KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
28th September 2012
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International News
Products The Basis of a beautiful kitchen
Cooking up a storm in kitchen tap designs from Pegler Yorkshire
Get ahead of the curve with Franke by John Swain, Product Manager for Franke UK
Innostor Plus - new storage solutions from ECF
Renolit reveals another new modern abstract design
Pictured here is the new Renolit Covaren Moulins; a design reminiscent of a concrete structure with a subtle two colour square print. Given its very subtle printed design, the finish can also be used as a pseudo solid colour. Ellis Furniture unveils Cambourne kitchen range
One drawer, one box - a new level of convenience from Hettich
Selected to enhance and complement any piece of furniture, each handle has been individually chosen to add drama to the furniture. This avant-garde category includes Heritage, French, New Victorian, Oriental or Art Deco selections. Renolit reveals two modern abstract designs
Pictured here is the new Renolit Covaren Cobra - a fantasy design which picks up on the current trend towards irregular stripes and geometric patterns KitchenAid's Twelix oven is ideal for the passionate gourmet
Small is affordably beautiful - Mini from Roca
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Although I often grumble about living in a kind of weather bubble here in Epsom (which really just means that I rarely wake up to a blanket of snow outside) I did feel blessed this week, seeing the damage Britain's worst storm in 30 years has caused to hundreds of homes, shops and other businesses. It's heartbreaking - particularly when one considers that many of those that had to vacate severely flooded premises during the last heavy storms have only recently managed to move back in. With all this water about, it's easy to forget that there is actually a shortage of the stuff, isn't it? Yet more than 11% of Europeans and 17% of Europe's territory have been affected by water scarcity in recent years, costing the EU an estimated €100 billion in damages and lost economic potential. Reporting from last week's water conference, EurActiv said that the consensus is that there is enough legislation regarding the use of water but too little compliance and insufficient enforcement. Conservation groups, including the European Environment Bureau, have criticised the EU and national governments for failing to enforce water efficiency and pollution policies. In 2006, the EEB and another campaign organisation, the WWF, filed a complaint with the European Commission against Austria, Germany, Poland and eight other countries, charging that they failed to comply with provisions of the 2000 Water Framework Directive. In May, the EEB acknowledged in an analysis of a blueprint shortly being tabled which aims to address the problems, that while the Water Framework Directive "has helped to keep water issues on the political agenda" and improved trans-boundary cooperation, it "has achieved little progress" in the areas of integrating water with energy, transportation and farming policies." Let's hope that this blueprint really gets to grip with the problems and paves the way for us to finally start pulling together more effectively to conserve this most valuable of resources. Yours,
This Week's News
New home applications still below last year's levels Latest year-to-date figures release today for new home registrations in the UK reveal that house building levels continue to fall, according to NHBC. In August 2012, the number of new homes registered with NHBC dropped to 9,553, 4% below August last year (9,978) and taking overall year to date totals for 2012 to 72,740 applications; a 15% decrease on the same period in 2011 (85,120). PEKA Sesam awarded Red Dot Design Award
 Government to charge businesses £124hr for Health & Safety fails The Health & Safety Executive has recently confirmed that its cost recovery scheme, Fee for Intervention (FFI), will start on 1st October 2012, meaning that business owners need to start taking a more proactive approach now. FFI aims to recover costs from those who break health & safety laws for the time and effort HSE spends helping to put matters right, such as investigating, writing reports and taking enforcement action.  Sleek and efficient by design: new Aquacurve from Leisure Sinks
PASMA slams incompetent ceiling contractor following serious fall from height incident PASMA has this week responded to the news of another major and wholly preventable injury, due to a fall from height. The lead industry body noted that a number of basic safety precautions were not taken, and said that such accidents can only be prevented by ensuring that those working on towers and supervising them are trained and competent in their use. The true value and importance of a good toilet revealed... Robert Mohl, Managing Director of Bridport luxury bathroom company Ocean Bathrooms, is seeking to make more people aware of the true value and importance of the humble toilet in their home Robert believes that if more UK people were aware of the large amount of time spent using the loo and the fact that nearly half of the world's population don't have access to one, they may view their toilet more seriously and give more importance to any decisions relating to it.
Abode already has a very good working relationship with John Lewis and has been a major supplier of a full range of kitchen brassware for the past six years. Bushboard adds sensational new surfaces to its Prima worktop range
EQ Software mean business with new Director of Sales & Marketing
Life looks better in HD with British Ceramic Tile's new ceramic tile collection, HD Origin
Latest KBB sales & customer care course impressed delegates
Ellis Furniture raises funds for local hospice
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The Government has published legislation which will enable it to guarantee up to £40 billion of investment in infrastructure, and up to £10 billion in new homes. The Infrastructure (Financial Assistance) Bill gives statutory backing to the UK Guarantees programme announced in July and the housing guarantee schemes also announced last week.  Coventry based Showerlux UK ceased trading from its Coventry base in Sibree Road on 23rd August 2012 with 16 staff being made redundant.  Marketing
Autumn promotion from Hepplewhite Fitted bedroom furniture company Hepplewhite is offering its best-performing dealers the chance to win some fantastic new technology as a sales incentive this Autumn. |
