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Industry News supplied by kbbdaily
West Yorkshire-based Moores Furniture Group is set to offer an “even better service for housebuilders” in 2018 on the back of a new collection of “improved products”. Alongside its recently launched installer app, the company said it is shortening its lead times and improving its customer software to improve its service for housebuilders. Moores a recent customer survey of more than 2,500 contacts at national housebuilders “revealed that almost 50% would score our service a nine or 10 for likeliness to recommend”. “This year we will continue to build on our committed customer service by offering improved services,” said Moores Marketing and Sales Director Michael Barrett. “In addition, our installer app will be rolled out to all housebuilders as an easier, streamlined tool for tracking entire projects.”
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AEG UNVEILS NEW APP FOR KITCHEN INSTALLERS
AEG has launched an “innovative” new app specifically designed for kitchen installers, allowing them to scan or search a range of AEG kitchen appliances “to find the correct and fastest way of installing them.” The app launch is part of AEG’s plans to “enhance support for its trade partners and continue to deliver quick and easy trade installation solutions,” the company said. The app features installation videos and drawings, user manuals and technical specifications. Installers can enter the product number code, model or product name on the app, or scan a product’s barcode with a smartphone, to view installation instructions. “AEG is the first to offer this unique support to the kitchen business and puts us in a very advantageous position ahead of the competition when it comes to best in class installation,” said Patrick Le Corre, Senior Vice President for kitchen major appliances EMEA at AEG. “Initial feedback has been extremely positive and we are looking into extending the app to include more functionality and content,” Le Corre added. The UK pipes and fittings market has seen overall growth of 21% since 2012, according to the latest report by AMA Research, although the research firm noted that growth has slowed more recently but looks “moderately positive” for 2018. AMA noted “key factors” that have influenced market growth in recent years include “increasing levels of demand from key end-use sectors, principally in new housebuilding and non-domestic construction, and rises in raw material prices such as copper and plastic over the last two years”.
“In particular, plastic push-fit and press-fit fittings have experienced growth due to the considerable savings made on installation time,” said AMA Research Manager Hayley Thornley. “In addition, with increasing health and safety legislation, and the lack of ‘traditional’ skills of soldering and welding pipework, there has been a continuing shift in the market towards flame-free jointing. Use of multilayer barrier pipes, including a metal layer to protect against degradation, has also grown significantly in the water supply sector.” Order the ‘Pipes and Fittings Market Report – UK 2018-2022’ from amaresearch.co.uk.
UK PIPES AND FITTINGS MARKET SEES GOOD GROWTH
Wetroom manufacturer Impey has been named as one of the official sponsors of the Women Installers Together Conference 2018, which is organised by national franchise of female plumbers Stopcocks Women Plumbers. The conference, which is now in its second year and is set to take place at the Building Centre in Fitzrovia, London on the 4th July 2018, celebrates female installers in the plumbing and gas installation industry. “We’re delighted to welcome Impey as a sponsor of Women Installers Together Conference 2018 for what we hope will be the beginning of a beautiful relationship,” said Stopcocks Women Plumbers founder and conference host Hattie Hasan. Impey technical manager Shaun Hunt added: “We are incredibly pleased to be supporting the 2018 Women Installers Together Conference. It’s an inspirational initiative which will undoubtedly encourage and motivate the many attendees and women installers across the UK. “With only an estimated 1% of installers across the UK being female, the Women Installers Together Conference and Stopcocks are doing a fabulous job of raising awareness of the career path and establishing a firm and equal footing for those women who want to be part of the plumbing and gas fitting industries.”
The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, CIPHE, recently held its annual ‘Dinner with the President’ event earlier this month at the Founders Hall in London, with around 50 guests joining President Geoff Westall, pictured left, to celebrate his tenure. Construction Products Association Chairman and Worcester Bosch CEO Carl Arntzen, pictured right, attended the dinner as a guest speaker. In his speech at the event, Westall spoke about the highlights of the CIPHE since he took over as president, including a 7% growth in industrial associate membership. He also spoke about the CIPHE’s involvement in education, continued professional development – CPD – and licensing. “In order for the Government’s Industrial Strategy to be successful, greater engagement with industry is essential,” Westall said. “There is no doubt that the aspirations to create a world-class education system would be enhanced if the Level 3 NVQ was adopted as a minimum standard for entry into the plumbing and heating industry. Of course, mandatory CPD linked to licensing would also help to raise standards and minimise the shortage of skilled people.”
STUDY ON TASTE OF ‘TOILET TO TAP’ WATER CARRIED OUT
Researchers at UC Riverside in the US recently conducted a study that compares the taste of recycled wastewater, also coined ‘toilet to tap’ water, with tap water and commercially bottled water. “It seems that this term, wastewater, and the idea of recycled water in general, evokes disgust reactions,” said Daniel Harmon, a graduate student at the California university and the lead author in the study on water taste. However, he added: “It is important to make recycled water less scary to people who are concerned about it, as it is an important source of water now and in the future.” Wastewater is treated using reverse osmosis, with the preferred technology, indirect potable reuse – IDR – found to remove “virtually all contaminants” from wastewater before it is reintroduced into groundwater supplies, where it then re-enters the drinking water system. The system is already in use by six California water agencies. UC Riverside’s study on the taste of recycled wastewater included 143 people, who were asked to compared IDR-treated tap water with conventional tap water and commercially bottled water in a blind taste test. Participants were asked to rank the samples’ taste from one to five as well as in categories including texture, temperature, smell and colour. “The groundwater-based water was not as well liked as IDR or bottled water,” said psychology professor and co-author of the study Mary Gauvain. “We think that happened because IDR and bottled water go through remarkably similar treatment processes, so they have low levels of the types of tastes people tend to dislike.” A recent study commissioned by Orb Media found that an average of 10 particles of plastic are found in every litre of bottled water, reaching levels of microplastic fibres that are twice as high as those found in tap water.
BMA TO CARRY OUT CONSUMER RESEARCH ON BATHROOM HABITS
The Bathroom Manufacturers Association – BMA – is undertaking consumer research to “understand more about how people use their bathrooms”. The organisation will be carrying out the study in two parts, comprising a seven-day diary study with a sample of 50 homeowners, and a questionnaire to be completed by a 500-strong sample. According to the BMA, the research will provide “valuable insight” into water usage and habits. The interactive study will look into people’s daily bathroom routines and how much water they use. The questionnaire will evaluate customer satisfaction levels after they have purchased a new bathroom and will “record awareness levels of water regulations and legal compliance whilst making their purchases”. “This is the first time any organisation from our industry has questioned the consumer in so much detail about their bathrooms and how they use bathroom products,” said BMA CEO Yvonne Orgill. “The results of the research will be made available to all BMA members and aid the BMA to talk with clarity and credibility when working with the government and other organisations on water issues.”
Hamilton Litestat has launched its new-for-2018 kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms brochure, featuring its latest solutions, technologies and product finishes.
The six-page KBB brochure showcases Hamilton’s stateof-the-art electrical solutions and smart technologies for the home, including smart lighting control and multiroom audio. It illustrates how the solutions can be used effectively and stylishly to create significant impact within the home. When considered early in the interior design process – from both a functional and design point of view – electrical accessories can provide the perfect finishing touch to the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.
HAMILTON LAUNCHES NEW KITCHENS, BEDROOMS & BATHROOMS BROCHURE
CARRON PHOENIX OFFERS BIG SAVINGS ON ITS VELA SINKS IN A ONEOFF SPRING PROMOTION
Carron Phoenix is offering generous savings on the trade prices of its premium Vela stainless steel sinks in a special promotion for spring. The offer, available only while stocks last, applies to the single bowl Vela 100, available with a 60% discount, and the 1.5 bowl Vela 150 model with a 64% discount. Vela’s sleek and minimalist design uses simple, geometric lines on the gently raised perimeter edge, the drainer grooves and a sharp 10mm bowl corner radii to create a stylish, modern sink that is both elegant and easy to care for. Available either left or right-handed, Vela offers the flexibility of inset or undermount installation. When installed as an inset, the Vela sits just 1.8mm, the thickness of the stainless steel, on the worksurface to give the high-end appearance of a flushmounted model. The Vela 100 bowl measures 357 x 410mm with a generous bowl depth of 200mm and fits a 500mm cabinet. The Vela 150’s main bowl measures 357 x 410 x 200mm, while the half bowl is 157 x 345 x 140mm and fits a 600mm cabinet. Optional accessories are available at an additional cost and include a bamboo chopping board, wire basket and strainer bowl, making Vela sinks ideally suited to supporting a wide range of food preparation, rinsing and washing tasks. For further information on the Vela promotion, contact Carron Phoenix on: 0161 436 6280, email: sales@carron.com, website: www.carron.com.
