The KBzine

KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
19th January 2018

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International News
Products

Kaldewei Iconic World offers multisensory experience of brand and material

With the opening of its new Iconic World after a year and a half of planning and construction, Kaldewei has created a fascinating, interactive and multisensory space that enables visitors to thoroughly explore and understand the brand.
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New Retro fridge freezer joins Amica catalogue

Amica, one of Europe's fastest growing domestic appliance brands, has added a compact 55cms(w) but compellingly spacious retro fridge freezer to its comprehensive range of freestanding A+ refrigeration.
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New Year, new Rangemaster: stylish Nexus SE released for contemporary kitchens

Modern chefs looking for an update to their homes in 2018 need look no further. Rangemaster has revealed its newest offering in the range cooker series, the Nexus SE 110 Dual Fuel. It is available in stainless steel, black, slate and ivory.
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Samsung Electronics debuts next generation of Family Hub refrigerator at CES 2018

On Sunday, Samsung Electronics unveiled the next generation of its award-winning Family Hub refrigerator. A winner of the 2018 CES Best of Innovation award, Family Hub sets a new standard for connected living.

Family Hub in 2018 offers a wide range of smart features that allow consumers to do what they could not do before.
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Steel yourself: Appliances are now in Pantone colour of the year!

If your customers are looking for something a little different, it might be worth pointing them in the direction of Steel, which has manufactured a range of appliances in the Pantone colour of the year - Ultra Violet!
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Marvellous mirror cabinets from Abacus

Abacus, has released an exciting new collection of beautiful mirror cabinets; perfect for any stylish, modern bathroom.

Offering a practical, sophisticated design, every cabinet is fitted with a shaver socket, adjustable shelves and low energy LED lighting. Each is easy to install and there is a range of sizes to suit any bathroom decor.
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Bright and beautiful bathroom lighting

Bathroom designs can be taken to the next level with Laura Ashley Bathroom Collection's elegant wall lights and stunning collection of illuminated mirrors.

Those looking to add some period-style charm and incorporate useful lighting for tasks such as shaving or applying make-up can tap into the growing trend for wall lights with the Collection's Bathroom Wall Light (pictured).
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Roca creates new forms with Modo

Roca places a huge importance on innovation, design and style and its new Modo collection is the epitome of all three. Modo's unique quality is that it can be moulded and sculptured into bespoke and individual pieces ready to suit all interior decors.
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Belling releases first 50cm induction cooker

British appliance manufacturer Belling has launched its first 50cm induction cooker, the FS50DOTi, the only appliance of its kind on the market.
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Tactile and luxurious, Fenix NTA is the new 'wonder metal' material

With the current trend for material mix, everyone knows that adding a touch of metal to an interior project will elevate it instantly, but that cost, fabrication and performance can be drawbacks.

Step forward the new 'wonder metal', Fenix NTA, a unique material in its field and the result of three years' research and development.
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Abode introduces Serenitie bathroom taps in rose gold

The Abode ranges of bathroom brassware and showers are created with a perfect blend of design, performance, functionality and quality. A new 'on trend' finish has been added to the Serenitie range - Rose Gold - which is right up-to-date with the predicted colour trends for 2018 and is available now through Abode's distribution partners.
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Welcome to the
KBzine

Britain has become a nation reliant on appliances, unable to carry out basic tasks without the help of a gadget, according to new research from AppliancesDirect.co.uk, as part of its 'Power On: The Evolution of Appliances' report. The research found that 46% of Brits would not be able to reheat food without a gadget to do it for them, while 40% would struggle to make toast without an appliance, despite this only requiring a grill. And 25% wouldn't be able to make a cup of tea or coffee - a task that in most cases involves simply boiling water with a pan, without using a kettle.

Almost one in four confesses to not knowing how to wash clothes without having a washing machine on hand to do most of the work - and, shockingly, one in five wouldn't know how to dry clothes without a tumble dryer. Washing machines (81%) topped the list of appliances British adults confessed they couldn't live without, closely followed by dishwashers (36%), toasters (33%) and coffee machines (18%). I agree with the washing machine part!

Perhaps unsurprisingly, millennials - those aged 18 to 30 years - many of whom will have grown up with mobile phones and access to the Internet, is the generation that would fare worst if they had to do without electrical appliances in their home. 40% wouldn't know how to make tea or coffee without a kettle while 63% wouldn't know how to wash or dry clothes without an appliance to do so. I wholeheartedly agree with the company's marketing manager Mark Kelly, who says that while appliances definitely make everyday tasks a lot easier, we Brits should ensure we know how to do basic things such as boil water and wash our clothes, in case our appliances break or there is a power cut.

As someone who can recall the three-day-week, where we didn't have any power at all for long periods, I know full well the importance of being able to 'wing it'... When it comes to these gadgets, which have clearly become crucial to so many people's ability to function, I look forward to seeing plenty of old favourites as well as new innovations very soon, alongside so many other industry products, furniture and ancillaries at KBB Birmingham, at the NEC from 4th - 7th March. Our rolling preview starts today. If you want to be included, do please send your press release and images without delay.

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Yours,

* Jan-new-15.jpg

Jan Hobbs

This Week's News

BMF looks to woo 1,400 Carillion apprentices into building materials sector

Commenting on the impact of Carillion's collapse on its 1,400 apprentices and 20,000 other staff, John Newcomb, chief executive of the Builders Merchants Federation, says there are great opportunities available for them to move into Britain's £55 billion building materials industry, which includes merchants and suppliers:

"The Building Materials Industry, which is valued at £55 billion, is growing fast, with most of our members reporting strong growth across 2017 and into this year," he explains.
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Soapbox: Barry Ashmore of Streetwise Subbie on the demise of Carillion, saying: 'Demand a public inquiry #Enoughsenough'

"So, Carillion has gone into liquidation and the Government is doing its incompetent best to deal with the fall out, and cover its tracks. Thousands of lives are going to be impacted and we will be working hard to help anyone caught up in this mess.
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Meet the kitchen specialists' choice...

You may already know Keller Kitchens for high quality, Dutch fitted kitchens. In the Netherlands, where the company produces around 2,500 kitchens every week, the 80-year old company is big news.

Big as in '559.741 sq feet of state-of-the-art production space' big, earning Keller a place in the top 10 biggest European manufacturers. That's huge.
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KBB 2018: Abacus Bathrooms to display new innovations - E78

Abacus Bathrooms has long been noted as a technical expert in the bathroom industry; the company not only offers a complete bathroom portfolio, but also the history of Abacus Bathrooms in terms of bathroom innovation and design is evident when new products are launched.
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KBB 2018: KBBG to treat visitors to launch of new Störmer kitchen - J115 hall 19 at stand

Visitors to the Kitchen & Bathroom Buying Group stand will be treated to the UK launch of a new kitchen collection from German furniture brand Störmer (pictured), as well as a new product presentation concept called the 'magic wall', which utilises the very latest interactive smart technology.

Also presented for the first time in the UK, will be the new cooking appliance collection from Küppersbusch; the German pioneer of the 'Okotherm' cooking system.
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KBB 2018: Bushboard to unveil exciting new solid surface developments - Stand G95

Bushboard, renowned for its laminate worksurfaces and bathroom panels, will be showcasing Nuance bathroom panels, as well as highlights from its new Omega and Options worksurface collections and exciting new solid surface developments.

Commercial director Neil Horton explains: "KBB is an important industry platform and an ideal place for us to continue showing the qualities of our bathroom panels to retailers and designers."
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KBB 2018: Blanco's stylish new products to be showcased - I100

As a world leading manufacturer of sinks, taps, hobs and extractor hoods for domestic kitchens, Blanco UK is well known for design flair and high quality products.
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KBB 2018: New version of ArtiCAD-Pro being launched - J85 & M80

CAD software and technology innovator for the KBB sector, ArtiCAD, will be presenting a new version of ArtiCAD-Pro. This features a fresh look design interface, which makes the core software even easier and faster to use.

This latest version (v.21) also includes a completely new pricing system with multiple options ranging from super-speedy quotations through to a full suite of business management tools including BI and CRM facilities.
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KBB 2018: Abode to showcase new products - I90 Hall 19

Within the spectacular new Abode stand visitors will see a plethora of exciting new introductions being showcased and launched.
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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:

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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