KBzine: the original kitchen and bathroom industry e-news - since 2002
26th January 2018
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 International News
Products Meet the kitchen specialists' choice...
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. KBB 2018: Abacus Bathrooms to display new innovations - E78
KBB 2018: Bushboard to unveil exciting new solid surface developments - Stand G95
KBB 2018: New version of ArtiCAD-Pro being launched - J85 & M80
KBB 2018: Abode to showcase new products - I90 Hall 19
Kaldewei Iconic World offers multisensory experience of brand and material
New Retro fridge freezer joins Amica catalogue
New Year, new Rangemaster: stylish Nexus SE released for contemporary kitchens
Samsung Electronics debuts next generation of Family Hub refrigerator at CES 2018
Family Hub in 2018 offers a wide range of smart features that allow consumers to do what they could not do before. Steel yourself: Appliances are now in Pantone colour of the year!
Marvellous mirror cabinets from Abacus
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. Bright and beautiful bathroom lighting
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). Roca creates new forms with Modo
Belling releases first 50cm induction cooker
Tactile and luxurious, Fenix NTA is the new 'wonder metal' material
Step forward the new 'wonder metal', Fenix NTA, a unique material in its field and the result of three years' research and development. |
I received an email this morning from Fiona Pavely, asking whether I'd be interested in sharing the news with you that it's 'Thomas Crapper Day' tomorrow. I quipped that I would of course use her press release as we have a great deal to thank the man for and it was only after I'd pressed 'send' that I stopped to think how life would be, if we didn't have the benefit of toilets and all the rest of what have become bathroom basics, since Crapper died 108 years tomorrow. It reminded me of how horrified I must have looked, when attending a 'sustainable' festival last Summer, to be confronted by the organiser's version of the female urinal. As my picture shows, it was carefully well thought out and all very friendly. There was a continuous stream of women and girls, of all ages and sizes, using it, so it must have been OK. I must confess that I couldn't quite bring myself to try this unusual facility though and I'm going to blame it on not being wonderfully tall and the restrictions created by my yoga pants... Bearing in mind how lucky we are and just how different things might have been, had Thomas Crapper decided to pursue a different career, I'm going to raise a glass to the great man tomorrow and hope you will do too. After all, when you consider some of the alternatives, it doesn't quite bear thinking about, does it? Yours,
 This Week's News
KBSA announces new venue for Annual Conference
The more modern hotel promises "all the facilities we need to deliver an enhanced and improved conference experience for our members," says KBSA national chair Richard Hibbert. SOAPBOX: Retentions... has the construction industry had enough following the Carillion disaster?
"The use of cash retentions is commonplace in the construction industry. Some £3 billion of retentions remain outstanding in the UK construction industry at any one time. With the collapse of Carillion, however, has the industry had enough? By deducting and retaining a percentage of the value of the works from interim payments due to the contractor during the construction phase, developers can be seen to enjoy an element of protection against late completion and defects arising during the rectification period. KBB 2018: Keller Kitchens - Dutch design showcased on Stand W110 in Hall 17
Keeping up to date with current trends, Keller Kitchens creates a perfect kitchen for every customer.
The installation is a concept conceived by Houzz.co.uk, the home renovation and design platform, and will bring to life the hottest home design trends Houzz expects to see in 2018, based on Houzz community insights and data, including the most popular photos and articles on the platform. Gorenje to implement aluminium backing on all cooling lines
Following the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower, the Slovenian-manufacturer's commitment to the campaign for safer appliances is a step in the right direction towards tackling the industry-wide issue. Supply chain reaction: global certification expert states big data key to improving safety standards As increasingly complex supply chains make it difficult for large manufacturers and retailers to monitor quality and safety across global suppliers, certification provider Bureau Veritas has revealed that adopting a data-based approach to supplier monitoring could be key to driving standards forward. It comes as latest figures show that the number of UK product recalls hit a new high of 575 in 2017, up almost 50% on the previous year, covering a range of sectors. Moreover, when it comes to consumer trust, research by Bureau Veritas found that just half of people worldwide trust businesses to do the right thing - and that figure is fast declining. Bathstore and Elle Decoration announce partnership
The curated collection is a fully co-ordinated range, offering beautifully crafted products designed to be both standalone feature pieces and complement one another, allowing customers to create a dream personal space that looks both cohesive and bespoke. Spare a thought for the great man... 27th January is Thomas Crapper Day!
Born in South Yorkshire in 1836 and apprenticed to a master plumber in Chelsea in 1853, Thomas Crapper went on to spend three years as a journeyman plumber before establishing himself as a sanitary engineer in 1861. Mistral price freeze continues!
Tribunal Claims rise by 120%: Is Your Business Protected? The latest figures from the Ministry of Justice have been released and show that employment tribunal claims have risen by 120%. The big rise in claims is due to the lifting of fees by the Supreme Court in July 2017, which ruled they were 'unlawful' and a barrier to justice'. This means there are no longer any fees preventing employees from escalating their case to tribunal, which will then fall upon employers to argue the case. Any business which has a claim made against it may have to seek legal advice through a solicitor, which costs £5,000 per claim, on average. Rising tribunal claims - the latest statistics: Saniflo service engineer network minimises returns
In many cases the engineers rectify a wrongly specified or wrongly fitted product - it is rarely a macerator or pump issue. This is obviously good news for plumbing and building merchants, who are, quite rightly, reluctant to accept macerator return due to health and safety issues. Hansgrohe UK expands marketing team with three new appointments
Marc clocks up 30 years at Roman
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A positive message from the BiKBBI
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