Whirlpool and IKEA Go Global; An Agreement to Reach Millions of Customers Worldwide
Whirlpool
Europe and the IKEA group announced on June 24th the enlargement of their
current business partnership, whereby Whirlpool will provide major domestic
appliances for IKEA built-in kitchens at all IKEA stores throughout the
world.
Under the terms of the agreement, an extension of the existing European
contract with IKEA, Whirlpool will provide built-in solutions, such as
ovens, hobs, hoods, microwave ovens and other kitchen appliances.
'The signing of this agreement is a further step in our partnership with
IKEA, built up now over a period of five years, and it's a clear signal
of the shared values and trust between the two companies,' said Mike Todman,
president, Whirlpool Europe. 'Our partnership development over the coming
years will provide appliances and solutions that bring innovation and
quality to the many IKEA customers around the globe.'
'We are confident that this global partnership will improve the kitchen
offer to our customers in terms of value, quality, innovation and unique
design,' said Jesper Brodin, IKEA Business Area Manager, Kitchen and Dining.
Whirlpool Corporation is a world leading manufacturer and marketer of
major home appliances, with annual sales of $11 billion, 68,000 employees,
and nearly 50 manufacturing and technology research centers around the
globe. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Brastemp, Bauknecht,
Consul and other major brand names to consumers in more than 170 countries.
The IKEA Group has a total of 160 stores in 22 countries. Turnover for
FY 2002 was 11 billion Euro. More than 286 million people visited IKEA
stores last year and approximately 118 million copies of the IKEA catalogue
are printed annually.
Web: http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com
Zanussi-Electrolux and Ariel 'Double Up' for Wimbledon with Biggest Ever Station Spend
Zanussi-Electrolux
has joined forces with a Ariel to create an innovative campaign that has
literally taken over Southfields Tube Station and the tubes line to, and
stations from, the Wimbledon Championships from the 23 June - 6 July.
The campaign, which is part of the Ariel Championship Whites activity
featuring British No.1, Tim Henman, sees the biggest ever outdoor spend
at a LUL station.
Southfields station has been quite literally transformed; a 12ft image
of Henman (waiting for his championship whites to wash),looms over the
proceedings and a giant Zanussi-Electrolux XC6 washing machine - containing
a television screen in place of the drum - broadcasts the latest action
from the tournament. Specially built Zanussi-Electrolux washing machines
take the place of station signage, plus cross track advertising, posters,
stair advertising and a large banner outside the station. The campaign
also features at bus stops and on courtesy buses taking visitors to and
from the station to the tournament.
The activity at Southfields is supported by Ariel and Zanussi-Electrolux's
sponsorship of two underground trains on the District Line, in keeping
with the Ariel 'Championship Whites for longer ' strapline. This combined
with escalator cards and tunnel advertising at Waterloo Station is ensuring
that tennis fans in the capital are well aware of the campaign and the
brands association with tennis.
BC Sanitan Makes an Appearance at the Royal Academy of Arts
BC
Sanitan bathrooms made an appearance at the Royal Academy of Arts Summer
exhibition preview party during May and became part of a spectacular show
for celebrity guests.
Six
cast iron roll top Mark Anthony baths from B C Sanitan were selected by
the event organisers, and displayed in the exquisite courtyard entrance
to the Academy, lit with pink lights and sprayed with powerful fountains.
Models then paraded in and out of the baths in a stunningly effective
show while guests watched in amazement.
At the end of the show guests were led into the Royal Academy building
and up a large pink staircase with flamingoes, pink flamingo eggs and
'Char' ladies dressed 50's style, sweeping up pink feathers. Champagne
and canapes were waiting for guests in the ten art galleries served by
waiters wearing black ties, pink tu tu's and pink sunglasses.
Martin Mongan, Jacuzzi UK Sales Director said of the event; 'The guests
to this spectacular event were a perfect fit for the B C Sanitan bathroom
brand from Jacuzzi UK. Our thanks must go to Ripples Mayfair who recommended
our product to the Royal Academy of Arts.'
B C Sanitan is a collection of traditional and classically styled bathrooms
and one of the Jacuzzi UK product brands. It is available from specialist
bathroom retailer's nationwide.
Tel: 01782-717175
Web: http://www.jacuzziuk.com
Kohler
Co. Launches Fleet of Four Customised Trucks Outfitted with Kitchen and
Bath Products and Demos
'Complete
Design Solutions' programme takes the Kohler product story to its customers'
doorsteps. Strengthening its relationship with trade professionals while
maintaining a consistent Kohler brand message, Kohler Co., a global leader
in kitchen and bath design, has launched a year-long 'Complete Design
Solutions' cross-country road trip in four custom-built trucks outfitted
with a variety of Kohler kitchen and bath products.
The new vehicles enable Kohler sales representatives to take their product
benefits stories directly to customers, including home builders, remodellers,
plumbing contractors, architects and designers.
'Complete Design Solutions is a new level of commitment to our customers
to reinforce the product quality, engineering excellence, and design innovation
for which we are known,' said Doug Bocchini, director of fixtures marketing
for Kohler.
The programme allows Kohler to meet face-to-face with its customers at
their places of business, showrooms, or job sites to demonstrate the features
and benefits of the company's various kitchen and bath products.The onboard
interactive product demonstrations should also prove invaluable during
product training sessions and promotional events.
Whether they’re interested in seeing whirlpool installation techniques,
testing the performance of Kohler's innovative Ingenium™ gravity-fed
flushing system, installing a faucet, trying out new cast iron cleaner,
or doing a sound comparison on a stainless steel sink, they can do it
all onboard the Kohler Complete Design Solutions truck.
An array of working products reinforce the benefits of Kohler’s focus
categories:
* cast iron and stainless steel kitchen sinks
* toilet technology featuring the Ingenium flushing system
* ProFlex™ whirlpool baths
* bathroom and kitchen faucets Videos, graphics, and literature support
the product displays.
Hands-on demonstrations enable customers to test and check product performance
for themselves.
The truck's exterior features a deep blue color with oversized lifestyle
images and bold Kohler Complete Design Solutions graphics to help identify
the programme as the trucks make scheduled stops within Kohler’s
West, South, East and Midwest sales regions throughout the year. Each
truck holds a 220-gallon tank to supply water for the working demonstrations.
Onboard Kohler generators power the lighting and climate control systems.
'Complete Design Solutions tells the whole story,' says Bocchini. 'It
provides a one-stop shop for the Kohler brand that not only showcases
the features of our products, but more importantly, the benefits for our
customers.'
Web: http://www.us.kohler.com
Water Droplet Falls on 100% Design
A
new tap collection deslgned by Mark Humphrey Ltd will be launched at 100%
Design in Earls Court in September by British bathroom brassware supplier
Water Front. The mh1 range designed by 'Enfant Terrible' lnterior Designer
Mark Humphrey himself, has 'all the elements of sexy, modern elegance
with sleek design combined wlth the visual simplicity of a water droplet
and each piece of the collection takes on this ergonomic natural form'.
Mark Humphrey and Water Front have spent three years in collaboration
researching and developing this collection. This entirely new essential
bathroom range includes single basin mixers, tower basin mixers and both
deck and wall mounted taps; and Water Front has overcome difficult manufacturing
constraints to produce Mark Humphrey's original designs to the highest
quality, cast in brass and finished in polished and stain chrome.
Mark Humphrey says, 'The wafer droplet shape seemed a natural form to
take for a bathroom design. I wanted fo do something modern, sexy and
timeless. The interaction between touch and sexual experience.'
Chris Wilson, owner of Water Front added, 'This exciting project has provided
us with many challenges. but we are thrilled wiih the innovative products
that have resulted from our collaboration with Mark.'
Tel : 0121 520 5346
Email : mailto:waterfront@btconnect.com
Web : http://www.waterfrontbathrooms.com
Electrolux
Repairmen even Respond to Calls from the Antarctic - Without Charge out
Rates
Electrolux
is launching the world's first customer 'hotline' for home appliances
in Antarctica. The system, based on computer diagnostics technology, is
designed to ensure optimal performance of the 28 Electrolux appliances
at two research bases on the world's loneliest continent.
With the inland research base Concordia being effectively cut off from
civilisation during the harsh winter months when temperatures can drop
below -80ºC, the hotline will allow the station's engineer to seek customer
support directly from Electrolux. Through a serial port, the appliances
provide a full analysis and report to the specially designed laptop computer.
This is then bundled into an e-mail and supplied directly to Electrolux
engineers, who will provide online support and advice in return.
'The technology utilised for this form of customer support is an innovative
solution to ensure the appliances are well supported at all times. Our
aim is to make life as easy as possible for the researchers on the bases,'
states Per Gosta Öster, Product Manager at Electrolux.
The donation by Electrolux of the appliances, including washing machines
and dishwashers demonstrates the company's commitment to environmental
research. Electrolux is supplying these and the 'hotline' system to ensure
that the scientists' time is spent researching the environment not fixing
the dryer. In addition, all of the appliances are rated A in terms of
energy efficiency and have been specifically selected for their durability,
sound environmental and technically advanced performance, and are being
delivered with water purification units to ensure minimal waste.
The research centre is expected to be completed in the summer of 2004
and ready to house 16 people during the winter of 2005. In summer months,
up to 30 researchers will inhabit the station. Scientists from around
the world will conduct advanced research at Concordia in a wide range
of areas; including astronomy, glaciology and the ozone layer.
In all, 28 appliances have reached the coastal facilility Terra Nova Bay.
Of these 12 will be supplied to Concordia when the Antarctic winter settles
in late October 2003. Electrolux will additionally deliver professional
appliances in the near future to equip the base's kitchen.
Per Gosta Öster says: 'We are delighted that our products will be
helping to make life a little more comfortable and help ensure a safer
environment. In this unforgiving place, basic distractions andinconveniences
can easily become life-threatening dangers. With that, Electrolux continues
to provide innovative, trusted solutions for an easier, more enjoyable
life.'
Web: http://www.electrolux.com
Outstanding Growth Results in Management Reshuffle and New Appointments
The
Nottingham based appliance manufacturer The CDA Group LTD, has made some
significant management changes and new appointments following exceptional
growth over the last year.
New
appointments include:
40 year old Martyn Cobb as Technlcal Manager, a position which makes him
responsible for all technical issues, quality control and spares. Martyn
was previously with Belling Appliances for eight years. Outside of work
he enjoys motor sport, cycling and DIY.
Robbie Bryan as Director of Cwstomer Services and Product Quality. Robbie
has
spent the last ten years Director - After Sales Division of Belling Appliances/Morphy
Richards/Goblin/Burco. Robbie is reputed to like fast cars and fast service
call response times!
In senior management changes, Bill Dunn becomes Sales & Operations
Director, covering the internal and external sales teams together with
distribution and warehousing. Bill, who is 50 and married with two teenagers,
is a keen sportsmen, and brings his own form of stress relief to the office
everyday, in the form of his chocolate coloured Labrador, Harry!
Sam Gibbs who has been with CDA for three years, has been made Sales Office
Manager for the internal sales team. Prior to working for CDA Sam was
with Barclays Bank for ten years. 36 year old Sam says her hobbies include
travel, cooking and reading.
Tel: 0115 970 0111
Email: mailto:sales@cda-europe.com
Web: http://www.cda-europe.com
In-toto
is opening a new showroom on Islington's Upper Street, bringing its' design,
supply and fit to this part of London. Franchisees Andy Davies and Sally
Johnston have many years experience in the kitchen business and take real
pleasure in customer service.
Although due to open in August, you can take advantage of 'early bird'
offers by contacting Andy on 0207 354 5446
FSC Mahogany from John Boddy Timber
John
Boddy Timber's Riverside Sawmills at Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire currently
hold stocks of FSC Certified Central American Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla),
being the same species as Brazilian Mahogany, for inspection and dispatch
to anywhere in the UK.
While available in all thicknesses, current stocks are particularly high
in 1 inch boards. The shipments of FSC Certified Central American Mahogany
complement John Boddy Timber's stocks of imported FSC Certified European
and North American hardwoods, particularly Oak, Beech and Ash which are
available in thicknesses of up to 2 inches with thicker stock available
on order.
John Boddy Timber is an upholder of the FSC principle and the associated
Chains of Custody and also looks forward to closely observing and supplying
hardwoods according to the impending Pan European Chain of Custody (PEFC).
Tel: 01423 322370
Fisher
& Paykel Win the Design & Decoration Award for Best Kitchen Product
Fisher
& Paykel scooped the Design & Decoration Award 2003, in the Best
Kitchen Product category, for the Double DishDrawer® with the integrated
water softener in an Iridium finish. The award was presented by Kevin
McCloud and Nina Campbell, celebrity interior designers, to Fisher &
Paykel Marketing Manager UK, Richard St John, at a glittering awards dinner
at the Guild Hall in London. The judges described DishDrawer® as a
'unique, yet delightfully uncomplicated concept'.
Richard said, 'although we at Fisher & Paykel know how deserved DishDrawerR
is of this award it's an honour for it to be recognised within the industry.
We are sure that this will be the first of many awards in the UK'
The changing lifestyles of families have played a pivotal role in the
design of Fisher & Paykel's products as consumers increasingly look
for flexibility, intelligence and integration in home appliances. With
the kitchen now 'family central' in many households, DishDrawer®,
the dishwasher in a drawer, offers convenient usage and styling options
that provide solutions to the lifestyle challenges facing today's families.
Fisher & Paykel Marketing Manager, Richard St John, said that to be
truly effective and convenient today's appliances must meet consumer needs
that didn't exist five years ago. 'Fisher & Paykel appliances solve
everyday problems that exist in households of all sizes. Everyone's squeezed
for time, family dinners are more of a treat than a tradition and eating
together doesn't mean everyone's eating the same thing. Our appliances
must be efficient and adaptable, and they must look good too since consumers
are spending more at-home time and more time entertaining around the kitchen
area.'
Richard added that even though the best-designed appliances can't generate
time, they can save time. 'Our DishDrawer® revolutionised the dishwasher
industry because we didn't allow ourselves to be limited by traditional
thinking; instead we looked ahead and predicted consumers' needs and wants,'
said Richard.
The winner of numerous design awards around the globe, to which is now
added the Design & Decoration award in the UK, the DishDrawer®,
now in its third derivative, has proved its merit well beyond the kitchen.
Installed as a two-drawer dishwasher with independently operating drawers,
or as a separate single-drawer unit, the DishDrawer® can be installed
anywhere dishes are used, from wet bars to pool and patio areas. The appliance
has become sought after among boat and recreational vehicle designers
and owners alike, as its size and flexibility allows it to be easily incorporated
into unusual spaces, like underneath a sink.
In addition to its many technological and convenience features, the DishDrawer®
has also been certified Kosher in the USA by Los Angeles-based Rabbi Yehudah
Bukspan, as it accommodates dietary laws that require separate dishwashers
for meat and dairy products.
The DishDrawer® comes in white, stainless steel and it can be fully
integrated into a kitchen where it appears to be just another drawer until
opened. Individual drawers are designed to hold six place settings and
the internal racks are easily adjustable, allowing homeowners to rearrange
them according to their specific needs. The DishDrawer® uses as little
as 7.5 litres of water per drawer load and offers nine different wash
cycles.
Tel: 0845 600 1934.
Web: http://www.fisherpaykel.co.uk
Whirlpool
Names Roy Templin Vice President and Controller
Whirlpool
Corporation announced on 16th June the appointment of Roy Templin as vice
president and controller, effective July 1st.
Templin, 42 years old, comes to Whirlpool from Kimball International,
Inc., the Jasper, Indiana-based manufacturer of furniture and contract
electronic products, where he was vice president of finance and the company's
chief accounting officer. He joined Kimball in 1991 as assistant corporate
controller, and was promoted to corporate controller in 1995 and to vice
president and corporate controller in 1997.
Before joining Kimball, Templin worked for Cummins Engine Company, NCR
Corp. and the then accounting firm Price Waterhouse.
'It's a pleasure to welcome Roy Templin to Whirlpool,' said R. Stephen
Barrett, Whirlpool's executive vice president and chief financial officer.
'He brings two decades of experience in the financial arena with top companies,
and we look forward to the immediate impact of his leadership and knowledge.'
Whirlpool Corporation is a leading manufacturer and marketer of major
home appliances, with annual sales of over $11 billion, 68,000 employees,
and nearly 50 manufacturing and technology research centers around the
globe. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Brastemp, Bauknecht,
Consul and other major brand names to consumers in more than 170 countries.
Web: http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com
Cancellation
of Repurchased Shares and Reduction of Share Capital Completed
The decision by the Annual General Meeting to cancel 14,612,580 previously
repurchased B-shares has now been implemented. The cancellation involves
a reduction of the share capital by SEK 73,062,900, and enables Electrolux
to repurchase additional shares.
Additionally, the 14,612,580 C-shares that the AGM decided to issue to
Svenska Handelsbanken in order to accelerate the procedure for reducing
the share capital have been redeemed at par value, SEK 5, plus interest.
The reduction involves the transfer of SEK 73,062,900 from unrestricted
equity to the company's statutory reserves, part of restricted equity.
Following this reduction, the company's share capital consists of 10,000,000
A-shares and 314,100,000 B-shares, in total 324,100,000 shares. After
repurchase on May 16th of 400,000 shares, Electrolux owns 9,008,172 previously
repurchased B-shares, corresponding to 2.8% of the total number of shares.
The AGM in April 2003 authorised the Board of Directors to acquire and
transfer own shares during the period up to the next AGM. Shares of series
A- and/or B may be acquired on condition that after each transaction the
company owns a maximum of 10% of the total number of shares.
The Electrolux Group is a world producer of powered appliances for kitchen,
cleaning and outdoor use, such as refrigerators, washing machines, cookers,
vacuum cleaners, chainsaws, lawn mowers, and garden tractors. Every year,
customers in more than 150 countries buy more than 55 million Electrolux
Group products for both consumer and professional use sold under famous
brands such as AEG, Electrolux, Zanussi, Frigidaire, Eureka and Husqvarna.
In 2002, Electrolux had sales of SEK 133.2 billion and 82,000 employees.
ASFI
Members' and Buyers' Guide 2003
ASFI's
latest Members' Directory and Buyers' Guide has recently been widely distributed
to over 2000 UK Furniture Manufacturers. In previous years, it has proved
an excellent point of reference for companies sourcing supplies.
The Guide lists all ASFI members and the products they produce and is
more user friendly than ever before!
ASFI
has alsojust issued another copy of its Newsletter, Trade Talk.
ASFI is a strong Trade Association and this issue will be of interest
to everyone in the furniture supplies industry.
Copies and details of membership can be requested by contacting ASFI direct
on 01423 530586 or visit the website http://www.asfi.org.
For more information on the ASFI 2004 at the NEC visit the show website
http://www.asfi-expo.co.uk
No
Need to Tiptoe with Wedi Non-Step
wedi
Systems
Non-Step sound deadening boards provide the perfect quiet solution for
noise insulation. Ideal for hotels, flats and commercial buildings when
it is important to keep noise levels to a minimum, wedi Non-Step offers
the ideal impact sound deadening substrate for ceramic and floating timber
floors.
Ian Fyfe, Managing Director of wedi, commented: 'wedi Non-Step impact
sound deadening boards have proved themselves to be reliable, hard-wearing
and easy to lay, having been thoroughly tested in extremely varied conditions'.
wedi Non-Step Pur is the ideal sound deadening substrate for floating
floors such as ready made laminate, however, with wedi Non-Step Plan and
wedi Nonstep Plus tiles can be laid on the impact sound deadening substrate.
The wedi Non-Step Plus is intended for rigid, level sub-floors and offers
additional heat insulation. It consists of a 6mm sound deadening recycled
rubber material bonded to a 6mm wedi Building Board, considerably reducing
noise even under ceramic tiles.
Tiling can be done directly onto the board without any preliminary treatment
after all-over reinforcement with 600mm wide reinforcement tape. If the
floor is uneven, however, it must be levelled out first.
wedi Non-Step Plan is used if the floor is slightly uneven. In the product
the rubber sound deadening material is coated with a special flexible
mineral sealing slurry. It is particularly effective with old wooden floors,
screed or concrete and old tile floors. The installed height is only 6mm
wedi Non-Step sound deadening boards are available from selected merchants
and stockists.
Contact: Vicki Fyfe
Tel: 01706 647333
Email: mailto:vicki@wedi.co.uk
Web: http://www.wedi.co.uk
Cabinet
Vision Software - Simple, Fast, Profitable
Cabinet
Vision's new 3.5 version of its already powerful Solid software incorporates
many of the additional features requested by its furniture and woodworking
users.
It ensures that this design and production, 'screen to machine' software
provides further cost-beneficial advantages.
The company's Solid software already incorporated such features as automatic
production of accurate cut lists, bills of material, job costing during
design, and machine-ready codes direct from designs - ensuring instant,
precisely accurate production on CNC machinery.
The main new features centre on door design and production - now with
greater scope and flexibility - plus dimensioning and CAD layering.
Door production is enhanced and the door catalogue interface made more
user-friendly. There are further aids to designing and machining. For
example, in the door shaping process, a door may be manually shaped and
use the rail and stile properties of the selected door design.
In addition, the template doors section, previously denoted as 'routed
MDF doors', has been expanded. There is a sloped door template, especially
suitable for cabinets built to match a slope. Another, the bump door template,
is ideal for a cut-in sink.
Template doors can now be built as a 'slab' with a routed pattern or as
a multi-piece stile and rail door.
The layers in 3.5 enable items to be drawn on different layers that may
be turned 'off' (i.e. made invisible) or 'locked' (visible but not subject
to editing).
Easy to introduce, apply and operate, Cabinet Vision software provides
increases in productivity levels for furniture and woodworking manufacturers
while easily handling the most complex design and production demands,
whether it's long or short runs, or even one-offs.
http://www.cabinetvision.co.uk