UK
Leader Hotpoint Renewed with £60m Investment in Brand, Products
and Promotion
At a major presentation last week in London for over 500 trade customers,
Hotpoint's distinctive new brand direction and comprehensively re-engineered
range of products were revealed, as well as plans for a related £11
million marketing campaign and a major financial commitment to become
one of the leading sponsors of the children's charity ChildLine and its
'Safely to 18' campaign.
A
multi-million pound rejuvenation of Hotpoint, Britain's long-established
number one home appliance brand, has been unfurled by its owner Merloni
Elettrodomestici, Europe's third largest 'white goods' producer. The familiar
British brand and its products have been thoroughly reviewed, resulting
in a wide-ranging investment aimed at reinforcing its market leadership
in the UK, the largest European market for 'white goods'.
Speaking at the launch, Merloni Elettrodomestici UK's Chief Executive
Marco Milani said:
‘Hotpoint is the UK's favourite domestic appliance brand. To many
people, it means hardworking and reliable appliances they can trust, but
Hotpoint needs to reflect more accurately modern Britain and that calls
for a fresh approach to appeal to a new generation of consumers. In the
last two years we've been working hard and providing the investment to
chart a clear and successful future for Hotpoint. This is the biggest
initiative the UK white goods industry has ever seen; we're passionate
about the challenge of transforming attitudes towards the sector.’
Under the theme of ‘Designed for the real world’, Hotpoint has
been evolved to build on its traditional foundations as one of the UK's
most familiar brands. A regular Readers Digest Poll has placed it first
among the most trusted appliance brands for each of the last four years,
while another recent survey revealed Hotpoint as one of the top five brands
that British consumers ‘could not live without’ (source: Martin
Hamblin GfK, Jan 2004).
The
outcomes of a year-long development project include a new logo and brand
identity, as well as advertising themes devised to position Hotpoint at
the heart of real British homes. As UK Marketing Director Neil Tunstall
(pictured) explains, ‘Our new identity expresses clearly and simply
that our products have been designed for the real world. It's a break
with the past, signalling modernity and change, but unequivocally confirms
our association with strength, reliability and real consumer benefits.
We see this as a confident statement of leadership, in which the consumer
can continue to trust.’
In addition to £27 million invested at its Peterborough headquarters
site in refrigerator production and a state-of-the-art customer service
centre, Merloni Elettrodomestici has spent £6 million at the Kinmel
Park washing machine factory, near Rhyl in North Wales, to begin manufacturing
an entirely new range of ‘super silent’ appliances. A new motor
system has drastically reduced the noise level when washing and spinning.
The new machines also feature advanced electronic features and the ability
to handle ‘hand wash only’ woollens.
At Yate, near Bristol, a £15 million investment in modernising the
assembly process has allowed the development of an all-new, more energy
efficient range of vented and condensing tumble dryers, capable of handling
up to 7 kilogram loads of laundry. At the Blythe Bridge site, near Stoke
on Trent, the Group's cooker factory is benefiting from a further £2
million of new investment.
Hotpoint says that it is the UK market leader in domestic appliances with
a 16.5 percent market share, almost twice that of the nearest competitor.
With an installed base of more than 15 million appliances in 10 million
homes, British families are more likely to have a Hotpoint than any other
brand.
Coming
soon: Hoover Built-in Generation Future
The
Hoover roundel will soon be seen fitting in all around the kitchen with
the UK launch of Hoover built-in appliances. The comprehensive range is
being unveiled at two, three-day events in June, when the big name with
a strong heritage enters the premium market with a number of design firsts
in the industry.
Marketing & Sales Director, Maurizio Severgnini, commented: ‘Hoover
entry into the built-in sector and our unique offer will bring about a
radical shake-up to the built-in market. Our products are classically
styled with a contemporary edge and will offer real consumer benefits
that provide added value, giving retailers the opportunity to trade up.’
You can see the full line-up of cooking, cooling and home laundry appliances
at The Lowry, Manchester from 8-10 June or at The Imagination Gallery,
Store Street, London from 22-24 June. For more information, contact Heather
England or Lisa Jones on 0151-334 2781.
Hoover-Candy is a Corporate Member of the KBSA.
Web: http://www.hoover.co.uk
REPIC
Celebrates Launch Success
The
UK’s largest producer compliance scheme for waste management of electrical
products celebrated the signing of its 36th Founder Member last week.When
the 31st March deadline for Founder Members to join expired, REPIC Limited
had 36 member companies on board – and is still recruiting.
It now represents over 70 per cent of the major appliance, small appliance
and consumer electronics markets. It also has ICT and lighting companies.
The Company will, on a contract basis, meet producers' responsibilities
under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, which requires
them to finance the recovery and recycling of all end of life product.
At its first meeting, the Board of REPIC unanimously elected Uwe Hanneck,
CEO of BSH Home Appliances Ltd, as its Chairman.
REPIC is urging the government at Whitehall meetings in the next two weeks
to agree the financing of both historical and future waste through a separate
environmental handling fee charged to consumers when they purchase products.
‘It's the most sensible way to cover the cost of a forty year span
of product made before the directive comes into effect,’ said Mr
Hanneck.
‘We've got product over 20 years old entering the waste stream now,
and we'll still be dealing in 20 years' time with product made this year,’
he added.
Mr Hanneck pointed out: ’REPIC is a very fast moving organisation.
We agreed to form our company last November, registered it in December,
held our first General and Board meetings in March and will open for business
in two weeks' time. REPIC is by far the largest compliance scheme - and
it's special because it's run for producers by producers.’
Although the Founder Member list is now closed, companies will continue
to be welcomed into REPIC as general members, who will have the right
to vote in Product Sector Committees which advise the Board and Chief
Executive.
The following are the Founder Members of REPIC:
Hoover Candy, Philips, BSH, B&W Loudspeakers, Numatic, Glen Dimplex,
Merloni, Magimix, Karcher, Beko, Kohler Mira, Alba, De’Longi/Kenwood
Groupe, SEB, Smeg, In-Sink-Erator, Whirlpool, Sony, Sanyo, Panasonic,
Bose, Gorenje, Haier, Meyer Salton, Hitachi, Toshiba, D&M Holdings,
Sharp, Conair, ElcoBrandt, JVC, Imetec IQM, Electrolux, Arcam
Tile
Association Advert Gets up the Nose of Carpet Industry
A
complaint from The Carpet Foundation which objected to magazine advertisements
for the Tile Association have been partially upheld by the Advertising
Standards Association (ASA). The advertisement featured an illustration
of a small boy, standing on a carpet that contained two insects, coughing.
The advertisement contained the text 'Don't let carpet bugs get up your
nose ... replace your carpet with hygienic ceramic floor tiles'.
The complainants challenged whether the advertisement:
1. misleadingly implied that carpet contained insects which could be inhaled
and cause health problems;
2. misleadingly implied that ceramic floor tiles were more hygienic than
carpet and
3. was likely to cause unnecessary alarm to consumers.
Adjudication:
1. Complaint upheld
The advertisers asserted that the advertisement contained no reference
to asthma and that the house-dust mite was a recognised allergy in its
own right. They sent a copy of the National Asthma Campaign research consultation
paper, 2002; the consultation paper stated that children could be allergic
to house-dust mites. They stated that the Environmental Association for
the carpet industry (GUT) stated on its 2003 website that 'in our domestic
environment, mites are moreover found on upholstered furniture and also
in fitted carpets'.
The advertisers asserted that the carpet industry itself acknowledged
the existence of dust mites and the problems that they could cause. They
sent website excerpts for a product, which had recently received accreditation
from the Allergy Foundation, that eradicated dust mites in carpets and
referred to formulations that claimed to provide long lasting control
over dust mites that were suitable for use on carpets.
The advertisers also sent an extract from a vacuum cleaner manufacturer's
website; it stated that dust mite faeces could cause severe allergic reactions
and to reduce that threat consumers should regularly use a hypoallergenic
vacuum cleaner. They also sent an article, that appeared in Asthma News,
which included a list of measures that people could take to reduce their
exposure to house dust mites and invited readers to consider replacing
carpets with smooth flooring. The advertisers also sent pages from a BBC
News website which contained an article entitled 'Carpets blamed for asthma'.
The Authority noted from several documents submitted by the advertisers,
dust mites were most prevalent in soft furnishings and beds, because those
were the areas where human respiration would provide sufficient moisture
for house-dust mite survival. It also noted the complainants sent a 1993
report from a Medical Entomologist at Cambridge University; the report
stated that house-dust mites could survive only in moist conditions and
that dry carpets would not contain a sufficient quantity of house-dust
mites to cause health problems and could be effectively controlled by
regular vacuuming. The Authority also noted a report sent by the complainants
measured levels of various airborne biologicals; the report showed that
mite allergens found in a carpet were not present in the air. It considered
that the advertisement implied that carpets contained insects that could
be inhaled and cause health problems. Because it considered that the advertisers
had not demonstrated that carpets, as opposed to other soft furnishings,
contained house-dust mites faeces that could be released into the air
and cause health problems, the Authority concluded that the advertisement
was misleading. It told the advertisers to amend the advertisement and
advised them to consult the CAP Copy Advice team.
2. Complaint upheld
The advertisers asserted that ceramic floor tiles had been used for many
years in industrial food preparation areas and met the requirements of
the Food Hygiene Regulations. The advertisers sent several research papers
to demonstrate the comparative cleanability of flooring surfaces; the
reports demonstrated that floor tiles met with the highest standard of
cleanability, especially in terms of their comparatively minor water absorption,
and met with the standards required by the Food Hygiene Regulations.
The Authority noted that a report, sent by the complainants, on research
conducted by the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand (WRONZ) demonstrated
that wool carpets absorbed common air pollutants associated with health
problems and retained them for up to 30 years. The Authority considered
that the advertisement implied that ceramic floor tiles were more hygienic
than carpets and therefore less likely to cause health problems. It considered
that, because the advertisers had not demonstrated that, in the specific
context of the advertisement, carpets were less hygienic than floor tiles,
the advertisement was misleading. The Authority told the advertisers not
to repeat the approach.
3. Complaint not upheld
The advertisers pointed out that the advertisement was placed in adult
home-style magazines and was a cartoon. They asserted that the cartoon
of the dust mite would be less alarming than some photographs of dust
mites that were freely available on the Internet. The Authority considered
that most people would understand the advertisement was making the point
that, unlike tiled floors, carpet had the potential to harbour dust mites.
It concluded that the advertisement was unlikely to cause unnecessary
alarm to consumers.
Miele
Dishwashers Rated Number 1 by Interior Designers
Conde’
Nast Publication, House & Garden Magazine, has just named Miele to
be the Number 1 dishwasher in the magazine's coveted The Best on the Best
2004 survey. After polling the nation’s top interior designers for
their secrets and advice on the top products, Miele dishwashers came out
on top, over all domestic and imported brands like Asko, Bosch, Dacor,
Fisher & Pakel and Kitchen Aid. House & Garden will feature comprehensive
editorial on the winning brands in the publication’s May 2004 issue.
In a similar survey of top kitchen designers, New Jersey Life Magazine
will also award Miele for the best dishwasher and wall oven.
Stated House & Garden, 'The fully integrated dishwashers in Miele’s
Incognito series are easy to operate – there’s only one button
to push – and blissfully quiet.' Miele was also recognised for being
among the best wall ovens in that category.
'We are honoured to receive this prestigious recognition by House &
Garden and most importantly from the design community itself,' stated
Nick Ord, President and CEO of Miele, Inc. 'It’s a testament to our
corporate motto, Immer Besser (Forever Better), as well as to the high
performance, innovative design and enduring quality of Miele products.'
On hand at the March 29th award ceremony, Paul McCormack, Marketing Manager
for Miele, Inc. stated that 'to receive this award on the eve of Miele’s
75th anniversary of dishwasher production is phenomenal validation from
a key target audience…the nation’s top designers. On behalf
of our Chairman, Mr. Rudolf Miele, I thank you'
Apple
Launches Sleek, Shaker Style Kitchen
Choosing
a shaker style design for its latest kitchen, led Apple, a brand of the
Kitchen Group company, to create the new Tennyson kitchen – a solid
beech frame with timeless looks.
Proving
a popular choice for Apple consumers, the shaker style door continues
to sell well and the new Tennyson presents a classic new look – this
time, injected with some strong contemporary overtones. The clean crisp
lines are complemented with aluminium long bar handles, providing an uncluttered
design statement.
Matched with a beech carcase, Tennyson features a number of additional
new door sizes and accessories, catering for yet more bespoke interiors
requiring unusual specifications and unique looks. Older properties and
conversions often have higher ceilings and Apple has introduced taller
wall units (now 900mm, normally 720mm high) and extra tall appliance housing
units (now 2160mm, normally 1990mm high).
Also new are 450mm width base and wall unit options, plus 800mm two pan
drawer sets (in addition to 600mm and 1000mm pan drawers). Tennyson is
shown with this new two drawer 800mm unit – with a stylish metal
and frosted glass front finish. This is coordinated with the new taller
900mm dresser unit, again finished with frosted glass.
The contemporary edge is represented again in Tennyson with the combination
of Midnight Granite Gloss laminate worktop with 50mm depth. Sourced from
Ardesco (Orama) and available through the Kitchen Group, this mirror finish
features revolutionary technology ensuring the gloss surface is free from
‘telegraphing’ and ripples.
Tel: 01204 707070
Web: http://www.thekitchengroup.co.uk
East
Coast Fittings Move to the Future
Leicestershire-based
East Coast Fittings successfully completed the move to its new, purpose-built
headquarters on time and with the opportunity for major expansion potential.
Managing
Director Derek Goodman admits that the company was ‘bursting at the
seams’ as the company has experienced much faster than expected growth
over the past five years. The new premises offers some 60,000 square feet
of administration, warehousing, logistics and production facilities with
options for further expansion (being considered).
The site just outside Rearsby is in a central and accessible location
with the M1's Junction 21 only 10 minutes distance and a new bypass under
construction to take traffic directly past the entrance.
As one of the UK's major suppliers of furniture fittings, East Coast Fittings
has both an advanced internal manufacturing programme and agencies for
some of the best recognised international manufacturers - Blum and Hera
lighting being just two of these.
Derek Goodman says that the move has been a great additional motivational
factor for his longstanding staff of over 60 and ambitious plans are also
afoot to develop a sophisticated training, demonstration and product display
facility. Highly practical in-house exhibitions are clearly on the agenda.
East Coast Fittings' success has come about by offering the crucial mix
of product quality and customer service but, also, through the development
of fast emerging product design and prototype development department that
works closely with specific customers.
A new corporate design is due to coincide with the launch and the new
contact details are as follows:
East Coast Fittings Ltd
Auster House
Rearsby Business Park
Gaddesby Lane
Rearsby
Leicestershire
LE7 4YH
Tel: 01664 424288
Fax: 01664 424243
Rare
Toilet Catalogue Comes Home
A
rare and possibly priceless antique document has been returned to its
roots in The Potteries after over 100 years - lost in a shed in Brazil.
'Twyford's 20th Century Catalogue' of toilets, washbasins, bidets and
baths made in Stoke has finally been returned home to the Twyford Bathrooms
factory.
It was discovered in the 1970s by a Brazilian Naval officer who had been
given the task of clearing and refurbishing an old naval shipyard in Rio
de Janeiro.
Carlos Franca discovered the gold printed catalogue amongst the accumulated
rubbish in an old shipyard building. As an engineer and an architect Carlos
was the ideal candidate for refurbishing the shipyard and when he stumbled
across the catalogue he instinctively knew that he had found something
very important.
He saved and protected it for almost forty years before contacting Twyford
Bathrooms via its new website. (http://www.twyfordbathrooms.com)
He emailed the company and told Terry Woolliscroft (Twyford's Customer
Training Manager and Archivist) 'Fortunately when I was inside of an old
building with a lot of debris and garbage inside, I could find, with excellent
condition, the following: The TWYFORDS SANITARY SPECIALTIES 20th CENTURY
CATALOGUE. There is a date on it of the year 1901, written on the distributor
tag. Inside the catalogue we can find the most beautiful line of sanitary
products with pictures contoured with gold. In my opinion a masterpiece.'
And it really is a masterpiece. The catalogue was produced by Thomas William
Twyford to celebrate both the birth of the new century and the birth of
his new sanitary creations. The Unitas, The Deluge, The Tornado, The Planet,
The Adamant and The Vale (yes, The Vale!!) are amongst the startling new
toilets of the age shown in full colour and gold trim!
The
catalogue was known to the company but, as Woolliscroft explains, the
Twyford Bathrooms Archive did not have a copy. 'We knew that such a catalogue
existed. It is certainly rare - it must have cost a fortune to produce
- but we didn't have a copy. These beautiful documents must have all been
given away. Customers clamoured for them. We suspected that they went
all over the world - and now we know that at least one ended up in South
America.'
Following the initial contacts with the company Carlos very kindly agreed
to send the catalogue back home to its creators. Carlos carefully wrapped
it and with the help of Ken Machin from Twyford's International Team despatched
the parcel to arrive in Stoke at the beginning of 2004.
'It is in reasonable condition' says Woolliscroft. 'But the years have
taken their toll and there is evidence of some horrible infestation.
'Inevitable, I suppose, after 70 years in an old damp shed! But with some
TLC the catalogue will be returned to its former glory and used as both
a reference work for Twyford designers and students and a talking point
for the many visitors to our factory here in Alsager.'
Carlos is delighted that the catalogue is back home. 'It seems to be that
since the shipment of the catalog to Brazil a century ago, no one else
had interest for it. I know that the valued catalog is much more important
to you than I.
After restoration the catalogue will go on display in the Twyford archive.
Mira
Advance Shower Range Meets Caremark for Special Needs
'BEAB
CARE mark' has been launched by BEAB (British Electrotechnical Approvals
Board) to offer a new standard of safety for electrical goods for use
by the elderly, young or infirm. Thermostatic electric showers are the
first product type to be tested and certified. Mira's Advance ATL thermostatic
electric shower is the first to receive the mark for all showers in the
range.
The mark is given after independent testing by BEAB to verify operating
safety and temperature control. The standard has been developed by the
Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA) in co-operation
with leading manufacturers. It is based on additional technical requirements
to fulfil the needs of the care sector.
'BEAB CARE mark certification for showers comes at a time when the issue
of bathing safety has been raised by the ODPM (Office of the Deputy Prime
Minister) announcement of a review of the Building Regulations,' commented
Roger Crabb of Mira, on the award of the mark. 'Advance ATL electric showers
are already used widely in the care sector and the Mark will offer ease
of selection and reassurance.'
All of the Mira Advance ATL models are easy to use and adjust. The Advance
ATL Flex model, however, has been specially designed to meet the needs
of carers and those in their care. The Advance ATL range is thermostatically
controlled, so ensuring a safe and stable showering temperature irrespective
of changes in incoming water pressure or temperature. A sensor within
the shower reads the water temperature 62 times per second and adjusts
the outgoing shower water to within ± 1°C.
The Adjustable Temperature Limit (ATL) allows the shower to be set to
one of eight maximum temperatures. These temperature settings range from
37° to 48°C and protect the user from selecting an unsafe showering
temperature. This adjustable temperature limit is set by the fitter during
installation and for special need use can be set to 41°C, the DO8
recommended temperature.
The Advance ATL Flex is particularly suitable for installations where
the user requires safety, comfort and control. An extended lever makes
selecting the temperature easier and the push button controls respond
with an audible ' beep'. A two metre hose, with a one metre extended slide
bar and an additional handset holder, offer more flexible showering, for
example they are ideal for use with a showering seat or a wheelchair.
The handset has a rubber finger grip giving ease of handling and four
choices of spray patterns.
Electric showers give flexibility where an additional shower is to be
fitted in a home adapted for an elderly or infirm person. They need only
mains water, drainage and electrical connections, so that installation
work and changes to the plumbing system are minimal.
Tel: +44(0)845 6006 472
Web: http://www.mirashowers.com
Williams
Refrigeration and Falcon Foodservice Announce Strong Global Prospects
for 2004
Williams
Refrigeration and Falcon Foodservice Equipment, both part of the Aga Foodservice
Equipment (AFE) Group, announce a strong global position as the companies
further expand in the global market place in 2004.
Both
Williams and Falcon benefit from worldwide manufacturing facilities, sales
offices and distributors ensuring high product development and standards
to meet both local market specifications and global quality standards.
Both Williams and Falcon are driven by their joint philosophy of strengthening
their top position in the international refrigeration and prime cooking
equipment market. Williams provides a wide range of globally suitable
products, backed by local service, performing in extremes of Antarctica
through to the deserts of the Middle East and Falcon’s extensive
product range is currently being developed to appeal to the global marketplace.
Offering global 'know how', Williams Refrigeration and Falcon Foodservice
Equipment benefit from a worldwide network of experienced distributors
and dealers who have extensive product knowledge of the Williams, Falcon,
Victory and Bongard foodservice equipment solutions The Victory brand
and the Northland Group provide refrigeration solutions to the thriving
USA market and the well-known Bongard bakery subsidiary supplying Europe.
As part of the 11-company strong Aga Foodservice Equipment Group, Williams
and Falcon have sales offices worldwide, including the UK, Eire, Dubai,
Hong Kong and Shanghai with an office soon to open in Beijing as well
as Lyon and Strasbourg in France. Sales offices are also located in Benelux,
Italy and Spain, USA and in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in Australia.
The newly opened sales office in Dubai has provided added support to Williams
and Falcon's extensive network of customers, distributors and dealers
in the Middle East market and the expansion reflects a growing demand
for Williams' and Falcon's commercial refrigeration and prime cooking
equipment across the region, driven by the extensive growth in tourism.
Similarly, Williams is seeing steady growth in China, where in Shanghai
a new sales office has been opened to support the established manufacturing
facility and the company will be looking to maximise on vast opportunities
as China expands and prepares to host the Olympic Games in 2008.
Kenny Maguire, International Sales Director, Aga Foodservice Equipment,
explains: 'We have an exceptionally strong global position with a global
manufacturing capability backed-up by local specification and a high standard
of service and support. As we head into 2004 we are building even closer
relationships with our customers and we are supplying more and more refrigeration
and prime cooking equipment solutions to our customers. It's crucial that
we can not only offer superior products to our global customers, but that
we can continue to do this quickly and efficiently.'
Showcasing global capability in 2004, Williams, Falcon Foodservice Equipment
and Bongard will be exhibiting their extensive range of products and services
at trade shows across the globe including Williams and Bongard exhibiting
at Food Hotel Asia, Singapore, 20th-23rd April 04; Williams, Falcon and
Bongard will be exhibiting at Gulf Hotel, Dubai, 17th-18th May 04, and
Falcon will be exhibiting at NRA, Chicago 21st-26th May 04.
More details on Williams' extensive range of products from commercial
refrigeration to bakery equipment including a wide range of Gastronorm
cabinets and Reach-in and Roll-in Blast Chillers and local distributors
are available on + 44 1553 817 000.
Falcon Foodservice Equipment is a market leader in the commercial catering
equipment industry. For more information on Falcon's range of Dominator
Chargrills and many other high quality performance products, call Falcon
on 01324 554221, or visit http://www.falconfoodservice.com.
Underwood
Completes Two Luxury Homes at Parkridge
Kitchen
designer and manufacturer Underwood Kitchens has completed three luxury
homes at an exclusive and prestigious housing development in Solihull.
Underwood was appointed by the housebuilder, Parkridge Homes at an early
stage of the development to design individual kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms
and home studies as part of the sales package for owners buying into this
luxury development.
The Heronbrook development at Knowle consists of four houses and three
apartments, Underwood has now completed three homes and work on a fourth
will begin shortly.
All of the properties are set in their own private gated grounds and have
been designed to the highest of standards. Although modern the houses
have been designed on a traditional Victorian Villa theme with open plan
and contemporary interiors.
‘This commission has been very satisfying,’ says Alex Hughes,
the senior designer at Underwood responsible for this project.
‘Being able to work so closely with the owners as their new homes
are being built is wonderful. The kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and home
studies in each home are truly unique and individual.’
Tel: 01296 771800
Production
to be Ceased at Sanker Spol S r.o. in Slovak Republic
The
Management of Sanker Spol S r.o. last week informed its Works Council
that due to Sanker's accumulating losses, it intends to close the production
plant at Nitra, Slovak Republic. Following the closure, Sanker will proceed
to a collective lay-off procedure.
Despite the best efforts by Sanker employees to improve profitability,
the plant has operated at unacceptable losses for several years. The design
of the factory has proved not to meet the requirements of the Sanitec
production network and therefore a turnaround is regarded as unlikely.
Consequently, Sanitec Corporation has decided to no longer finance losses
and investments of Sanker Spol S r.o. and it will respectively reduce
its ceramic sanitaryware production capacity in Europe.
Sanker is an indirect subsidiary of Sanitec Corporation and employs 174
people. Sanker has produced ceramic sanitaryware products mainly for the
Slovak market. Customers will be properly supplied firstly from Sanker
stock and then by other sources within Sanitec's production network.
Fisher
& Paykel DishDrawer: OEM Deal with Whirlpool Corporation
Fisher
and Paykel Appliances Limited and Whirlpool Corporation have concluded
an agreement for the supply of DishDrawer dishwashers. The agreement announced
on 9th March will see the New Zealand designed and manufactured appliances
being made available to the U.S. market by Whirlpool Corporation.
The products to be supplied will be those of the double drawer design
that are the 'integrated' type. These units, which carry differentiated
features and styling, will be branded, marketed and distributed by Whirlpool
Corporation in North America.
'This opportunity endorses the innovative design of this product. The
agreement that we have established with Whirlpool is a further development
of the strategic alliance announced last year and will help the penetration
of DishDrawer throughout the USA,' said John Bongard, Managing Director
of Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited. 'We will continue to sell the
full range of double and single 'Fisher & Paykel' branded DishDrawers
through our own retail outlets in that country as well. The market is
large enough for both companies to benefit from this arrangement,' said
John.
The product will be supplied from Fisher & Paykel Appliances' Dunedin
operation. lnitial shipments are expected to commence during the latter
part of 2004.
Tel: +64 (9) 273 0600
Nobia's
Annual General Meeting 2004
The Annual General Meeting has approved a dividend for the 2003 financial
year of SEK 2.25 per share. The record date for entitlement to the dividend
was 6th April 2004 and it is expected to be paid out through the agency
of VPC (Swedish Securities Register Centre) on 13th April 2004.
Election of Board members
Stefan Dahlbo, Vice President of Investment AB Öresund and Ingrid
Osmundsen, Country Director at Lindex AB were elected as new members of
Nobia's Board. Board members Fredrik Cappelen, Bodil Eriksson, Hans Larsson,
Wilhelm Laurén, Harald Mix and Thomas Nilsson were re-elected.
At a statutory Board meeting, Hans Larsson was re-elected as Chairman
of the Board.
Nominating Committee
The Annual General Meeting decided that a Nominating Committee will be
appointed and that this will be done at a meeting convened by the Chairman
of the Board during the third quarter with the Company's four largest
shareholders. These shareholders will appoint the members of the Nominating
Committee. The composition of the Committee will be announced in the Company's
Q3 interim report. The Nominating Committee's assignment is to submit
proposals for new Board members and auditors, and propose fees for the
Board members and auditors to the Annual General Meeting.
President and CEO Fredrik Cappelen's address to the Annual General Meeting
is available at Nobia's website: http://www.nobia.se.