KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
13th March 2015
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International News
Products Methven set to turn showering on its head with launch of Aurajet technology
Contemporary Partridge Grey finish for PWS' Milbourne range
New Glacier from Mistral - a cooler shade of white...
Technology meets tradition with high level WC's from Burlington
Abode's Edge tap... pushing the boundaries
New iKBBI consumer protection insurance to launch
Saniflo supports National Apprentice competition
Royal Arcade over-bath shower is truly stunning
Sanitaryware durability: new test process launched for secure areas
Whirlpool dishwasher awarded 9/10 by TrustedReviews
Cosentino Group expands its presence in Canada
Five-star cleanliness, comfort and luxury from Geberit at the Chedi Andermatt Hotel
Keep kitchen drawers tidy with Leicht's new Q-box
Britannia expands portfolio with splashbacks
Catergorised by stainless steel, glass and decorative steel, the new splashbacks are available in a variety of configurations from 90 - 120cm, complementary of Britannia's range cooker specifications. |
I’ve worked across many industries but the KBB industry is the first one that I’ve noticed, which is really into charity fundraising. I probably receive on average a press release each week about some initiative or other and I wish I could feature them all as I know from my own parachute jumps some years back that these fundraisers take a lot of organisation and often some persistent cajoling to get everyone involved! Today is Comic Relief day and no doubt many KBzine readers will be doing their bit; either with work colleagues or friends and family. If that’s you, I wish you lots of fun and hope that you reach your targets. Louisa Bradshaw from Better Bathrooms tells me that she and her colleagues have been getting into the Red Nose Day spirit all day and that so far they have raised over £500. All the staff have been wearing red noses along with red clothes and have been making faces funny for money (as our picture shows)! In addition, they’ve held a special Red Nose Day Curry Competition, where staff brought in homemade curry and the best one won a paid day off work! “The best news was that everyone bought a bowl of curry for £1 at lunch time – yummy!” says Louisa.
John Austen and I have been envying those of you who were lucky enough to attend the ISH event in Cologne, from the cleaning exhibition we were covering at London’s ExCel… I’m looking forward to receiving piles of press releases revealing what we missed in terms of launches. My feet have just about recovered and I hope yours have too. Yours,
This Week's News
Easy installation and stylish showering with Abacus Manufacturing Group's Vessini range Combining cutting edge design, innovation and quality, the Vessini range of shower controls from Abacus Manufacturing Group has been conceived to enhance the bathroom experience for the end user while proving an integrated solution that makes installation easy. Vessini brassware embraces manual and thermostatic shower and diverter valves. These include standard fittings and those that work in combination with the Vessini universal Easi-Box system which provides the installer with a simple installation procedure. BAL breaks new ground with launch of high spec training centre A state-of-the art £300,000 Innovation & Technology Centre (ITC) has been officially opened by the leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council Councillor Mohammad Pervez at Building Adhesives in Trentham. Councillor Pervez opened the Centre alongside the company's managing director Peter Bell at a special launch event last Wednesday. Triton achieves zero waste to landfill status - two years ahead of schedule! Triton, 'The Great British Shower Company', is celebrating the achievement of zero waste to landfill status two years ahead of schedule. Having adopted a long-term strategy geared towards recycling or reusing all waste components and materials by 2018, Triton has already achieved its target. The business's latest eco success comes less than 12 months after it introduced a number of environmental enhancements at its headquarters in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. ‘Student Placements - Supporting Your Global Growth’: UK Trade & Investment event this month Whether you are a new or experienced exporter, university students can offer your business the opportunity to undertake projects which might otherwise go unexploited, as well as introduce new ways of thinking to help your organisation further its global competitive edge. In partnership with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the Student Placements - Supporting Your Global Growth’ event will take place on 25th March. Hosted by the University of Portsmouth's Business School, the event will feature representatives showcasing opportunities from Portsmouth Business School. Victoria + Albert Baths launches its first ever collection of bathroom furniture Victoria + Albert Baths has now launched its first ever collection of bathroom furniture. Suitable for a range of interior schemes and styles, the collections signify Victoria + Albert's move into developing beautiful, practical bathroom furniture alongside elegant freestanding baths and basins. The collections include two integrated vanity units, the Mandello 114 (below left) and Lario 100 (below right), which include integrated basins made from Victoria + Albert's exclusive Quarrycast material - a unique blend of Volcanic Limestone and high performance resins, forming a super-strong basin that is scratch resistant, wipe-clean and features a built-in overflow. Graham Hayden Training launches new industry course Alongside the current courses of level 1 and level 2 Sales and Customer Care courses, Graham has launched the new ‘Customer Delight’ course for the kbb industry which looks at the skills and techniques that delegates can understand and introduce to their business roles in order to maximise their profitable sales, increase referral business, and deal with any customer complaints effectively.
The course duration is four hours which means that it can be delivered as a morning or afternoon slot or alongside product training modules to complete a training day. Pick up a free framing system along with your know-how at Geberit installer training days Taking time out from a busy work schedule to take in some training can be tricky, but Geberit makes it worth an installer's while, not only with free training that ensures your skills and knowledge are up to scratch, but by giving each trainee a Geberit Duofix framing system and flush plate to practice their new-found skills on, worth over £250. Installers booking on to the free sanitary systems training at the manufacturer's purpose-built and recently redesigned Training Academies in Warwick and Dublin, will not only benefit from hands-on experience of fitting Geberit's products but will also get to take one home with them, enabling them to hit the ground running the next time they are called to install a customer's bathroom. Seven tips for better bathroom lighting, from 'across the pond' Doug Walter, AIA, Senior Architect at Godden/Sudik Architects in Centennial, Colorado, US, contacted us a couple of weeks back saying: “I’ve been a subscriber to KBzine since the Schwarz's era, and enjoy very much the British take on the industry, so much so that I even flew over to attend Interbuild one year”. Doug has 35 years’ experience in residential remodelling and custom homes and has won more than 120 awards for his kitchens, bathrooms, and other remodelling projects. Key new senior appointment at ArtiCAD CAD software specialist for the KBB industry, ArtiCAD, has announced the appointment of Colin Seaton to the newly created role of national accounts manager. This appointment is a key element in the company's strategy for significant growth and development over the coming years. Colin Seaton has exceptional experience of the KBB industry, having fulfilled a variety of roles since the 1970s. He owned his own studio and worked for a number of very large corporates as well as smaller manufacturers before moving into the CAD arena. Most recently he has been a manufacturer's agent representing a number of different kitchen and bathroom products from various parts of Europe. Gorenje makes a splash with new 'Colour' brochure Gorenje's new 'Colour' brochure highlights the varied selection of coloured appliances the company offers. Designed for retailers, it showcases the wide range of colour options available on selected Gorenje cooling, washing and drying products. "The feedback we have had from retailers is that our colourful appliances really get people through the door - the variety of colours we offer is unique to our market place and it is something that we are really proud of," says Stuart Benson, national sales manager for Gorenje UK. 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. News in Brief Be Modern has launched its 2015 Atlanta bathroom furniture collection with new finishes, products and pricing – T: 0191 428 0444… Cameo Kitchens is launching its new showroom in Nazeing with free cookery events. To attend, T: 03445 611 611… Smeg has extended its Symphony range with the SY93I dual fuel three-cavity range cooker with induction hob - E: [email protected]... Better Bathrooms has unveiled its enhanced showering solutions with 10mm shower screens - 0844 484 7678… How to contact us at The KBzine:
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