Bathrooms to Love, PJH’s exclusive bathroom brand, has launched a new wall-hung option for one of its most popular modular bathroom furniture ranges, LUCIA – previously only available in a floor-standing design.
Presenting the best of both worlds – a traditional woodgrain-effect cabinet with contemporary styling, the new Lucia Wall-hung is a truly transitional furniture range. The versatile collection boasts a textured woodgrain finish in ash and is available in three tactile shades; Grey Ash, Sea Green Ash and Satin White Ash.
Whilst Lucia offers plenty of classic charm, perfect for traditional bathrooms, modern influences such as the finely framed door styling give it a distinct on-trend look, and with the new wall-hung option now available, it would also complement contemporary interiors beautifully.
The new Lucia Wall-hung basin units come complete with a generous inset ceramic basin and measure in at 605mm (W) x 443mm (H) x 395mm (D). Available in the three colourways, the cabinets include a deep, spacious drawer and are fitted with soft-close runners for smooth and silent operation. Finished with a brushed chrome handle, the range also includes fully coordinating soft-close seats and round mirrors (in the textured woodgrain finish), as well as the full range of floor-standing options, such as Tall Boy, WC and Basin units.
The timeless Lucia range is designed and manufactured to the highest standards in quality and finish, and supplied rigid, it comes with a five year guarantee.
For further information including details of the Bathrooms to Love retailer support package, contact PJH on Tel: 0800 8 77 88 99; visit the PJH Partners Portal™ (www.partners.pjh.uk) for 24/7 online ordering and account management, or www.bathroomstolove.uk
UK manufacturer of kitchen and bathroom surfaces, Bushboard, has extended its wall panelling system. Nuance now includes 11 easy to install options in a move it says reflects changing interior trends and helps retailers meet the demand for natural-looking bathroom wall solutions.
Nuance, Nuance Designer and Nuance Acrylic are new for 2022, as is Nuance Vanity Worksurfaces which offers a wide choice of laminate surfaces that can be mixed and matched.
Alhambra and Driftwood
Nuance offers five on-trend categories that combine the appearance of stone, marble, wood, travertine and quartz together with textured finishes. Latest introductions include the stone inspired Lumiere and Light Portland panels, plus Cirrus Marble and Doux Lime Quartz, which are also replicated as vanity worksurfaces.
Uniquely manufactured in Britain since 1935, all Nuance panels have high performance surfaces and a synthetic homogenous core that is 100 per cent impervious to water. Showrooms can present the panels in-situ in a variety of settings such as shower areas, wet rooms and finishing walls around baths.
Easy installation
Retailers will be able to appeal to time-pressured installers with Nuance’s ease-of-installation and quick-fitting time. While traditional tiling often requires specialist tooling and can take a significant amount of time to complete, Nuance can be sized, trimmed and fitted by an installer in a matter of hours. Flexible panel sizes include postformed panels and standard tongue and groove panels, which can be linked together to create walk-in wet rooms or shower enclosures. The 160mm finishing panel allows a run of tongue and groove panels to be finished vertically, also with a neat postformed edge detail.
Thanks to the pre-finished profile of certain panel sizes, Nuance’s patented trim-free system means no edging strips are required for finishing either. Creating a dynamic showroom display is possible with the ability to rotate panels 90 degrees in any orientation to achieve matching or contrasting looks, as well as half height features or bath panels.
Bushboard also supply its own specialist ‘Complete’ adhesive and sealant which easily provides a professional and watertight finish. Available in 10 colourways which have been matched to the full range, Complete’s advanced formulation has excellent grab adhesion, gap filling properties and is straightforward to maintain and clean. Retailers can sell Complete alongside the Nuance range, with panels carrying a 15-year guarantee when used with the adhesive.
Nuance Panel Chalky Wood
Paul Findley, Product Sales Manager for Nuance, said: “The latest additions to our Nuance range have been carefully developed by our in-house team to offer a versatile range of wall panelling solutions that will help retailers meet the needs of installers and homeowners alike. Whether the customer is looking to tackle a complete bathroom renovation, refurbishment work or updating a shower cubicle, retailers can rely on the versatility of the Nuance collection when finding a product that will suit most customers’ personal tastes and requirements.
“As well as being visually impactful, featuring decors that have been inspired by natural materials, geometric shapes and tile effect layouts, the panels are really quick to fit too. Using Nuance, large wall areas can be covered in a fraction of the time it takes to apply individual ceramic tiles.
“When retailers are approached by installers, recommending Nuance is undoubtedly a win-win scenario that makes perfect sense, every step of the way.”
For more information about Nuance and the complete spectrum of bathroom surfaces available, or to order a sample, visit: http://www.bushboard.co.uk/nuance
Kudos has introduced a slate effect finish into its Connect2 shower tray collection. The eye-catching dark grey tray features an exclusive surface pattern, taken directly from a piece of locally sourced slate, to ensure an authentic finish.
There’s a growing trend for adding colour and textures into the bathroom space and this natural slate effect is particularly relevant as the tray is made in the Kudos factory just outside Kendal in the Lake District, an area known for its use of slate in construction.
Whilst the finish may be slate grey, the new Connect2 tray is manufactured in the same acrylic capped ABS filled with a structural resin bonded stone, so maintains all the strength and durable benefits of its material. It is both slip and stain resistant and contains an anti-microbial additive to inhibit the growth of microbes including bacteria and mould.
As with other Connect2 trays, it retains a super low profile when installed, standing at just 35mm in height and is guaranteed to avoid standard joist spans thanks to the positioning of an offset dual waste outlet, allowing the installer to choose the waste free from obstruction to connect. The tray may have to be rotated 90 or 180 degrees (dependent on shape) to accommodate the fixed joists, but once set, the installer simply uses the blanking plug provided to seal the unused waste and plumb in the hi-flow waste and trap, avoiding any need to lift the tray off the floor. If both waste holes are free then both wastes can be connected for even faster water removal. A reinforced, magnetically secured waste cover, that’s easily removed for cleaning, then sits neatly over the waste blanking plug to complete the installation.
The collection of Connect2 trays, which come in a choice of slate effect, high gloss white or slip resistant SR finish in white, are now available in a broad range of 28 different sizes from 800mm square to 1700x900mm rectangle including seven new sizes launching in April to expand the quadrant and mid-size rectangular options.
Kudos Shower Products Ltd has been designing and manufacturing shower products at their Cumbrian facility since 1999. Their portfolio includes shower enclosures, shower trays, over bath screens and wet-room solutions sold via KBB showrooms and merchants across the UK. Please call on 01539 564040, email to marketing@kudosshowers.co.uk or visit their website at kudosshowers.co.uk.
Among the many Showerwall solutions now available on Virtual Worlds are panels in its Laminate and Acrylic collections. The new offering makes it simple for retailers to include the latest trends for Terrazzo, minimalist prints, and classic tile designs into their bathroom designs. Visually appealing and waterproof, the wall panelling also allows for grout-free installation and these high-performance surfaces are easy to clean and maintain.
Having no grout lines means that there is no space for dirt, mould, or bacteria to linger, making this a popular choice for consumers looking for a hygienic solution. In addition, the large format panels are flexible for use around the home, from the shower to behind basins and to create feature walls with a wow factor.
Roca has launched a water efficiency plan as part of its sustainability roadmap.Together with Veolia Water Technologies Ibérica, Roca has established two production processes, one for vitreous china and another for faucets, located in Settat (Morocco) and Eskisehir (Turkey), where two pilot schemes will be carried out as part of a global plan to audit the integrated water cycle in the Group’s factories.
This project has been put in place with two goals in mind: reduce water stress in the areas where Roca Group operates; and preserve this resource by optimising its circular use. Vitreous China and faucet production processes are the ones that require a greater amount of water. It is for this reason that the company will start its pilot project in these areas.
The circular water strategy
To achieve these objectives, and advised by Veolia Water Technologies Ibérica, Roca Group has implemented a circular water strategy. It consists of reducing its use in all phases of the manufacturing process: avoiding the use of fresh water sources when it is not strictly necessary; recycling it; digitalising and controlling its use; segregating it; quantifying it and giving it a value; reusing it and adapting its quality to each particular use in order to start the cycle again.
In other words, the project is based on the 6 Rs system: Reuse, Recycle, Recover, Regenerate, Replenish and, as a consequence, Reduce fresh water consumption.
A phased plan
In the first phase, Roca Group plans to carry out an audit of the two main factories in the vitreous china and faucet production processes using these as pilots: Settat (Morocco) and Eskisehir (Turkey), also located in two of the most water-stressed areas of the planet. This stage will be carried out during 2022, with two physical audits and subsequent recommendations.
In a second phase, the recommendations and improvements in processes and equipment obtained from the pilot carried out in Settat and Eskisehir will be scaled up to the rest of the factories. There will then be a subsequent draw-up of the final roadmap and its implementation, with the aim of moving towards water neutrality within five years.
A company with a sustainable tradition
The Roca Group says it is a company that is aware of the environment and its resources. For this reason, it develops sustainable technologies and products that make it possible to save water and energy, reducing the environmental footprint that its products and their use may generate.
In addition, Roca Group says it promotes solidarity initiatives through the We Are Water Foundation with the aim of contributing to solve problems arising from the lack of water and sanitation in the world.
Elaborately patterned illumination and striking design are at the heart of the new Bellus mirror, launched by award-winning bathroom brand HiB. The latest edition to HiB’s growing range of bathroom mirrors, Bellus has been developed with impactful style in mind, taking that timeless, ornate look and giving it a contemporary edge.
The integrated colour temperature changing technology allows the user to alter the light from a cool white to a warm white, ensuring that Bellus offers soft lighting for a relaxing atmosphere as well as cool light ideal for practical use. Hidden beneath the surface of the mirror is a heated pad, which reduces condensation on the mirror’s surface. The chamfered diffuser on the back of the mirror creates a delicate, ambient glow across the wall which offers a sophisticated finishing touch to the space.
Available in two sizes, 60cm and 80cm, the Bellus mirror can be used as a striking feature across the home and with touch free operation, can remain smudge and fingerprint free.
Ash Chilver, HiB Sales Director said: “Bellus is a real showstopper, the LED illumination is such a striking feature that will stand out in the bathroom. Because it is a contemporary approach to a timeless, ornate mirror, Bellus would look equally at home in any room of the house, including the bathroom.”
For more information about the Bellus mirror and other products that have recently been launched by HiB visit https://www.hib.co.uk/
REHAU’s furniture division has adapted its business strategy to circumnavigate the fallout from Brexit and Coronavirus and ensure its UK customers continue to receive its high-quality edgeband, surface and tambour door solutions.
Reportedly 2021 was another successful year for REHAU as the company continued to build awareness around its kitchen, bathroom and furniture solutions. With its diverse product portfolio, the company expanded its reach in the market, working with large original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), small and medium and manufacturers, design workshops and fitters.
To further address this demand in 2022, REHAU is now collaborating with reputable manufacturer and distributor Decorative Panels Lamination, based in the North of England. This new partnership will allow REHAU to grow its UK presence and facilitate the more efficient supply of materials across the country.
National sales manager Scott Williams says: “We’re thrilled to be working alongside Decorative Panels Lamination who have long established themselves as leaders within the sector. Having been in the industry for over 100 years, manufacturing and distributing laminated sheet materials throughout the UK, the company are the ideal choice for REHAU’s furniture division. Decorative Panels Lamination will be holding large amounts of our stock, including our popular and award-winning Rauvisio noble matt range, meaning the supply will be readily available for UK-based manufacturers and fitters.”
Although some businesses have suffered because of the pandemic and the UK’s exit from the EU, REHAU was able to defy the odds and grow its UK furniture business significantly last year. This was against a backdrop of general trade decreasing by 23.1% in the first quarter of 2021. Further supply chain disruption and a global recession has meant that imports from the EU has remained stagnant with figures for December 2021 remaining flat.
“Essentially, we aim to reduce lead times through this new partnership, ensuring we continue to meet demand following the challenging past few years for the industry. Already in place is our distributor Waivis, specialising in tambour doors and edgebanding, and while this remains sufficient for smaller bespoke orders, it is now necessary to adapt our approach to meet growing demand. With seamless kitchens on trend, our customers will now be able to find our all-in-one surface, edgeband and tambour ranges directly from one single source. These are exciting times for REHAU, as partnering with Decorative Panels Lamination will allow us to further develop new and existing relationships with our customers here in the UK.”
Lakes, a leading manufacturer of innovative showering spaces, has launched the Onyx Collection, a striking new matt black range.
The Onyx Collection is stylish and modern, featuring a matt-black anodised finish, to create a high-impact design for a dramatic showering space. Black as a statement trend has been an increasingly popular modern choice for bathrooms, and Onyx is perfect for those who want to incorporate the latest interior design trends into their bathrooms.
The Collection is extensive and includes walk-ins, hinged panels, quadrants and slider doors, so there is an option to suit nearly every bathroom space. As with all Lakes’ products, Onyx also benefits from Lakes’ unique ‘no-quibble’, guarantee.
Managing Director Bev Brown says: “Demand for matt-black showering spaces is proving to be an enduring trend and we are delighted to offer customers our stunning Onyx collection. We have also added two new ‘Horizon’ showering spaces with distinctive matt black horizontal stripes to really make a statement.
“Inspired by the Crittall-style popularised in the art deco movement of the early 20th Century, Horizon comprises two walk-in showering spaces, incorporating a pair of horizontal stripes, creating a natural horizon in the showering space.
“The high-visual impact of the design of both Onyx and Horizon will help refresh showrooms and drive high-value sales for our nationwide merchants and stockists.”
All Lakes products are backed by a unique guarantee. To add Lakes’ new Onyx Collection in to your display, call 01684 853 870. Download the brochure here: www.lakesshoweringspaces.com.
RAK Ceramics, a significant lifestyle solutions provider, has announced today the signing of a Share Purchase Agreement for the 100% acquisition of KLUDI Group (including 49% of KLUDI RAK Joint Venture), at a total valuation of EUR 39 million.
KLUDI Group is an established leading German-based company engaged in manufacturing high-quality kitchen and bathroom faucets and showering systems. Nearly 100-years old, the company has a manufacturing footprint across Germany, Austria, Hungary and the UAE, which incorporates cutting-edge and innovative German-engineering technologies. KLUDI Group’s total revenues amount to around EUR 120 million, with sales across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
In 2007, RAK Ceramics entered into a joint venture with KLUDI Group, to establish the brand “KLUDI RAK”, for the production and sale of fittings in the Middle East. Over the years, this partnership has grown and proved to be successful and profitable, recording impressive growth and sustainable margins solidifying as such the company’s foundation to endure recent challenging market conditions.
The strategic acquisition of KLUDI Group represents an opportunity for RAK Ceramics to strengthen its growing existing core businesses across German and European markets; the brand is also anticipated to complete RAK Ceramics suite of products and grow its offering to include taps and faucets, strengthening as such KLUDI brand exposure in RAK Ceramics core markets. The transaction is expected to realise operational manufacturing synergies, leveraging both companies’ plants presence across Europe, the UAE and Asia.
Abdallah Massaad, Group CEO, RAK Ceramics said “This acquisition of KLUDI Group aligns to our growth strategy and commitment to strengthen our presence in core markets and focus on core products. It provides RAK Ceramics with the opportunity to spearhead our expansion into European markets and enhances our positioning in projects across the sanitaryware and faucets business. The acquisition, built on a long-standing partnership and a shared vision, opens up new opportunities for KLUDI Group as we aim to develop this historic and established European faucet brand further by funding its strategy and driving forward modernisation and digitalisation of the brand. This will also provide an opportunity for KLUDI Group to leverage on RAK Ceramics network to push further faucets value.”
Julian Henco, Group CEO, KLUDI Group said: “I am confident that this transaction will be extremely beneficial to all parties involved, including customers and shareholders. KLUDI Group is now a more robust, world-class taps and faucets brand that is well-positioned to capitalise on RAK Ceramics’ extensive network to expand our product offering to markets that would not have been possible otherwise.”
The transaction is conditional upon regulatory approval, and both parties are working closely to finalise the transaction which is scheduled to be implemented by May 31, 2022.
Pictured: Abdallah Massaad, group chief executive of RAK Ceramics, left, with Julian Henco, group chief executive of Kludi Group.
Shower designer and manufacturer, Roman, has announced it has recently welcomed Mike Freer, the Minister for Exports, and Paul Howell, the MP of Sedgefield to its headquarters in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.
The visit involved a tour of Roman’s 400,000sq ft manufacturing facilities, infrastructure and showrooms – whilst discussing product compliance & testing; the global shipping crisis; and very importantly, the timing of Britain joining the to the Trans Pacific partnership (the CPTPP).
Roman is one of the largest employers in the constituency and were keen to highlight inequalities in International trade tariffs and the evolving UKCA product marking system – Paul Howell has been a great ally in supporting these issues.
David Osborne, CEO of Roman, commented: “It was an honour for the Minister to take the time to visit our headquarters today involving a factory tour and a discussion on our International business. We gained some valuable insights into forthcoming legislation – most importantly for Roman, the UK’s accession into the Trans Pacific Partnership which will significantly assist our exports into the Asia Pacific region.”
