Imex 2024 Spring/Summer Newsletter

Spring - Summer 2024 Newsletter

Imex are excited to announce the launch of our new brochure, showcasing a wide variety of over 100 new products that will elevate the design and functionality of any bathroom.

From new furniture with vibrant colour options to practical, easy fit cistern frames with a selection of flush plates and buttons that can be upgraded to match our brushed brass and matt black brassware collections. For bathing, we have new freestanding baths with matt black and matt grey exteriors, as well as a new built-in keyhole bath design for extra space when showering.

Our catalogue offers a plethora of options for customers to personalise and add their unique touch to their bathrooms. This extensive range of products not only ensures a visually appealing space but also allows customers to create a bathroom that perfectly fits their individual needs and preferences.

View our brochure online at www.imex.website or call our sales team on 01530 835598 to order a physical copy today.

For a small preview of our new products, see page 4 of this newsletter.

KBB 2024

We are attending the KBB Birmingham show this year on the 3rd to 6th March.

The stand highlights our new product launches, including our coloured Blade and Slipper freestanding baths, the eclectic colour portfolio of the new Ivan furniture and the perfect colour match of our matt black and brushed brass brassware, including new cistern frames and push buttons.

New Ivan furniture, available in 6 vibrant colours!

New for 2024, our Ivan range of furniture introduces three new cabinets in wall mounted single drawer, floor mounted double door and three drawer floor mounted configurations, each with a 500 or 600mm wide option.

These cabinets are available in six new colour options; matt white, steel blue, matt black, pistachio, terracotta and plum, each offering a subtle splash of colour for your bathroom living space.

The cabinets, combined with a choice of black or white basin and brushed brass, chrome or matt black brassware means the Ivan range is incredibly versatile and can be customised to suit any bathroom design preference.

New cistern frames, flush plates & buttons

We have added 2 new cistern options to our collection that allow the customer to select a flush plate that matches their brushed brass, chrome or matt black brassware. Our new cistern frame has some excellent features, including:

• Easy fix, rigid 4-point fixing system with pre-fitted fill and flush valves

• Adjustable pan height (between 1070mm and 1270mm)

• Corrosion resistant steel frame with 400kg load bearing potential

• Fully insulated cistern to prevent condensation inside the cavity

• Our Eco flush setting can be set as low as 2.6 litres of water per flush

• Dual flush cistern with easy fit, push-click flush buttons (available in a range of finishes)

More sanitaryware options & upgrades

We are pleased to now offer our popular Ravine back to wall and wall hung pans in a black finish, along with a matching black seat.

We have also introduced the ability for customers to upgrade the flush buttons on close coupled pans, seat fixings and basin overflow caps from the standard chrome finish to match them to our brushed brass and matt black brassware.

New baths

Freestanding baths

2024 sees 6 new freestanding baths added to our collection, and our first selection offering a matt black or matt grey exterior, for a stunning centre piece for your bathroom.

Keyhole baths

We have also added 3 keyhole bath design options to our Quadro collection. These are designed to increase your showering space by widening the standing end whilst still retaining a comfortable bathing experience.

Who are Imex?

We are Imex. We turn bathrooms into personal living spaces. For everyone. And since the definition of liveable space is individual, we create customised design solutions that fit each and every lifestyle, because we appreciate uniqueness.

Complete collections, efficiency, quality, creation and innovation make Imex one of the pioneers of contemporary European style. Imex are a global manufacturer producing easy to clean glaze, WRAS approved sanitaryware since 1994.

We have launched our collection of products in the UK, holding stock in both our own Midlands and Southern Distribution Centres.

The Imex UK collection of products consists of 16 ranges of beautiful sanitaryware and furniture, Premiercast baths, showers, taps and wastes.

Why choose Imex furniture?

Strong fixings

We only use high quality, stainless steel components and fixings on our cabinets. They have to pass salt fog, anti-rust, durability and load tests.

They exude quality; from the hand finished sanitaryware, WRAS approved cistern fittings, to meeting all European (CE) quality standards – which is why we are proud to offer a 25 year guarantee with each ceramic product.

With Imex you get more than a functional solution for your bathroom; each piece has been designed to fit with the demands of modern luxury living.

Thoughtful features such as quick release seat hinges – to allow easier cleaning – soft closing seat and drawer mechanisms, easy to clean glaze, and anti-bacterial surfaces set the range apart.

All Imex cistern fittings are set at 6/3 litre flushing capacity, but with an eye on the environment, WCs with the Imex ‘Eco’ flush means you can use as little as 4/2.6 litres when flushing, without compromising the effectiveness of the flush.

Perfect finishes

After the unit is cleaned and the paint is precisely applied automatically by robots, the final finish is smooth, beautiful and easy to clean.

Why choose Imex sanitaryware?

Rimless design & 25 year guarantee

The Rimless design removes the inner lip of conventional toilet designs to prevent bacteria build up and results in a more hygienic and efficient flush.

Comfort height & Short projection

Our comfort height toilets are a little bit taller than conventional pans for ease of use. We also produce short projection options for smaller bathrooms.

Quality materials

Our furniture has waterproofing, anti-cracking, anti-corrosion and anti-deformation properties to withstand the rigours of everyday life.

Anti-bacterial, easy clean glaze

All Imex sanitaryware features our antibacterial easy clean glaze, which adds a layer of glassy material to the conventional glazed surface.

Automated manufacturing

Since our inception in 1994, lmex has constantly evolved as a result of our attention to technological innovations. Now in the companies 30th year, lmex has upgraded to automated manufacturing with the help of state-of-the-art equipment.

Our facility can produce 3 million pieces per year and we are constantly developing new technology to increase capacity.

Robot glazing

Automatic glazing ensures consistent performance and even spray coverage.

We use robots to perfect the casting, glazing and relocation of products. This improves safety conditions for our workers, ensures consistent high quality of products and maximises our efficiency.

We are ready to respond to increasingly complex and global needs.

Automated high pressure workstation

Fully automated robot casting. The robotic casting allows for more efficient production by swiftly navigating the requirements of the factory and switching between product moulds.

Automated warehouse

With the help of smart AGV technology and 5G connectivity, our new intelligent positioning and stacking system enables precise and automated movement of materials and products.

Imex go green

Through our factory redevelopment, we expect the following eco and energy saving benefits:

• Energy consumption will be 291kgce/t, lower than the industry benchmark of 300kgce/t.

• Solar panels installed to save electricity.

• Carbon dioxide emissions reduced by 7,370 tonnes a year.

• $3.2 million invested to build two desulfurization systems to reduce sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions.

• Our 2.1MW coal fired boilers were replaced with high efficiency gas fired boilers, reducing our coal use by 1,100 tonnes.

• New energy saving kilns not only help us to keep our green promises, but can also lower the cost of each kg of ceramics by 8% compared with traditional kilns.

We are also proud to have achieved the following ISO certificates

Meet the Imex team

Glen Stafford – National Sales Manager

We welcomed Glen Stafford to the evergrowing Imex team back on 1st November, and he has been a great asset to our team since.

Outside of being the Dad Taxi to his 3 teenage children, Glen loves all things car related. This ranges from anorak status of Car Detailing (which is essentially OCD car cleaning) to trips to watch live motorsport events including F1, Le Mans 24 Hour, Touring Cars and WRC. To keep fit, he enjoys Mountain Biking (although he cheats slightly having an E Bike!) and running. Glen has been known to take part in the odd Marathon/Half Marathon too.

Sales team update

We have invested into a new sales force in 2023, ready for 2024.

Use the map to the right to find your local Business Development Manager and contact them today to see what Imex can add to your business.

• We’ve employed 8 new sales team members and now have the whole country covered for the first time ever as a business.

• We’re investing in more point of sale too and taking an aggressive approach (see example below).

Last year, Glen voluntarily jumped out of two perfectly good aeroplanes, taking part in different Tandem Sky Dives for charity.

Glen’s role as National Sales Manager at Imex Ceramics Ltd is to support the BDM team in delivering their revenue objectives and to ensure we are giving out the same consistent message to our retailers across the country. Helping the team to identify opportunities that we previously could have overlooked and to grow the brand across all areas. Also developing relationships with existing customers and introducing some opportunities with retailers that don’t currently work with Imex Ceramics.

National Sales Director David Upperton david.upperton@imex.team

National Sales Manager Glen Stafford glen.stafford@imex.team

Area 1

Shaun Thompson shaun.thompson@imex.team

Area 2

Mira Whomes mira.whomes@imex.team

Area 3 Mike Starinovich mike.starinovich@imex.team

Area 4

Hayley Davies hayley.davies@imex.team

Area 5

Hedley Bennett hedley.bennett@imex.team

Area 6

Rebecca Sykes rebecca.sykes@imex.team

Area 7

Mark Hepplestone mark.hepplestone@imex.team

Area 8

Aaron Kelly aaron.kelly@imex.team

Area 9

Mark Stacey mark.stacey@imex.team

Customer reviews & recent displays

Our partners have been keeping us up to date with new displays, fun filled trade training mornings and good old fashioned productive meetings that will make a positive difference to their business.

Cramlington

Products displayed:

• Blade 600 double door floor mounted cabinet in matt grey

• Suburb basin mixer in chrome

• Blade Rimless, closed back, close coupled pan

• Ravine freestanding back to wall bath

London

Products displayed:

• Liberty four drawer cabinet in grey oak

• Liberty wall storage cabinet in grey oak

• Liberty Rimless wall hung pan

Stockton

Products displayed:

• Ravine 1500 twin single drawer cabinet in grey marble with white marble quartz worktop

• 2x Ravine bowls without tap holes

South Wales

Products displayed:

• Ravine back to wall freestanding bath

“Not only have you gone above and beyond for me today but in general your customer service as a team is exceptional. Your teams positive, can-do attitude makes my job easier and I appreciate you all. Thank you again from myself and the team here”

Jade at HPS Crayford

Elements explained

The Elements are a key part of the Imex brand and reflect our respect and admiration of the natural world in the design and creation of our products. Each element has a key role in the production process, from the fire in sanitaryware kilns, to the wood used in our furniture or the virgin brass used in our taps and valves.

Augmented reality (AR) & The Virtual Showroom

The Imex Virtual Showroom and Augmented reality experience are useful tools for our sales team, our partners and for their customers, to assist in bringing a bathroom design idea from concept to reality.

When entering our virtual environment on any smart device, you will be able explore our stunning collection of Imex products.

1. Begin by scanning the QR code with your phone camera.

2. Experience Augmented reality by clicking the AR logo and placing digital products in your physical space.

While moving around our Virtual Showroom, you will also be able to find additional information about the products including images, technical line drawings, and a product QR code. This QR code is used to access augmented reality.

Each product on the updated website will have an easily accessible AR function and a 360° product viewer.

3. Position the product on the wall by moving your phone around.

4. Once the product is ‘locked’ onto a wall you can view it from different angles and walk around it.