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Nobia: Continued Favourable Organic Growth

Sales for kitchen company Nobia rose by 6 per cent - during the third quarter to SEK 3,861 million (3,631). Organic growth amounted to 6 per cent. Profit after tax amounted to SEK 189 million (189). Earnings per share rose by 2 per cent to SEK 1.09 (1.07) after -dilution. Operating profit was SEK 272 million (280) and the operating margin was 7.0 per cent (7.7).

Demand for kitchens remained stable in all of Nobia's principal markets, except for Germany and the Netherlands, where demand declined. Continued elevated prices for raw materials resulted in upward pressure on purchasing costs, which consequently had a negative impact on the operating margin.

Effective from the second quarter, Plana is included in 50 per cent-owned Culinoma's accounts and Marquardt is included from 1 September. After the end of the interim period, Culinoma signed an agreement for an additional acquisition in Germany, namely the Asmo Group.

At the end of the third quarter, Nobia excluding Culinoma had a total of 661 stores (Group-owned and franchise) meaning that a total of 14 new stores have been opened since the beginning of the year.
 
"The development in the UK region is satisfactory with increased sales and a strengthened operating margin, and in the Continental Europe region we are continuing to strengthen the retailer stage, most recently with the acquisition of Asmo in Germany. At the same time, we can state that the realignment in the Nordic region has cost more than expected, with one of the consequences being shortcomings in delivery capacity. However, if we look at the end of the period, we can see that the measures we have taken have started to generate effects," says President and CEO Fredrik Cappelen.

Fredrik Cappelen to Resign as CEO of Nobia at 2008 Annual General Meeting

The President and CEO of Nobia, Fredrik Cappelen, has informed Nobia's Board of Directors that he intends to stand down as CEO of the company at Nobia's 2008 Annual General Meeting.

'Naturally, we regret that Fredrik has decided to leave Nobia. At the same time, we have full respect for Fredrik's desire to seek new challenges after so many years as a highly successful CEO. Under his leadership, Nobia has developed into the leading kitchen company in Europe, with net sales of SEK 16 billion,' says Hans Larsson, Chairman of the Nobia Board.

'It has been a very exciting challenge to develop Nobia into what it is today. After 14 years as CEO of the company, and with a clear growth-focused strategy in place, I believe that Nobia has reached a phase in which it is natural to hand over to new energy,' says Fredrik Cappelen.

Fredrik Cappelen, who was born in 1957, has been the CEO of Nobia since 1994.

Hans Larsson and Fredrik Cappelen will be available to respond to questions in conjunction with today's presentation of Nobia's results for the third quarter 2007 at 10:00 CET. The presentation can be viewed live via http://www.nobia.com

Indesit Q3: Sales and Profits Up

Indesit's Sales for the Third Quarter of 2007 have risen to €950 million (up 9.1%), Ebit before non-recurring charges to €68 million (up 30.6%) and net profits for Group to €34 million (up 48.8%), with improvement in net financial indebtedness, at €552 million (down 10.2%). In the first nine months, sales reach €2,513 million (up7.6%), Ebit before non-recurring charges €155 million (up 24.1%) and net profits for Group €68 million (up 61.1%).

Performance over the first nine months of the year is particularly positive in terms of operating income, with sales rising to €2,513m (up 7.6%), Ebitda to €245m (up 20.0%), Ebit to €136m (up 38.8%) and net profits for Group to €68m (up 61.1%).

For simplicity of design and solutions combining innovation and immediacy, the Moon won a Janus de l’Industrie, the prestigious award given every year by the Institut Français du Design; it was also judged Kitchen Product of the Year at the 2007 Designer Awards, a major event in the UK, for real innovation for the consumer and as an example of design in which technological performance and simplicity go hand in hand. Indesit Company won the very first Intellectual Capital Value Award for its development of human capital, meaning the commitment to develop people, their motivation and skills and attitudes.

Further, Neriman Ulsever, Indesit Company’s head of human resources, received the Golden Apple at the Premio Bellisario. The award recognized Indesit Company’s human resources policy, based on a cross-cultural approach that seeks to instil a corporate identity that makes everyone feel part of 'one single company'.

Whirlpool Corporation Reports Record Third-Quarter Results

Whirlpool Corporation announces that third-quarter 2007 earnings from continuing operations were $175 million, or $2.20 per diluted share, up approximately 31 percent from the $134 million, or $1.68 per diluted share, reported in the same period last year. Net sales of $4.8 billion, which were impacted by a weak U.S. market, remained unchanged from last year's levels.

Third-quarter earnings reflected strong improvement within the company's international businesses, cost-efficiency realization associated with last year's acquisition of Maytag, productivity improvements, cost controls and lower global taxes. The company's results also included $41 million of gains associated with asset sales and the sale of an investment, compared to the $42 million of asset sale gains reported in the previous year period. Results were adversely affected by significantly higher material and oil-related costs, lower demand within the United States and unfavorable currency.

'Our global operating platform, product innovation and strong consumer brands have enabled us to effectively manage through both the unprecedented global material cost environment which began more than three years ago, and more recent industry demand declines within the United States,' said Jeff M. Fettig, chairman and chief executive officer of Whirlpool Corporation. 'The international economic environment has remained favorable and our international businesses continue to deliver record financial results. The combination of record material and oil-related cost increases and weaker than expected appliance demand in the U.S. have negatively impacted our North American business.'

During the quarter, Whirlpool Corporation repurchased $150 million of common stock, bringing its year-to-date total to $251 million. Approximately $214 million remains available under the company's $500 million share repurchase programme.

Siemens Extends Free 5-year Guarantee into 2008

Kitchen appliance manufacturer, Siemens has rolled out its very successful free 5-year guarantee scheme into 2008.

Between 1st October 2007 and 31st January 2008, selected freestanding washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, fridges and freezers from the company's extensive freestanding appliance ranges will be sold together with a free 5-year guarantee.

This means that the cost of all call outs and any parts and labour required on those appliances will be free of charge for a total of five years, post sale.

To qualify for the free guarantee scheme, customers must purchase the selected appliances from participating Siemens dealers during the limited 4-month promotional period. The offer is subject to registration of the guarantee within 30 days of purchasing the appliance.

The free 5-year guarantee is offered inclusively of the company's own 2 year guarantee which now comes as standard on all Siemens freestanding and built in appliances.

All applications for the free 5-year guarantee must be made to Siemens on the specially printed forms now available from participating dealers.

‘Our sales figures show that consumers clearly appreciate the advantages of a free 5-year guarantee, as it not only adds considerable value to their purchase but also offers extra peace of mind.’ comments Siemens Brand Manager, Jane Massey.

Web: http://www.siemensappliances.co.uk.

Crosswater Acquires Prospect Sales Co. (Plumbing Supplies) Ltd

Crosswater Limited has announced the acquisition of Prospect Sales (Plumbing supplies) Limited.

Prospect Sales is based in Stockton, Durham, where the workforce will continue to operate from the existing premises as a subsidiary of the Crosswater holding company. The Stockton-based business will become the Northern distribution centre for the Simpsons shower enclosures business, and will service the North Eastern, North Western and Scottish territories on an enhanced delivery cycle of just two days.

The three Northern area sales managers, Karen Morley, Sharon Davies and Allyson Doak will be based at this Northern distribution centre.

David Hance, Crosswater's Group Managing Director commented ‘I am delighted that we have completed the acquisition of a company which has a strong infrastructure of people who are well placed to facilitate further growth in our Northern regions. We are all looking forward to working with the team at Prospect Sales.’

John Nelson, founder of Prospect Sales, will withdraw from the day-to-day activities as part of his retirement plan.

The business will be headed by Peter McKenzie, Simpsons Operations Manager, Guildford, Surrey.

Web: http://www.crosswater.co.uk

Safety in the Bath

Villeroy & Boch has launched a safety campaign regarding the risk of heavy falls in certain baths made by its Dutch subsidiary Ucosan.

‘Safety is an important part of our high product standards. As a precaution, Villeroy & Boch would therefore like to advise you of a safety campaign being run by our subsidiary company Ucosan bv Roden (Netherlands).

‘With earlier versions of certain bath models made of Quaryl®, a heavy fall could, under unfavourable conditions, lead to material cracks in the bathtubs. These may result from a sudden impact on a particular point that could be caused, for example, by knees or elbows during a fall in an empty bath. In very seldom cases the cracks led to cuts requiring medical attention. Most of the Quaryl baths concerned were sold under the name ‘Ucosan’, although some were also sold under the name ‘Villeroy & Boch’.

‘This is only likely to occur under the unfortunate circumstances set out above - there is no risk associated with normal bathing and showering.

‘Villeroy & Boch assures its users that normal bathing and showering, even in the baths concerned, is completely safe. ‘Even though the risk is very low, we would like to be on the safe side by keeping our customers informed’, explained Michael Swan, Sales Director United Kingdom & Ireland of Villeroy & Boch AG. ‘Our customers and partners can find out all about the safety campaign in notices, press releases and on the internet.’

‘The latest Quaryl bath models are not affected. This aforementioned risk does not exist for the range of Quaryl baths currently coming off the production line. However here,as for every other type of bath, it is important that you take the usual ordinary care against slipping in the bath.

‘Our Customer Service team can be reached on the free phone number 0 808 23 44 247 and will advise on all aspects of the risk of an accident and what to do to prevent one.’

Customers can obtain a full list of the affected baths by calling this number or by visiting http://www.quaryl.com.

Formica Unveils its New London Showroom

Formica Limited has put the finishing touches to its London showroom, designed so both trade and consumer visitors can easily explore the properties of the many decorative surfacing materials now available from the famous Formica® brand.  Based in the Building Centre, WC1, the Formica® London Showroom has moved to a prime new location on the ground floor. 

Featuring a brand new ‘Sample Wall’, visitors can discover every Formica® product in ‘real life’.  Visitors can experience the texture of MicroDot, the realistic wood appearance of Formica® Veneer and Naturelle, the silky feel of Formica® Solid Surfacing, and the striking metallic of Formica DecoMetal®, as well as the huge array of Plain Colours, Patterns and Woodgrains.

In addition, presentation panels bring to life the many different products available from this major UK manufacturer, looking at typical uses and giving case study examples.  A ‘Hotline’ to the Formica Limited dedicated sample department allows any visitor to order samples and brochures for next day delivery.

The showroom also features an installation of Axiom® Shapes.  This new concept in kitchen worktop design offers a selection of modular off-the-shelf shaped components that can be used horizontally as shelving, a worktop or breakfast bar and vertically for kitchen carcassing or as leg supports.  Fabricated with laminate on both faces and pre-edged on all sides it offers a ready-to-fit product that brings depth and dimension to any kitchen.

Products on display at the Formica London Showroom include:
• Formica® High Pressure Laminate – incredible selection of colours, patterns and woodgrains in a variety of finishes.  From bright and bold solid colours with added texture to subtle shades with a pearlescent effect.  From exciting optical designs to understated patterns, and exotic to classic woodgrains;

• Formica DecoMetal® – laminate with real metallic foils incorporated for visually striking and tactile surfaces;

• Formica® Veneer – laminate incorporating sustainable real wood veneers and natural textures for that added touch of luxury;

• Formica ColorCore® – laminate with a solid colour throughout for creating inlay effects or use in areas that expect impact and scratch damage;

• Formica® Compact – laminate with a sleek, black solid core and structural properties available in up to a 20mm thickness;

• Formica® Solid Surfacing – stylish composite with Class 0 fire rating as standard that inspires creativity with its sculptural properties, silky tactile finish and inconspicuous joints;

• Formica® Chemtop2™ – using specialist papers and incorporating a remarkable chemical-resistant coating during manufacture it provides an ideal solution for high stress environments;

• Formica® Special Artwork – create impact with this bespoke digital and screen printing service that can transform any image into laminate.

Ranges featured at the Formica London Showroom include:
• The Collection, incorporating Range Additions 2006 – The core specification range aimed at architects and designers, which includes over 400 classic and trend-led designs;

• Formica®-Unilin MFC – co-ordinated range of Melamine Faced Chipboard and High Pressure Laminate in a selection of trend-led colours and woodgrains, ideal for the shop fitting and commercial furniture sectors;

• Axiom by Formica® – the most comprehensive branded collection of laminate, solid surfacing and solid wood worktops, splashbacks, breakfast bars and upstands in the UK;

• Axiom® Shapes – new and unique concept, offering specially developed modular shaped worktops that offer ultimate flexibility in kitchen design.

• Formica Shower Panel™ – a range of stylish waterproof surrounds for the bathroom that offer a quick and easy alternative to tiling, for shower enclosures, bath panels, and sink and bath splashbacks. 

Web: http://www.formica.co.uk

Pretty in Pink

In support of Friday’s Wear it Pink campaign (26 October 2007) for Breast Cancer, Franke staff took part in many activities to raise donations.

All of the 11 available office-based staff arrived wearing pink in support of the charity.

In addition, the offices were decorated with Breast Cancer posters and pink balloons and, to raise funds, the day was filled with competitions and the sale of various items such as pink sweets, Rosé and appropriately-shaped fairy cakes! To make a donation, please visit http://www.wearitpink.co.uk.

Pictured in the top row from the left: Gill Walmsley, John Brindle, Lee Jones, Emma Hardie, Ged Hulse, Duncan Marr.
Bottom row from the left: Jeanette Ward, Karen Arrowsmith, Diane Millington, Glynis Frame, Cheryl Williams.

For further information on Franke, call 0161 436 6280, or visit www.franke.co.uk. 

Waste Not, Want Not

To meet the growing demand for waste disposal units in the UK, Franke has launched four new models, all with direct current motors with high torque for effortless use.

Food waste represents up to 35% of the total amount of household waste in the UK. As dustbin collection is reduced nationwide to encourage recycling, so the true benefits of waste disposal units can be presented to the ecologically-concerned customer.

Eco-savvy kitchen designers will be aware that the installation of a waste disposal unit greatly relieves the pressure on the UK's landfill sites. Furthermore, the waste that has been finely ground in a disposal unit is recycled into agricultural fertiliser - and used to nourish Britain's soil.

'While composting is a good recycling solution, most organic food waste is not suitable for the garden, which makes the disposal of food waste a growing problem for many homeowners - especially in the summer months when infrequently emptied bins can attract rodents and encourage bacteria,' explains John Swain, product manager at Franke UK.

'This is why it is becoming increasingly important for designers to include a waste disposal unit when working on a new kitchen. Starting from as little as £174, the unit means that a customer can help the environment as well as improve their own lifestyle.'

Easy to install and boasting high quality construction, including stainless steel grinding mechanisms, each model is designed to last.

For further information, contact 0161 436 6280, or visit http://www.franke.co.uk.

Hat-Trick for GDHA - Manufacturer Scoops TEQ Award for the Third Time

Glen Dimplex Home Appliances (GDHA) has won the Domestic & General's prestigious Total Excellence and Quality Award (TEQ) for the third time in a row, securing its position as the only UK based home appliances manufacturer to retain the high profile title for three consecutive years.

The record win coincides with the 10th Anniversary of the Awards and is reflective of GDHA's continued focus on customer care, with an estimated £3 million invested in new technology and further upgrades to its fleet of engineers' vans and spare parts operation since 2004.

Recent improvements dedicated to maintaining GDHA's reputation for delivering the best customer care in the industry include new satellite navigation and tracking systems installed in vehicles to help speed response times and identify which engineers are closest when urgent calls are received. GDHA has also opened a new 35,000 sq ft bulk storage facility for spare parts and launched a website for spares sales in April 2007.

Logistical changes such as these have resulted in improved lead times and are further supported by a rise in the number of people dedicated to customer care at GDHA to around 300 in total, including 105 telephone operatives and 135 field engineers based around the country.

Designed to recognise the very best in customer service, Domestic & General's annual awards are a reliable indicator of customer experiences due to the independent nature of the research carried out. The results, which are published quarterly and yearly, help to set industry standards for service excellence, encouraging manufacturers to benchmark themselves against their competitors in a bid to offer the very best in care and attention.

GDHA first won the award in 2005 and retained the accolade in 2006, when the company achieved a record high-quality rating score of 90.61 points out of a possible 100, based on a series of independent questionnaires sent to customers following a repair call. The 2007 award win sees GDHA maintaining its leading position and working hard toward retaining the title for a further successive year.

Customer care director, Paula Hodkinson, said: ‘Winning any award is always an achievement but retaining the TEQ Award for three years running is something the team here at GDHA has worked really hard to achieve. Our continued success is undoubtedly due to the enthusiasm and commitment of the customer care team and is proof that we are consistent in our approach.

‘Over the past three years, we have invested heavily in the improvement of our processes and systems, not to mention training programmes, to ensure the customer care team in the office and engineers out on the road are fully equipped with the knowledge they need to uphold the highest standards. However, our greatest asset has to be the team of highly motivated people who are working away behind the scenes to make our customer care capability one of the best in the UK year on year.

‘The brief to managers is to recruit the best people and make it easy for them to do a great job. That means empowering them and ensuring that systems and processes don't prevent them from delivering the best possible service. This approach clearly creates a great working environment and, as a result, our call centre staff turnover is less than 5% (compared with the national call centre average of 23% for the last 12 months).

‘For any consumer, the guarantee of efficient after-sales support is an important consideration when selecting which brand to purchase. Our aim, as always, is to provide the very best customer care experience for anyone purchasing Stoves, Belling, New World or Lec appliances who may require help and support after the point of purchase.

‘We look forward to continuing to pass on the benefits of our experience to retailers, who ultimately stand to benefit by working closely with an organisation committed to providing the best customer care experience for the end-user.’

Ken Wilson, Managing Director of Domestic & General added:

‘Our Total Excellence and Quality (TEQ) Awards are one of the largest independent surveys of repair service in the UK - and are now in their 10th year. When we first launched the TEQ surveys it is fair to say we had no idea of the major effect it would have on the appliance repair industry - nor of the level of interest from the general public which has resulted in response rates reaching up to 50 per cent. This level of response is fantastic, especially for a non-incentivised questionnaire, and underlines just how seriously customers take standards of in-home service in the UK.

‘TEQ has enabled D&G to provide its manufacturer repair networks with quarterly data showing them what their customers really think of their service and how well it compares to that offered by their main competitors.

‘This year we mailed out over 350,000 questionnaires in total to our customers following a repair visit and are delighted to announce that Glen Dimplex Home Appliances has successfully secured the number one spot for a third successive year - an amazing achievement with a record TEQ score of 91.51. And this is in the context that the average TEQ score amongst our white goods manufacturers this year was 86.28 - our highest average ever. Ten years ago that same average TEQ score was 78.34.’

'Enjoyment Guaranteed' - the Grohe Rainshower Promotion

Grohe is so confident about the quality and performance of its Rainshower® products that it is prepared to offer the consumer an unequivocal 'enjoyment guarantee'. If customers do not 'Love every drop' of their Rainshower® experience, Grohe will refund their money in full.

The GROHE Rainshower® with its GROHE Dreamspray® technology offers both a complete shower system and a collection of head and hand showers that guarantee the ultimate showering experience.

The company is giving people a month to test their Rainshower®. The terms are very straightforward and simple. Once bought, the Rainshower® needs to be registered immediately either on-line or by post - a registration certificate will then be issued. If the customer is not absolutely delighted, he or she can return the product within 30 days of the date of purchase together with the registration certificate to receive a full refund.

The consumer can choose from one of four Grohe Rainshower® promotional packs - the options range from a simple handshower and hose to a complete thermostatic showering system:

* Rainshower® 130mm handshower including Silverflex hose 1500mm
* Rainshower® 130mm, Silverflex hose 1750mm, shower rail 900mm incl. head extension arm
* Exposed thermostat, Rainshower® 160mm, Silverflex hose 1750mm, shower rail 900mm incl. head extension arm
* Built-in thermostat, Rainshower® 160mm, Silverflex hose 1750mm, shower rail 900mm incl. head extension arm

Jan-Peter Tewes, Managing Director, Grohe says:

‘How do you demonstrate to a customer that your product is as good as it gets. You have to find a way to show them that you have complete and utter faith in it and that you are completely confident that they won't be disappointed.

‘Even the best working displays in a showroom cannot recreate the actual refreshing and revitalising experience a good shower can give so we are giving people the opportunity to find out for themselves - to 'love every drop' of our Rainshower® in the comfort of their own home. And, in the very unlikely case they decide they don't want to keep their Rainshower® - we will give them their money back.

‘The GROHE Rainshower® promotion also shows our commitment to our stockists by providing them with initiatives that considerably increase the sales potential of our products.’

For more information on 'the love every drop - enjoyment guarantee' and Grohe products visit the website http://www.grohe.co.uk.

To receive Grohe’s July 2007 kitchen and bathroom product brochure please telephone 08708 488877.

Use Water Twice with the AquaCycle® from Pontos®

AquaCycle from Hansgrohe's latest subsidiary Pontos®, is an indoor water recycling system that takes water from the shower, bath and sink and recycles it for use with flushing the toilet, cleaning, washing clothes and watering gardens. The product is modular with systems that have processing capacities of between 900 and 12,000 litres per day. This allows AquaCycle to be tailored to the needs of various projects: single and multi-family homes as well as hotels and commercial enterprises. Since the introduction of AquaCycle in 2002, around 600 systems have been installed in Germany, where the company is regarded as the undisputed market leader in the recycling of grey water. Several projects are now underway in the UK, with one of the most recently completed being the Dairy Cottages in Hampshire - a project featured in the current television series of Grand Designs.

AquaCycle provides a purely mechanical-biological way of cleaning water, without the use of chemicals. Water is treated using a multi-patented system called SmartClean®, which uses four key stages. Firstly water is filtered to remove particles such as hair; this filter is electronically controlled and reversed, with remaining particles going into the sewer system. Next dirt is decomposed using bio-cultures. The third phase is another filter to remove sediment before the water passes through UV light to disinfect it for final use. The finished result is clean, storable, odourless water that conforms to the EU 76/160/EWG Directive for recreational (grey) water.The standard version, the AquaCycle 900, is designed for single family homes and consists of three pre-assembled modules that can be expanded for larger properties and commercial projects in almost any way required.

AquaCycle 900 is capable of recycling between 720-945 litres per day, making it ideal for a household of 4-6 people based on the average UK water consumption of 160 litres per person. Over time there will be economic benefits, with the average pay back period for a family of 4-5 people being ten years. The AquaCycle 900 costs around £3,290.00 (incl. VAT) Once installed, AquaCycle works silently, requires no maintenance and has self-cleaning parts. The treated water is fed through separate pipes throughout the building, the layout of which is flexible depending on needs. If the clean water storage chamber falls below a certain level, it is automatically topped up from the mains to ensure there is a reliable supply as required.

Why Recycle Water?
There is more behind the developing trend of dealing with potable (drinkable) water in a careful and efficient way than just the growing understanding of the economic and ecological benefits. Thanks to incorrect population forecasts, the existing capacities in a number of places simply are not adequate for providing the growing population with sufficient levels of potable water. One example is in London, where seawater desalination plants are intended to make up for increasing consumption.
This is true in Hamburg as well, but in contrast to the British capital, in the Hanseatic City by the Elbe they have been targeting their efforts on promoting water-saving measures for years. It is no coincidence that Hamburg is also the first German metropolis that subsidises the installation of water recycling systems upon application.

Indeed, it is difficult to understand why the best quality drinking water is used to flush the toilet, clean the house, water the garden, or is pumped into the washing machine. This is even truer in view of the high water and wastewater prices that have risen significantly in the last few years, which is why the intelligent use of the water as a resource is also sensible from an economic point of view.

AquaCycle systems provide a safe and reliable method of supplying water in comparison with using rainwater, which is dependent on weather conditions. According to average consumption statistics, bathing and showering always supply approximately the amount of recyclable water that is actually necessary for flushing the toilet, watering the garden, cleaning the house, and doing the laundry. Relying on rainwater in the summer months - which is precisely when people take more showers and the plants in the garden need more intense watering - is often not possible; whereas AquaCycle treated water is always available.

Tommy Walsh gives AquaCycle 900 the thumb's up
Hansgrohe, is the official sponsor of the Services Zone at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre in Swindon, that opened its doors to the public in February 2007. The Centre provides information about all stages of the homebuilding process including plumbing and heating and is estimating to attract up to 100,000 visitors per year.

The environment plays a major role in Hansgrohe exhibits with a demonstration of the company’s Pontos AquaCycle 900® indoor grey water recycling system and information about the company's stylish ranges of water-saving showers, taps and thermostatic mixers. At the official launch earlier this year, Tommy Walsh, arguably Britain's best known and respected builder was happy to visit the Hansgrohe exhibits and give a thumbs up to their water-saving product lines including the AquaCycle 900. Hansgrohe is proud to count Tommy among its customers, who describes Hansgrohe as the 'Rolls Royce of bathroom fittings' and recently installed a range of Hansgrohe products in his London home.

Web: http://www.pontos-aquacycle.com

Techno Takeover In British Kitchens

Often criticised as being a nation obsessed with TV dinners, Britons are taking entertainment in the kitchen to a new level with over one in four of Britons, 28% having a television or stereo in their kitchen. However, as the kitchen becomes the new hub of the household, almost as many people, 24% don't even have more traditional items such as a freezer or washing machine in their kitchen, according to the latest research from Legal & General.

With modern technology visibly encroaching on the kitchen, many households are seeing the room turn into the entertainment zone of the home and, as a result, are relegating some of the more traditional items and appliances associated with cooking and eating to other areas of the home.

Legal & General's Changing Face of British Homes' research asked a GB representative sample of over 4,000 people, what items they had in their kitchen. The results reveal a change in function for the role of the kitchen with people adapting the kitchen to suit their modern lifestyles.

Televisions in the modern kitchen are becoming a familiar sight with one in five households, 20% claiming to have one in their kitchen. TVs are particularly popular with multi generation households at 25% and these were also the least likely to have their freezer in their kitchen, 27%.

Same gender couples living together emerged as the technoholics. They are just as likely to have a stereo as they do a microwave, 23% and 24% respectively in their kitchen, and a quarter, 25% say they also have a TV.

One in ten, 10% of young professionals claim not have an oven in their kitchen and are more likely to have a stereo, 32%. In fact, overall people are more likely to have a stereo, 28% than a washing machine 25% in their kitchens.

Traditional kitchen items not in the kitchen:
Kitchen item % of kitchens without this item
Dryer 70%
Dishwasher 66%
Washing machine 25%
Freezer 24%
Microwave 12%
Fridge 7%
Cooker / Oven 6%

Garry Skelton, Marketing Director at Legal & General's general insurance business commented: ‘It is interesting to see the role of the kitchen evolving from that of its traditional association with food and cooking appliances. This clearly reflects people's increasingly diverse lifestyles. The research has unveiled an emerging trend for people to surround themselves with the technology in the kitchen that is elsewhere in the house.

‘Legal & General would advise homeowners to make sure their home contents insurance reflects these changes and is regularly updated so they have the right cover to meet their changing needs. And to not forget the value of those more traditional kitchen items, that may now be in the garage or a utility room.’

KBSA Corporate Members Networking Event Drives Forward

The next Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association corporate member networking event and dinner takes place at Ansty Hall in Coventry on November 15th.

The event begins at 4.00 pm and promises to be an informative and entertaining event under a theme of ‘Driving your Business Forward’.

New Corporate Vice Chair, Bruce Thomas will unveil his corporate vision, NAPIT Chief Executive John Andrews and Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom National Training Group CEO Renee Mascari will talk about the latest government legislation and current training initiatives.

A special guest speaker Charlie Brown, IKEA UK’s Environmental Manager will give a valuable insight into waste management, retailers influence on environmental issues and working with the supply chain.

The presentations will be followed by a display of stunning Ferrari sports cars and guests will have the opportunity to be taken for a drive. Dinner will follow with after dinner entertainment.

'We have designed the forum to offer our corporate members the opportunity to gain more from their membership – and the chance to enjoy an informal atmosphere with friends from the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom industry,' said KBSA Corporate Chair Barbara Leech.

The event is likely to be extremely popular and as places are limited members who have not yet booked are urged to do so as soon as possible – and to check availability with KBSA head office first. Booking forms can be downloaded from the KBSA website.

Web: http://www.kbsa.co.uk

Grey-water Recycling Hits the High Street as Pontos goes Live at Littlejohn

On 17-18th October 2007, Hansgrohe in association with bathroom specialists Littlejohn, launched its indoor grey-water recycling system - the Pontos AquaCycle 900.

Littlejohn is the first retailer in the UK to install a fully functioning AquaCycle allowing customers to see how the product actually works as it takes water from the newly built wellness zone, with working shower displays, and recycles it for use flushing toilets, watering the wall planters and washing the company vehicles.
Located in a specially built plant room, the AquaCycle will make significant water savings for the showroom in addition to providing a working exhibit for environmentally conscious consumers.

Littlejohn has a long-established relationship with Hansgrohe and is a 'Centre of Excellence'; meaning the showroom carries an excellent selection of Hansgrohe products from all the brands: Hansgrohe, Axor, Pharo and Pontos, and also provides outstanding service to their customers.

Visitors to the two open days were given live presentations of the AquaCycle system and the opportunity to tour the rest of the stunning two storey Littlejohn showroom with more than 68 inspiring bathroom roomsets. The newly constructed wellness zone features working walk-in showers, steam, spa baths and no less that 18 Raindance shower heads demonstrating the patented Hansgrohe air-injection technology. Drinks and refreshments will be provided throughout the day and customers and press will be invited to take part in the raffle with eco-friendly prizes including solar powered garden lights and a Hansgrohe water-saving shower handset.

The environment has been a core part of the Hansgrohe philosophy for many years and the company manufactures a wide range of high quality, design-led water-saving showers, mixers and thermostatic mixer valves. These products, alongside the Pontos AquaCycle, go a long way to proving that no compromise on design or comfort is required when it comes to conserving water in the bathroom.

Products include low-flow hand showers and models with patented air-injection that reduce water consumption, mixer taps with flow limiters or infra-red sensor operation and thermostatic shower and bath mixers that automatically restrict water flow unless the user manually further opens the valve.

Littlejohn are committed to helping the environment and have an active policy that includes motion sensor lighting and energy efficient air conditioning units in their showroom, recycling of paper, cardboard and any waste material from installations. Also in addition to grey-water recycling, the team are investigating other new technologies such as energy saving halogen lighting.

Web: http://www.pontos-aquacycle.com

Home And Garden: Domestic Spaces in Paintings from 1960 to the Present – 16th October 2007 to 3rd February 2008

This major exhibition, the final in a four-part series, will conclude the Geffrye's fascinating exploration of paintings of English urban domestic interiors and gardens from 1675 to the present day. This study has provided compelling and intimate glimpses into private worlds not often on display.

Works by both famous artists and those who are less well known will be displayed, including Carel Weight, Olwyn Bowey, Howard Hodgkin, Jean Cooke, Michael Taylor, John Pearce, Victoria Crowe, Eric Rimmington, Stuart Pearson Wright and Julian Bell.

In all of these paintings the complex nature of the English urban middle classes begins to be revealed. As a field of study, this is still relatively new. Our first Home and Garden exhibitions and catalogue broke new ground in demonstrating the value of paintings and drawings as evidence for understanding the middle classes and their homes, and here we have built on the earlier methodology and adopted new approaches suitable for the more recent works. In selecting works we have taken great care to ensure that the subjects fall within the middle-class realm, which in itself is rather difficult to define, but here includes the broad swathe of people in the middle of society. Our definition of urban includes suburbs and is mainly focused on London, but we have included major English cities and towns where a particular work makes an important point not covered by a London painting.

In each work in the Home and Garden exhibition and catalogue the sitter and/or place are identified, composition details and their hidden meanings are analysed, and key objects and their symbolism revealed, while finally the artist and oeuvre are placed in the context of their time. Reading pictures in this way provides fascinating insights into the culture, habits, tastes, values and social milieu which defined the middle classes during this period.

Admission: FREE

Address: 136 Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, London E2 8EA

Tel: 020 7739 9893
Email: info@geffrye-museum.org.uk
Web: http://www.geffrye-museum.org.uk

Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays 12 - 5pm

Travel: Buses: 67, 149, 242, 243 or 394/Tube: Liverpool Street or Old Street

Magnet’s Pick Of Christmas Appliances

Give your Christmas meal the best chance by investing in a new cooker, or why not treat yourself to the latest appliances over the festive period. Anjum Ahmed, Magnet’s Marketing and Product Director, has picked out some of the top buys this Christmas.

Steam Ovens
It’s about to get steamy in the kitchen. Emerging built-in steam ovens are either dedicated steam ovens or, the more practical, combination ovens - which allow you to either use as a normal oven or steam only. The beauty of this type of steam oven – is you can still get the crisp finish when needed as you can combine steam and heat – as well as using steam only! Another really big benefit is, thanks to the steam, the oven is significantly easier to clean – perfect for the turkey!

Self Cleaning Appliances
Making appliances easy to use and easier is ideal for the annual Christmas dinner clean up. Pyrolitic cleaning is a must have on ovens - the self-cleaning system restores the oven back to its showroom sparkle, even when the oven is twenty years old.

Compact Appliances
There is increasing demand for ‘luxury’ compact appliances, particularly for city apartments and penthouse flats. Innovative space saving appliances like the Candy Trio combines the hob, oven & dishwasher in such a stylish and functional manner that it will be the most talked about present this Christmas.

Cookware
Available in stoneware, silicone and cast iron this bold aquamarine range will look good either forming an eclectic mix with existing cookware favorites or featured alone set against a light, bright kitchen.

For further information visit http://www.magnet.co.uk or call 0845 123 6789 for store details and brochure requests.

Weeke Nesting at Neville Johnson

The name Neville Johnson needs no introduction. Through the company’s long standing and country wide advertising campaign everyone will have seen and aspired to the outstanding fitted furniture designs of great originality for studies, home offices, dens, living areas and bedrooms.

The designs are distinguished by their innovative adaptability to fit individual rooms and architectural quirks. The very nature of the furniture designs makes each project totally bespoke and different putting enormous designs on the company's high-tech manufacturing facility at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Recently, led by Operations Director Jeff Forrester, Neville Johnson undertook an in-depth evaluation of their manufacturing procedures factory efficiencies and materials flow. They sought technical partners for advice and introduction of new technology. This exercise brought them into discussions with Homag UK and area sales manager Jim Cox.

Jeff Forrester was insistent on attaining flexibility to satisfy the manufacturing process for their bespoke product - every individual piece of wood and panel produced is per customer. The upshot was that Neville Johnson and Jeff Forrester decided to move their panel sizing and processing to a nesting system (NJO) of manufacturing. Following wide consultation and intensive technical discussions with Homag UK and international Homag Group member specialist Weeke, two Weeke BHP210 gantry design CNC machining centres with O-TRIX matrix tables were ordered.

The concept was now to cut and drill all panel parts from full sheets on the two Weeke machines. Using brand new Magi-Cut Nesting software, Homag and Weeke were able to demonstrate to Neville Johnson significant efficiencies and savings which are now being fully realised at the Manchester factory. The first major advantage was being able to by-pass the investment and factory floor space in a new beam saw. Also the quality of edge cut delivered by the milling tool on the Weeke is of such quality that now pre-milling is required on the subsequent edgebanding operation.

The Magi-Cut nesting and optimisation software is highly flexible, easy to use and programme and links directly with the CNC controllers on the Weeke's so operators can call up job programmes, cutting and drilling pattern lists etc immediately. The software can also be used for estimation, quotation and design efficiency tasks.

Neville Johnson has experienced significant savings inboard material since switching to the nesting process. The whole manufacturing process from concept to completion has been made significantly faster by the whole nesting process.

Jeff Forrester says that Weeke was ultimately chosen over other manufacturers for its 'superior engineering, accuracy and the ability to link directly with the new Magi-Cut software'. He also says that the professionalism of Homag UK, and the confidence in its training, engineering and back-up teams were important in making the ultimate investment decision.

More flexibility from the new Weeke nesting processing should mean even more innovative and exciting designs from this leading British furniture manufacturer.

Holzma Doubles Output at SC Cabinets

Bolton-based SC Cabinets is a specialist manufacturer of high quality bespoke carcases for kitchens and bedrooms.

MD Sam Cooper set up the company 25 years ago and is now producing carcases for between 25 - 30 kitchens and bedrooms per week - all of them made to order and many with specific requirement concerning internal shelving and cut-outs.

Around 80% of output at SC Cabinets is supplied to the trade with the other 20% absorbed by retail customers. Both sectors are growing and the demand on production has required recent investment in a new Holzma HPP250 beam saw for accurate, fast and chip-free sizing of MFC panels. The new saw replaced an older Holzma CHF51 beam saw which had given excellent service hence SC Cabinets had no hesitation in choosing another Holzma.

The CNC controller on the saw is linked on-line to the latest version of Magi-Cut optimisation and production software - Version 8.15.

Dave Brown is Operations Manager at SC Cabinets and has previous extensive experience with the Magi-Cut system having worked with Bath Software Research and Homag UK.

‘All our cabinet sizes are different and the software allows us to input parametric data to reduce or explode dimensions as well as create cutting lists for all extra or difficult parts. Parts identification for individual orders is also processed for downstream processing on the edgebander and CNC machining centre. This new version of Magi-Cut also allows us to carry out all upstream processes like quotations and invoicing.’ explains Dave Brown.

Apart from speed and flexibility, the Holzma also brings dimensional accuracy and a superb cut quality so that edging can be directly applied to the MFC boards which are brought into the factory on a just-in-time (JIT) basis.

The dimensional accuracy is provided by the superb Holzma engineering, contactless magnetic encoding for the positioning of the programme fence and the patented ‘sharks fin’ side pressure alignment system. The chip-free cut is the result of Holzma's famous mono-rail saw carriage guidance system which ensures perfect and permanent alignment of the main and scoring blades.

Dave Brown says that the installation of the new Holzma (which replaced an older Holzma) has given a huge amount of extra capacity though its fast cycle times and has already doubled output since its installation in January.