Kitchen and Bathroom News @ The K&BZine

Inta Fumes over Political Cold Water

Inta were incensed to read of the Conservatives opposition to new legislation to limit the temperature of hot water in bathrooms, through the use of thermostatic valves, dubbing it ‘nanny state interference’. This proposal is aimed at reducing the 20 deaths and 570 serious injuries caused each year by bath time scalding and is generally regarded by the industry as sensible.

As well as manufacturing and distributing equipment, Inta have an ongoing campaign of information for plumbers, fitters and merchants, educating them to the dangers of bath time scalding and the technical solutions that are available. Inta also support the Child Accident Prevention Trust in their campaigns to prevent general burns and scalds. Two deaths over the last year have involved people in residential care, which makes opposition to regulations even more incredible.

In fact, water delivered through a valve can still be up to 48 degrees, which is sill far too hot to be able to hold a hand in, but not hot enough to cause permanent damage.

Stuart Gizzi, MD of Inta (pictured), who was hopping mad at the Conservative stance challenged Mr Maude to hold part of his anatomy in water at 48 degrees. As a guide, a comfortable bath is in the high 30s, depending on personal taste. As yet, there has been no response from the Conservative office.

It was a surprise to discover that there has been a delay in implementation of the Government programme, which means that the changes are now expected a year later, in 2007. We aren't entirely sure why, since it is one of the most sensible regulations there has been for years.

We suspect it is budgetary. Initially, we were disappointed, thinking that there would be an impact on the market, and our business, which has been growing steadily since the changes were announced. But we feel that, on reflection, the installation of thermostatic mixing valves, shower valves and our own market leading bath shower mixer, the Intaduo has a momentum that won't be affected by the delay.

True, we were expecting a peak in sales going into the New Year that won't happen, but specifiers, merchants and fitters are already getting the thermostatic message and beginning to fit as a matter of routine. After all, fitting now means extra revenue, for everyone in the supply chain, which has to be good.

The technical aspects of specifying thermostatic controls can look a little complicated at first glance, so we've taken the time to put together a handy on-line guide at http://www.intaco.co.uk as well as offering advice and support from our technical department. So when the regulations do come in, everyone will be trained, stocked and ready for the rush. Well, we are and our merchants are well on the way.

Having spent the last three years defining and implementing a strategy to harness the equity in its core brands Bosch, Siemens, Neff and Gaggenau, BSH has plugged the final gap in its portfolio with the addition of a new range which will be launched under the viva brand.

Aimed at the growing 'Value' segment of the market, the new brand will be targeted at the young, pragmatic and self-confident, with a range of products which are technically well engineereed, but have no gimmicks. They will concentrate on what really matters with better quality than comparable 'value for money' brands.

viva is dsigned to give retailers and consumers a real choice in this important sector, and will help Bosch to avoid the price erosion symptomatic of today's market. Bosch has a commitment not to operate in the Entry market, this assuring both trade and consumers of certain minimum quality standards.

The new brand has been launched in recognition of a changing market: the majority of consumers no longer expect products to last more than 10 years and increasingly base their purchasing decisions purely on price. Research has established that in 2004 70% of sales were in the Entry or Value markets, with £249 being the single biggest price point. Since the cheapest Bosch washing machine retails at around £300, it was clearly time to offer a lower priced product.

'The viva product range is composed of models with the best selling specification in each category, which means the best return on investment in terms of shop floor space,' the company says.

The seven models comprise the following:
• 1000 and 1200 spin washing machine
• 4 programme 3 temperature dishwasher
• 55cm under counter larder and matching freezer
• 55cm 50:50 split static fridge freezer 170cm high
• 60cm 50:50 split frost-free fridge freezer 170cm high

Available from mid June, viva is currently only available in England, Scotland and Wales.

Stocking enquiries: 08701 254524

In June, luxury built in kitchen appliance manufacturer Gaggenau is opening the doors of its first UK showroom at 40 Wigmore Street in central London.

The 2,500 sq. ft. showroom is designed as a showcase for the entire Gaggenau collection, incorporating every one of the company’s flagship appliances under the same roof for the first time in the UK. The latest additions to the range, such as the IK-360 wine cabinet, built in coffee centre, Teppan Yaki grill and warming drawers, are also on show here.

Built on two floors, the street level offers a leisurely viewing of all the cooking and refrigeration appliances, including single & double ovens, microwaves, hobs and extractors, while the lower floor provides a working appliance facility for product training, cooking demonstrations and special events such as wine tastings and celebrity chef appearances.

Potential customers will be directed to studio partners in their local area for all appliance purchases, while appointed trade partners are welcome to send their customers to the showroom to view specific Gaggenau appliances that they do not have sufficient room to display.

All the products are housed in custom made white cabinets and the showroom has a minimalist feel to ensure that it is the Gaggenau appliances – not the furniture – that take centre stage.

Situated in the heart of London’s West End, on a premier street where several major kitchen furniture manufacturers are already represented, this exclusive venue has been specifically created to support sales of Gaggenau appliances via the company’s studio trade partners.

It will be open to the public from Monday to Friday, either by appointment or for a casual visit, to view the appliances and obtain further information about the Gaggenau collection from the qualified showroom staff. Interest in the venue will be generated throughout the year by consumer press advertising support and public relations activities.

The London showroom is the eighth Gaggenau showroom to be opened around the world: the existing seven venues can be found in the fashionable cities of New York, Munich, Milan, Paris, Barcelona, Istanbul and Helsinki. In line with the other global showrooms, Gaggenau is currently producing a special brochure illustrating the facilities on offer in London.

Comments BSH CEO Uwe Hanneck: ‘A huge investment programme has been undertaken over the last year in support of the Gaggenau brand, reinforcing total commitment to our valued trade partners. The opening of this showroom marks the first step on the road to establishing Gaggenau as the UK’s leading manufacturer of luxury built in appliances’

Luxury built in kitchen appliance manufacturer Gaggenau has appointed Adam Roddan as its first dedicated Sales Director for the UK.

In this newly created role, Adam Roddan will be responsible for further increasing sales of Gaggenau appliances via the company’s studio partners nationwide.

Adam, 34 already has extensive knowledge of the kitchen appliance industry from his experience as Senior National Accounts Manager at Whirlpool UK where he has spent the last seven years working across all product groups.

Adam joins Gaggenau at a very significant time in the company’s development. His arrival coincides with the opening of Gaggenau’s first UK showroom (the 8th showroom for the company worldwide) and is in the midst of a major restructuring programme in anticipation of continuing growth.

As his new position has been created especially to support the company’s valuable trade partnerships, Adam plans to spend the majority of each week visiting and liaising with Gaggenau Studio Partners. Any remaining time will be shared between the new central London showroom venue in Wigmore Street and the company’s head office in Milton Keynes.

Married with two young daughters, Adam relishes the challenge of his new role at Gaggenau. Says Adam: ‘A substantial investment is being made in Gaggenau this year with the opening of the first UK showroom and other constructive plans, so it is a particularly exciting time to be involved with such an exclusive brand’

Comments BSH CEO Uwe Hanneck: ‘The appointment of Adam Roddan reinforces our commitment to establishing Gaggenau as the leading manufacturer of luxury built in appliances in this country’

Tel: 0870 840 2003
Web: http://www.gaggenau.com

ELECSA is offering a new solution for electricians to notify their Part P installations.

This automated transmission facility will help businesses to reduce the time and costs spent on administration issues. This will appeal to businesses who find it time consuming to re-enter their Part P installation data later, off-site. Businesses who undertake high volume installations will also be attracted to integrating this automated facility into their business activity.

As Julian Carter (pictured), General Manager commented, ‘We are always looking at ways to enhance our service to make running a business easier for ELECSA Registered Businesses. This new option for registering installations is another step forward to lightening the Part P burden for the growing number of companies who are registering with ELECSA.’

How will it work?
Below you will find a case study based upon the experience of those organisations using the automation process in FENSA, the sister company to ELECSA.

Background and Return on Investment
The process of notifying a Competent Person Scheme Operator can be long and time consuming. The biggest complaint had been that there was a duplication of effort and also that it was taking too long to load the information into the database.

To meet the demand, ELECSA has created an automation tool with a degree of smart logic built into it. The aim of the tool is to help and assist those organisations who have the IT operational infrastructure to reduce the administrative task load involved in notification.

The process is simple. The company creates a flat file of information in an agreed format which is submitted through to ELECSA via an email. The automation tool accepts the file and processes it. When it processes the file, it will reject those records that do not meet the pre defined criteria. When the file has been completed, then an email is sent back to the organisation, saying what has been processed and what has not. It also sends back a file containing those that have been rejected and a reason for the rejection.

The process may be simple, but the programme is complicated. ELECSA has more than two years of programming involved in the development of the tool. It is a sophisticated piece of programming that will help organisations.

‘In real terms, the tool processed 295,000 jobs in FENSA in 2004. Our experience shows us that a data entry person can load 200 jobs a day, therefore it would take 7.5 people working full time to load the jobs.’ says ELECSA.

‘Let’s put it another way. A company has already loaded the information into the job control software/ operational software/ task management software. They will have to employ people to additionally re-key in the information in to Competent Person Scheme Operator database, or whatever method they use. The ELECSA automation tool circumnavigates the necessity to re-enter the information.

‘In pound terms, if a company registers 40,000 jobs a year, and has to employ an additional person to transfer the data from their internal system to the Competent Person Scheme Operator software, that is costing the company one fully loaded employee.

‘Large organisation or small organisation, the tool is a real life productivity saving. ELECSA can demonstrate the savings that will come from implementing the tool and being registered with ELECSA for Part P notification.’

Currently ViXEN Software is the only ELECSA approved mobile solution provider. For further information on ELECSA’s automated transmission method of notifying installations or the ELECSA scheme, or for a real life demonstration, please contact Julian Carter on 0870 749 0080 or email mailto:jcarter@elecsa.org.uk

Get Your Refrigeration Displays Stocked Up - We’re Promised a Sizzlin’ Summer

‘The summer’s coming and it’s forecasted to be a hot one.’ says Sabarah Hanif, Product and Training Manager at Maytag UK. ‘There’s no better time to reap the benefits of the hot weather, selling the latest in refrigeration. Top up your displays with a wide range of refrigeration and focus on a theme. And why not National Food Safety Week that runs between the 13th and 19th June?

This is a good time to make everyone aware of good food hygiene and safety and focus on the benefits of the latest new features in refrigeration, persuading those with a refrigerator that’s struggling to change it.’

Sabarah continues, ‘The warm weather puts refrigeration under tremendous pressure and consumers may find their current appliance struggling in the heat, so make sure you are ready with a variety of the latest models on display. It’s also important that consumers know the best way to manage food preparation and storage during warmer weather. Refrigeration today has so much to offer. Not only could you encourage the purchase of a new refrigerator but there may be an opportunity for trading up by using a few tips on how to manage food safely.’

Here are some tips to help you advise your customers get the most from summer eating safely;

• Keep your fridge between 0 – 5 degrees centigrade – many new refrigerators offer advance temperature monitoring and control systems to manage this process for you.

• Don’t overload your refrigerator which can reduce it’s performance – consider selecting a larger appliance to suit your needs capably.

• Defrost the fridge and freezer regularly – it will work more efficiently – many modern appliances incorporate software solutions to automatically defrost as required.

• Defrost food thoroughly before cooking, and do this in the fridge. At fridge temperatures bacteria only multiply slowly.

• Place food to be defrosted at the bottom of the fridge, so that any drips can’t contaminate other food items. Larger appliances may feature multiple storage zones to optimise the storage of different food products.

• Keep raw meat covered at the bottom of the fridge and away from ready prepared foods and dishes. This avoids cross-contamination.

• Always make sure poultry and meat-based products such as burgers, sausages, chicken nuggets and kebabs are defrosted completely and cooked thoroughly. Only fresh joints of meat can be served rare if they are seared on the outside first.

• Cool any leftovers quickly, wrap and place in the fridge or freezer as soon as possible. Keep no longer than two days and always reheat thoroughly, and only once.

• Cover salads and vegetables when storing in the refrigerator to keep the moisture in. Multiple temperature/humidity controlled zones are perfect to optimise storage.

• If you are short of space in the fridge take out wine, beer and beverages and store elsewhere, buckets of ice etc., or consider the Maytag Handy Chiller that cools cans in a minute and bottles in just 3.

• Keep food in the fridge for as long as possible prior to serving at the last moment when it is still in its freshest condition. Keep covered at all times to protect from pets, insects and birds etc.

For more information on Maytag’s refrigeration and appliances contact Maytag UK for the company’s latest brochure telephone 01737 231 000 or visit the websites at http://www.maytag.co.uk or http://www.amana.co.uk

For more information on National Food Safety Week visit the website at http://www.foodlink.org.uk. The Food Standards Agency website at http://www.food.gov.uk is useful for further hints and tips on preparing, storing and cooking food.

Aqualux Contract Graduates with Honours

Aqualux, the UK supplier of bath screens and shower surrounds, has scooped a prestigious deal to supply shower doors for high-level student accommodation. Aqualux is working in partnership with Custom Composites Services to supply a large order of shower doors for en-suite bathrooms in private student housing across the North of England.

Aqualux is supplying its Aquarius Bi-Folding range, after Custom Composite Services were pleased with previous products from the Wednesbury-based company. Jim Gill, Partner at Custom Composites, said: 'Aqualux provided us with suitable shower doors for the fit, which are durable and cost effective when bought in bulk. We have been very pleased with Aqualux in the past, and so had no hesitations about approaching them with this large order.'

Andy Barton, area sales manager for the South West is confident it will lead to more student accommodation orders. He said: 'This is an exciting and significant contract for Aqualux, it demonstrates our products are suitable for all kinds of fits, and are extremely cost-effective to suit any project.'
The Aquarius bi-folding doors are part of Aqualux’s extensive product range, which consists of a variety of stylish and competitively priced shower enclosures, bath screens and steam cabins, as well as the latest Walk-In shower with wet room conversion options.

Mike Jones, sales and marketing director, said: 'This is another great opportunity for Aqualux and again demonstrates Aqualux’s ability to meet the needs of our ever increasing customer portfolio. We hope to keep broadening our customer-base as we continue to produce high-quality, stylish products.'

Aqualux Products Ltd claims to hold 40 per cent of the UK shower screen market and 18.5 per cent of the enclosure market. It offers an extensive range of shower enclosures and bath screens in its collection: Energy, Aquarius, Elite, Euro, Steam Cabins and Walk-in. It supplies the independent, DIY multiples and export markets. It is based in Wednesbury, West Midlands where it employs 275 people.

For further information please call: 0870 241 6131 or visit http://www.aqualux.co.uk

The Spanish appliance manufacturer Fagor Electrodomésticos has added to its long list of quality awards with a coveted health-and-safety accreditation.

Four of the company's business lines (washing, dishwashing, cooking and kitchen furniture), along with its warehouse at Vitoria in the Basque Country, have now been certified to OHSAS 18000 standard.

OHSAS 18000 is an international occupational health-and-safety management system specification that aims to improve health and safety in the workplace by minimising any risks to employees. OHSAS 18001 was created via a concerted effort from a number of the world's leading national standards bodies, certification bodies and specialist consultancies.

For information on Fagor and its range of built-in and freestanding appliances, please call the UK sales office on 020 7354 0044, or email mailto:sales@fagorappliances.co.uk

The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association is to sponsor this year’s National Home Improvement Council Young Kitchen Designer Award.

The award, part of the NHIC annual awards programme, is open to any designer under the age of 30.

‘We’re very pleased to be able to sponsor this important award,’ said KBSA chief executive Graham Hayden. ‘The KBSA is always keen to encourage young talent within the interiors industry and we applaud the excellent efforts of the NHIC in offering this kind of practical encouragement for designers.

‘The award submissions must be kitchen designs which show innovative use of both materials and available space and we very much hope that young designers all over the country will take advantage of this opportunity to showcase their work.’

The closing date for entries is August 26th and further information, plus entry forms, is available from Graham Ponting, executive director of the NHIC, telephone 020 7828 8230 or from the NHIC website at http://www.nhic.org.uk.

The winners and runners-up in each category will be announced at a special NHIC awards lunch to be held at the Gladstone Library, One Whitehall Place, London on November 24th. The event will be hosted by NHIC president Lord Brooke CH PC and the guest of honour presenting the awards will be a government minister.

Kitchen appliance manufacturer Siemens is taking centre stage at the first ‘Grand Designs Live’ show to be held in conjunction with ‘The Times’ newspaper at the Excel centre in London’s Docklands from 10th – 12th June 2005.

On display to the public for the first time at this show will be a coordinated collection of built-in appliances in a new mirrored black glass finish.

Called s-line, this new range achieves a balance between design and technology by combining beauty with brains to produce this built in cooking collection. It is comprised of a matching single oven, microwave, warming drawer, gas & electric hobs and extractor hoods plus selected ancillary products.

Also starring on the Siemens stand for the first time in the UK will be the ‘Dressman’ robot, which will be demonstrated live to visitors throughout the show. The ‘Dressman’ takes just washed shirts and blouses and dries and irons them for you using advanced automatic ironing system technology.

Stainless steel accounts for over half of all cooking appliance sales in the UK. To cater for this demand, Siemens is devoting part of the stand to this contemporary kitchen finish. A selection of products from all product groups - including cooking, cooling, laundry & dishwashers – will be exhibited.

Graphite grey and white appliances will be displayed too, as will the company’s award winning Porsche range of small electrical appliances together with two new ‘Nespresso’ coffee machines.

Visitors to the show will be able to take away a selection of new brochures now available from Siemens, including a special new s-line brochure and dedicated dishwasher & laundry brochures.

For brochures & stockists, call 0870 840 3300 or visit http://www.siemensappliances.co.uk

As part of its new company strategy, Orama, the independent manufacturer of worksurfaces and associated decorative products, is adopting the Japanese Kaizen manufacturing model to achieve optimum efficiencies and to enable continuous improvements at all levels.

The most immediate manifestation of this ambitious programme is the NVQ Level 2 in Business Improvement Techniques that all employees will undertake, from senior management to workers on the shop floor. Senior managers and directors will also attend four workshops on ‘Managing the Change to Lean Manufacturing’. This eastern approach to incentivising everyone across the business and boosting productivity is a first in the KBB industry and will significantly contribute to the company rationalising its entire operation.

Kaizen works on the principle of continuous improvement to all areas of company processes. One of the core modules of the NVQ course will encourage employees to embrace ‘Lean Manufacturing’, which encourages everyone to take a closer look at internal and external processes to find ways of reducing wastage. This will ultimately help Orama to streamline operations, to produce higher quality goods and to achieve faster delivery times and lower prices – savings that will benefit the customer.

Commenting on this new initiative, Peter Holt, sales and marketing director, Orama, says: ‘As a forward thinking company, we want to break down barriers and continuously challenge the environment that we work in. Lean thinking covers all areas of the production process, offering endless possibilities. And what’s more, there are no losers! By investing in training, our employees will be more motivated and happier in their roles, while gaining a thorough understanding of our company strategy. And Orama will be able to rely on a well trained and dedicated workforce. Our customers will enjoy better quality, more cost-effective goods and a faster, more reliable service.’

Orama’s NVQ scheme will be supported by a DTI centre of expertise in manufacturing and by the People’s College, Nottingham. Following completion of the course, employees will undergo stream mapping exercises in order to identify areas of priority within the company. Teams will be set up to implement improvements within these areas, supported by a steering committee. Peter concludes: 'We are all very excited by this new scheme. Our ultimate goal is to transform Orama into a 21st century value-creating manufacturing company that will benefit all our stakeholders.'

Orama offers high quality durable decorative panels and worksurfaces. Established for many years, Orama holds ISO 9001 certification and the Furniture Industry Research Association Gold Award for product performance. The company is are also a corporate member of the KBSA (Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialist Association). All Orama’s chipboard and solid timber products are sourced from ‘responsibly managed’ forests.

Tel: 01773 520560
Web: http://www.orama.co.uk

ALNO's 'jumbo' base unit from the Libero furniture collection has received the red dot award: product design 2005.

The red dot award, from the Design Zentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen, is one of the most renowned competitions on the international design scene. It is awarded annually to the best and most innovative products showing the highest quality and design.

An international jury gave the prestigious award to the 'jumbo' base unit because it is an all-round miracle of storage space from the category of Rund or Rondo units, which have recently become so popular. The unit, unusual in form and design, is designed to be used as an integral component in a fitted kitchen or as the finishing element in a row of units. The organised interior of the characteristic front element provides additional storage space. This design is available in four colours (lapis blue, ruby red, white and vanilla) and also as a stainless steel version.

The 'jumbo' will be on display in the 'Design Innovations 2005' special exhibition in the Design Zentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen in Essen from 4th July until 7th August 2005.

Kitchen appliance manufacturer Siemens has been selected to take part in a major research project on 21st century lifestyle, led by the University of Nottingham’s Institute of Sustainable Energy Technology.

The focus of the research, entitled ‘Project: Life’ is a four-storey house built in Sheffield especially for the project by David Wilson Homes. It incorporates the very latest gadgets in every possible area of the home using new technology for all purposes, including cooking, washing, lighting, security & IT.

The research will also focus on environmental monitoring and study the usage of electrical appliances and energy consumption. The house is on a green electricity tariff and has been designed with several key energy saving features, such as mechanical ventilation using humid air to warm incoming air.

For six months starting on June 1st, a family of four will be living in the house while conducting this experiment using the latest tagging technology. All four members of the Parnell family – mum Sue, dad Nick and teenage daughters, Lucy and Hazel - will be tagged to reveal the answers to nagging questions, such as who does the laundry and who spends the longest in the bathroom.

David Wilson Homes has adapted a traditional four-storey Victorian house design to build this unique house. The four separate levels lend drama to the property with open plan layout throughout. Each of the four levels is further split to include balconies and garden decks on three levels. The addition of a basement level adds interest to the house by producing extra space for a den, wine store and large laundry linked to all four floors via a special chute.

Siemens has supplied equipment for the large laundry room in the basement of the house, namely a top-of-the-range WIQ1835 interactive washing machine and matching condenser tumble dryer WTXL 754C. Siemens’s ‘Dressman’ robot, an automatic shirt ironer made of parachute silk, also features in this room. Being launched in the UK in July, the futuristic ‘Dressman’ robot reduces ironing by inflating with hot air to smooth out creases and in so doing, dries and presses shirts & blouses back into shape.

Comments Siemens Brand Manager, Jane Massey: ‘As an acknowledged leader in new technology for the home, we are delighted to be taking part in such a prestigious piece of research. At Siemens, we are very serious about conserving energy: this is an essential ingredient of all our appliance.’

SMART software says that it has revolutionised the KBB industry with its management system. ‘Manufacturers, retailers and distributors across the country are discovering the power of SMART and are reaping huge benefits from its implementation into their businesses.

‘SMART has many success stories, all resulting in significant financial and operational achievements for its clients. In the last three years the average increase in profitability for a client is 5%, this means a business with a turnover of £1 million a year can add an additional £1000 per week to their profits.
Developments like this do not go unrecognised and more and more people are realising the potential impact SMART can make on their business.’

One such case is that of Beaver Cabinets and Doors a successful manufacturer offering both flat packed carcass and vinyl wrapped products to the KBB industry. Beaver discovered SMART through one of its own clients, a kitchen retailer specialising in the contract market, which the company identified as having an order management process that rivalled its own.

This retailer had built a good relationship with SMART, when its own business went from strength to strength, with the SMART software underpinning its growth. The company was able to use the system to send over automated orders to its suppliers, minimising man-hours and streamlining its time. Beaver noticed immediately the improvement in the quality of information coming through from the client. Recognising the potential for an application in its own business, Beaver approached SMART to discuss how they could work in partnership to maximise efficiency for its own management systems.

SMART was able to come up with a comprehensive solution, that incorporated every aspect of Beaver's operational management, from orders to invoices right through production to delivery. This dramatically improved the flow and accuracy of data running through the business and created a better system of monitoring and controlling order processing.

As a manufacturer, Beaver had different needs to other clients. The company required a software package that could deal with large projects as well as individual orders. SMART customised a package to specifically fit with Beaver's systems giving it the ability to isolate and consolidate information and maximise efficiency in the manufacturing stages. Beaver is now interested in targeting customers who have adopted SMART systems as they can offer such a rapid turnaround.

John McLaughlin, Managing Director of Beaver Cabinets and Doors said this about the new SMART system:
‘We are thoroughly pleased with our new management system and the very positive effect it is having on our business. SMART has totally transformed the way we administer our manufacturing operation, causing lead-times to be reduced by over 50%. In addition to SMART we have integrated our manufacturing systems, offering greater flexibility to achieve our customer's expectations. This has enabled us to customise our systems to fit the needs of individual customers making us much more responsive to the market and giving Beaver a huge advantage over our competitors.’

SMART now supports a 'SMART to SMART' order processing for dealers and manufacturers. This allows users to order automatically from a number of suppliers without having to access each individual supplier website. Automated ordering means that an order can be processed and received immediately, reducing lead times and time is freed up for more customer attention. Having manufacturers taking on SMART means that it opens up the channels of communication between the supplier and vendor.

Tel: 01344 890979
Web: http://www.smart-systems.co.uk

'Finding water on a distant planet is our first hope of other life in the universe. We are part of a water cycle from birth onwards, and our recognition of ourselves reflected in a pool is our earliest key to self-awareness.’ says VitrA.

‘VitrA has investigated almost everything to do with bathing, cleansing, personal hygiene, well-being and relaxation for over 40 years. The company is positioned to explore the bathing habits of centuries of civilizations that have existed in the company's country of birth...Turkey. Over 250 civilizations have flourished where present day Turkey is located - a unique vantage point for observation and creation.

‘The resources of VitrA are immense. From the minerals needed in ceramic production to the technology required to innovate and create new experiences in the modern built environment, VitrA has invested in every area of bathroom manufacture, from vitreous ceramic to taps, from tiles to bathtubs, and everything in between. In short, everything needed by way of resources to create total bathrooms.

‘From Turkish baths to the smallest accessory, VitrA has invested and developed a product range that is second to none. The company didn't stop there either - it is now actively involved in creating a generation of new bathroom concepts that will challenge all of the pre-conceptions of what the bathroom is and could become.’

Tel: 01235 750990

At a recent presentation ceremony held at the Riverside Sawmills of John Boddy Timber, Managing Director Frank Boddy congratulated Works Manager Tony Steele and thanked him for 25 years of loyal and valuable service.

Frank Boddy and his wife Liz presented Tony Steele with a handsome engraved silver salver in the new JBT moulding facility where the latest hi-tech and fully automatic Weinig moulder and tool grinding system has just been installed.

Frank Boddy fondly re-called Tony Steele's original appointment and the comprehensive series of jobs and tasks that Tony had succeeded in that led him to the position of Works Manager.

Tony Steele also has fond memories of his very fruitful 25 years: ‘I remember coming straight off the farm where I was working still in my boiler suit and boots on a dark January night for my interview. Since that day every day has been a new experience. Thrown in at the deep end I started operating the old band mill but soon found that Frank expected me to turn my hand to pretty much anything.
So, for example when Frank decided he wanted a large section of the yard concreted I had learn how to use a theodolite, how to plan and lay drains and just get on with it!’

However Tony Steele says that it his knowledge of timber and the special projects in which he has been involved that have given him most pleasure - projects like the work that JBT were involved in helping to restore Windsor Castle after the fire and supplying the exceptional quality Oak to The New Scottish Parliament.

With John Boddy Timber now expanding its high quality moulding service Tony Steele has his teeth well and truly into a new project area.

Tel: 01423 322370
Email: mailto:info@john-boddy-timber.ltd.uk

Continuing to build on the strong underlying principle of achieving ‘Success with a System’ all Homag Group specialist companies showed new and integrated developments that clearly were aimed at both ends of the market, but particularly in showing the Group strength has allowed them to develop machines and systems that become ever more affordable and accessible to the smaller and more specialist workshops. Clearly, flexibility and integration of systems is the way forward and Homag's global strength allow them to offer these advantages to companies at all levels. The aim is get emerging and growing companies to set off on the right foot and to offer the opportunity of a technical partner with whom they can grow and succeed.

‘Success with a System’ focuses on the Homag Group's unmatched ability to offer everything from a single source at all levels. This ranges across the areas of data networking, machine engineering, handling, organisation and logistics and diagnostics and service. The target markets are furniture production (bespoke or volume production, joinery or structural element production, flooring production and construction in the fast growing timber frame sector.

All Homag Group members showed new machines, innovations, developments and integrated systems. Typical of this were the versatile Venture group of machines developed by both Homag and Weeke to provide total solutions at every level for in the areas of CNC routing and CNC machining centres. This series of machines allows hi-tech access to operators at all levels from the joinery, shopfitting and furniture sectors. Technical innovations like LED table clamp positioning and multiple tool heads along with fast program set-ups and the opportunity to integrate into workcells ensure that this speciality is a genuine ‘one-stop-shop’.

The fast developing field of stationary CNC processing which has been so quickly embraced by the office furniture sector and is now having equal success with panel fabricators and KBB manufacturers. Both Homag and Weeke showed CNC gantry configuration machines for the total processing of nested components from a solid sheet - including cutting and sizing in a single clamping without the use of a panel saw. The Homag model featured a shuttle table design for additional capacity. These machines are the future for the emerging bespoke kitchen and bedroom sector in the UK.

Weeke also showed the expertise in the combined disciplines of throughfeed speed with double-head point-to-point and multiple spindle drilling technology.

Profile wrapping and laminating specialist Friz showed fast set-up profile wrapping technology along with new glue application systems and launched an entry-level, high quality membrane press.

Brandt's world leadership in single-sided edgebanding technology is further advanced with the new 500 and 600 series machines that were introduced at Ligna and, of course machines under the Practive banner for craftsmen.

Wide belt sanding specialists Bütfering made a number of new introductions including a new multi-head brush sander for three dimensional workpieces.

Holzma remains a world leader in beam saw and panel sizing technology and demonstrated that its engineering and systems are available even to entry level users with the HPP 250 while the exhibit that attracted the greatest interest was the new high speed angle plant HKL 380. A collaboration with Group member Bargstedt was the HBV 380 Robotic which is a complete panel dividing system encompassing a gantry robot capable of economical unmanned operation with automatic, 3-shift operation including feeding, cutting and defined stacking.

Ligmatech presented a new generation throughfeed carcase press - the MDE 150 with automatic carcase recognition and barcode scanning. The company also demonstrated its prowess in packaging lines for furniture components - the new VKF 120 capable of processing 12 cartons per minute and the tried and tested VKV 700. Introduced on the Practive stand were the MPH 500 press and the ZHR02 Boomerang panel return device for attachment to processing machines like single-sided edgebanders.

Tel: 01332 856500
Email: mailto:sales@homag-uk.co.uk
Web: http://www.homag-uk.co.uk

Whirlpool Corporation has been named to the 2005 list of Top 20 U.S. Companies for Leaders, making this the second consecutive year the company has been acknowledged for its focus on developing leaders within the company.

Whirlpool ranked twelfth out of 373 U.S. organisations with average revenues of approximately $8.3 billion and average employee size of at least 30,000.

Sponsored by global human resources services firm Hewitt Associates and The Human Resource Planning Society (HRPS), the Top 20 Companies for Leaders were selected by an independent panel of judges. In conducting the study, which will be published in an autumn edition of Chief Executive magazine, Hewitt found one element that set the top 20 apart from the rest - rigorous development of their future leaders.

All 373 companies went through a stringent screening process, including a review of survey responses, in-depth interviews and a financial performance analysis in relation to their industry. The study found Whirlpool focuses on developing leaders and Jeff M. Fettig, Whirlpool Corporation’s chairman, president and CEO, is actively involved in the process. Additionally, Whirlpool holds its leaders accountable for developing their direct reports and also ties its senior executive incentive pay to that leadership development.

'We’re honoured to be named to the list of Top 20 companies for leaders,' said Fettig. 'It’s our goal to continually make Whirlpool a great place for talented people to build their careers. Only by attracting, retaining and developing top talent will we succeed as a company.'

Whirlpool’s comprehensive leadership strategy focuses on engaging employees in two main areas - talent management and leadership development. The company has succession plans at all levels of management and its long-term strategy ensures that its leadership strategy remains a critical focus regardless of the business cycle.

Talent management focuses on ensuring that there is a succession plan for all levels of executive leadership and middle management, and that the pipeline is filled with diverse and capable employees that can execute the company’s strategy. The company also works to build the skills necessary to develop deeper leadership within the organisation and holds senior leaders accountable for developing the employees who report to them.

With leadership development, Whirlpool aggressively works to develop its executives and managers both for their current and future roles. The company has created specialised training and development activities designed for officers, directors and managers, as well as mentoring and coaching at the officer and director levels.

'Leadership is key,' said Fettig. 'To successfully develop leaders within Whirlpool, we hold managers accountable for that development. Building a workforce that can create and execute the right strategies all starts with the existing leadership and its commitment.'

Additionally, Whirlpool focuses on developing the right talent to best reflect the ever-changing marketplace. The company’s diversity mentoring pairs women and minorities with mentors that will help them grow and develop, according to their needs.

Masco Corporation announced on June 1st the appointment of Maria C. Bringer, 42, as Vice President - Investor Relations reporting to Timothy Wadhams, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective July 1st, 2005. She succeeds Samuel (Skip) Cypert, 62, who has decided to reduce his time commitment to Masco, but will continue to support Ms. Bringer during a transition period.

Prior to her promotion, Bringer was Managing Director - Business Development, working primarily in merger, acquisition and divestiture activities. Her responsibilities included all phases of the corporate acquisition process from identifying acquisition candidates through closing. Over the past two years, Bringer has also been involved in Masco's strategic planning efforts, working as part of a team to develop a new strategic planning process and Masco's long-term strategic agenda.

'Maria's strong financial skills along with her experience in both business development and, more recently, strategic planning, make her exceptionally qualified to head up our investor relations activities,' said Masco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard A. Manoogian.

Bringer serves on the boards of several charities in the Detroit area and works with the Kellogg School at Northwestern University, conducting admissions interviews for Detroit area applicants.

Bringer received a Bachelor's degree in Business from Michigan State University and a Master of Management degree in Finance and Marketing from the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. She resides in Birmingham, Michigan.

Headquartered in Taylor, Michigan, Masco Corporation is one of the world's leading manufacturers of home improvement and building products as well as a leading provider of services that include the installation of insulation and other building products.

Web: http://www.masco.com