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AMTICO USES FACTORY TO HELP PRODUCE THOUSANDS OF NHS FACE MASKS
Coventry-based flooring firm Amtico has transformed its manufacturing facilities to produce up to 20,000 parts a day for life-saving face shields used by frontline NHS and critical key workers in the battle against COVID-19.
Better known for is luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring, the company has adapted the materials and machinery used in its production to create parts for essential PPE for use throughout the UK.
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This comes as the result of joining forces with schools from around the country, who were working on producing face shields using 3D printing before assembling and distributing them nationwide. As the headband is the most complex and time-consuming component of a protective face shield, Amtico stepped in to help improve the efficiency and speed of production.
The company assembled a dedicated team of technical, CAD and cutting specialists and, within a few hours, modified the design of the headband to ensure it was more secure and structurally sound, as well as faster and more efficient to assemble, with less wastage.
Amtico also created a new composition of its flooring material specifically for the headstraps, ensuring the best balance between flexibility and rigidity, with the ultimate aim of making them as comfortable and practical as possible for frontline NHS staff and critical key workers.
The company has already produced 4,500 of the headbands to date, with capacity to produce up to 20,000 per day, and furthermore is now listed on the Government’s official PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) procurement service.
The final samples were taken to Watford General Hospital on Thursday 9th April 2020, where
the design was approved and 2,000 units ordered. These were then produced by Amtico, free of charge, within seven hours of NHS approval. A further 12,000 parts have been ordered to create face shields for many hospitals throughout North and West London.
German kitchen manufacturer Rotpunkt, has announced that it is supporting its UK retail network by offering free online training sessions twice-a-week.
The online seminars, which will take place every Wednesday and Friday at 10am and 2pm, will last approximately 30 minutes, and Rotpunkt clients will get a chance to raise any questions they have related to the brand. “We’re committed to making the best of a bad situation, which is why we have new remote training sessions to maintain brand focus, update suppliers on our current products and services and help our supply chain “add-value” to their knowledge and expertise.”
Rotpunkt has an extensive product portfolio with many new kitchen solutions for 2020 now available for the UK retailer. The newly introduced online-training sessions will ensure that the company is regularly communicating with its customers so they in turn, can create new dialogue with theirs.
All existing Rotpunkt customers will be sent a personal e-vite to join the online-training sessions and be provided with a session ID and password for private access.
HOMEBASE TO REOPEN ACROSS BRITAIN
Homebase has announced that it will reopen 50 additional stores across the UK, following a successful trial period in 20 of its branches.
CEO Dan McGloughlin explained that certain stores will be reopened for customers to browse and shop, but strict controls have been put in place to ensure shopping is safe for everyone.
In March, Homebase was classified as an essential retailer by the Government, but senior leaders of the company decided that it would operate online only in a move to protect both its customers and teams.
The reopening follows an announcement from DIY retailer B&Q, which stated that it will reopen 155 of its stores following a successful trial period at 14 shops. Home improvement retailer Wickes also announced that it will reopen six stores as part of a trial run, with strict new social distancing measures in place designed to protect colleagues and customers.
McGloughlin commented ‘It has taken a tremendous amount of hard work and commitment from our teams across all parts of the business, to ensure we are ready to safely welcome customers back through our doors.’
‘I’m extremely grateful for the dedication shown by every single team member, and to our customers, for the huge support and understanding’ he added.
KBB 2020 GOES AHEAD AND PROVES A GREAT SUCCESS
So KBB 2020 has been and gone, many predicted that it would be gone before it began (if that makes sense) due to the dreaded coronavirus outbreak.
Many other major trade and consumer exhibitions in the UK and globally had cancelled in the days leading up to the Birmingham event but it went ahead anyway. If I’m honest, I nearly didn’t attend as I was flying in from abroad and was very concerned about the dangers to my health both whilst travelling and at the show itself.
So it was with some trepidation that I entered the show. I’m not sure what I was expecting to be honest, maybe some visitors wearing masks, hand sanitisers everywhere, but there was little or none of that to be seen.
So then came the awkward moment where I meet industry friends or introduced to their colleagues or even the team from the BiKBBI, what would I do, shake hands? Kiss if it were female? But apart from an initial reluctance on the first morning and a bit of banter it became business as usual with hand-shakes and kisses all around as per normal.
This set the stall-out for the rest of the show as it really was business as normal as kitchen, bedroom and bathroom manufacturers and came out to support the industry and were rewarded with much better than expected visitor numbers in my opinion.
The BiKBBI had driven its much publicised big red London bus and ensured that it was positioned prominently and the team were rewarded with a constant stream of visitors from members, industry partners and curious tradespeople interested to find out more about the organisation.
Any visitor would have been impressed with not just the size of the show but the creativity and quality of the stands and displays. There were many genuine new products showcased and my feeling is that anyone who took the time out to attend, would have been rewarded with genuine full day rather than depart feeling it had been wasted.
We all know what has happened since! However, by visiting the KBB 2020 exhibition I am heartened by the fact that the industry is in good shape and strong enough to see this pandemic off without too much damage. Yes it will change businesses, and even ourselves, but I am confident that this period of ‘adjustment’ will have genuine long term benefits. A lot will happen between now and the next KBB in two years’ time, that’s for sure!
New Core Carbon Brushed Metal by Rotpunkt
Nuance by Bushboard New Wall Panelling Storage Solution by Rotpunkt
SAFETY FIRST WITH VOGUE (UK)
Vogue (UK), a UK manufacturer of premium designer radiators and towel warmers put safety first, in light of the devastating global impact of COVID-19.
With the aim to reassure its client group, Vogue (UK) is doing all it can to protect the health and safety of its customers, suppliers and staff throughout this time of great upset and disruption. Advocating good health and wellbeing for its workforce, the company has implemented an auxiliary operation method to provide the safety of others and ensure an appropriate level of service and delivery, in accordance with government guidelines.
The company’s remote sales office is in a position to serve new and existing customers by email or phone, with only select keyworkers in the warehouse working to fulfil outstanding orders, albeit with a slower lead time. Steve Birch, Sales Director at Vogue (UK) says “Please stay safe and virus-free by looking after what
matters most, your health.”
If you have a sales or product enquiry during the COVID-19 government lockdown, please contact:
t: 01902 387 000 e: info@vogueuk.co.uk www.vogueuk.co.uk
OPTIONS
RELAUNCH FOR BUSHBOARD
comprehensive marketing suite that includes a new brochure, display stands, point of sale and sample-service. Caroline Elliott, Head of Product for Worktops at Bushboard, explains, "We have revisited the Options collection and created a range that combines practicality and quality with trend-led, hyperrealistic decors.”
Fresh updates across Bushboard’s Options laminate worktop range were displayed at the recent KBB 2020 exhibition. The Options post-formed range, has been a favourite kitchen surface throughout the UK for its style, durability and affordability.
Manufactured with a smooth edge Q3 profile, and available in both 4.1m and 3m lengths, Options worktops are easy to install and coated with anti-bacterial protection. The fifty decors comprise 40 (number) x 38mm across eight textures and 10 x 28mm across three textures.
The new Bushboard Options collection brochure can be downloaded at www.bushboard. co.uk and is also available in print.
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AQUALISA SPONSORS BRITISH
SUPERBIKE TEAM FOR 2020
BiKBBI sponsor, Aqualisa, has announced that it is sponsoring the leading British Superbike team, PBM Ducati, for the 2020 season.
Defending Bennetts British Superbike champions Paul Bird Motorsport (PBM) got its season off to a high-flying start when it launched the 2020 livery from the plush and world-famous surroundings of The View from The Shard in London recently.
In keeping with its reputation as Britain’s most successful BSB team, which has now won a total of seven BSB titles and over 100 races, it chose Britain’s tallest building to unveil the factorysupported VisionTrack Ducatis to be ridden by Josh Brookes and Christian Iddon this season. the bright lights of London in the background, as well as the open-air Skydeck some 244m (800ft) above the capital’s streets, team owner Paul Bird welcomed sponsors both new and old to the exclusive event, the first of its kind to be held in the 95-storey skyscraper.
The PBM Team is the most successful motorbike racing team of all time, and this year will carry Aqualisa branding on its race winning Ducati’s, all its team wear, transporters and pit garage surrounds. All races of the 12 round series will be televised live, including the one overseas round - from the famous Assen TT circuit in Holland.
Commenting on the deal to bring Aqualisa on board, PBM team owner Paul Bird said: “I am delighted to have the Aqualisa name associated with our team, especially a brand that so clearly stands for quality and innovation. Aqualisa will sit nicely alongside our Ducati pedigree.”
Aqualisa launched the first ever digital shower in 2001. With a completely new product proposition based on clever technology, simple, one touch control and easy installation, the groundbreaking Quartz changed the world of showers forever.
CEO of Aqualisa, Colin Sykes said: “We are really looking forward to supporting PBM Ducati and believe the connection with a team that has been at the top of the British Superbike Championship for many years, will prove to be an ideal platform for the promotion of our brand.”
Aqualisa will be running customer competitions throughout the year, in which winners will receive full hospitality tickets as guests of the two-rider team, as well as having the opportunity to experience the inside workings of the team.
The season starts on the 12th April, with the first round being held at the home of British Motorsport, Silverstone, in Northamptonshire. Prior to that the riders, Josh Brookes and Christian Iddon will be testing in Spain.
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