Industry news
Milan? No, BirminghamA comparison between Milan and Birmingham as the KBB Exhibition capital of Europe is in danger of provoking a loud laugh before you get as far as reading the second sentence – but hang on in there.
Showers from AqataAqata to launch its first range of showers with the introduction of Linneal
All white nowCaple has launched a new contemporary kitchen collection: Nexus White.
Winners from LiebherrLiebherr has triumphed in the 2007, Kitchen Innovation of the Year awards, put on jointly by The German Federal Ministry of Economics & Technology, and the “Better Living” initiative.
Waiting list for kitchenFor many years, the UK kitchen industry, for some bizarre reason, has likened itself with the motor industry and now the two really do have something in common.
Sensio to partner EasyquoteSensio has joined the ranks of 300 suppliers currently supporting Easyquote by making its products available electronically to all of the company’s users.
March of the mod consPremium Appliance Brands is launching a new concept called All Mod Cons at this year’s KBB trade show.
Steel in the showItalian range cooker brand Steel to be launched in the UK by Steel Cuisine (UK) Ltd.
Service worth a pileAgnes Szavay will join forces with Nadia Petrova to help front the Aces for Homes initiative from Whirlpool and the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.
Bespoke service from RomanRoman is now offering a bespoke service on its Roman Sculptures collection of shower enclosures.
Base rate cutThe Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee reduced lending rates by 0.25 percentage points to 5.25% on February 7.
Hat trick for SilestoneCosentino, the manufacturer of Silestone quartz work surfaces will sponsor the Spanish former Formula 1 world champion racing car driver, Fernando Alonso.
Letter to the editor"I heartily agree with your call last week for developers to give buyers 'more bangs for their bucks', instead of simply pressurising suppliers to cut prices," writes James Herriot, Director of Callerton Kitchens.
Life with the LyonsLyons Vanity, who has been distributing a range of bathroom vanities in Ireland for several years, is poised to break into the UK market.
Sites for sore guysSuppliers to the contract sector are reported as being more than a tad upset by developers demanding price reductions of between 2.5 and 10% as the UK market starts to slow down
Duct deluxeManrose Manufacturing will be exhibiting products from its range of ducting systems at KBB 2008, including its high performance Flatduct 225/300mm x 25mm ducting with moulded sockets.
The heat is underUnderfloor heating company DEVI says it will be is exhibiting a host of new products at KBB this year – all of which are designed to make underfloor heating throughout the home as simple and effective as possible.
Safer surfacesCosentino is unveiling its new Silestone quartz colour collection, ‘Life’ at KBB Expotile from 2-5 March 2008.
Look and learnThe organiser of KBB Birmingham is putting the final touches to its 2008 programme of workshops, presentations, and seminars.
Lowline from SchneiderSwiss mirror cabinet and illuminated mirror manufacturer Schneider will be returning to KBB in 2008 with its largest ever stand.
Fewer homes forecastLast year was the strongest ever year for gross mortgage lending, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
QX delivers the goodsAt the KBB Show 2008 QX will have much to shout about. In addition to showing new products, the show will also serve as the official launch of the company’s new national distributor policy, with the opening of a new warehouse and logistical centre in Mansfield, Notts.
Splash it all over the worldExports by shower manufacturer Roman grew by more than 160% in 2007, with export sales in December seeing stronger growth than any other division.
Alno opens in DundeeSet up by Wendy Morgan and Neil Tierney, Moda Interiors is a new family run, fitted kitchen studio, which specialises in kitchen furniture from Alno and Leolux lounge furniture.
ALNOSign of the timesThe latest Alno kitchen ALNOSign in Quartz Grey is a contemporary, high gloss design which the manufacturer thinks will stand the test of time
Mix and matchFinwood Design has recently launched a collection of mosaic tiles to complement its exclusive range of solid stone basins and baths
A case of coolRemember when the only side-by-side refrigeration (SBS) was designed with American prairie-like kitchens in mind?
New colours at KBB BirminghamDuPont will launch a selection of its new 2008 colours for Corian and Zodiaq at KBB Birmingham in March as part of a large feature area in association with the Kitchen Alliance
Let there be light says WaterlineDistributor Waterline is claiming a first for kitchen showrooms with the launch of a range of lighting specifically designed for retailers.
Sea, sun and Brum…It's not every day you set off for Birmingham and wind up in a five-star beach resort hotel for three days, but that is exactly what will happen to one RAK Ceramics dealer in March.
Imperial Bathrooms goes northImperial Bathrooms has unveiled a new collection of contemporary free-standing furniture to complement its line-up of bathroom products.
Grand results from kitchen companyThe notion that the success or otherwise of the UK kitchen industry is firmly linked to the fate of the housing market has been challenged by bespoke kitchen company John Lewis of Hungerford (JLH) who kicked off 2008 by disclosing an increase in sales and profits.
The sweet smell of successA device known as Panfan that won this year’s Best New Product Award at the KBIS 2007 Bathroom and Kitchen Exhibition in
Las Vegas is due to make its debut at KBB Birmingham in March.
An invitation to FeelFeel by name and feel by nature that is the latest product offering from niche bathing company Teuco.
Thought for food and salesThe recently launched Stoves Accolade range of built-in appliances is featured strongly in the new 68-page, perfect bound
catalogue, produced by Glen Dimplex Home Appliances.
Systema to debut at KBBAquaplus Solutions will be returning for its 3rd consecutive year to KBB Birmingham with a 168sqm stand, doubling on the
2006 size. KBB Birmingham will signify the launch of the company’s Sistema furniture collection.
UK cooker factory to closeThe Electrolux Group has announced that it is to close its loss-making cooker factory in Spennymoor towards the end of
next
year and consolidate production into an existing cooker plant in Poland.
Lofra from AlliedAllied has recently announced that it has reinforced its position as one the UK’s leading distributors by adding the Lofra range
of Italian-made cookers to its product portfolio.
Chicago: your kind of kitchen?Ask most Americans which their favourite city is and there is a good chance they will name the one they live in or grew up
close to. Ask them to name their second favourite city and the odds are they will name Chicago.
Testing times at AbodeAbode, the Yorkshire-based tap company whose HQ is at Zenith Park, Barnsley, has officially launched its product testing
laboratory.
Kitchen section at KBB sells outThe kitchen section for KBB Birmingham in March 2008 has sold out, months prior to the event. The section is 15% larger than
the 2006 edition with a host of new companies being featured.
KBB industry welcomes interest rates cutOn Thursday 6th December the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted to reduce the official Bank Rate paid
on
commercial bank reserves by 0.25 percentage points to 5.5%.
LEAF awards architectsThe cream of the architectural world gathered at the Waldorf Hilton, London, on 29th November for the fourth annual Emirates
Glass LEAF Awards.
Nuts to laundry says ElectroluxIn this fifth edition of the Electrolux Design Lab, students were once again encouraged to fire up their creative minds and
design household appliances for the future. Over the years, thousands of students have participated in this global competition and it
has grown in stature to be one of the most significant student design awards worldwide.
Smeg sees red againFollowing on from the recent launch of the A2RW-6 100cm ‘Opera’ Range Cooker in Red Wine, Smeg has added the red
colourway to 90cm model A1RW-6. The six-burner gas hob in polished stainless steel is fitted with heavy-duty pan stands and
includes a 3.5 kW ultra rapid burner and 1.9 kW elliptical burner suitable for a fishpan.
Cool art from ServisWinners have now been chosen for all age categories in the Servis Cool Art Design Competition, which aimed to encourage
children and art students to express their feelings about tackling climate change.
