KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
10th November 2017
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 International News
Products Roca to showcase the new Armani/Roca Baia collection at Sleep 2017
Add style to any kitchen with the Blanco Envoy tap
The elegant Envoy tap boasts a sweeping swan neck and a tall spout, while the single lever control and high-pressure supply ensures a practical and powerful flow. Its ceramic disc cartridge improves performance and longevity. British Ceramic Tile reinvents the classic metro tile with its latest V&A collaboration
Fall in love with The Amore from Triton
'Sleep Easy' with Springfield Bedroom Furniture by Daval
Primitive kitchen: back to basics with Hi-Macs
Bushboard set to change perception of bathroom wall panelling
Häfele adds the ingenious Schüco Smartcube to its UK portfolio
Launched at the ISH show this year, and available now, Mya takes its inspiration from the wooden clothes horse of yesteryear, featuring light, open pieces in natural or dark grey matt oak veneer, themed around hanging rails and practical drawers. Matching matt basins are available in white and stunning dramatic black. Utopia continues quest for modular dominance
Its fourth product launch this year, the new Halo range has a host of new features, additional units and a palette of six new on-trend colours. Supported by inspirational photography reflecting the latest home interior styles, the new range is very realistically priced to target a younger audience wanting stylish British quality products at affordable prices. Abode adds new 'on-trend' colour to Harmonie bathroom range
Bath remodelling expert introduces exclusive anti-mould and mildew technology
Kitchen design looks pretty in pink with Masterclass
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Sadly, another couple and their children have had their lives changed drastically thanks to a tumble drier fire which devastated their home and killed their cats. And as they weren't insured, it's not just psychological issues they'll have to deal with... I gather the appliance was around 10 years old but had appeared to be in good working order. This begs the question: How old is too old when it comes to an appliance? Further, should some appliances be automatically scrapped after a certain period, or even built to automatically disable themselves after a set number of uses, for safety's sake? I bought my first dryer a couple of years ago when my washing machine started to fail. We could live with some programmes no longer working but when the thing stopped spinning properly I realised it had to go. My daughters had been on at me for years to buy a tumble dryer but as there's no room for one I opted for a washer dryer. As I'd never used a drying programme, the first time I tried it I used what I believed would be the coolest dry - wool. And instead of letting it go through the full cycle I turned it off after 10 minutes. The machine and contents were, surprisingly, very hot. My barely-used poly-cotton duvet set had gone thin and see-through and looked decades old and my whites - washed so many times without issue - were dyed blue in places. As you may imagine, I've not used the dryer part of my machine since, so it turned out to be an expensive buy - but at least I still have my house! Now I'm wondering whether I shouldn't be using the machine at all... Experts have said that no-one should leave a tumble dryer running when they're out. If this is good advice, it's a little worrying as it's almost admitting that the appliance is unsafe. I wonder... How much maintenance information is provided in most manuals? Is the need to regularly empty filters given enough prominence or is it buried under installation instructions and several language sections back? Is the English understandable and the diagrams clear? These crucial points should be checked by manufacturers. Going further, should we consider supplying machines with warning stickers on the front, or even as part of the controls themselves? Or can an automatic filter-emptying feature be incorporated? More clearly needs to be done, but what? Yours,
 This Week's News
Bathroom & Kitchen Business Conference: Who said you can't mix business with pleasure?
The annual event has been designed to expand the minds of its delegates and this year the organiser exceeded expectations. Methven extends Aurajet range with new collection: Rua features unique square handset
Featuring Methven's patented Aurajet technology, the new Rua collection showcases an all new square handset design, enabling customers to enjoy Aurajet's immersive showering experience with a bold new aesthetic. The range consists of four products - a standalone handset, rail shower, hand shower and cool-to-touch bar mixer.
The Chelsea range, which was added to Benchmarx's portfolio earlier this year, has been nominated in both the 'Best Kitchen' and 'Dream Kitchen' categories, the latter of which will be voted for by the readers of the magazine. Impey announces 2018 'We Are Wetrooms' training tour dates
British Ceramic Tile extends its feature floor collection with the launch of Retro
Carron Phoenix launches Value Deals sink and tap promotion
"When we say 1,950 colours, we mean 1,950 colours"
To add extra design flexibility, each colour comes in three lacquer choices - a mid-sheen Silk Gloss, ultra shiny High Gloss and a modern flat Matt Structured lacquer. Binopolis introduces rebranded Vauth-Sagel range of high-quality in-cupboard bins
Perfect for those who want to keep their bin hidden behind closed doors and make the most of their cupboard space, premium German brand Vauth-Sagel's integrated bins are easy to fit into existing kitchen units or can be incorporated into a new kitchen scheme. Lec launches 55 and 60cm Combi Collections - Includes four Total No Frost fridge freezers
The 60cm collection features three SKUs across two models. The TNF60186 and TNF60187 are both 188cm tall, A+ combis with 40dBA noise rating and 15 hours of power cut safe time and feature Total No Frost technology, which means fans distribute cooler air evenly inside the appliance to prevent the accumulation of ice or frost on the walls or food. Smart winners will be safer in seconds @registermyappliance.org.uk
Appliance owners who take the few minutes on their smartphone, tablet or PC, to use www.registermyappliance.org.uk to register their old and new appliances, will improve their home safety and increase their chances of winning valuable prizes. Insinkerator presents new Showroom Collection brochure
The Collection range is available through exclusive distribution partners and has been created and designed for kitchen showrooms. The KBzine Archive Search We keep an extensive archive of news stories and product information that have featured in past issues of The KBzine. If you would like to run a search of the The KBzine web site using the search tool below please just go ahead by entering in the name of the person, product or company or any other key words that you are looking for. How to contact us at The KBzine:
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SBID Awards 2017 winners revealed
 Blanco revisits Kitchen Design student one year after sponsorship
Nominations open for Tile Trader's 'Tiling for a Good Cause' campaign
New report reveals acquisition targets
People
Lakes Bathrooms appoints new sales & marketing director
Marketing
New-look Geberit website offers a more user-friendly experience
Literature
Available now: Maurice Lay Distributors new trade price guide
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