KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
28th July 2017
We strongly recommend viewing KBzine full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version.
Please note that you are viewing an archived issue of The KBzine.
 International News
Products European Bathroom Forum promotes creation of environmental label
LDL launches Pullboy Z for Blum Legrabox
The popular Pullboy Z waste bin system has two separate compartments to facilitate efficient sorting of household rubbish and has previously only been available with Blum Antaro drawers supplied in component form. Intuitive control: A new remote control app for Geberit AquaClean Mera and Tuma
Alongside a simple-to-use control panel and intuitive remote control, the latest Geberit AquaClean shower toilets can also be operated via an app on an Android or Apple smartphone. Glass act: new glass basins for Svelte 120 bathroom unit set new design standards
Following the distinctive curves of Svelte's 120 basin units, the exquisite cast-glass basin and worksurface is available in two distinctive finishes of Charcoal and Ice White. In frame and in colour - Benchmarx launches four new kitchen ranges
New colour options have been added to the ever-popular Sherwood, Eton and Soho collections alongside a brand new, premium in-frame kitchen in the shape of the Chelsea Matt Dove Grey range. Keeping warm with Gaia's underfloor heating
Water-based systems essentially use warm water from the central heating system and pump it through pipe circuits underneath the floor. This type of heating uses water at a lower temperature than standard radiators which helps to reduce heating costs. TKC upgrades its trade-only showroom to further improve customer service
After the storm: Cintas offers retailers a Summer storm checklist
With Summer storm season just beginning in parts of the US & well underway in much of Europe, Cintas Corporation offers retailers a checklist to help limit downtime following a severe storm. HiB urges retailers to take stock of 3g living
Established in 1989, World Population Day was developed by the United Nations to raise awareness around the rapid increase in population which is being experienced globally. This year, HiB has been reminding retailers of the opportunities presented by the increase in multi-generational, or 3G, households. Utopia scoops 'Best British Bathroom Brand' award
As a leading British manufacturer of bathroom furniture, Utopia has consistently made the shortlist for the Best Bathroom Furniture Brand category in the annual award scheme run by BKU (Bathroom & Kitchen Update) but this is the first time it has won this coveted award. Add elegance to any home with Lustrolite carbon panels
|
'Appliances Home Alone (safely)' was how the release was headed up and although my first thought was that I'd be preaching to the converted by mentioning it here, my subsequent realisation that I'd not got around to registering my fridge freezer - purchased several months back - despite it still carrying a large orange sticker on the front suggesting that I do so immediately, made me change my mind. The London Fire Brigade's warning that at least one of the fires tackled each day in the UK involves white goods, should be ringing alarm bells with us all - especially when one considers that in 90% of cases, the cause was a fault in the appliance or its electrical supply rather than human behaviour! Luckily many of these fires are extinguished before too much harm is done, but the Grenfell tower block fire - reportedly started when an appliance exploded - shows how important it is that we become less complacent about the potential failure of these items and more switched on about safety. I was horrified to learn from a YouGov survey that almost 32% of us would continue to use white goods even if they started making strange noises, (even I wouldn't do that!). I wasn't surprised though that 70% had never checked whether their white goods were the subject of a product recall. The news that 27% of those said that they hadn't checked because they wouldn't know where to find the information, bothers me. Are we as an industry doing enough to get the message across, I wonder? Also - and more worryingly, the figures show that despite a substantial reduction in household fires (13% between 2011 and 2015) the number of blazes involving white goods has dropped just 5% during the same period. Maths has never been my good point but doesn't that mean that a higher percentage of fires is now down to a faulty appliance, rather than other causes? The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances, which issued the press release I mentioned earlier, suggests that with the holidays upon us and many of us going away, we should register our appliances to ensure that we don't miss out on any vital product safety repairs or product recall information. All it takes is a look around your kitchen and a visit to www.registermyappliance.org.uk I'm going to do it now...
 This Week's News
Kitchen market in strong position
Franke offers sponsorship opportunity for Foundation Degree in Kitchen Design
New brochure for Vitra Designer Collection
The VitrA Designer Collection brochure highlights seven new ranges, launched at ISH in March, which are now available in the UK. Tradespeople are contributing to the growing landfill problem
Gaia rewarded for its environmental responsibility
British Ceramic Tile inspires fashion students with tile competition
The UK's largest ceramic and glass tile manufacturer set students on the BA Printed Design & Surface Pattern course a challenge to design a fashion-inspired tile using a textile-based pattern. Moores Furniture Group become BiKBBI Installation Standards Partner
Shop the Blanco collection with the a la Carte brochure
'100 Years of Roca | 100 Years of Design'... from raw material to finished product
It will explore how the experiences and insights over the last 100 years have successfully influenced Roca product design, challenged established thinking and mirrored changes in our lifestyles and society at large.
Stuart Welburn (right of picture) - previously Alno UK finance director and more recently, Alno Contracts managing director - has been appointed managing director of Alno UK, and will be taking up his post on 1st August 2017. Stuart will also be acting as the Alno UK Board chairman. 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. How to contact us at The KBzine:
|
REQUEST THE KBZINE HERE The KBzine is broadcast
every Friday. You may receive it FREE each week by
clicking the link above. Recent News
Call to end 'one in, three out' deregulation gains wide support More than 700 organisations and individuals have now signed an open letter to UK Prime Minister Theresa May which challenges arbitrary deregulation of health & safety.  Official workplace fatality figures hide tens of thousands of related deaths The GMB Union, which has members across every sector of the British economy, says yesterday's official workplace death figures hide tens of thousands of related deaths. People
Smeg UK welcomes Garry Leveridge as national account manager
Garry joins with 28 years of industry experience; he will not only be developing new and existing business, but will also manage the Smeg accounts for John Lewis, Homebase and B&Q. |
