Weekly
Email News for the Kitchen, Bathroom and Bedroom Industries
9th July 2004
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Lofra,
the Italian range cooker manufacturer, has launched a 60cm cooker
in its Curva range
More
here:
The
Hoover roundel is now fitting
in all around the kitchen with the UK launch of the Hoover Built-in
range. The full line-up of cooking, cooling and home laundry appliances
has been unveiled
More
here:
Neff
has
introduced a totally new laundry range, comprlsing two washing machines
and a washer dryer. All three models have been designed with wash,
spin & energy performance in mind
More
here:
CDA
has launched the Picazzo P27, a 70 cm range cooker with all the
features of the company's larger models
More
here:
Hotpoint's
new Ultima range of washing machines have state-of-the-art technology
including a new LCD display that provides on-going feedback throughout
each stage of the wash
More
here:
Sink manufacturer, Franke,
has launched a Micro Texture stainless steel finish which will provide
a complementary look to aluminium appliances in the kitchen
More
here:
Mereway
has now introduced two additional colour variations to
its Monza range of contemporary kitchen furniture
More
here:
'Silent
System' is the name Hettich
has given to its range of cushioned closing systems
More
here:
K-Kitchens
has launched a second new kitchen, the ‘Keswick’ to add
to its portfolio within The Kitchen Group
More
here:
'The
range of designs and doors styles from DiLusso’s
Classic Collection ensures that there is something for every section
of the market
More
here:
Michael
Powell, MD of Blum
UK, a specialist in kitchen fittings technology explains
why space planning is so important
More
here:
The
Gallery kitchen collection has introduced Miami Walnut
and predicts that walnut will be an important trend in kitchen design
More
here:
Galerie
Optimise from Twyford bathrooms
is a new compact bathroom suite and brings technology, imagination and
style to bathrooms suites where room is of a premium
More
here:
To
provide customers with even more coordinated design solutions, Kohler
Co., a specialist in kitchen and bath design, has added several
new products to its traditionally designed bath suites
More
here:
Glass décor holds an important position in modern bathroom design,
and new washbasin shapes are also gaining ground. Missel
product ideas are in line with the latest trends and set the tone in
this bathroom
More
here:
Unusual
installation situations of fittings, such as with Dornbracht’s
flush-fit valves, with the flush-fit two- and three-way change-over,
and with cross-cut ceramic tops on wash stand wall mixers, can be solved
More
here:
The
smooth, oval lines of the Ascania by Armitage
Shanks create a modern, Zen-like effect in the bathroom
More
here:
Franke
UK’s Fuji tap has a continental-style perlator within
its spout, creating a champagne stream of aerated water and preventing
water from splashing out of the bowl even when the tap is turned on
full
More
here:
Grohe's
Taron Clear Crystal designer faucet is made from transparent glass and
features a specially ground and polished edge that captures the light
to produce fine colour reflections
More
here:
Zinia
is one of the four new taps for 2004 from Carron
Phoenix that brings colour and seven different design looks
to the kitchen workspace
More
here:
Aquaplus
Solutions has recently been appointed
as the exclusive importer and distributor for a collection of brassware
from ltalian manufacturer Bonomi
More
here:
Vasco
already offers a wide choice of colours, with all models available in
a wide range of standard colours plus metallics and aluminium, stainless
steel and 'stainless steel look' finish and any of 300 RAL colours
More
here:
Integrating
style and class the Dublin radiator/mirror from Schulte
offers all round performance for any room in the house. The sleek vertical
thin tubes complement the full length mirror
More
here:
Pilkington’s
Tiles
has launched a new product into the Directions range. The addition
to the collection of 100x100mm tiles is a new range of 200x100mm ‘brick’
size tiles
More
here:
UltraGrout
FF, the premium flexible grout part of the Ultra range of tile adhesives
and grouts manufactured by the Tamworth based Instarmac
Group plc, now comes in a range of four colours
More
here:
'A
bad night's sleep can lead to an even worse day, but this needn't
be the case. A simple solution is the critically acclaimed Eco-Pillow.
This award-winning pillow uses the world's first and only Pillow
Selector
More
here:
Fitted
furniture experts, Hammonds,
unveiled a new range of furniture recently at the ldeal Home
Show
More
here:
'At
every TTA Gala Dinner
we 'pass the pot' for those less fortunate than ourselves.
In 2003 we collected over £800 was collected for
The Lighthouse Club.' says the TTA
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:
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:
Training
is The Issue
The
'all talk and no action' jibe agains those in the industry seeking to
raise Training to the top of everyone's agenda appears no longer to
be justifiable, if we are to believe the promise from the KBSA, made
at its AGM last week. According to KBSA Chief Exec Graham Hayden the
National Training Group Board will be in place by September, with the
first taster courses being rolled out before the end of the year. More
on this story below.
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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:
Hoffmann
Shows Versatility at Xylexpo
Hoffmann’s
international stand at Milan’s Xylexpo show demonstrated the versatility
of the company’s dovetail jointing systems by displaying machinery
for a variety of applications and levels
More
Here:
Keynote
Speakers another Success at K/BIS 2004
Thousands
of people from across the nation gathered at the world's largest kitchen
and bath event, the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show
(K/BIS), sponsored by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA)
in Chicago, Illinois in April.
More
Here:
Dynamic
Space® by Blum at SASMIL 2004
Dynamic
Space®, the new quality of space usage and motion in kitchens, was
the focus for fittings manufacturer Julius Blum
at SASMIL 2004.
More
Here:
EXPO
2005 Exceeds Expectations - Already!
With just under a year to go Bathrooms and Kitchens
EXPO 2005, the UK trade exhibition for the bathrooms and kitchens industry,
is already exceeding all expectations. More space has been reserved at
the 2005 EXPO than the total sold at the 2003 exhibition.
More
Here:
Don’t
Miss Out on the Largest Furniture Supplies Event in the UK
In a change to recent years, ASFI will be taking place in October in 2004.
By visiting the UK’s largest and most important furniture supplies
event ASFI 2004, visitors will see the latest innovations from across
Europe.
More
Here:
More Exhibition info at bottom of page.
The
Bathrooms And Kitchens Industry Awards are searching for
up and coming talent, with the Student Designer Award for Bathrooms
and the Student Designer Award for Kitchens.
More
here:
Ideal-Standard's
new Tonic range, has picked up Germany's top design
award; the Design Centrum Essen Red Dot Award.
More
here:
PWS
has announced that the company's six new door ranges launched with the
2004 Directory have achieved the FIRA Gold award.
More
here:
The
2004 Product Catalogue from Leaker Direct
shows the full range of appliances offered by the likes of Atag, Kuppersbusch,
Teka and Siemens in full colour shots alongside coded trade price indications.
More
here:
A
new brochure brings together for the first time the combined brassware
ranges from Ideal-Standard,
Armitage Shanks and Trevi.
More
here:
Geberit
has introduced a new corporate brochure to show prospective and existing
customers what Geberit is all about.
More
here:
Roman
has recently updated its brochures with high quality images. The company's
product line-up is described in two separate brochures.
More
here:
CDA
has recently launched its new 2004 brochure. It features a comprehensive
range of appliances, including, cooking, washing, cooling, extraction,
sinks, taps; and a section called 'specials'.
More
here:
Sylmar
Technology Ltd, the independent distributor of solid surfacing
for commercial, leisure and domestic markets, has appointed Nick Butler
as its new managing director.
More
here:
Broughton
Crangrove, the UK national distributor of kitchen appliances,
bathrooms. showers, tiles and heating products has appointed Andy Wright
as Area Sales Manager for the East Midlands.
More
here:
With
the appointment of Hugh Williams, Homag U.K.
continues to expand its technical sales representation to service all
areas of the UK and Ireland.
More
here:
Maytag
UK
has launched eye-catching point of sale to promote its Amana range of
refrigeration.
More
here:
bau-for-mat's
5 Star Promotion began on 1st June 2004 and will run until the 30th September
2004.
More
here:
Bathroom
specialist Showerlux
has unveiled its new-look website and is marking the launch
with an online competition.
More
here:
Premium
Appliance Brands Ltd (PAB), exclusive importer of the ATAG
brand into the UK, has launched a new website dedicated to the UK market.
More
here:
Eleven
delegates from kitchen manufacturer Avanti
recently attended a special course on retailing the concept of storage
solutions at Blum UK’s Milton
Keynes headquarters.
More
here:
The
NVQ qualification for showroom staff was put together by The
Tile Association and the Association for Ceramic Training
& Development and is supported by the DTI.
More
here:
At Eurocucina in Milan Miele showcased
four fascinating kitchens.
More
Here:
Dynamic
Space® was on the booth of fittings manufacturer Julius
Blum at ZOW 2004.
More
Here:
The second Idéo Bain attracted
250 French and international exhibitors, who occupied over 30,000 m2.
More
Here:
Epoc
Messe Frankfurt, Dubai, has finalised its plans for ISH
Kitchen and Bathroom Gulf.
More
Here:
The
6th China International Building & Decoration
Fair will be held from 6-9 July, 2004 in Guangzhou .
More
Here:
ASFI
the UK furniture supplies event is being re-launched for 2004
More
Here:
Other
news this week includes the sale of Pilkington Tiles to Surface Coatings
for a reported £3.1m and the appointment of a new chief exec for
Glenn Dimplex, ex-Belling director Denver Hewlett.
Debbie Schwarz,
Publisher
debbie@thekbzine.com
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Esnouf,
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PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Raffo
Design ‘Evan tans your white bits’
Despite
having a successful market profile the Jean
Paul tanning booth had design problems both in look, feel
and construction and suffered from a series of technical problems.Raffo
worked with the Jean Paul engineers from the concept development through
to the final manufacturing.
[More
on this Story]
THIS WEEK'S NEWS
Government
Part P Announcement Welcomed by Electrical Associations
The
Government announced on 29th June that from 1st January 2005 anyone
undertaking domestic electrical installation work must comply with Part
P of the Building Regulations. The announcement has been warmly welcomed
by the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), which has lobbied
for such regulatory control.
[More
on this Story]
KBSA
Reports Plans to Deliver Training Initiative at AGM
The
KBSA reported that its plans for the formation of a National Training
Group (NTG) were progressing well, at its recent AGM. KBSA Chief Executive
Graham Hayden presented an update on the proposal and said, ‘I
cannot find an equally vital outcome that we have set to deliver whilst
I have been at the association over the last eight years.’
[More
on this Story]
Pilkington's
Tiles Sold to Surface Coatings
Pilkington's
Tiles has sold all of its operating businesses to Surface Coatings for
£3.1m including debts. The company will effectively be a shell
with its main asset a property in Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset.
[More
on this Story]
New
Chief Executive Turns Up the Heat at Glen Dimplex Cooking
Glen
Dimplex Cooking has appointed Denver Hewlett as Chief Executive. Denver
was previously Chief Executive of Belling for three years until 2003,
during which time the business enjoyed a period of excellent growth.
[More
on this Story]
Design
Centre expansion at PWS
Renowned for keeping their finger firmly on the design pulse PWS have
announced plans to extend their Design Centre. Although less than three
years since the Design Centre was opened, the 500sqm facility has quite
simply run out of room.
[More
on this Story]
IMI
Trading Update Indicates First Half Volumes up 5%
IMI
plc - the parent company of Polypipe - has issued a trading update in
advance of its interim results announcement: 'The steady improvement
in general conditions is continuing and we expect to be able to report
overall like for like volumes 5% higher than the first half of 2003.
Order intake is running around 7-8% ahead of this time last year.
[More
on this Story]
American
Standard Forecasts Strong Second-Quarter Performance, Raises 2004 Earnings
Range
American
Standard Companies Inc. expects results at the top end of its second-quarter
earnings range. The company is also raising its earnings estimate for
the year. In April, the company estimated earnings of 67-72 cents per
diluted share, adjusted for the company's May 28th three-for-one stock
split, for the second quarter ending June 30th, 2004.
[More
on this Story]
New
Baumatic Showrooms
Baumatic's
headquarters in Reading now has a new showroom, with more product than
ever before on display. Two new Baumatic Centres are now open in Glasgow.
‘The Cooker Factory’ has two new locations; St Georges Place
and Langside Lane, Queens Park. The company has added over 70 new products
to the Baumatic portfolio for 2004/5.
[More
on this Story]
Industry
Awards are Seeking Someone Special
For
the first time, in its 11-year history and alongside its existing design
and business categories, the Bathrooms And Kitchens Industry Awards
has announced the launch of the Special Achievement Award.
[More
on this Story]
JLA
Ltd Attracts Complaint
A
complaint, objecting to an insert in a specialist magazine by laundry
equipment distributor JLA Ltd of Ripponden, West Yorkshire was upheld
in both of the objections according to published details from the Advertising
Standards Authority.
[More
on this Story]
Boere
Expands Sales and Service in the UK
Dutch
widebelt sanding specialist, Boere, has entered into an agreement with
Calderbrook Woodworking Machinery in Lancashire to progress the company’s
UK sales and service operations as a result of successful and increasing
sales activities.
[More
on this Story]
Electrolux
Challenges Conventional Design with University Students on a Global
Scale
Eight
leading design institutions from across the world have taken on the
challenge to support Electrolux in its drive to develop household appliance
designs of the future. From Australia to the United States and China
to Sweden, students will design household appliances intended to make
'life a little easier for consumers', wherever they may be.
[More
on this Story]
Llandaff
Laminates Moves to Improve
Welsh
distributor, Llandaff Laminates has moved to purpose built accommodation
on Cardiff's newest industrial estate, Capital Business Park. The company
was established in 1968 originally as a distributor of decorative plastic
laminates. Over time the company has diversified its portfolio and extended
the product range to its customers. It is now established as a supplier
of laminate, worktops, sheet materials, appliances and kitchen products.
[More
on this Story]
U.A.W.
Local Ratifies New Labour Contract with Maytag
Maytag
Corporation announced on 2nd July that Local 997 of United Automobile,
Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers (U.A.W.) ratified a new
four-year contract covering production and maintenance employees at
Maytag's manufacturing facilities in Newton, Iowa.
[More
on this Story]
KBSA CORNER...
WEEE-
It’s Closer than We Think
New
legislation always creeps up on an industry, especially when compliance
means introducing changes to procedures and systems that could also
cost money. The WEEE (Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment) directive,
which is due to become law this August is no exception.
[More
Here]
MACHINERY MATTERS
Hoffmann
Essential to Unique Product Construction
Sometimes
things do go wrong with furniture – especially fragile items like
sliding glass or mirrored doors which are particularly susceptible to
breakage either during delivery or installation – or even in use.
Nowadays many fitters throughout the UK and Ireland are experiencing
a new situation when called out to repair a broken glass panel –
no longer is an entire new door required, rather they are able to easily
unassemble the frame, insert a new mirror or glass sheet and re-secure
the frame in place.
[More
on this Story]
COMPANY NOTICES
Notices
from The Insolvency Courts, April - June
The following Notices have been posted from the Insolvency Courts relating
to Kitchen and Bathroom companies from April to June 2004. Some of the
recent companies include JB Kitchens, Kitchens & Bathrooms by Daysh,
Broadfield Bathrooms, Olivers Bathrooms, Visage Kitchens, Liberty Kitchens,
Medway Bathrooms.
[More
on this Story]
SPECIAL FEATURES
Burbidge:
A Traditional Company at the Cutting Edge of Design
Although well over a hundred years old, Coventry based Burbidge
& Son now dominates the kitchen component market (of which it claims
a 20% share) by offering traditional and 'nostalgia' suites alongside
cutting edge designs in aluminium and stainless steel and trendier woods
such as pippy oak.
[More
on this Story]
Armitage
Shanks Discusses the Revised Part M and it's Radical Affect on Hotels
Armitage Shanks believes it is important to advise hotel owners of radical
changes in the Building Regulations and explain how these changes will
significantly affect hoteliers. The new Part M of the Building Regulations
came into effect on the 1st May 2004. The new standard is not just about
access for disabled people but now covers access for everyone.
[More
on this Story]
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