Blum MD retiresManaging director of BIum, Michael Powell has retired after 23 years working for the Austrian furniture component manufacturer. Celebrating his achievements, an evening event was held at Blum UK with all three members of the Blum Group’s Management Board & Gerhard Blum, Herbert Blum and Hubert Ploner attending.
They were joined by Austrian colleagues Armin Vonach, johannes Jagg and Juergen Schweigkofler. Gerhard Blum and incoming Blum UK managing director, Mark Richardson, both made speeches in recognition of his success establishing Blum in the UK market.
The farewell evening was attended by colleagues and friends from across the industry and retired Blum colleagues. |  |
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Roger Cooper celebrates Ruby anniversaryVice president of West Europe for Ideal Standard International, Roger Cooper has celebrated 40 years of working with the company. Cooper joined Ideal Standard in 1970 as an assistant to the publications officer, moved into product management, and was appointed marketing director for the UK in 1980.
In 1987 he became sales and marketing director and was appointed managing director of the UK and Ireland in 1994. He assumed his current role as vice president for Western Europe in 2007 Cooper was instrumental in appointing Robin Levien who created the Studio range, which has sold over lOmillion pieces since 1980. He also saw the company through the acquisition of Armitage Shanks from the Blue Circle Group in 1999.
Cooper has twice been a past president of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, as well as president of the National Home Improvement Council. |  |
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BMA labelling wins awardThe Bathroom Manufacturers Association (SMA) has won the Siemens Award for Water category at Sustain Magazine’s Awards for its Water Efficient Product Labelling Scheme (WEPLS).
The Awards, which were held at Chelsea Football Club, are designed to celebrate those who achieve success in the field of sustainability. judges of the awards said: Plain and simple, this represents a world-first for water labelling and is notable for being industry-led, not Government imposed.
Chief executive of the BMA, Yvonne Orgill commented: This is a great honour for the BMA and its members. Our WEPLS labelling scheme is leading the way in providing consumers and professionals with the information they need to make an intelligent choice of water-efficient bathroom product. The number of products listed in the web-enabled database is fast approaching the magical 1,000 mark.
The award shows that WEPLS has a real relevance and importance in the bathroom market and is great recognition for the BMA and its members who have worked tirelessly to put it all together. WEPLS is now recognised by Government as a cornerstone in water efficiency’ and is set to grow further during 2010. The scheme recently underwent a major upgrade and is recognised by DEFRA, WaterWise, CLG, CC Water and The Energy Saving Trust. |  |
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Gas cooker fatalities on riseAccording to gas safety charity, The Corgi Trust, gas cookers have contributed to a rise in deaths caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. It reports that seven of 17 deaths, (from July 2008 to June 2009), caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, were associated with cookers. Four of the seven deaths were linked with enclosed grill models that did not have automatic shut-off valves, which activate when the grill is used incorrectly with the
door shut.
It also identified gas cookers left on and open for prolonged periods in small or poorly ventilated kitchens as an area of misuse that needs to be addressed. Manager of The Corgi Trust, Nigel Dumbrell commented: “In 2007/8 there was only one incident reported with a cooker, whereas in 2008/9 there were 10, the highest number since Downstream Incident
Data Report records began in July 1996. This is higher than the fatality rate associated with boilers and therefore an area of huge concern. The report recommends urgent attention is given to enhance cooker safety and that the potential dangers of cooker misuse are more widely advertised. Additional concerns in the report included lack df sr.. specified in 25% of the cases, flue/terminal positioning and the fitting or seal between flues and appliances.
Over the 12 month reporting period, 17 deaths and 96 casualties in 56 incidents were confirmed to be natural gas. CO poisoning linked to mains. |
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Reginox targets bathroom retailersSinks, taps and accessories manufacturer, Reginox has appointed Bedfordshire Bathroom Distributors (BBD) as distributor in the South of England to service bathroom retailers with its Aqualine washbasins.
It is the first time that Reginox has targeted the independent bathroom sector with its Aqualine basins.Until now, the collection was sold mainly through specialist kitchen retailers which also had a bathroom portfolio.
BBD currently offers a range of ceramic baths and sanitaryware and has now added the stainless steel designer basins to complement its range.
Managing director of BBD, Gerry Deller comments: "The Aqualine collection represents something totally different for the bathroom and is a strong alternative to the ceramic basins we offer." National sales manager for Reginox. Duncan Horneff added: "BBD has an extremely well- established customer base and our partnership will open up a whole new avenue for Reginox into the bathroom market." |
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Sharp profit fall at AGA RangemasterAga Rangemaster has seen its profits plummet from £14.4million in 2008 to £500,000 in 2009. There was an operating loss in the first six months of £1 .lmillion and a small operating profit for the second half of the year. Its revenue also fell from £279.4million to £24Smillion, with sharp falls in the first half of the year, down 18%. However, the group reported that sales leveled out and in some area, strengthened towards the end of the year, with sales down 12.3% for the full year.
Short-time working and staff reductions were employed to cut costs and generate cash. But the company plans to grow and create new markets for its range cookers and cooker/boilers, challenging the dominance of built-in ovens.
Chief executive William McGrath commented: The generation of cash was the big achievement of 2009 and that remains the focus given the caution needed in the current market. Our le” indicators, however, are positive and after a slow order intake at the start of the year, the prospects are encouraging heading into the Spring. |  |
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Glenigan IndexAccording to the Glenigan Index, the housebuild market is showing signs of improvement. The Residential Index for February was 13% higher than 2009, due to an increase in private and social project starts. Housebuilders aim to capitalise on rising house prices, property transactions and improved market conditions for 2010.
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2010 Taste of London FestivalAEG-Electrolux will be one of the sponsors of the 2010 Taste of London Festival. In addition, its partnership in 2010 also extends to the Taste of Edinburgh and Taste of Birmingham festivals. At the London festival, chefs Giorgio Locatelli, Michel Roux Jr and Tom Aikens will be using the company’s appliances. And in Edinburgh and Birmingham, the AEG-Electrolux cookery school will be showing its induction hobs. |
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