International News
Products
Karonia - keeping the customers satisfied
When we arrived at the Karonia stand, there was a huge group of visitors, which I soon discovered included a good number of kitchen fitters keen to learn about the benefits of the company's easy-to-fit worksurfaces and the famed 'no join' finish, and see the specially designed shaping tools in action.
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Abode makes a splash with raft of new kitchen and bathroom innovations
With significant investment in research and development across its business, Abode is launching over 90 new products in 2018. From hot water taps and sinks, to kitchen taps and bathroom brassware, the new additions combine product innovation, style and function - as visitors to Abode's understandably very busy stand, will attest.
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InSinkErator: exciting new launches
InSinkErator showcased a number of exciting new launches, including the 4N1 Touch instant filtered/non-filtered, steaming hot/cold water tap (more later, if I've confused you!), a new Food Waste Disposer that's being added to the Showroom Collection and a new Satin Black Finish steaming hot water tap.
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Welcome to the
KBzine
Welcome to the second part of KBzine's KBB 2018 exhibition review, which includes more of our pictures of and reports on the new products and displays that caught our eye as we toured the show floor and spoke with some of the exhibitors and fellow visitors.
There really was so much to see and as we've gone through our notes and pictures, we've realised that we covered more ground than we'd originally thought, so we've decided that if we're to do everyone justice, we really need to continue this review into the next issue, which will be broadcast on Friday, together with some non-show news.
Happy reading - and if you're struggling to commute in this latest 'Beast from the East' (which somehow seems to us to be so much colder than the last one was), do stay safe...
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Yours,
Jan Hobbs
This Week's News
Keeping up to date with new ideas and technology
 We got chatting to Daniel Paul, managing director of One Off Kitchens (l) visiting the show with tiler Spencer Tainton, director, Sun Ceramics. Based close to Swansea in Wales but covering a wide area with their work, they said they were at the Show to look at the latest trends and to ensure they keep up to date with new technology. Seeing everything 'under one roof' proved useful.
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Hafele UK, Vauth-Sagel, Grass: Three-way partnership to cater for life's changing needs
 Hafele UK's Katie Holloway (pictured with some of the POS material) told us that the stand was based on the theme 'Thinking ahead', that since modern life is providing us all with more challenges - from shrinking living space, the rapid development of technology and the ever-changing needs of the family unit, we need to build furniture so that each element is perfect for the way we live now and the way we will live in years to come.
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Uform reflects on successful first attendance at KBB
 As Uform celebrates a momentous year with a brand refresh and its 25th year in business, no one could envisage the level of enthusiasm and excitement that its first official attendance at KBB Birmingham would bring to the kitchen industry.
One of the largest at the show, the 256.5sq.m stand impressively showcased innovation at its finest with four brand new kitchen ranges, five new stained colours and six new paint to order colours on display.
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Immense success for KBBG
 Bill Miller, managing director of the Kitchen & Bathroom Buying Group, enjoyed immense success at the show: "KBB Birmingham was a superb opportunity for the KBBG and it was a pleasure to welcome many new faces as well as members and suppliers to our stand," he said.
"The exhibition provides the industry with an excellent platform of opportunity to see the very latest products and services as well as revive old contacts and make new ones."
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On The Level appoints new business development director
 On The Level has announced the appointment of Chris Sutton as new business development director. Chris joined the team in January, and is working across all market sectors within the construction industry, as well as projects delivered through both traditional construction and modular build methods.
His aim is to further increase On The Level's brand awareness and build on the great reputation that the company currently holds.
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Terry Design taken with Bauformat bright
 It was hard to miss this sunny yellow Bauformat kitchen - it was absolutely stunning and like lots of the displays at KBB Birmingham this year was part of a striking two colour design; this one was set against rich dark worktops with streaks of gold.
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BMA signs up new member at successful KBB
 The Bathroom Manufacturers Association has joined industry leaders in declaring KBB Birmingham 2018 a great success. BMA CEO Yvonne Orgill said that the show provided a superb opportunity for the BMA to network with members and promote its important messages to the industry.
"It was good to see so many quality brands support KBB 2018," she said. "The event provided us with a platform to remind and educate the industry about our two current campaigns, compliant products for the bathroom industry and the use of the European water label.
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Abacus Bathrooms, Lustrolite and Elements display innovations at KBB 2018
 Abacus Bathrooms, renowned for technical prowess in bathroom design and product portfolios, highlighted innovation by showing the build and fitting of individual systems; all guaranteed to result in the perfect bathroom in terms of style and function.
The stand was packed when we arrived and Alex Phillips-Baker, head of operations, told us that it had been like this throughout the show, with visitors keen to see first-hand the company's products and learn from the stand team just why the products have a reputation for being so easy to install.
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A quick peek at Peka...
 It wasn't the largest stand at the show, but Peka stood out, thanks to the feeling of old-fashioned opulence that the display by this Swiss manufacturer of premium quality storage solutions and accessories evoked...
Not that there was anything old-fashioned about the exhibits - everything was of state-of-the-art design and the shelving and drawers moved smoothly and silently out of their units, as if they were fluid rather than solid.
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Recent News
Winning awards for innovation...
Virtual Worlds, Multilines Caccaro, Wirquin and Villeroy & Boch were proudly displaying innovation awards on their stands, having impressed judges Andy Bishop, creative director of KBB Birmingham, Hayley Tarrington-Robson, creative director of Day-True, Matthew Walmsley, national sales & marketing director of Blum UK, Colin Wong, creative director of Development Direct and Ruth Bell, editor of Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms.
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Congratulations to KBSA for Award win!
When we visited the Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association stand, membership manager Dawn Harlow told us how delighted everyone in the team was to have won the Special Achievement Award at the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards, for the significant contribution made to the KBB industry - and naturally she and Malcolm Scott, commercial director, Swift Electrical / KBSA corporate chair, wanted the Award in our picture!
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Pretty in pink!
Melissa, KBzine's editorial assistant, fell in love with this pink kitchen... Part of a vibrant new colour palette, Vintage Rose is pastel-inspired yet bold enough to form a striking contrast to more neutral tones, and is the perfect partner to on-trend shades such as grey and white, and popular materials such as timber, stainless steel and stone.
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Full steam ahead for Steamist
Steamist, which supplies bespoke, luxury steam rooms, showers and saunas to the residential and commercial sectors, will be demonstrating its steam shower in the Total Sense Steam Cabin to potential specifiers and installers.
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Soundbathe in good company as Google enters hidden speaker market
Delivering hidden music, soundbathe transforms (almost) any surface into a high-quality Bluetooth speaker. It can turn baths, walls, splash-backs, cabinets and furniture into giant sensory-audio music systems.
There are no visible wires, it's waterproof, hidden and completely safe and hygienic, all simply controlled from your smartphone!
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