The KBzine

KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
18th October 2013

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International News
Products

Sheer style and Elegance from Abacus Direct

The Elegance range is a collection of towel warmers and radiators that offers something for every bathroom design. With traditional models alongside Ben de Lisi's designer range, there is a choice of finishes, sizes and designs.
more

Zapper launches Scan-to-Pay to help SMEs who suffer from late payments

Zapper's new Scan-to-Pay service help reconcile the £36.4bn currently owed to six out of 10 UK SMEs in late payments. The service makes invoice payments as quick and easy as taking a photograph.
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Bushboard ups the design ante with the relaunch its Nuance bathroom surfaces

Bushboard is relaunching in early November its Nuance range of bathroom surfacing, which offers waterproof panels, worksurfaces and upstands in laminate and solid surfacing.
more

New Whirlpool fridge freezer prolongs life of fruit and vegetables

Food waste has become a very serious issue in recent times. Far too much good food is consigned to the rubbish bin through laziness or because our cooling appliances are not sufficiently equipped to keep fresh food in pristine condition.
more

Minimum projection, maximum storage opportunities with new Debba furniture range

With storage solutions being key to achieving a streamlined, relaxing ambience in the bathroom, Roca has extended its popular Debba collection to include a comprehensive range of furniture options.
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Distinctly affordable kitchen taps from Abode

The Abode design team creates taps for people who have come to expect the perfect blend of design, performance and sheer quality. Earlier this year Abode launched four brand new great value, designer kitchen taps, all offered in popular chrome and brushed nickel finishes and now widely available. They are:
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Latest release of Building Regulations now cites Eurocodes design standards

The October 2013 release of Approved Document A of the Building Regulations now includes reference to the Eurocodes. The old British Standards are no longer being maintained and will become increasingly out of date, so engineers need to be using the new Eurocodes.
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Matrix Kitchens announces installation of two stunning new displays

Matrix Kitchens of Knightsbridge has installed two stunning new kitchen displays. The displays reflect Matrix's design expertise and flexibility, showcasing both a highly contemporary range and the company's latest, more classic, Thurloe bespoke kitchen.
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Aria bath - for opulent relaxation

Encompassing a complete bathroom portfolio including sanitaryware, baths, bath and shower screens, towel warmers and accessories, Ben de Lisi's organically-designed collection features a range of furniture that perfectly complements the elegant, understated look.
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New Eurostream on tap from PJH

PJH Group has unveiled a comprehensive brassware range under a new own-brand, Eurostream, exclusive to PJH and designed to complement its large choice of bathroom ceramics, baths and showers as featured in the new Bathrooms To Love Collection.
more

Welcome to the
KBzine

My kettle's been acting erratically for the past week. Normally, I switch it on and a light glows in the switch itself. Once the kettle's boiled, the switch flicks itself up and the light goes out. For the past week the electricity's not been getting through consistently. The light - and electricity - have been going on and off pre-boil. I haven't had time to buy a kettle so have resorted to keep flicking the switch up and down, holding it down when it's working to keep it working and also manoeuvring the kettle on its base to try for a better connection.

All this is dangerous yet I've continued.This morning the operation had taken more than 20 minutes and, thinking the thing had broken completely I fetched the piano stool and - standing on it with knees braced against the cupboard, I reached up to the top of a kitchen wall unit to grab my filter coffee maker (unused for years) with the aim of filtering boiling water into a jug. That's dangerous too.

This week we're carrying an item about the Ladder Association's training scheme and in visiting the website to see the latest 'Idiots on Ladders' photo's, I was amazed at the risks some people will create, to get the job done. With some of them though, I thought: "I've done that" or even: "I'd do that" (despite it having been deemed dangerous by those who'd taken and posted the photo).So what is it?

Are those of us who take risks (generally having assessed them) both at home and whilst going about our paid employment lazy, stupid or in too much of a hurry to play it safe? Are we perhaps living in a mollycoddling age in which we're discouraged from taking any risks at all, however slight - and as a result are 'over the top'? Or are we perhaps even seeking that frisson of excitement by taking a risk and not coming to any harm?

Please get back to me with your thoughts - even if it's to call me an idiot! And yes. Come Saturday I'm off to buy a new kettle. But whether that's because what I'm doing to achieve my morning coffee is dangerous, or because I'm having to wait too long for a drink, I'm afraid I can't tell you...

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Yours,

Jan Hobbs

This Week's News

Way forward for forests and woodland is announced

At an event in the House of Lords on Tuesday, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson received the first report from Grown in Britain, an initiative created six months ago with a mission to kick start a sustainable future for the UKs forests and woodland.

Welcomed by Government following the recommendation by the Independent Panel on Forestry in 2012, Dr Peter Bonfield OBE was asked to independently chair and develop the action-based initiative.
more

Rearo launches new Versa-tile range

Following feedback from customers looking for the traditional look of a tile with the easy to install and maintenance benefits of a panel, Rearo, one of the UK's leading providers of laminated and solid surface materials, has developed Versa-tile.
more

Soapbox: What impact are large capacity models having on the washing machine market?

Steve Macdonald, Trade Marketing Director of Freestanding Division Hoover Candy UK, shares his point of view...
more

Ladder Exchange focuses on training; number trained jumps 40%

Following September's focus on equipment inspection, the 2013 Ladder Exchange has moved into its second month, emphasising the importance of training for ladder users during a record breaking year for ladder training - which has seen the number of users trained, leap 40%.

Allowing people and companies to trade their old ladders in for safe, new ones, this year's Ladder Exchange is highlighting a different theme for each month between September and December.
more

Create ultimate luxury wetroom with UK-made Abacus Elements wet floor systems

Abacus Elements is a range of easy to install, tileable, wet floor systems for the perfect bathroom. Made in the UK by Abacus Direct, the waterproof structural foam boasts high insulation properties and high compressive strength.
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AMDEA elects new Chairman

Maurizio Pettorino, Managing Director UK & Ireland of Indesit Company, has been elected Chairman of the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA). He assumed leadership of the association on Wednesday, on the retirement of outgoing Chair John Morrissey.
more

Axiom by Formica Group proud to support the Made in Britain campaign

Formica Group is proud to manufacture its popular and widely-used range of kitchen worktops, splashbacks and upstands at its bonding facility in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham and to this effect, Axiom by Formica Group has announced that from September 2013, all of its marketing literature will incorporate the 'Made in Britain' logo.
High Pressure Laminate (HPL) for commercial applications is also made at the Formica Group factory in North Shields.
more

Don't get left behind... sustainable procurement of furniture is a top priority

With sustainability set to stay at the top of the Government's agenda and the Government Buying Standards for furniture a mandatory requirement in all public sector and central government tenders, an environmental expert who specialises in the furniture industry is urging businesses not to leave it too long before finding out how to get involved.
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Stone specialist will cover Greater London for Jetstone

Specialist in masonry worktops Jetstone, has appointed Barbara Goryca as its sales representative in the Greater London area. Barbara is not a new name in the stone and kitchen industry; in the past she has worked for quartz manufacturers Silestone and Okite, as well as for a big German stonemason.
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Win a van with BAL Max-Flex Fibre

Professional tilers using BAL Max-Flex Fibre can win a brand new van in a free draw open to users of BAL's newest products. These are the first in a family of adhesives to be based on pioneering Fibre Strand Technology - FST - unlike anything seen before. Tilers need only to register at www.tilers-demand.com, then log their purchases online, with each purchase earning a free entry.
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New from Ram Kitchens...

The Ram Kitchen Collection, relaunched to the UK market by PJH Group last year, has been enjoying steady growth since as its competitive price point combined with its unquestionable heritage and solid, robust design, are becoming recognised and welcomed by the consumer.
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Ceramtherm 100 dual shower system incorporates German engineering

Ideal Standard's new Ceratherm 100 Dual shower system has a German engineered exposed thermostatic bar valve. Its slim and elegant form incorporates three key innovations: the cool touch body, fast fix brackets designed to make simplify installation, as well as water saving features including an Eco stop button which limits the water flow rate up to 50%. It also has a built in temperature limiter which can be set at installation to ensure user safety.
The shower pack comes with a 12 litre per minute flow regulator in the rainshower and an eight litre per minute flow regulator in the handspray to reduce water usage.
more

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How to contact us at The KBzine:

Jan Hobbs
Publishing Editor
Email:[email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)1372 811 307
Mobile: 07980 288 373

John Austen
Publishing Director
Email:[email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)1580 755 863
Mobile: 07766 707 888

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