KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
28th January 2021
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Franke angry at lack of support for UK manufacturing
Franke Sissons, which has been manufacturing for over 230 years, has headed a hard-hitting parliamentary discussion to outline the lack of surveillance for genuine CE Marking, required by UK law, on products fitted in commercial buildings.
Franke Sissons employs the majority of its staff from the Derbyshire area and says it could expand its business and create even more employment opportunities if mandatory proof of CE Marking at tender stage was instigated.
The company, based at Carrwood Rd, Chesterfield, has solicited the support of local MP Toby Perkins and the industry body that supports manufacturing in the bathroom industry, The Bathroom Manufacturers Association, to host a hard hitting briefing session for MP's in Westminster.
Aiming to highlight the obvious shortfalls of legislation that currently goes completely unchecked, the briefing detailed to MPs how contractors are regularly substituting unlawful and inferior products in the final fit, through either lack of knowledge in the law or in ignorance for the cheapest option.
Franke Sissons' managing director, Andy Dukelow, explains: "This is a problem right across the building industry - not just in our sector. Without a CE Mark on products for bathrooms and washrooms, consumers may endure scalding injuries, product failure under load and ultimately products will fail completely; there is no back up and absolutely no guarantee.
"Those manufacturers and suppliers who have made the investment to comply with what is actually a law; not just a guideline, will continue to be undercut by non-conforming companies, putting UK jobs at risk.
"I am personally deeply frustrated by the slow pace of understanding at Government level, this is a UK law, and one of the few that could offer UK business a tangible level of support and actually add longevity to cash savings to the British taxpayer."
Image: from left - Andrew Dukelow, managing director, Franke Sissons; David Osborne, managing director of Roman Showers and president of the BMA; Toby Perkins, MP for Chesterfield, and Yvonne Orgill, chief executive of the BMA, at a briefing session for MPs in Westminster.
MPs that also attended were: Sir Gerald Holwarth - MP for Aldershot, Paul Farrelly - MP for Newcastle under Lyme, Phil Wilson - MP for Sedgefield, Rosie Winterton - Opposition Chief Whip, Rachel Reeves - Labour MP for Leeds West, Caroline Flint - Labour MP for Don Valley, Doncaster and Natasha Engel - MP for North East Derbyshire.
27th March 2015