Weekly Email News for the Kitchen, Bathroom and Bedroom Industries
12th December 2003
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Over a period of more than 10 years, Alape, the Germany-based enabler of individual bathroom architecture, has gained experience in the planning, design and implementation of project-specific washroom solutions.
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German bathroom manufacturer Keuco has announced the Plan collection of bathroom accessories, fittings, illuminated mirrors, mirrors, lighting, mirror cabinets and furniture.
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Thomas Dudley Ltd (TDL), the Midlands based manufacturer, has launched its new ‘Vantage’ concealed cistern
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Fordham has added a new variety of freestanding and fitted furniture cabinet options which offers flexibility to suit all bathroom sizes and styles.
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Barwick has announced two new additions to its product range from Inda – the manufacturer of bathroom products, accessories and furniture
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Trade Mouldings has introduced four new styles that will be available ex-stock from the Rochdale Distribution Centre, the Dublin Distribution centre or direct from the factory.
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From January 2004 all Nolte Kitchens carcases, shelves and wooden components will be available in the same décor inside and out. This new development is being offered as standard at no extra cost.
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Quality Marble displayed its Polished Concrete worksurfaces at the Kitchen Showcase in conjunction with Charles Yorke.
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Orama, the independent manufacturer of worksurfaces and associated decorative products, has introduced a set of seven laminate splashback options to complement its new Ardesco range of worksurfaces.
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New from Franke is the Professional LD (Lever Disc) Triflow Trend three-way tap with water purification system.
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The Flute range of bathroom brassware from John Sydney features coloured levers combined with a chrome finish. The initial range has been expanded with two new additions.
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Following on from the success of its Isy brassware range, Hopkinsons Fourways has extended its Bathroom Moods Collection, with a wider and more comprehensive range of Isy products – including new shower and accessory ranges.
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Showerlux has taken the Europa Urban concept further and launched Europa Evolution.
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Answering the demands of an ever-expanding market place for stainless steel clad refrigeration, Maytag UK, the American appliance manufacturer, features the 'all American' Amana Pro Line in its range.
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Heading the built-in range is Hotpoint BF168 fully integrated dishwasher. Its key features include MultiSystem Baskets, a flexible system to maximise the capacity within the dishwasher
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Cannon has introduced the new Professional 1000 Range Cooker designed to offer consumers who are serious about cooking a chance to cook in true professional style at home
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Maytag UK teamed up with Charles Yorke to offer the Amana MX-M featuring contemporary styling in a combination of black glass in a frame of brushed stainless steel
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Welcome to the 21st century
It would appear that plans to turn the 21st Century Homemaker into an IT-literate, button pushing, labour saving 'ÜberFrau' are well advanced, if you take seriously the recent announcement from CECED, which we cover in full below. I can understand the thinking, but do we really want to make the kitchen so attractive that you spend more time in it than other rooms in the house? Maybe we do.

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The Hoffmann Machine Company has launched a new website detailing its systems, products and applications.
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The dedicated web site of Hopkinsons Fourways’ contemporary ‘Moods’ bathroom collection, has been upgraded to showcase the company’s extended range as well as a new ‘Dealer locator by postcode’ function.
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THIS WEEK'S NEWS

Ceced 'Chain', the First Standard for Home Automation Systems
A household appliance interoperability platform to build an effective, user friendly home automation solution, has been announced by Ceced (European Committee of Manufacturers of Domestic Equipment), the association of 200-plus industrial companies in the appliance sector. The Ceced Convergence Working Groud of major European home appliance manufacturers is the first to jointly define, develop and support a common protocol which enables domestic appliances to fully interoperate in an automated home system..
[More on this Story]

Rune Andersson Declines Re-Election as Chairman of Electrolux Board
Rune Andersson, Chairman of the Board of Electrolux, has announced that he will resign as Chairman and leave the Board in connection with the Annual General Meeting in April 2004. Mr. Andersson was elected to the Electrolux Board at the AGM in 1998, and was appointed chairman.
[More on this Story]

Research Unveils a Demand for Food Waste Disposers in Today’s Kitchen
Independent research commissioned by In-Sink-Erator has shown that one in six people claim to want a food waste disposer when buying a new kitchen. This is clearly at odds with the current 6% market saturation level, indicating a huge potential for new uptake amongst consumers. The research revealed that the main reasons why people wanted a food waste disposer in their new kitchen were associated with the lifestyle benefits of improved hygiene and convenience. However, those interviewed that didn’t want a food waste disposer said that it was because they had ‘no need’ for one.
[More on this Story]

Central London Location for KBSA 2004 AGM
The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association has announced that next years (2004) AGM will be held on Saturday 3rd July at the Commonwealth Institute, London followed by a gala dinner and entertainment at the 5* Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington. ‘This will be a very important AGM for the Association,’ says KBSA Chief Executive Graham Hayden. ‘We have experienced a period of growth and change during the last twelve months as we have begun to fully embrace the interiors industry as a whole.
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New Regional Chairman Hosts KBSA Regional Meeting
The new Chairman for the London and the South East region of the KBSA, Tony Nicholas, hosted his first regional meeting at Watford Football club this month. Tony is Managing Director of award winning kitchen and bathroom retailer Nicholas Anthony, which has five showrooms. He was voted in as the new chairman at the last KBSA AGM, which was held in June. The meeting was one of a series of regular meetings that take place in all six KBSA regions, usually held in the spring and autumn.
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Cook the Christmas Dinner in Style with a new Range Cooker
With the Christmas Season soon upon us it's time to think about the ever important Christmas cooking. If your oven is looking a little worn out and it's time to start looking around for something in time for Christmas to produce that perfect crispy turkey, then why not go for a Range Cooker.
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Liteflam Glass Flooring for the Home
Renowned for its expertise in installing bespoke glass flooring and structural glass block work in the commercial arena, Roger Wilde Ltd is now pioneering the use of fire rated glass flooring panels in the private residential market. The company has designed an easy-to-install version of its patented Liteflam Firefloor system specifically for use in the domestic market. This new system enables architects and interior designers to offer homeowners the practicality and cutting edge style of glass flooring in areas previously prohibited for Building Control fire safety reasons.
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Kitchendraw V4.5 Released
'The release of KitchenDraw V4.5 now makes it the most powerful Space/Design Planner in the market.' says the company.
'With over 1000 registered users in 18 months, Kitchendraw has fast proven itself as a desirable product in the Kitchen Planning market.
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Optiplan Face Up with Hoffmann
Established in 1984 Optiplan Kitchens has become one of the UK’s largest kitchen specialists supplying customers in London, the Home Counties and the South of England through an established retailer network and also supplying some of the best home builder names in the industry.
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Whirlpool Corp. to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 3% from 1998 Levels; Equivalent to Emissions from 28 Coal-Fired Power Plants
Whirlpool Corporation announced on 10th December that it is committed to reducing its global greenhouse gas emissions by 3 percent from its 1998 emissions level. Whirlpool expects to achieve this reduction target by 2008 while also increasing global home appliance production by nearly 40 percent over the same 10-year period.
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Masco Corporation Announces New Common Stock Repurchase Programme and Declares Quarterly Dividend
Masco Corporation has announced that its Board of Directors has authorised the purchase of up to 50 million shares of its Common Stock in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. This authorisation replaces the Company's existing programme under which approximately 34 million of the 50 million shares previously authorised had been repurchased. The Company had approximately 465 million common shares outstanding at the end of the 2003 third quarter.
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Fisher & Paykel Annual Report Published: Investment Plans Increased
Fisher & Paykel has published its Annual Report, which shows an outstandlng net profit after taxation of $73.5m, in it's first full years trading since listing separately (reported in The K&BZine in July). Appliance Division Managing Director John Bongard says: 'we are now anticipating sales growth which will put pressure on production capacity. As a consequence we have had to change our plans. New expenditure required to support that growth will see us investing around $42m this year, increasing the three year spend to $84.5m'.
[More on this Story]

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EXPERT HINTS & TIPS

Hot Winter Tips from American Standard to Stay Warm and Save Money
Perform a pre-season tune-up. Dirt, dust and other contaminants have been building up since last year. Before you turn your furnace on again, have it tuned up and cleaned thoroughly by a reputable dealer.
[More Tips & Hints]

Autumn House Cleaning: Essential for a Wholesome Environment
Before you move indoors and close up the house for winter, it's important to adopt a good cleaning regimen to reduce allergens in your home. With planning and prioritising, autumn cleaning can be manageable.
[More Tips & Hints]

Energy Saving Every Which Way
Whether aimed at helping the environment or helping yourself – energy saving is definitely a good thing. Follow these hints and tips from Electrolux to avoid making a meal of cooking and cleaning.
[More Tips & Hints]

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SPECIAL FEATURES

Products that Save Water Should not Waste Plumbers’ Time
The UK water industry supplies some 18,000 million litres of water per day and boasts 44,000 employees; 1,584 bore holes; 650+ reservoirs and 600+ river abstractions. However impressive these figures may sound, the system is still struggling to satisfy the UK's seemingly unquenchable thirst for water.
[More on this Story]

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?'
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Interview with Wolseley Group Finance Director Steve Webster
In an interview with Steve Webster, Group Finance Director of Wolseley about the company's recently announced preliminary results and dividend policy, Steve highlights the impact of dollar translation problems but is happy that the group has out-performed the market.
[More on this Story]

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WHAT WE SAW AT GP&T

Glass Processing & Technology Shows Glass Industry Aiming at KBB Market
EMAP's Glass Processing & Technology show - held last week at the NEC, Birmingham - held a number of pleasant surprises for any visitors with an interest in kitchen or bathroom design.
[More on this Story]

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