INDUSTRY NEWS

GROHE LAUNCHES NEW

HOT TAP

GROHE, has developed GROHE Red which provides on-demand kettle hot water in the exact amount needed – safely and directly from the kitchen tap.

“It usually takes around four to five minutes for a kettle to bring a litre of water to a boil, while boiling on a hob can take more than twice as long. Our aim to create new opportunities to redefine kitchen taps and enhance them through functions that add real life value.” Explains Jonas Brennwald, Leader LIXIL EMENA, Co-CEO Grohe AG. “With this appliance, we offer

our professional partners a real kitchen hero, making their customers’ day-to-day lives easier and more resourceful, saving them time for the things and people they love”.

To raise awareness and inspire consumers to make sustainable changes, while highlighting the GROHE Red as an ideal kitchen upgrade for improved convenience, GROHE UK is offering a cashback incentive on its Red kettle hot taps until 31st January 2022.

BLUM SPONSOR THE

INNOVATION AWARDS AT KBB BIRMINGHAM 2022

As in previous years, Blum is delighted to confirm that it will again be sponsoring the innovation awards at kbb Birmingham 2022.

The awards will be judged at the show, by a panel of six judges. Amanda Hughes - Architect & Interior Design Liaison at Blum, Richard Hibbert - KBSA Chairperson, Lindsey Rendall - BIID President, Katrina Burroughs - Design Journalist for The Times, Andy Davies - Managing Editor of kbbReview and Andy Bishop - Creative Director of kbb Birmingham.

Amanda comments that she will be looking for real innovations, which cover several key issues, that are important to the whole industry.

First of her key topics is sustainability - but combined with a credible offer. Sustainability is currently a very relevant subject, and the judges all hope to see some really innovative products for this category.

Alongside sustainability are other important considerations in the judging process. Manufacturers should try and address the issues around small living spaces, where Quality of Living is such an important consideration. End users should be considered at every stage of the manufacturing/retailer process.

Amanda also sees a gap in the market to cater for multiple needs for multiple users. Many homes now include three or even four generations, and with smaller space available, multipurpose originality will help minimise overcrowding.

The judges will create a shortlist of 10 products that will be displayed in a gallery built at the kbb event in March. There are 3 final awards: The Judges’ overall winner, the Sustainability winner and the People's Choice, which is voted for onsite by kbb visitors. These 3 winners will be announced at the event on Tuesday 8th March.

www.blum.com

GIRA ACQUIRES 100 PER CENT OF THE SHARES IN WANDSWORTH

The arrival of 2022 has witnessed Smart building pioneer Gira, acquire Wandsworth.

Wandsworth, founded in 1904 and based in Woking, currently has 110 employees and manufactures switch ranges and professional emergency call systems for hospitals and care facilities. It has two business divisions “Wandsworth Electrical” and “Wandsworth Healthcare.”

“When two healthy, successful and independent family businesses come together with different strengths that complement each other in a special way, it is a perfect formula for growth and success. And when the culture, values and aspirations of both companies are as closely related as they are at Wandsworth and Gira, then this can only be a success story,” declared Dirk Giersiepen, Managing Partner of Gira, and Dominik Marte, Managing Marketing and Sales Director from 1 March 2022, in a personal letter to the Wandsworth staff.

Smart building specialist Gira, whose systems and solutions are sold in 40 countries, primarily in Europe and Asia, has been active in the UK since 2011, with its own sales company since 2018. By acquiring Wandsworth, Gira hopes to sustainably tap into the growth potential of the large British market and expand its market position. “The brand recognition of Wandsworth, its large customer network, and its sales strength in the UK will allow us to access the British market in a completely different way than before,” commented Gira’s Managing Director Marketing and Sales, Dominik Marte, adding that this applied even more as Adam Sherry, owner and chief executive of Wandsworth since 2013, would continue to run the company for the next few years at both parties’ request. “His great market knowledge and his personality as a guarantor of trust and continuity are important building blocks in helping us achieve our growth targets,” said Dirk Giersiepen.

In turn, Wandsworth will benefit from the huge expertise in electronics, smart building and software that has accumulated in the Gira Group. “Wandsworth has little in-house expertise in these areas, which will continue to gain importance in our industry. Working together in the Gira Group will open up new opportunities for us on the product side,” explained Wandsworth CEO Adam Sherry. For example, KNX technology, a globally successful standard in building automation, will be available to Wandsworth in future for integration into its product range.

www.gira.com

ABODE APPOINTS NEW

PROJECT ENGINEER

Abode, manufacturers of kitchen taps, sinks, bathroom taps & showering solutions has welcomed Frank Cassidy as newly appointed Project Engineer within its Design & Quality Department to support and manage a wide range of exciting projects and development opportunities currently ongoing, planned-in or new to both brand and business.

Frank’s new role will largely impact future growth as Abode enters a new phase of business evolution in 2022 with a series of product innovations and new commercial prospects to be unveiled next year. His previous role as Quality, Technical & Maintenance Manager for a leading kitchen manufacturer saw him responsible for tooling development and process improvements, which will be put to good use given the level of excellence and ingenuity on offer at Abode.

www.abodedesigns.co.uk

UWLA TO LAUNCH A SERIES OF MEDIA PACKS AT KBB

The Unified Water Label Association, (UWLA) will launch a series of media packs for retailers, installers and merchants at the 2022 KBB exhibition (06-09 March NEC Birmingham).

The packs have been developed for use by members across Europe to drive home the Water Matters message and help consumers understand the link between using water, energy and their carbon footprint. The pack includes a range of tools, flyers, posters, social media posts and videos, with tips and advice on how to save water in the home.

UWLA MD Yvonne Orgill says, “Consumer interest in sustainability is growing and recent research shows that they are willing to change behaviour patterns so that they can have a positive impact on the planet. Rising fuel prices are also changing attitudes, with more people wanting to save energy in order to save money.

“The Unified Water Label is an established and recognised smart tool that can provide consumers with the information they need to facilitate change, making it more important than ever to make the Label visible and illustrate the benefits.

“We have the support of manufacturers. We now want to keep our focus on communication, encouraging those in the supply chain that sell and install, to ensure more of these products are used in the home.

“2022 will be a crucial year for the Water Label as we continue our dialogue with government on the introduction of mandatory label. We need the support of the industry to promote our voluntary label which is tried and tested in the marketplace. If the government does not accept

the Unified Water Label as its solution and develops its own mandatory label, this is likely to come with restrictions. Enforced restrictions will stifle innovation and force manufacturers to limit their product range.

“ We welcome interested parties to our stand at KBB B46 to find out how they can play their part.

www.uwla.eu

CARRON PHOENIX EXTENDS SAVOY TAP RANGE WITH NEW COLOURED FINISHES

Carron Phoenix has extended its popular Savoy tap range with the new finishes of Matt Black and Brushed Nickel, reflecting consumer demand for adding more colour in the kitchen.

Savoy, which is also available in classic polished chrome, features an elegant swan neck design that will enhance any kitchen style, whether traditional or modern.

Standing tall at 384mm high with a spout reach of 189mm, the savoy tap features an easy to operate single slim side lever. It

is suitable for medium 0.5 to 1.2 bar pressure and is supported by a five-year guarantee against manufacturing defects.

The Savoy tap is part of the Carron Phoenix portfolio which offers 24 tap models in a range of styles and finish options with functionality for standard, boiling water and filtered water, all of which reflect Carron Phoenix’s credentials for good quality, design and value.

www.carron.com

VOGUE (UK) TO BENEFIT FROM GROWTH INVESTMENT BY KARTELL UK

British designer and manufacturer of premium radiators and towel warmers, Vogue (UK), look ahead with renewed enthusiasm as new development opportunities are expected following investment by Kartell UK, one of the largest and fastestgrowing suppliers of heating and bathroom products to the independent merchant and showroom sector in the UK.

Kartell’s investment in Vogue (UK) will support further growth across the UK and internationally, adding to the market presence Vogue already has here and in the US. It will also enable a more comprehensive range of products and services to be offered by both brands.

Vogue (UK) will continue to operate autonomously, remaining as a stand-alone manufacturing and design business but within the Kartell group under the guidance of the existing, highly experienced management team. This will all be supported by ongoing integration and leadership support from Vogue UK founders, Raymond Tunks and Rob Kelley.

Raymond Tunks, explains “Vogue is something I am very proud of, offering a renowned history which has been developed by a highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce over the last 30 years. In this post-pandemic environment, I am confident the investment from Alex and Kartell will enable future growth and secure an exciting future for Vogue, all its staff and the Kartell Group.”

Robert Kelley, adds “Vogue’s success can be attributed to the continual endeavour to provide the best in class service and high quality products to our markets and customers. We wanted to find the ideal home for the business to complement and accelerate the work we have done as a team over the last 30 years and believe that Alex and the wider Kartell group are the right people to take Vogue forward.”

Alex Norford, CEO of Kartell, says “When the opportunity to partner with the team at Vogue arose, we immediately identified the strategic fit this acquisition represents and we are delighted to announce the deal. Everyone at Kartell is excited about working with Ray, Rob and the team at Vogue to address the multiple market opportunities in the UK, Europe and International export markets. Our shared focus of best-in-class quality and service will bring added value to all the group’s customers and stakeholders” explains Alex.

www.vogueuk.co.uk