As Virtual Worlds builds on its strong network of brand partners, Kira Trowbridge, formerly Project Administrator, has been promoted to Virtual Worlds brand partnership manager.
Following a successful three years with the Milton Keynes headquartered business, Kira is now a dedicated contact for all Virtual Worlds brands. In her new role, Kira will be focused on client partnerships, with responsibility for keeping catalogues up-to-date on the platform and continuing to build supplier relationships, ensuring that brands receive the best possible return on their investment with Virtual Worlds.
Commenting on her promotion, Kira said: “I’m looking forward to working with our manufacturers to launch and update new products to their catalogues, so that retailers can create beautiful designs with them.”
Metamorfosi, the new porcelain surface from RAK Ceramics, has been shortlisted in the FX Awards 2022.
Named on the shortlist in the Surfaces category of the awards, Metamorfosi caught the eye of the expert panel of judges. The winners will be announced at London’s Grosvenor Hotel, in front of the creme de la creme of the architecture and design community on 30 November.
Inspired by the colours and shapes found in nature, Metamorfosi transfers these on to large-format brushed resin porcelain slabs to create striking wall decorations for any interior space.
Featuring decorative geometric and floral patterns, plus lush tropical leaves, Metamorfosi has a contemporary wallpaper effect, while being extremely hard wearing and easy to care for.
Available in 9 colours and 11 decors, including vibrant shades of blue, ivory, green and pink, Metamorfosi is part of the Signature Collection from RAK Ceramics, bringing liveliness and naturalness indoors as form of living art.
Mereway Bathrooms have updated its core range of quality stylish furniture and sanitaryware and released a new brochure to showcase the range. A collection of mineral casts basins that offer dimensional accuracy, the Arco and Simplicity structure a totally hygienic and water-tight construction. With a simplified pricing structure, the brochure is now broken down into two pricing groups to make estimating and ordering much easier.
Mereway has focused on offering colour coordinated door and cabinets in most of the available finishes at no additional cost. This approach eliminates the need and additional expense for a customer to order and fit matching plant-on panels and makes dimensional planning simpler.
National Sales and Development Manager Ed Norris says ‘As Mereway Bathrooms celebrates 25th year we want to extend our range and scope of bathroom choice whilst making trading with us as simple as possible. We pride ourselves on delivering a one-stop-shop for our retailers. In doing so we’ve simplified the layout of our brochure, reduced our price groups from four to two, and now offer a free sample swatch service.”
Showroom displays are available to retailers at a significant to full discount and with complimentary fitting.
Shower designer and manufacturer, Roman, has released its new Haven Showers brochure with new additions to its Haven Range of shower enclosures, bath screens and wetroom panels, the new Haven6 Black Frame collection and Haven Wetroom Panels are now available in four colour finishes.
The Haven6 Framed range is now available in a Matt Black finish, featuring angular Matt Black industrial look profiles. The Matt Black finish is also then sandblasted for extra durability, scratch resistance and consistency of finish. The Haven6 range presents innovative designs of shower enclosures and bath screens with exceptional quality, style and performance, all at affordable prices. Haven Wetroom Panels are available in 8mm and 10mm thick glass, with four colours to choose from: Bright silver, Matt Black, Brushed Nickel and Brushed Brass. The Wetroom Collection offers various unique designs to suit every bathroom space.
Roman’s Haven range of showers offers you all the qualities you would expect from the Roman Brand. The innovative and affordable Haven range is backed by nearly 40 years of showering experience, offering high quality products complete with a comprehensive after sales service and a Lifetime Guarantee.
The Haven collection is available from 10mm to 6mm glass thickness and encompasses an array of Enclosures, a selection of Side Panels and In-line Panels, stylish Bath Screens, Wetroom Panels and Shower Trays.
David Osborne, chief executive officer at Roman, commented: “The popular Haven collection is a key range for us in the UK and International markets and the new colour additions and framed design keeps it in line with current market leading trends.”
Kaldewei is launching the MEISTERSTÜCK OYO DUO – created by the Munich based designer Stefan Diez. With this free-standing bathtub, the German bathroom manufacturer demonstrates how luxury and sustainability can go hand in hand, even in smaller bathrooms.
The MEISTERSTÜCK OYO DUO is available in two sizes as well as in alpine white and in numerous elegant colours from Kaldewei’s Coordinated Colours Collection. Allowing it to fit perfectly into any bathroom.
Taking resource conservation into account, the MEISTERSTÜCK combines organic, durable materials made from recyclable Kaldewei steel enamel. The OYO DUO is the new highlight to emerge from Kaldewei’s LUXSTAINABILITY world.
Neither loft nor living room areas are needed to stage the OYO DUO as it sets its own scene perfectly and turns your bathroom into a modern private spa. At its preview at the Fuorisalone in Milan, the MEISTERSTÜCK caused an stir among the international audience. Here the new Kaldewei bathtub was part of the “Design Forever” exhibition by Elle Décor Italia.
KALDEWEI’s many years of experience, ensure that the interior shape of the KALDEWEI MEISTERSTÜCK OYO DUO is extremely comfortable and has the perfect size to immerse your body and relax, yet it has been designed to hold less water, which is another benefit to the environment.
The double-walled bathtub has been inspired by Japanese porcelain and is comprised of 100 percent recyclable and sustainable steel enamel. This precise design is possible due to the highest level of German engineering.
Acquabella’s presence at the Cersaie show is already a long-standing tradition for the Spanish shower tray brand, which once again chooses this fabulous International event to showcase its latest bathroom collections in an impressive 200 m2 showcase (Hall 21 A87 – B82).
Acquabella has designed a stunning stand which promises not to disappoint, with a theme created to engage visitors in a totally immersive dreamlike experience with an impressive and original stand design which is fast becoming expected of the innovative brand.
Design, the cornerstone of Acquabella’s new products
Acquabella is renowned for the uninhibited class of its designs, and this year will not be different as the company presents new products which confirm its reputation as a leading brand in the design and manufacture of cutting-edge bathroom solutions. All the new products are Inspired by the power of nature. The exciting new collections launching at Cersaie include; four new shower trays, two textures, a totem, a washbasin, a bathtub and two new items of furniture.
Visit Acquabella in Hall 21, Stand A87-B82 from 26 to 30 September at Cersaie.
Toilet solutions and water management manufacturer, Fluidmaster, has announced the appointment of a new marketing director, Jean Paul Malum, to focus on the Group’s marketing strategies and lead the transition of all EMEA marketing operations into the Fluidmaster family portfolio.
With overall responsibility for marketing and brand development of Fluidmaster’s market-leading product portfolio, Jean Paul Malum has been appointed to the role of Marketing Director, EMEA; a vital role contributing to the Brand’s global marketing strategy.
Malum is a highly experienced marketing professional with an extensive career history in the construction and building sector, most recently as head of marketing with Donaldson Group.
In his new role at Fluidmaster, Malum will focus on marketing, brand, and growth strategy; providing leadership and direction to all EMEA marketing managers, product managers and channel account managers. He will also head-up the group’s EMEA marketing operations through a period of transition as they integrate completely into the Fluidmaster brand. Using his broad skillset and experience he will ensure implementation globally and regionally of a forward-thinking marketing approach, to maximise efficiencies and promote Fluidmaster’s ongoing growth.
Said Malum: “I’m incredibly happy to be joining the Fluidmaster family; a recognised brand celebrated for innovation and originality. I am looking forward to developing the role and building on the firm footing established by the company over its 65-year legacy.”
Said Mark Thomas, Managing Director EMEA: “We’re delighted to welcome Jean Paul to the Fluidmaster team. He brings with him a wealth of skills and ideas and we’re extremely pleased to have his support during this fast-paced period of growth and development. We wish him every success in his new role”
European bathroom manufacturer Coram Group has announced the appointment of Peter Huizing as its new CEO. The Group’s strong brand portfolio includes Impey, Sealskin, Duka, Geesa, Tiger and Coram Showers. Huizing will focus on sustained international brand growth and integration, advancing the ‘One Coram’ strategy.
Peter Huizing, 53, has more than 20 years of leadership experience at international level with FMCG companies, such as Heineken, Diageo, The Coca-Cola Company, Sodiaal and Friesland/Campina.
An international leader, with experience across four continents, Huizing’s role with Coram will focus on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. Renowned for his goal-oriented, pragmatic, and empathetic leadership approach, combined with global engagement experience Huizing will work with the Group’s senior leadership teams to take the business to the next level.
Coram has offices in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, the UK, Poland, and Norway, and has gained high regard as a market leader in the design and production of shower glass, enclosures, wetrooms and bathroom accessories. The Group’s UK manufacturing facility in the Midlands is the home of market-leader Impey wetrooms and a recent high-profile launch of Sealskin duka enclosures has proved to be a huge hit with the high-end bathroom design market.
Steve Huntly, managing director, Coram UK: “Peter is a seasoned leader putting the customer at the core of everything we do as a business. With an engaging approach Peter has demonstrated tangible results at the heart of his career. We are very excited to work with him on this next phase of innovation and brand development, continuing to create a shared culture within Coram and elevating our brands within the UK marketplace and beyond.”
Peter Huizing, incoming CEO at Coram: “I very much look forward to working with the team at Coram to further shape Coram’s growth. It is a company with a long history, strong family values and a wonderful and relevant brand portfolio. I look forward to leveraging my experience and passion in the areas of people, brands, innovation, design and international expansion, to further build Coram.”
The Unified Water Label Association has urged the industry to respond to a government consultation on introducing compulsory water labelling for fittings and water-using appliances sold across the UK, by reinforcing their commitment to the Unified Water Label.
UWLA MD Yvonne Orgill says, “Whilst we welcome the government’s commitment to reducing water waste, we do not believe that a mandatory label imposed by Government is the best solution.
“We do not consider it necessary or cost effective to develop a new labelling system when one is already in place. The Unified Water Label that has been identified within the ISO Standard 31600:2022 as best practice, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (DEFRA), has stated in the consultation document that their approach is based on this standard.
“The Unified Water Label is robust, already established and growing. It is supported by the industry and has gained significant traction over the last twelve months, with retailers and merchants giving it greater visibility. It is the only label worldwide that covers 14 differing product categories. The database includes 14,000 individual products, which is regularly accessed by 10,000 architects and specifiers. The label has also been used on 150,000 building or refurbishment projects internationally.
“We believe that a mandatory label will be significantly more expensive for the industry than a voluntary one and that a mandatory system will take away the flexibility that the industry now has to operate a system that meets their needs. They will also be exposed to an enforcement body that will have the power to impose sanctions, under the proposed mandatory scheme.
“We are asking the members and supporters to work with us for the benefit of the industry, and respond before the consultation closes in three months’ time on 25 November.
“The consultation policy document can be found here.”
Sustano is Duravit’s first recyclable DuraSolid® Nature shower tray. The shower trays feature a flat, rimless design for installation flush with the floor in conjunction with the integrated, flush outlet cover, they also come in a wide range of dimensions.
Additionally, the range has an attractive entry-level price and is offered in six colours making it especially suited to renovation projects.
DuraSolid® Nature
Created from recyclable mineral material, DuraSolid® Nature is low weight, adaptable and easy to cut on the construction site. The UV-resistant tray also has anti-slip properties built in to the matt surface versions.
As it is easy to install it is ideal for renovation projects where every millimeter matters in the installation of shower trays. With their extremely low installation height of just 30 mm, the self-supporting Sustano shower trays enable flush-mounted installation even in renovation projects with a low floor height.
Alternatively, they can be installed in floor-mounted or semi-recessed applications. Sustano boasts flexibility since 100 mm can be removed from each side of each shower tray, even on the construction site, making it simple to modify when necessary. Their low weight makes the Sustano trays easy to handle on the construction site, allowing them to be installed by one person.
Sustano shower trays are made from DuraSolid® Nature and have high surface hardness and density, making them durable and comparatively impervious to damage or soiling. A soft cloth with warm water or standard cleaning agent is all that is needed for cleaning.
The porefree surface creates a pleasantly warm, appealing feeling on the skin. The versions in matt colours feature a velvety surface, with a somewhat smoother surface feel than the glossy colours. The flat, easy-to-clean outlet cover with a lattice structure in the same colour as the shower tray integrates into the trays unobtrusively, in both visual and tactile terms. The cover is also optionally available in stainless steel.
Maximum safety and accessibility
The material’s special surface texture means that Sustano shower trays with a matt surface attain anti-slip class C with no additional coating. This is the highest classification for wet (barefoot) areas, like shower rooms, and thus guarantees maximum safety.
The surface of the glossy White variant is comparable to Duravit’s acrylic shower trays. The 1200 x 1200 mm flush-mounted Sustano model is also suitable for accessible bathrooms, even for wheelchair uses.
Versatile design options
The Sustano can be installed flush with the floor, semi-recessed, or on the floor tiles depending on structural factors and personal preference. The flush-mounted application is particularly impressive, as it lends itself to a seamless spaciousness. The elegant, calm design language of the shower tray is perfectly attuned to the contemporary bathroom.
Featuring 21 sizes, the ideal solution can be found for almost any new-build or renovation project. With five attractive matt colours – White Matt, Matt Crème, Matt Light Gray, Matt Greige, and Matt Dark Gray as well as a glossy White, Sustano offers a range of options to match the colour scheme of any bathroom.
Sustainable, recyclable material Duravit is mindful of the responsibility it bears when it comes to the environment, its employees, and future generations. A complete bathroom solutions provider, Duravit is committed to treating resources with respect and supplying products that are especially long-lasting and sustainable. “We live and breathe sustainability along our value-creation chain, with a clear focus on the four dimensions of water, resources, climate, and social commitment.
“Our actions – in all strategic areas – are being reviewed and optimized from the perspective of sustainability,” said CEO Stephan Tahy.
Thanks to their low weight, Sustano shower trays are lighter to transport, thereby contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions. Even more important is the material’s durability and recyclability following the usage phase.
After the end of their useful life, Sustano shower trays made from DuraSolid® Nature can be returned either to Duravit or to a local recycling center to keep within the life-cycle principle. The recycled materials can be reused to manufacture new shower trays or can be applied to industrial use, e.g. the manufacture of pivot bearings.
