KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
8th September 2017
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International News
Products Alno AG - production continues
Achieve instant kitchen appeal with Caple's new Ceramica island hood
Putting ergonomics into bathroom design with Geberit Acanto
Bertazzoni launches cooling lines
The versatile panel solution for kitchen splashbacks and showers
The product is quick and easy to install and, with its gloss finish, ultra-hygienic, hard-coated non-stick surface, does not harbour mould or calcium; bacterial growth is eliminated. Falmec introduces Soffio from the Circle Tech collection, featuring a Murano Glass canopy
Available in either white or amber, the extractor makes a stunning design statement in the kitchen or indeed anywhere in the home. Its subtle lighting, which glows through the coloured Murano glass, also helps to create a warm and relaxing ambience, particularly perfect for entertaining. Duravit uses groundbreaking technology for new Vero Air collection
The straight interior surface and precise edges of the Vero Air washbasins reflect the collection's linear charm. Binopolis puts squeeze on waste with new Titan Compactor Bin from Joseph Joseph
The innovative, integrated compaction system compresses the contents so it holds up to three times more than a similar single compartment bin. |
Welcome to our first post-Summer-break issue of KBzine. If you managed to get away or simply take some time off, I hope your batteries have been recharged too. Such a lot seems to have happened since we've been away but sadly, very little of it in our country has involved consistent warm weather and sunshine! I mustn't complain though, since what's currently happening around the Caribbean and south east United States makes our wet Summer seem something of a blessing. Like most of the rest of the world, our thoughts are with everyone affected. I have it on good authority that we're going to suffer a drought in England next year and my daughter keeps nagging me to install a second water butt. You may recall me saying in my last leader that I'd attended a festival that had run out of water. Many of us shared bottled water for drinking and one enterprising chap found a way of enabling the hot and sticky to clean up, as my picture shows.
He'd give people a quick douse and then a minute to use the soap supplied, before spraying them down. It used minimal water but I don't want to have to live like that so if you have a garden but don't yet have a water butt, it might be time to get one! That wasn't me in the pic by the way... Closer to home I've been receiving updates on our industry conferences and I'm delighted that Sir Clive Woodward has been secured as keynote speaker for next month's KBSA annual gathering. The former England International and British & Irish Lion took England from sixth in the world to the number one ranked team, winning every trophy an England team can win. Then, as director of sport with the British Olympic Association, he helped deliver Team GB's most successful Olympic Games in the modern era. That he'll be sharing his expertise and motivational secrets with delegates, bodes well for both the conference and the future growth of this industry itself. I'm expecting great things in the future! Yours,
This Week's News
Mayor's focus on small sites can help solve London's housing crisis, says FMB The London Housing Strategy's strong focus on bringing forward more small sites will help solve the housing crisis by opening up the market to SME house builders, according to the Federation of Master Builders London. Over 5% of UK homes now have a wetroom installation The value of the wetroom market has increased by 10% between 2014-2016, according to a report by AMA Research. The sector offers significant growth potential within the UK bathroom market, with demand for wetrooms having increased significantly in recent years. Growth was particularly strong in 2015, with more modest rates in 2016/17 of around 3% per annum. Moderate growth is currently forecast to 2021, when the market is expected to have increased by 18% compared to the market size in 2017. New Suit U and Suit L bathroom brassware from VitrA brings a distinctive finishing touch to any contemporary bathroom. Versatility is the key with both ranges which include a wide choice of basin mixers, bidet mixers, bath and shower fittings and chrome, copper and gold finish options.
Suit U combines soft curves with a gently rounded, flat directional spout; Suit L is characterised by the angular style, with a straight ribbon spout. BMA finalises industry conference line up The Bathroom Manufacturers Association, organiser of the annual Bathroom & Kitchen Industry Business Conference, has announced its final line-up of speakers. This year's event, on 17th October at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, is set to be the biggest yet with more speakers than ever before, an all-new programme including a set-piece panel discussion and a formalised industry exhibition. British Ceramic Tile introduces a contemporary Laura Ashley splashback collection British Ceramic Tile and Laura Ashley have once again collaborated, combining their finely-honed design skills to launch a new collection of glass splashbacks. KBSA announces another speaker for National Conference The Kitchen, Bathroom & Bedroom Specialists Association has announced another accomplished business speaker for the 2017 National Conference which is being held on 3rd October 2017. Richard Askam is an accomplished speaker and successful entrepreneur who now shares his vast experience with others that are keen to succeed in our ever-changing world. His unique observations of UK and international businesses, provide invaluable insights on strategy, change, and what success really means. The new Space Tower from LDL - too good to hide In yet another exclusive, leading components distributor LDL is launching a greatly enhanced version of the popular Blum Space Tower with an extended range of exciting new design elements and finishes. Available now, the new Space Tower offers virtually unlimited co-ordination opportunities with the external kitchen design. Major update project transforms Marpatt graphics catalogue in ArtiCAD-Pro KBB CAD software specialist and technology innovator, ArtiCAD, has announced that a major project to update the entire graphics catalogue for Marpatt has been completed.
Designers using the ArtiCAD-Pro software now have access to all Marpatt's range of wooden kitchen and bedroom doors, components and accessories, in an entirely new format, making it easier to include the highest quality images of the selected products into new room designs. Amica launches new cooling that will help to tackle food waste. UK consumers throw away an astonishing £17 billion worth of food every year. A high percentage of this food is fresh fruit and vegetables that look tired in fresh produce drawers or has gone past its best because the food was not eaten while it was in perfect, unblemished condition. Neolith celebrates the workshop professional with 'Top Fabricator' competition Spanish company, TheSize, is calling on workshop professionals and marble workers globally to share their very best work, using Neolith, for the second annual 'Neolith Top Fabricators' competition, which highlights the difficulty and immense technical complexity that fabricators face when working on highly-specific projects and celebrates their consistency and attention to detail. Bushboard to exhibit Nuance at Sleep 2017 (Stand DG6, London Design Centre) Bushboard, the renowned producer of laminate worksurfaces which is now part of the Wilsonart Group, will be using this year's hotel design event - Sleep - to showcase its outstanding Nuance bathroom wall panelling. Jo Gilhooly, marketing director for Bushboard explains: "Sleep has gathered pace over the last few years and is now the must-go-to-show for specification and inspiration in hotels and the hospitality sector. It's the ideal platform for us to showcase Nuance - a compelling range of bathroom panelling products. Hotpoint launches new range of dishwashers Hotpoint has launched a new range of 600mm dishwashers, comprising both built-in and freestanding models and offering excellent cleaning results, flexibility and striking performance - thanks to sustainable innovations and technologies. Abode products appear on ITV's 'Love your home & garden' Two Abode kitchen products were featured on ITV'S Alan Titchmarsh's Love Your Home & Garden television programme, which aired on Wednesday, (Ed: still time to see it on 'catch-up'). Working with the programme's organisers, the London based architects undertaking the project, chose the Abode black granite Matrix GR10 kitchen sink as the designer's dream for showcasing and installing, along with a matching New Media single lever tap in Granite black to enhance the new kitchen. 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 How to contact us at The KBzine:
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clicking the link above. Recent News
Triton - now installing showers in living rooms
Consumers can meet a kitchen expert at Grand Designs
BiKBBI announces latest member benefit
Laufen collaborates with new Nobu Hotel Shoreditch
One of London's most eagerly anticipated new hotels, the property is one of the first European hotels from the internationally renowned Nobu Hotels brand. Hoover Candy UK appoints specialist logistics partner to support independent retailers
Wilsonart UK adopts Lean Six Sigma collaborative business approach
Designed to eliminate waste, reduce unwanted variation and improve process flow, Lean Six Sigma is a combination of two powerful methodologies brought together to enhance overall customer experience and value, whilst keeping staff happy and motivated. Rotpunkt UK complete its latest series of training
People
Barwick appoint Bob Ashley as operations director
Marketing
British Ceramic Tile develops digital proposition with upgrade of its website britishceramictile.com
Easy to navigate, the new site enables users to discover the company's product portfolio by need, filtering tile selection based on room, colour and style, to support consumers in their search for their ideal tile. Literature
New trade catalogue from Croydex provides professionals with in-depth technical specifications
The two Intelligent Style themed brochures are available as a 90-page full range edition which includes all cooking, hobs and hoods, cooling, dishwashing, and laundry products from built-in, built-under and freestanding categories and a 43-page freestanding only edition. Each Amica brochure is supported by a photographic trade price list. |