THE K&BZINE - your industry news first

Weekly Email News for the Kitchen, Bathroom and Bedroom Industries
16th January 2004
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Specialist bathroom equipment distributor Decorlux announces the launch of ICONE a collection of wall hung washbasin consoles, designed for use with the company’s popular Arche and Tika free-standing basins
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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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Witham-based Adminex Oasis has introduced Charente - a top-of-the-range suite consisting of WC pan and cistern and washbasin and pedestal branded.
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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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Taking a new approach to kitchen design is something that PWS has become renowned for and its latest door offering, Freestyle Grey follows suit.
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Orama, the independent manufacturer of worksurfaces and associated decorative products, has added six composite designs to complement its recently launched Ardesco range of worksurfaces.
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Wellmann's new kitchens incorporate more intelligent ideas to enhance safety and increase storage. The most interesting is 'safelift' a glide-down compartment that is positioned behind a wall cabinet. There is a choice of three internal arrangements to store hazardous items.
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Cheshire-based sink specialist, Reginox UK introduces the RF303S stainless steel sink with extra-large bowls.
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Trade Mouldings has introduced four new styles that will be available ex-stock from the Rochdale Distribution Centre.
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The Delta cubicle from Kinedo is a robust, cost effective solution for installing showers in student accommodation.
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Based on the simplicity of a water droplet, mh1 is a new contemporary brassware range designed for Water Front by interior designer Mark Humphrey
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Showerlux has strengthened its position in the growing minimalist market with the launch of a new collection – Collection Pure
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Aqualux, the shower enclosure company, has announced the launch of its new range of shower enclosures and trays, ‘energy’
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A new Showerlux Piccolo range enters the market, Piccolo City - a space saving solution that incorporates a choice of 6 dedicated baths and a stylish shower enclosure
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Small kitchens may well be charmingly cosy but offer no space for dirty dishes. For this reason slimline 45 cm dishwashers enjoy continued popularity, their performance being constantly improved to match that of fullsize models.
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lndesit has launched the new WD14 washer dryer with a 1400 spin speed. The company says that this model gives retailers the opportunity to build on sales thanks to the brands' growing success in the washer dryer market, currently holding a 23.5% share.
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Waterline has introduced the DF 100 Range Cooker to the Cuisina Collection of appliances designed for the kitchen specialist. The company says that the duel fuel double oven cooker offers all the Cuisina benefits of high quality, keen pricing and exclusivity plus increased margins when compared with other brands.
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Tamworth-based bathroom brassware supplier, Bristan, helped to make Christmas a little more bearable for some with their charitable efforts recently.
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Blum UK will be diverting the costs of the company’s usual Christmas card mailing to donations to various charities.
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Armitage Shanks has raised over £2000 for BBC Children in Need. To raise the money and a smile on the face of the shoppers Armitage Shanks held a competition to find Potty Posers.
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Available from The Stone and Ceramic Warehouse, Riverstone is a marriage of smooth pebbles of bianco carrera marble set in a translucent resin which flawlessly mimics glass
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Floor Gres says that the new Origine line in fine porcelain stoneware interprets a quartziferous rock transformed by natural processes lasting millions of years, into a porfyroid stone that recovers that contact with nature and the elements of our everyday life that enable us to rediscover a rapport with authentic, simple, original materials, their shapes and colours.
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The trend back towards florals in interiors has been seized in an exclusive collection of glass tiles, 'Floral Glass Wallpaper', being introduced by The Stone & Ceramic Warehouse.
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Bisque has launched new ranges of quality, luxury valves to complement the company's radiators.
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Barwick has announced the extension of its range of towel warming radiators from Scirocco, with the introduction of several new ranges including Easy, Small, Roma, Shangai (pictured) and Winter.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Countdown to KBB2004
This is our last issue of The K&BZine before the Interiors Event which takes place at the NEC from Sunday through to Wednesday next week. Of major interest to us, of course, is KBB2004, which takes place in Halls 6, 17, 18, 19 and 20. Check our Preview here, it lists 285 KBB companies' stand numbers and has additional information on nearly 100 of those. We shall be at the show on Sunday and Monday and will also be taking a table at the Awards Dinner on Monday, so we hope to see as many of you as possible either at the show or at the awards.

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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.
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KBB 2004: Looking Forward to 0ver 16,000 Visitors
KBB 2004 forms an integral part of the UK's largest interiors event which will be held in 17 halls of the NEC Birmingham (18-21 Jan), featuring around 1500 exhibitors and attracting in excess of 50,00 trade visitors. KBB2002 welcomed a total of 26,469 visitors, 16,646 of which were dedicated visitors registering specifically for KBB.
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Construction Fairs in China
BolognaFiere and CMP Sinoexpo announced recently that they are establishing a new joint venture company in China to organise two major trade fairs in China. Expo Build China and Ceramics, Tile & Sanitary Ware China are both held annually in Shanghai in April.
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More Exhibition info at bottom of page.

Broughton Crangrove has published its latest product and pricing catalogue running from January through to March 2004.
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Recently published by built-in kitchen appliance specialist, Neff is the company's updated winter product brochure for 2003/2004.
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At the end of a busy year of new product launches and brand development, Rangemaster - an Aga company - has launched a new brochure to showcase its entire portfolio.
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The sophistication of modern glazing, with its many uses in the retail market, public spaces, and showers and bathrooms, is illustrated by D R Services in a new Guide to its product range
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The PJH Group (Hopkinsons Fourways), has appointed a new General Manager for Operations Support, Neil Palfreeman, to help manage and coordinate the company’s growing distribution network, throughout eight national trading centres.
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This year has seen the official UK launch of Zodiaq®, the new quartz surface from DuPont. To guide and manage the growth of this sophisticated new material, DuPont has appointed Amanda Bramley as Business Development Manager.
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Imperial Towel Rails has bolstered its internal and external sales operations, making new appointments within the quality and logistics operations as part of a programme to expand into additional showroom outlets nationwide.
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Andrew Bird joins the Geberit Terrain team from Hunter Plastics as Product Manager for Drainage Systems, having sound marketing and manufacturing experience and direct market experience in the Rainwater, Soil & Waste and Underground Drainage sectors.
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Maytag UK, has appointed Mark Scott to the position of Business Development Manager for the UK.
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H&R Johnson Tiles, the UK manufacturer of ceramic tiles, has invested in bright, branded livery for a dedicated commercial delivery fleet of ten vehicles, operated by Browns Distribution Ltd, Tunstall, Stoke on Trent.
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Aqualux, the shower enclosure company, announces that it has teamed up with Britain’s most decorated female swimmer in an advertising and sponsorship deal for 2004.
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As part of a UK 'Showerthon', Niagara teamed up with 'no fuss' shampoo Wash & Go to mark the launch of its new menthol 'Fresh' variant with a unique stand alone 'walk-in' enclosure - street style!
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Question : What have Kylie Minogue and Twyford Bathrooms got in common? Answer : Pete Waterman. Pete Waterman is the guy who brought Kylie Minogue to the attention of the populous. Now he's doing the same for Twyford Bathrooms - in an obscure yet steamy sort of way!
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Fagor has launched an updated and improved website designed specifically for the UK market.
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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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American Standard Plumbing (U.K.) Ltd recently won four awards from three major bath and kitchen industry magazines. The awards recognize Ideal-Standard and Trevi Shower’s appealing designs and commitment to innovation.
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Aqualisa’s revolutionary showering system, the Quartz®, has won a prestigious design award.
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Midlands based manufacturer Thomas Dudley Ltd has reached the final of the prestigious IWEX innovation Awards.
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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.
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Epoc Messe Frankfurt, Dubai, has finalised its plans for ISH Kitchen and Bathroom Gulf.
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The Salone Internazionale del Mobile (14 - 19 April 2004) for Italian and internationally made kitchen furniture.
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The 6th China International Building & Decoration Fair will be held from 6-9 July, 2004 in Guangzhou .
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ASFI the UK furniture supplies event is being re-launched for 2004
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From 4th to 9th February 2004, is Idèo Bain the Paris bathroom exhibition.
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M.C.E. has become an important event for the bathrooms sector, to be held in Milan, March 2-6, 2004.
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If you find EC Directives about Recycling a bit of a turn off, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by an important announcement which has been made this week about the formation of REPIC – Recycling Electrical Producers Industry Consortium – which will begin setting up in the Spring.

Twelve companies committed themselves to funding of £30,000 apiece to get the company up and running. They are Alba; B&W Loudspeakers; BSH Home Appliances; Glen Dimplex; Hoover Candy; In-Sink-Erator; Kohler Mira; Merloni Elettrodomestici UK; Numatic; Philips; SMEG; and Whirlpool, and the good news is that they now want everyone to join them! With the EC Recycling Directives coming into force in August 2005, this is a timely initiative by these companies which should be applauded!

Debbie Schwarz,
Publisher
debbie@thekbzine.com

Also at the show with us of course will be our new salesperson (and longstanding friend) Maria Esnouf, who some of you will already have heard from. Having recently de-emigrated from Tenerife to Waterford she may bite your head off if you have a suntan but will still be only too pleased to talk to anyone about the benefits of advertising on The K&BZine. And for those of you wondering what Maria looks like we publish here a recent picture. Maria's contact details are listed below.

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

Manufacturers to set up Recycling Plant: ‘REPIC’ to start operations in Spring
Manufacturers are setting up a company to manage the recycling operations under new European law which gives them responsibility for discarded electrical and electronic consumer products. REPIC – Recycling Electrical Producers Industry Consortium – is the working title of the company, which will begin setting up in the Spring.
[More on this Story]

Kitchen Showcase 2004: Design inspiration for the Kitchen Industry
For those involved in the manufacture, design, specification, sale or procurement of kitchens and related products, there’s only one place to be between 1st - 3rd July 2004 - Kitchen Showcase 2004 at the Commonwealth Institute, Kensington, London. Back less than 12 months after its launch in September 2003, Kitchen Showcase has more than doubled in size, and is without peer in the UK trade market.
[More on this Story]

Fagor UK gets a move on…
As a result of continuing expansion, Fagor UK has moved its sales office and logistics centre to bigger premises in North London and Fareham respectively. The new contact details for the sales office are as follows:.
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KBSA Member on Radio Ulster
A KBSA retail member from Northern Ireland was interviewed on a top consumer show on Radio Ulster. Mark Robinson of Robinson Interiors was interviewed on the Saturday morning show, ‘On Your Behalf’, when they investigated a listener’s complaint about a kitchen installation.
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John Sydney Featured in Major TV Documentary
John Sydney contemporary bathrooms fittings were featured on the recent documentary TV programme, which followed the conversion of an old-fashioned house in Belgravia into a £1.25m, hi tech home.
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DYNAMIC SPACE® will be Focus of Blum's ZOW2004 Presentation
DYNAMIC SPACE® – the new quality of space usage and motion in kitchens – is what fittings manufacturer Julius Blum will focus on at ZOW 2004. In keeping with Blum’s slogan 'perfecting motion together', the company will make the most of the show to discuss new kitchen standards with visitors. .
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Adding a Country Feel with Pippy Oak
Although there has been a lack of traditional finishes as contemporary styles become increasingly popular, BLP UK Ltd have not forgotten this important market and have recently introduced a new Pippy Oak veneer for their MDF wrapped profiles and profile framed doors.
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Armeg Innovation at Interbuild 04 - a 'Bit' Special
Age old problems associated with drilling through porcelain tiles are set to become a thing of the past when Armeg unveils its latest creation at Interbuild 2004. The innovative manufacturer of power tool accessories will use the event at the NEC from April 25 to 29 to showcase its brand new PTC (Porcelain Tile Cutters) Drilling Range.
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ASFI Welcomes More New Members
Originally formed for the purpose of providing an exhibition for UK supplies companies, ASFI – The Association of Suppliers to the Furniture Industry is now a strong trade Association with a portfolio of attractive benefits including:
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Interiors of Harrogate Celebrate 2003 Sales Sucess
Interiors Of Harrogate reached over £2m turnover for the year ending December 2003 (excluding fitting charges). Directors Paul and CathyWhiers puts this increase in turnover down to good sales designers and consistent quality suppliers.
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Everything Bar the Kitchen Sink
RoofWright has developed new ideas for kitchen/dining room extensions with its 21st century 3D conservatory software.
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Williams Knows how to Offer the Best in New Refrigeration Solutions at Hotelympia
Williams Refrigeration - part of Aga Foodservice Equipment (AFE) – is joining forces with its sister companies on the largest single stand at Hotelympia 2004. The company says that the wide range of quality refrigeration equipment on display is set to reinforce Williams’ position as the leading refrigeration solutions provider to the UK and global market.
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Hemscott makes Topps Tiles its 'Share of the Week'
Hemscott, the financial analyst, has made Topps Tiles its 'Share of the Week in in its first email newsletter of the year: 'What a year it's been for Topps Tiles. The shares in the ceramic tile and wood flooring group have doubled over the past 12 months as investors latched onto what looks like a sustainable growth story and re-rated the shares.
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Wolseley plc Pre-Close Period Trading Statement for Interim Results
Wolseley plc, the world's largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing, heating and building materials products, issues its regular trading statement prior to entering its close period.
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COMPANY NOTICES

Notices from The Insolvency Courts, October - December
The following Notices have been posted from the Insolvency Courts relating to Kitchen and Bathroom companies from October to December 2003:
[More Here]

WE HAVE EMAIL...

Is it OK to Drink the Water?
As a kitchen supplier/installer I often fit ion exchange water softeners with the associated hard water filter for drinking to satisfy the water bylaw. Yet any water softener manufacturer will say it is perfectly fine to drink the softened water, as the sodium levels are so low. (it makes a better cup of tea etc etc). What should we be saying to customers?.
[More Here]

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]

SPECIAL FEATURES

National Charity Works with Trade Partners to find Solution to Bath Water Scalds Affecting Young Children
Child Accident Prevention Trust, the Thermostatic Mixing Valve Manufacturers’ Association (TMVA) and BuildCert recently launched a new generation of thermostatic mixing valves, TMV2, at a seminar in London. The seminar - Safety and hot water: getting the mix right - was organised by the national charity following its work to bring together key players in health, housing, manufacturing and accident prevention to find a technical solution to the problem of severe bath water scalds in the home.
[More on this Story]

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?'
[More on this Story]

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]

MISSED LAST WEEK'S K&BZINE? IT'S HERE

Archive Section

We have archived items from the following Channels: News, Appliances, Awards, Bathroom Products, Events, Kitchen Products, Literature, People and Taps & Showers.

SUBMITTING EDITORIAL

Should you wish to submit editorial to THE K&BZINE, please email Debbie Schwarz or telephone 0208 656 9878, mobile 07889 664061

Editoral is FREE OF CHARGE but may be edited to house style.

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The K&BZine, PO Box 1488, Croydon CR9 7WH

ADVERTISERS

Should you wish to advertise on THE K&BZINE, please contact Maria Esnouf on 00353 51877972 or Tony Higgin or telephone 01923-461527, mobile 07977-981753.

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