KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
5th April 2013
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 International News
Products Sense the difference with Britannia: All-new range cooker collection revealed
Whirlpool named one of Fortune's World's most admired companies for third time The Whirlpool Corporation has been recognised as one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in the Home Equipment, Furnishings industry sector. The company finished first in this sector for the third year in a row.
Millions won't be celebrating World Water Day Half of humans lack safe drinking water, while competition for water from agriculture and industry could put more people at risk in years to come, says a Portuguese lawyer who is the United Nations' independent advocate for the right to water. Catarina de Albuquerque, speaking ahead of World Water Day earlier today, said the official UN figure - 800 million - doesn't provide a full picture of water poverty, estimating that some 3.5 billion people lack a safe supply. Make valuable space in the kitchen with InSinkErator
One-for-all from Britton Bathrooms
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As someone who works from home and who also seems to always have a houseful of people, was interesting to see that ‘Effortless Cleaning’ was one of the categories in this year’s global Electrolux Design Lab competition - and while I’ve not yet had a chance to look at all of the 1700 submissions, one that I have seen is ‘Smart-Floor’. Considered by the judges to be amongst the 100+ best ideas, Smart-Floor is a self-cleaning, anti-slip, three-ply floor with in-built bacteria repellent, which is also porous to allow spillages to drip through where they are absorbed by a material in the core. A vacuum system powered by solar panels and installed in the skirting boards provides constant suction power through special fins, sucking up dust in the air and thus cleaning the air in the room. I was thinking that while the competition is still in its early stages, it could just be that a product such as this could end up winning and thus go into manufacture, perhaps one day changing the world of cleaning as we know it. I've often wondered what the world might look like in the future, but have to confess that I'd never really thought about the cleaning side of it. This competition has now got me wondering and I'm really looking forward to checking out some of the other designs that have been put forward. As they say, "Watch this space!"
Yours,
This Week's News
Manufacturing and construction sectors struggle on in 2013, as latest insolvency figures show - Over 1,000 insolvencies combined for both industries in Q1 2013 There have been nearly 9,000 cases of insolvencies in construction and manufacturing since Q2 2011 PricewaterhouseCoopers' figures reveal, although the two sectors did see a fall in the last quarter. Norcros, the supplier of branded showers, tiles and adhesives with group operating companies including Triton Showers, Johnson Tiles and Norcros Adhesive - and which is also active overseas with operations in South Africa and Australia, has acquired brassware specialist Vado. This Summer will see the Society of British Interior Design launch an exchange programme to create educational opportunities and professional exposure for interior design students from both sides of the Atlantic. The move comes following a meeting with similar bodies from other parts of the world, which has been dubbed the 'Acronyms meeting' Mosaics get the blues in latest Best Collection
  Maytag offers 10 year warranty on all appliance parts Maytag, the premium appliance manufacturer renowned for its superior quality products, is offering a 10 year parts warranty on all its appliances. In the current economic climate consumers are seeking appliances which boast long-term durability and exceptional quality, and now Maytag is supporting its brand pillars by offering a 10 year warranty on all parts throughout its appliance range. Fantastic Fantasia - Elica's stunning new Vertical Hood
Mistral: the perfect design partner
Granite Transformations helps double kitchen in TV project
BlancoSelect: a new generation of kitchen waste separation management
Confident specifying for natural stone tiling
PWS pledges long-term support for Help For Heroes
PWS adds oak to its successful Milbourne range
AEG's The Lab set to stir up a foodie frenzy!
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Let local people build their own homes, says think tank First time buyers and pensioners looking to downsize will be able to benefit from a radically new proposal that allows local people to buy their own plot of land and design their own custom built home. 
British Ceramic Tile responds to budget's Climate Change Levy exemptions Responding to the announcement in the Chancellor's 2013 budget that the ceramic and steel industries will be exempt from the climate change levy from 2014, Chief Executive Tony Taylor from British Ceramic Tile said:  Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association CEO Graham Ball has welcomed this week’s budget as one that will help KBB retailers and encourage small businesses to invest. KBSA announces new design award
Portway customers 'enjoy it twice a week'!
Atlanta Bathrooms launches 'Trade Space', a new 'connecting' service Atlanta bathrooms is launching Trade Space; a free and innovative new service which connects the installer with the homeowner. De Dietrich appliances chosen for new cookery school at Wellbeing Farm
'Talk to your tradesman' app puts spring into home improvements Springtime is the traditional season for home improvements, but if the seasonal urge to tend to our nests is not enough, two thirds of British first-time homeowners admit to be further motivated by the secret embarrassment at the state of their home when friends and family pop over to visit. National Self Build week launches The first ever National Self Build Week will take place in early May 2013 with a wide-ranging programme of events planned to help millions of Britons turn their self build dreams into a reality. |
