at £140m worth of
business form Merloni.
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Exhibition
List
For upcoming exhibitions in the UK and the rest of the world in the kitchen,
bathroom and bedroom markets.
More
Here:
The 6th China International Building & Decoration Fair - CBD 2004 - will be held from 6-9 July, 2004 in Guangzhou (Canton). It is organised by the China Foreign Trade Centre Group in association with MEREBO Messe Marketing based in Hamburg/Germany
More Here:
The
ASFI's biennial show (10-13 October
2004) is of paramount importance to anyone interested in raw materials,
components, fittings or services for the furniture manufacturing industry.
More
here:
From
4th to 9th February 2004, is Idèo Bain
the Paris bathroom exhibition.
More
here:
M.C.E.
has become an important event for the bathrooms sector, to be held in
Milan, March 2-6, 2004.
More
here
To
support the recently launched new designs in the Marbrex range, Swish
Building Products has produced a suite of informative literature,
including a brochure, installation guide and price list.
More
here
Broughton
Crangrove issues a new price book every quarter. The one for
the autumn, 1st October through to the 31st December is now available
More
here
Formica
Ltd
offers its new interactive CPD presentation which has full RIBA approval,
and examines the manufacture, application and installation of high pressure
decorative laminate
More
here
To
coincide with the launch of some 17 new products, Bristan
has produced a new kitchen taps brochure
More
here
Two of Neff's managers - Roger
Sandham and Mike Ball - are taking up new roles of Key Account Managers
within the company
More
here:
Birmingham-based
Mandarin Building Products Ltd
has appointed two new members of staff to cope with the ever-increasing
sales of the company’s Impulse range of bathroom sanitary ware
More
here:
NewTeam
has appointed Barbara Jonas as Brand Manager for the hydromassage
brand Glass
More
here:
The
Cooking Business Unit of Fagor UK’s Spanish parent company, Fagor
Electrodomesticos, has been selected as a finalist in the Large
Organisations category of the prestigious 2003 European Quality Award
More
here:
Cooker
brand Stoves, part of Glen
Dimplex Cooking, has received an accolade in Domestic &
General’s prestigious Total Excellence & Quality (TEQ) Awards
More
here:
The
Astracast Springflow™ dedicated
sales team is now 'on the road' within the M25 area equipped with specialised
sales presenters
More
here:
Maytag
UK
has introduced new point of sale for the Admiral refrigeration range.
More
here:
Kaindl,
manufacturer of wood products and laminated flooring, launched its new
website in mid-September. The company is presenting itself as a B2B platform
More
here:
A
series of support seminars run by Planit International,
the industry software provider, have proved so successful that the remaining
dates for October are all fully booked.
More
here:
Bespoke
kitchen manufacturer Underwood Kitchens
provided the kitchen backdrop for a charity cookery demonstration in
Aylesbury recently.
More
here:
General
Manager of Birmingham-based Mandarin Building
Products, Gary Hawkins, completed a marathon bike ride recently
when he rode from John O’Groats to Lands End to raise funds for
the West Midlands Air Ambulance
More
here:
Under
the Commonfield Contemporary Door and Slide & Store brands, Commonfield
Services Ltd is a core producer of folded steel and extruded
aluminium framed sliding doors, now incorporating a choice of diffuse,
coloured glass options.
More
here:
Part
M
of the Building Regulations concerns access and facilities for disabled
people, including requirements regarding sanitary conveniences. Anna
Burns, marketing manager of Twyford Bathrooms,
looks at how it makes provision for those with special needs.
More
here:
I suppose both things can be true, but the word that springs to mind is complacency: which is certainly a term that can be applied to five South Korean firms (including the LG Group) who have recently been fined for illegal transactions which amount to anti-competitive practice. Conglomerates are always a bit inclined to thinking that they are above the law, but few are allowed to get completely out of control.
So maybe the UK suppliers are right to reject Merloni
- maybe they are not too worried by the pundits suggesting a downturn
in the market, certainly not worried enought to accept a bad deal when
they see one. Watch this space, as they say!
Debbie Schwarz,
Publisher
debbie@thekbzine.com
SPECIAL FEATURE
Blum
– Helping to Create Premier League Retailers
'The
more things look the same the more important differences become’
explains Blum’s David Sanders, ‘as technology has developed
over the years kitchen retailers are finding it harder to design individual
kitchens specific to their clients’ needs. One frontal looks very
similar to another, one worktop looks the same as another so how does
the consumer differentiate between retailers?'
[More
on this Story]
THIS WEEK'S NEWS
Join
the 2004 Productivity Race
A
staggering 46% of the UK Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Manufacturers
industry will be unable to afford the 3.9% average wage increase estimated
for next year. Salary negotiations are set to be fraught. This is
just one of the alarming findings from the latest Plimsoll analysis
examining the financial performance of the Top 354 UK Kitchen, Bedroom
& Bathroom Manufacturers companies.
[More
on this Story]
Hotpoint
Joins Sponsors at Industry Awards
Hotpoint
is the latest top brand to join the high profile list of sponsors
backing the Bathrooms+Kitchens magazine Industry Awards, rewarding
the best retail outlets and designers in the business. Hotpoint will
be sponsoring the 2004 Designer Award for Kitchens.
[More
on this Story]
LG
Group one of Five South Korean Conglomerates Fined for 'Unfair Transactions'
Appliance manufacturer and sponsor of the current world snooker championships
LG Group has been fined along with four other South Korean conglomerates
after being found guilty of 'unfair transactions' and of illegally
bailing out struggling affiliates.
[More
on this Story]
British
Suppliers Lukewarm towards Merloni Expansion Plans
After last year's £309m takeover of General Domestic/Hotpoint,
Merloni made a commitment to build its share of the UK market by investing
£60m over three years, and increasing production in the UK by
up to 15%. After the Hotpoint deal, Merloni became the UK's biggest
appliance manufacturer and number three in Europe behind Electrolux
and BSH. Now, Merloni wants more commitment from its component suppliers
in the UK, and is rather surprised that British manufacturers are
not biting, considering the carrot is £140m worth of business
annually.
[More
on this Story]
De
Dietrich Celebrates Year on Year Increase in Induction Sales
De
Dietrich, pioneer in the development of induction and pyroclean technologies,
has announced a significant increase in its sales of induction hobs.
The manufacturer has seen a 50% growth in this emerging market, with
sales now second only to gas, having overtaken vitroceramic.
[More
on this Story]
Bodie
Kelay & Dave Taylor Leave >rational< to Head up Bau-for-mat
in the UK
‘Having
both been with Rational for 11 years and an integral part of the UK
management team responsible for elevating Rational to the heights
of success within recent years, we leave the company in a strong position
with a recognised market profile, and wish it well for the future.’
Say Bodie Kelay and Dave Taylor.
[More
on this Story]
Adminex
Oasis Distributor Network Gears Up to meet Customer Needs
As
part of its strategy to ensure that plumbers’ and builders’
merchants can supply installers with sanitaryware to meet the needs
of end-customers, Adminex Oasis is on its way to establishing a network
with distributors.
[More
on this Story]
KBSA
Message Reaches More Consumers than Ever!
The
latest figures released by the Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists
Association’s press agency Carol Downing Communications show that
the KBSA message is reaching a bigger target audience than ever before.
[More
on this Story]
In-toto
to Open in Plymouth
In-toto
is to open a kitchen showroom in Plymouth under franchisee Tony Mawdsley
later this year. It is currently being fitted out and is located at
65-67 Exeter Street, Plymouth..
[More
on this Story]
Showerlux
Celebrates 30 Years of Trading in the UK
Bathroom
specialist Showerlux has celebrated 30 years of successful trading in
the UK with a day of celebrations at its brand new 200,000 sq ft Head
Office premises.
[More
on this Story]
Sottini
Rewards Top Retailers with Trip to Arizona
September
saw a party of 54 of the UK's leading industry retailers and their spouses,
invited on a seven-day trip to Phoenix, Arizona for the annual Sottini
dealer's break.
[More
on this Story]
Mini
Winner Receives Big Prize from Zanussi-Electrolux
Sianne
Gordon from Electrolux Home Products, presented a brand new Mini Cooper
to Laura Sharp of Coventry. Laura won the car after entering a national
trade competition to raise awareness of the Zanussi-Electrolux branding.
[More
on this Story]
Aspex
Refits Stoneham
Caterham-based
Aspex Office Environments has just completed a £100,000 re-fit
at Stoneham Plc, the UK manufacturer of prestige (mainly kitchen) furniture
[More
on this Story]
Gorenje
Launches Built-In into the UK
Slovenian
appliance manufacturer Gorenje has
launched a range of built-in appliances into the UK. The launch follows
a rapid expansion for the company into the UK since its initial launch
last October, with over 250 independents retailers now stocking a wide
range of the company's free standing products.
[More
on this Story]
New
Countertop Colours for Kitchen and Bath from Staron
Cheil
Industries (part of the Samsung Group), is the manufacturer of Staron
solid surface material for countertops and has recently added new colours
for customers bringing the total choice of colours to 58.
[More
on this Story]
Homag
Group to Centralise Beam Saw Production
The
two main divisions of beam saw technology within the Homag Group, Holzma
and Homag Sawtech, are to combine operations to form the strongest manufacturing
and technology company in this sector worldwide, the company says.
[More
on this Story]
Moores
Targets the Building Trade
Moores
kitchens are available to housebuilders and developers, and include
a host of ultra modern designs. News from Moores includes the opening
of a showroom in London, and the launch of Moores Direct.
[More
on this Story]
Bathrooms
have Grown Says the Bathroom Manufacturers Association
What should those working in the Bathroom Trade know about the business
of selling bathrooms today – and what can the Bathroom Manufacturers
Association do to help?.
[More
on this Story]
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© 2003 The B2BZine Company Ltd.
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