Bathroom manufacturer Roca Group is celebrating its 30th anniversary in the UK. Roca UK was founded in 1993 with a small team of just seven people and has gone from strength to strength over the past three decades.

Roca UK began with a focus solely on local merchants, but this soon expanded to include distributors and national merchants, then later into retail and specification. In 1999, Alan Dodds was appointed as the new UK managing director. This same year, Roca Group acquired Swiss sanitaryware brand LAUFEN, a significant moment for the Roca Group as a whole, as it solidified its position as one of the most influential and largest names in the bathroom industry.

Alan was a pivotal figure in shaping Roca UK into the company it is today. Under his leadership, Roca UK consistently achieved year-on-year market growth, driven by an unwavering commitment to quality design, innovation, sustainability and wellbeing. Notable accomplishments during Alan’s tenure include the uniting of Laufen and Roca UK operations and opening the dedicated Roca office, showroom and distribution centre in Ireland. Furthermore, the iconic Roca London Gallery, an architectural masterpiece designed by Zaha Hadid which also featured the brand-new Armani/Roca Collection, was opened in 2011. Plus, sales of vitreous china exceeded one million pieces for the first time ever in the UK in 2014.

Roca UK has had to weather significant storms too over the years, not least in 2001, when a fire started in the warehouse one July night and completely burned down the office and warehouse facility in Coalville. Undaunted, the team set up a temporary working office in a local hotel, sourced alternative warehousing and were back up and delivering within just one week! Brand new offices and warehouses were built and ready for use the following year, though multiple expansions in the years that followed meant purpose-built larger facilities were ultimately needed.

In 2019, Roca UK relocated to a spacious 145,000 square feet facility in Bardon. This offered substantial advantages, such as a warehouse with 150% more pallet locations compared to its previous site, meeting and conferencing facilities, and expansive showrooms for all the Roca Group brands. In addition, the expanded storage capacity enabled Roca UK to deliver an even more efficient and prompt service to its extensive network of distributors, merchants and retailers across the nation.

In 2022, Alan Dodds (pictured) adopted the new role of Chairman for Roca UK and Ireland, and, in turn, promoted
Rashpal Sidhu to assume the role of managing director and ensure the continued success and growth of Roca UK.

“When I look back at everything that we’ve achieved over the last 30 years, I couldn’t be more proud,” says Alan Dodds, Chairman of Roca UK and Ireland. “From our modest beginnings to today, what defines our business is
our people. Roca UK really does have a family culture, which probably explains why our staff retention is high and
we have a significant number of people who’ve been here for over 20 years, even one person for 30 years, here since day one! I’m excited to see what the future brings. Here’s to the next 30 years!”

Leading Danish design company Unidrain has rethought the pedal bin and created a piece of furniture that uniquely combines functionality and aesthetics. The elegant yet simple lines of the exterior conceal sophisticated design solutions that address practical challenges.

Great shape, great function: The new Reframe pedal bin.

A pedal bin is Unidrain’s latest addition to their Reframe designer accessories series. Every detail surrounding the Reframe Pedal bin is concise and stylish; its timeless design has been crafted to match the other elements within the Reframe Collection. Its elegant and simplistic exterior belies the carefully considered design solutions that have addressed specific practical challenges. There are no external mechanics, and the clean lines surrounding the pedal bin make it easy to clean, and delightful to view since it coordinates with all kitchen designs.

Soft-open lid that does not hit the wall.

The pedal bin has been designed with a soft open/close lid. This means it can be placed against any surface as it has been specifically crafted to stop the lid from hitting a wall when it opens, preventing any damage to paintwork and avoiding annoying clunk and banging noises, making it both silent and stylish.

The bin has a non-slip rubber foot, which complements the specially designed pedal and guarantees the bin’s stability during use. The pedal itself is spring-loaded, so it is protected against overloading. Contrary to its elegant appearance, the pedal bin is a solid and sturdy bathroom accessory.

Change bags in an instant.

Another unique, handy, and hygienic feature is the removable insert. This inner container is made of impact-resistant plastic, making it easy to clean and keeping it rust-free. The inner container also has a ring of double-sided tape on the inside, which simplifies the fitting of bin bags. There is no tying of knots or bag slippage down the interior of the bin.

“This is a benefit for domestic users but much more so for our customers in the hotel and hospitality industries, where hygiene and efficient solutions are equally as important.” Explains Rene Risom, international sales manager at Unidrain.

This was one of the elements that delighted hotelier and interior designer Mette Brochner-Mortensen; she and her husband Soren run several boutique hotels in Copenhagen. Already a fan of Unidrain’s Reframe accessories collection, she was keen to test the pedal bin.

“One of things that I noticed almost instantly was how well the design interacts with the other Reframe products. The exterior appears simplistic, but this aesthetic exterior belies the sophistication of the carefully thought-out design solutions. The lid opens and closes easily and silently without knocking against the wall. It’s incredibly stable and doesn’t tip when you step on the pedal. These small details demonstrate that needs of the user have been carefully considered and catered for.”

The pedal bin is available in brushed and polished steel as well as copper, brass and black PVD finishes. It joins the other Reframe accessories, including the soap dispenser, shower shelf, screen wiper, hooks, corner shelf, toilet brush, toilet roll holder, plus spare toilet roll holder. Another small but significant detail is the height at 31.5cm. It is the same height as the toilet brush, an important design aesthetic when crafting a bathroom.

Product details
Height: 31.5 cm Diameter: 28.1 cm Capacity: 4 litres
Available in copper, brass or black PVD finish, brushed or polished steel.
The volume of each bag is 4 litres, and a roll of binbags is included with the bin.
Price: from £265.00 (including VAT)

Contact Unidrain today to find out more! export@unidrain.dk