EU Policymakers weigh options for water pricing

Putting a price on water is essential to encourage savings but EU policymakers are cautious not to spark a social backlash with a one-size-fits-all solution. "Pay more if you use more" is, however, a model which could work, the MEP in charge of water issues told EurActiv.
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Urban Life from Hafele

Offering the latest fresh and striking handle designs, the Urban collection from Hafele includes a series of knobs, bar, inset and D handles formed from such materials as wood, wood and metal combinations, plastic, leather and acrylic.

This variety of contemporary designs incorporates elements of soft curves and straight lines bringing natural and man-made materials into the home.
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Hafele's new Kato handle range is fast and easy to fit

The new and exclusive collection of Kato profile handles launched by Hafele is an innovative under worktop handle for standard cabinet design that is easy to fix without the need for routing channels into the carcase.
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Hettich opens the way to better sliding doors

Practicality, performance and style meet in three ingenious and robust sliding door mechanisms now available from Hettich UK. Inline P, TopLine 22 and TopLine M offer special features for particular two/three-door applications, such as flush closing, 'silent' soft close and opening/sliding options on the same cabinet design, creating the option to upgrade to sliding doors as a retrofit.
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A winning combination

On The Level, the UK's manufacturer of concealed wet floor shower trays, has been working alongside Geberit to produce an innovative and complete wet room system.
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Vado sponsors World Cycle Tour

Vado is sponsoring Phil Saunders and Tom Nelson, aka Daring Dynamos, on a cycle ride around the world! The epic journey is in aid of War Child, which provides life-changing support to the most vulnerable children whose families, communities and schools have been torn apart by war.

Daring Dynamos are planning to visit some of Vado's international customers during the tour, which is expected to last approximately two years. 
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Karonia launches new Mistral brochure

Karonia has launched a new lifestyle brochure to showcase the recently extended Mistral range of 25mm solid surface worktops. The 16 page brochure captures the incredible versatility of Mistral through a series of real-life kitchen installations, highlighting the virtually unlimited creative potential of this practical and adaptable material.
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LDL new website

Unveiled at kbb 2012, the easy to navigate site  presents the entire LDL stock range of over 3,500 products in a readily accessible format, allowing customers to order online, view their order history and current balance, and check stock. New product innovations are highlighted prominently on the site and there is also an e-gallery so that images can be downloaded for use on retailers’ own websites or in their promotional material. For user convenience, technical information and product installation videos can also be accessed via the site, along with a section dedicated to clearance items.
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Leisure Sinks range installed in Stratford Halo Project

More than 400 inset, fully reversible stainless steel Euroline EL9501 sinks and a combination of Aquaflux TFL1CM and Aquadisc TAD2CM taps from Leisure Sinks are being installed within the landmark Stratford Halo project. The development features seven blocks of between seven and 43 storeys, and includes the pioneering Halo Tower, which will be one of the tallest residential blocks in Europe.
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Gorenje sponsors BTCC Pro racing driver

Gorenje, has announce its sponsorship of the 2012 British Touring Car Championship with driver Andrew Jordan, who races with Pirtek racing team.
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New brand launch: Live Life The Mereway

A coffee is just a coffee, right?

An instant coffee is just that, instantly made and instantly forgotten, but a coffee that has had time, passion and effort lavished on it is a coffee to be savoured, enjoyed and never forgotten.

This is the philosophy behind the new Mereway Kitchens brand. There are kitchens and then there are Mereway kitchens. An ethos captured in the new strapline 'Live Life The Mereway'.
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Bosch and Methven back UK Water Efficiency Awards 2012

Domestic appliance manufacturer Bosch and global designer and manufacturer of premium showers and tapware, Methven UK, have joined forces to back the UK Water Efficiency Awards 2012.
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British Ceramic Tile joins 'Great British' celebrations this Summer unveiling plans for change

This summer there's no better time to celebrate being the best of British and to commemorate this momentous occasion, British Ceramic Tile has announced a series of key changes as the company implements its ambitious plan to become a one-stop super shop for all tile, stone and glass products.
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New fridge-freezers: fresher colours, fresher ingredients

Glossy red, chocolate brown, lime green and ebony black stainless steel fridge freezers from Electrolux are designed to give any kitchen a lift. While the others are painted, the ebony black model gets its colour from a clever finishing process, which facilitates a true colour stainless steel.
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Total support for specifiers

Anyone needing to specify tiling can do so with complete confidence, thanks to the total support offered free by BAL. The popular name in professional tile adhesives and grouts, renowned for setting standards in tiler training, makes its expertise freely available to specifiers.
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Zesty Zurich for fabulous drinking water

Franke has updated its Pro-Value portfolio with the innovative new two lever FilterFlow Zurich model, for filtered water at an affordable premium.
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EQ launches new 2D Planner for eStore

KBB business management systems and eCommerce solutions provider EQ Software, introduces MyRoomPlan - an exciting brand new 2D Planning Tool. This product will enhance EQ's already successful eStore product and is available exclusively as an additional sales & marketing element for furniture and bathrooms.
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Concealed dual flow heads come in two styles

Cifial's new Dual Flow Concealed Heads come in a square or rectangular option. These spectacular shower heads have two water inlets, one to feed the waterfall function, the other for the rain spray. This enables the user to have the choice of just the waterfall, or the rain spray, or for a more vigorous shower have both options on at the same time.
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Home owners want more storage? Here's a solution!

According to new Ipsos MORI research by the Royal Institute of British Architects consumers are looking for more storage to accommodate for the lack of space across their entire home. IronmongeryDirect understands that space is often at a premium and can provide the latest in storage options to help create a neat and tidy look.
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Franke develops useful 'Trade Area' for retailers

In response to feedback from retailers, Franke has developed a new 'Trade Area' on the company's website - specially designed for Franke trade customers.

Franke is the leading global manufacturer of sinks for domestic use and has a 100-year heritage so retailers can be assured that, in specifying a Franke sink, they will be giving customers the best quality, best design and the reassurance of a 50-year guarantee.
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Figures show public sector house building still low, but private sector making progress

Figures released today by NHBC have shown public sector registrations to build new homes in the UK are still below last year's figures.
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An opportunity for the industry to get involved with transforming neglected London dock into 'creative hub'?

Thames Water has donated 2.5 acres of property in a bid to help a new property-focused crowdfunding website raise thousands of pounds to transform a neglected London dock into a creative hub ahead of the Olympics.
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Annual Bathroom Conference: booking now

Bookings are now being taken for the Annual Bathroom Conference, which is taking place on 9th October at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire and is open to everyone in the KBB Industry.

The Bathroom Manufacturers Association's Yvonne Orgill tells us that places are filling up - so do book soon to make sure you don't miss on this popular event, which promises to be even better than last year
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Dimplex launches online guide to green energy

We knew Dimplex was an expert in electric heating, but what we didn't know is that it is also a market leader in renewable energy solutions, with what the company says is the widest range of heat pumps available in the UK. Now the company is sharing its expertise with the launch of a handy new website to guide everyone through all the green heating and hot water options that are available.
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Apollo continues to drive safety message home

As one of the UK's largest retailers of made-to-measure blinds and shutters, Apollo Blinds is at the forefront of the industry's efforts to raise awareness of dangers relating to looped blind cords and is launching a campaign to drive the message home.
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Smart Systems' free online sales enquiry, quoting & ordering facility is seriously faster!

Due to the increasing uptake by retailers creating the need for larger storage facilities, KBBConnect, by Smart Systems, has now upgraded to a more advanced Cloud hosting service provider. In addition to significantly increasing individual storage capacity, add yet further layers of security and give even greater reliability, it can also provide Internet connection speeds up to 50 times faster.
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Scotland welcomes KBSA at successful regional meeting

The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association has held a well-attended regional meeting in Scotland that was hosted by corporate member Carron Phoenix.
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Are you ready for an inspection?

Following recent news that the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is launching a series of surprise inspections on high risk work environments, workplace equipment provider Slingsby has compiled a checklist to help businesses stay on the right side of the law.
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The Kitchen & Bedroom Showroom, Bournemouth, 'very responsible'

The Furniture Ombudsman has highlighted The Kitchen & Bedroom Showroom as a kitchen retailer that is acting as a very responsible retailer within the Bournemouth area.
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Ian Kershaw appointed TTA Chairman

At the Annual General Meeting held on 21st April 2012, Ian Kershaw was elected Chairman of the Tile Association. In taking over the chair from Ian Crowther, Ian Kershaw said that he was looking forward to taking the Association forward over the next two years.
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Building contractor fined after carpenter's fingers severed

A Tower Hamlets-based building contractor has been fined after a worker's hand was severely injured by an unguarded power tool.
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Andrew Bentley joins Ambiance Bain as UK National Sales Manager

Andrew Bentley has joined Ambiance Bain as UK National Sales Manager, reporting to the Sales & Marketing Director, Nygel G. McCormac. He replaces Nicola Tomlinson, who will return in an alternative senior sales & marketing role next year, following her maternity leave.
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ECF strengthens sales & marketing teams

East Midlands based furniture components manufacturer and distributor ECF has strengthened its Sales & Marketing teams with key appointments both internally and externally. The appointments serve to further reinforce ECF as a nationwide supplier to the UK furniture industry and provide its customers with increased service levels.
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