Fittings & Components

A global brand, Titus has been at the forefront of innovation since 1973, consistently developing precision components that make assembly seamless, enhance the look of furniture and improve competitiveness.

Through innovative product design, engineering expertise and effective service, customers and partners of Titus are able to improve their productivity and quality, as well as reduce costs of assembly, manufacturing and other processes. Titus’ unique Fit For Purpose approach, enables high volumes with a consistent precision and repeatable quality.

Tekform kitchen drawers from Titus combine long-lasting quality and sleek attractive appearance with effective soft-closing and simple mounting. The company has recently launched new slimline versions featuring 14mm side panels. These provide additional useful space inside the drawers with no increase in overall dimensions. Tekform drawers incorporate precision-engineered Titus hydraulic dampers that provide a reliable and consistent soft closing action combined with low pull-out force.

Tekform slimline drawers are available in three heights – 70, 145 and 182mm – and can be supplied in a range of attractive finishes that ideally complement contemporary furniture designs. A further key benefit is that they use the same drilling pattern for runners as their predecessors, which facilitates their use in existing products and designs.

The new T-type hinges from Titus are suitable for use on a wide range of doors with thicknesses up to 34 mm. Their unique three-way snap-on mounting system makes them exceptionally easy to install, even on large heavy doors with multiple hinges. The range has recently been extended to include pie-cut (bi-fold) hinges for corner cabinets, which fit standard drilling patterns and feature convenient ‘double lock’ opening. This means users can either open just one door leaf to get excellent access into the cabinet interior or they can fully open the doors by locking the hinge cup and make the door leaves work as one.

FastFix hinge cups are another recent addition to the T-type range. The new cups incorporate pre-mounted 8mm diameter expanding dowels that make hinge attachment quick and easy.

The expanding dowels enable precise tool-free insertion of the hinge cup and hold it accurately in place until the dowels are tightened. Triplestart screws mean that only three turns of the screwdriver are needed to fix the hinge cup, while the ‘Expando’ feature ensures firm attachment as well as allowing repeated assembly and disassembly.

The new and innovative Quickfit TL5 Full Metal Jacket dowels from Titus provide strong, reliable joints in all types of wooden materials, including MDF, chipboard and solid wood. This means that it is no longer necessary to use different dowels for different materials.

These innovative connectors are compatible with a wide range of materials and are now available in versions that have expanding 9 mm flanged plastic sleeves, allowing them to be used in 10 mm dowel holes. They can be used in single and back-to-back applications and, like all TL connectors, they incorporate the Titus ‘Expando’ feature which guarantees consistently strong joints.

Particularly well suited to applications in high-end premium kitchen furniture, Titus TeraBlack products fully meet the requirements of designers and consumers looking for unobtrusive yet attractive cabinet hardware. The product range includes new versions of its innovative and highly successful T-type hinges, TL5 Full Metal Jacket dowels, shelf supports and push latches. The new Tera (Titus Enhanced Resistance Application) versions have a darkgrey non-reflective finish that is not only visually appealing but also highly resistant to scratching.

To complement its extensive range of connectors and components, Titus offers support and advice for manufacturers of bespoke and high-end kitchen cabinets and furniture. The team at Titus is always ready to discuss and develop solutions for even the most discerning manufacturers so, give Titus a call to discuss your application. uk.titusplus.com

OVVO products are a range of cleverly engineered, award-winning, invisible connectors that make joining wood simple. The connectors are installed during the manufacturing process so the end-user can simply click together cabinets, shop fit-out components, door frame assemblies or furniture without the need for tools, screws, or glues. The result is an accessible, sustainable product that saves time, money and effort for consumers and manufacturers alike. Manufacturers can also benefit from significantly reduced shipping costs, as items can be shipped flat-packed.

The latest addition to the OVVO product family is the new Drilling Housing (DH1) which is specifically designed to work in standard drill patterns. The DH1 works along with the RD12 (End Boring) or the RN12 (Face Boring) to form a permanent joint in 15mm panels and above. These new connectors make it even easier for manufacturers to incorporate OVVO into their standard processes. No additional equipment or capital needed to deliver tools free assembly products to the end customer.

This new invisible Drilling Housing is designed for connecting cabinet parts and all types of furniture using standard drilled holes on BOTH sides of the joint, thereby simplifying the panel processing operations while continuing to provide all of the benefits of OVVOs’ proven tools-free assembly methodology.

Established in Ireland in 2014, the OVVO brand has gone from strength to strength, picking up numerous highly regarded industry awards along the way. Most recently awarded a High Product Quality award at Interzum 2019 for the innovative V-1230 Connection system, the relentless quest to make life easier for people ensures that simplicity is at the heart of every new product: with each new product developed, the OVVO range has become more accessible to manufacturers, with the ability to be integrated into existing production processes, and suitable for a wide range of production capabilities.

All OVVO connectors are designed for highvolume, automatic insertion, and recently announced partnerships with leading software providers Cabinet Vision, TopSolid, iFurn, Swood and Cabinet Sense ensure that manufacturers can easily incorporate OVVO into their existing processes, and also into new product design and development.

All OVVO connectors can be installed into a variety of materials ranging from high-quality hardwoods to low-grade particle board, and our recyclable plastic means any waste is put back into the production of our product. OVVO works best in boards >12mm thickness and is available in a range of sizes to perfectly match your requirements. All connector sizes are available in both permanent and releasable options, extending the range of materials and opportunities to inspire creative design and innovative development.

Consumer demands are shifting more and more towards convenience and sustainability. OVVO helps you meet those demands and give your products a competitive edge. The OVVO team is on hand to support your switchover to OVVO and help you take the next step of innovation.

Furniture Assembly made simple – no need for tools, glue or screws. Simply push, click and connect. www.ovvotech.com

Space Step helps maximise storage

With lift systems, pull-outs and doors, interior fixtures and fittings, full-extension drawers, wider opening hinges and all the motion technologies needed, kitchens instantly become more ergonomic, more flowing and more accessible. With this in mind, Blum has developed its SPACE STEP and Pull-out shelf lock, designed to take kitchen and other home storage to the next level.

Blum’s SPACE STEP is designed to literally elevate home storage, especially in kitchens. This handy hidden helper creates instant storage space behind plinths and toe kicks with the added benefit of providing quick and easy access to tall floor-to-ceiling wall cabinets. As well as allowing users to access those otherwise

Space Step helps maximise storage

out-of-reach areas higher up, it also provides easy-access storage while giving children a helping hand to reach worksurfaces and sinks.

With SPACE STEP, designers now have free rein to use every inch of space in compact homes as well as larger open-plan living areas. Thanks to the integrated opening angle stop for AVENTOS HK top (as shown above), lift systems can be installed right up to the ceiling. SPACE STEP enables easy access to higher levels.

SPACE STEP opens swiftly and easily and can be fitted with the Blum SERVO-DRIVE electrical opening support system for even greater ease. The step closes equally effortlessly with softclose BLUMOTION and when open, securely locks in place with an anti-slip system.

Blum’s Pull-out Shelf Lock Space Step helps maximise storage

Blum’s Pull-out Shelf Lock

Another innovation from Blum designed for safe and easy access to everyday items is the Pullout shelf lock.

A discreet, space-saving mechanism that securely holds an open pull-out shelf in place, Blum has developed a practical lock-open stop for its MOVENTO and TANDEM pull-out shelves. Now there’s no need to worry about wobbles or shelves sliding back in, even if small appliances and gadgets are placed on top.

Useful in all rooms in the home, this extra shelf is invaluable for temporary use. Naturally it opens and closes with top quality motion and uses a simple lock mechanism, which can be operated with one hand thanks to the synchronisation shaft. 01908 285700 www.blum.com

• SAVE TIME & MONEY

The customer in question makes trolleys used in hospitals and currently utilises a combination of bonding fasteners and weld nuts from JET PRESS’ sister company, Components Direct. Kevin visited

Insert nuts – Type A application

the business and took a close look at its application. He came up with a recommendation using Rivet T-Nuts that would improve the quality and longevity of the finished product. Not a big sale for Kevin – but a great result for the customer.

“Now is a very good time to buy a T-Nut insertion machine,” says Kevin. “Thanks to the Super Deduction tax break for financial year 2022/2023, you can save 25p off your company tax bill for every £1 you spend on a T-Nut insertion machine from JET PRESS.

“For instance, if you spend £8000 on a floor-standing insertion machine you can save £1976 off your Corporation Tax Bill. You should take advice on how you finance your purchase to ensure you get the tax break.

“If you invest more – in a Drill, Drive and Rivet T-Nut machine

for instance – you can save even more on your tax bill. JET PRESS supplies a range of floor-standing machines, table-top machines and T-Nut insertion hand tools.”

JET PRESS can also arrange free service packages with every machine for as long as T-Nuts are bought from it. www.jetpress.com

Cliff Petit, Space-Plug’s inventor and former fitter is delighted with the new options. “A great relationship with our new manufacturer, “Masona Plastics”, based in Whitesmith, East Sussex, means that we can now do production runs in just about any colour we choose! Adding both black and white plugs to the range means Space-Plug’s appeal becomes even wider now you can purchase appropriate colours for fixings that might remain slightly visible.”

Both Space-Plug sizes, Regular for 30-50mm gaps and XL for 45-80mm gaps, are available now on Amazon and their own website – www. space-plug.com – in various guises to try and suit all needs.

There is also a mixed size bag of 4+4 in both black and white as well as bags of 25 available. Cliff also points out, “We’re also here and happy to help! Anybody who requires a bespoke volume is welcome to get in touch with us via spaceplug.com and we’ll do our utmost to meet their requirements.”

Space-Plug can now help all kinds of trades – bathroom and bedroom fitters will adore the simplicity of this diverse adjustable spacer fixing. But it’s not limited to indoor use, SpacePlug is great for use outdoors too.

Cliff adds: “I’ve been asked so many times for the new colours but production runs up until now have been prohibitive. I’m delighted they have now arrived and even more people can benefit from Space-Plug simplicity. Please spread the word of this super handy, independent and British made product to all your friends and colleagues and find all our products on Amazon today.” www.space-plug.com

Fair in Atlanta, USA. The Peanut Connection System has taken a quantum leap in recent months, culminating with the introduction of two Peanut insertion machines at the Fair!

Intelligent Fixings’ collaboration with two major woodworking machine manufacturers - the

German manufacturer Koch Technology, and the Italian manufacturer Omal Srl of Italy – have produced the perfect automatic insertion systems. The state-of-the-art insertion machines allow furniture panels to be machined with the innovative Peanut ramped key hole slot and then

Peanut 2 or Peanut 3 components automatically inserted, producing furniture that can be assembled directly from the machine or flat-packed and then shipped to the end user to build on site.

No clamping is required, the components self-clamp using the ramped key hole slot. The machines enable pendulum processing which maximises the working time of the machine, with one user processing hundreds of panels per day! The cost of the Peanut connectors is less than that of similar fasteners, so beautiful furniture with no visible connection is now an attractive and economical reality.

The introduction of the Peanut insertion machines has made the components more accessible to small and medium sized businesses. Companies who wish to increase their production, add end-boring capability, reduce assembly time while creating strong and invisible joints (all at a fraction of the cost of other fasteners) are now able to do so. The development of these machines by Koch and Omal means they can now introduce the same technology into mass production lines. Excitingly, there are two market-leading furniture manufacturers currently looking to using the Peanut insertion machines for their production lines. Several machines have been placed on order even before their full promotion began! Intelligent Fixings, along with Omal and Koch, has been promoting the Peanut Connecting System and insertion machines across all social media platforms, including Youtube, Instagram and Linkedin. IF’s Youtube instructional videos have been particularly well-received.

IF’s Peanut Connecting System’s range of connectors and accessory products cover all areas of furniture construction; from the single carpenter using the hand-held jigs to companies with

CNC machines. With the introduction of the insertion machines, small to mass-producing companies are able to utilise and benefit from this fantastic system too.

Visit the IF website for full details of all components in the range - Peanut 1 for 3-axis CNC machines, the invisible Peanut 2 and 3 for jigs, boring and insertion machines and the invisible Peanut 2 Short for jigs and boring machines – along with information on all available accessories and the two new insertion machines. www.intelligentfixings.com