Italian-based Bardelli Group,parent company to Ceramica Bardelli and Ceramica Vogue e Appiani, has partnered with Digital Design, to develop a digital image generative surface printing system that utilises Artificial Intelligence to generate a brand new material.
The result isClayborn, a new floor collection, inspired by the unusual partnership between Bardelli Group and Clayborn whisky. Combining tradition with innovation, the flooring takes inspiration from the primary materials present in Westerwalt caves used to filter clayey water. It is from the same clay that Ceramica Bardelli has been able to obtain its new Clayborn collection by linking mining tradition with AI to generate an infinite texture that combines the graphics of stones, cement and terracotta.
The new product has been designed in porcelain stoneware, characterized by a three-dimensional surface that guarantees non-slip properties. The Clayborn floor is available in a double format, 60×60 cm e 60×120 cm.
Dulux has announced its Colour of the Year for 2024, Sweet EmbraceTM. The colour is a delicate, optimistic and modern tone that is understated and comforting and brings a sense of stability and softness to a space. To complement Sweet EmbraceTM, Dulux is also launching three versatile colour palettes to provide architects, specifiers and designers with a wealth of colour inspiration when creating beautiful spaces in any sector.
For 21 years, the Dulux Colour of the Year has been decided based on extensive trends research conducted by Dulux colour experts and international design professionals. Dulux’s Colour of the Year for 2024 reflects people’s need for simplicity, meaning and a sense of belonging, whatever the environment. Sweet Embrace™ – named by Dulux for its delicate, welcoming and soothing qualities – can be used by architects and specifiers for projects across all sectors.
In addition to Sweet EmbraceTM, architects, specifiers and designers can also draw inspiration from the three supporting Dulux Colour FuturesTM palettes:
A Warm palette for comforting spaces – these global earth tones help create spaces that feel familiar and embracing. They are ideal for layering to create a comforting backdrop, and work well in the residential or hospitality sectors where people want to come together and relax.
A Calm palette for quiet spaces – fluid greens and blues have a naturally clarifying effect and bring a feeling of serenity. They are perfect for offices, where people need peace for focused tasks. These tones can also be used in healthcare settings to help patients, visitors and staff feel at ease.
An Uplifting palette to create friendly spaces – a mix of modern yellows with soft lilacs, this palette has a positive, uplifting mood. The colours can enliven a scheme and bring energy – perfect for education and hospitality spaces where people need a friendly, creative and inclusive feel.
Dawn Scott, Dulux trade senior colour designer, said: “The Colour of the Year 2024 and its accompanying palettes can be used to evoke a wide range of emotions for building occupants and are suitable for use across a wide range of sectors. Whether you are looking for bright colours to inspire the younger generation at school or help those living with dementia maintain their independence by making critical surfaces more visible with saturated, deeper tones, Sweet EmbraceTM and the Warm, Calm and Uplifting palettes are the ideal solution.”
Marianne Shillingford, colour expert and creative director at Dulux, explains: “What is so wonderful about Sweet Embrace™ is its soothing subtlety. While being a beautiful standalone colour, it’s a hue that matches perfectly with so many other shades so it can be used as a backdrop to build a totally individual space upon. A shade as versatile as Sweet Embrace™ encourages us to get creative and fashion spaces that allow occupants to feel completely at home.”
To support specifiers and provide additional guidance on the use of Sweet EmbraceTM, Dulux has created the Dulux Trade Colour of the Year 2024 Specifier Brochure which includes mood boards that can be used to help create the perfect space across any sector. Architects, specifiers, and designers can also use the Dulux Trade Colour Schemer for colour inspiration or to create specifications for projects. They can also speak with the Dulux Commercial Colour Services team for additional advice on how to use the Colour of the Year 2024.
To download the Dulux Colour of the Year 2024 Specifier Brochure and for more information, visit www.duluxtrade.co.uk/CF24 and follow #CF24 on social media.
Acquabella, a leading shower tray brand, has announced the opening of a strategic warehouse in the UK.
Based in Worcester, and in partnership with Stop Start, the warehouse is expected to improve Acquabella’s shower tray delivery logistics to its UK and Scottish customers which means Acquabella can offer an express delivery service.
Customers will be able to enjoy fast delivery within 24 to 48 hours in most areas of the United Kingdom and a timeframe of 72 hours in Scotland.
“At Acquabella, we always strive to exceed our customers’ expectations. The opening of this warehouse in Worcester is a significant step toward that goal,” stated Roberto Heredia, UK Area Manager.
“We are committed to providing our customers not only high-quality products, but also an exceptional buying experience. With this new facility, we’ll be able to offer fast and efficient delivery.”
The new center in Worcester is a significant milestone for Acquabella and its customers in the United Kingdom. This warehouse joins two others that the brand owns, one located in Madrid and the other in Paris. The company is excited to provide a significant improvement in access to shower tray stock, thus offering a more efficient shopping experience.
GROHE has announced the appointment of Seamus Kelly as its new leader covering Ireland as of July 2023, reporting to Kristine Skauge, leader, UK, LIXIL EMENA.
Seamus (pictured top) moves into the newly created leadership role covering market-specific strategy and market activation, following a 7-year career within the GROHE business. Seamus previously held the role of Account Manager and has driven strong growth, with the new role allowing further scope to maximise growth potential across all channels within the Irish market.
GROHE has also announced the appointment of Mark White (pictured right) as its new leader covering Trade & Retail across the UK and Ireland from August 2023. Mark joins the GROHE team following a relocation from New Zealand where he previously held senior roles within the interior sector, specifically kitchen appliances.
Within his new role, Mark will take up responsibility for the sale channels covering retailers, trade counters, merchants, and buying groups, along with leading the Retail Service Team. Mark will report to Chris Dodds, leader, commercial UK, LIXIL EMENA.
With the latest appointments, GROHE continues to strengthen its localised resource and reaffirm its go-to-market strategy across the UK and Irish markets, with customer engagement and continued product innovation being key. With a customer-centric approach, the UK team will implement the go-to-market strategy with GROHE’s differentiated product portfolio for all channels, providing a unique and dedicated offering.
Commenting on his new appointment, Seamus Kelly notes, “I’m delighted to move into this new role and bring focus to the Irish market strategy. The Irish market offers plenty of exciting opportunity and I’ll continue to work closely with our customers and distributors to ensure we’re fulfilling all market potential.”
Chris Dodds shares, “I’m delighted to welcome Mark to the team and congratulate Seamus on his new appointment. The UK and Ireland are thriving markets that offer excellent potential for us. As a team we’ll be working towards strengthening and implementing GROHE’s unique go-to-market strategy with renewed energy and working closely with our customers to deliver our high standards”.
The new Kudos Premium Collection brochure showcases some of their most luxurious enclosure products that are available to purchase from a network of Premium Collection Retailers. The brochure includes their iconic Pinnacle8 doors and enclosures and Red Dot Design award winning Ultimate10 enclosures.
The Pinnacle8 range of enclosures is characterised by a minimalist cut out finger full and easy fit wall posts with concealed fixings and features crystal clear seals, 8mm toughened safety glass throughout. All products are 2000mm high and feature hinged, sliding and centre-fold, quadrant and level access options in sizes ranging from 760mm to 1800mm. Selected models come with matt black and brushed brass profile finishes and all options can be fitted to either a shower tray or wetroom floor.
Ultimate10 is the latest introduction from Kudos. It features an award-winning double action hinge which allows the door to open 90 degrees both inward and outward, for easy use and to save space. Ultimate10 is a frameless design available in a choice of 9 profile finishes, is 1985mm tall and is compatible with the Ultimate10 wet-room panels offering a host of design configurations.
This new 54 page brochure details all available and recommended sizes and designs, fixing kit options and profile finishes along with inspiring set photography.
Kudos Shower Products Ltd has been designing and manufacturing shower products at their Cumbrian facility since 1999. Visit their website kudosshowers.co.uk, call them on 01539 564040 or email info@kudosshowers.co.uk.
Fashion and home trends have long inspired tile design and tiles’ links to these industries can be traced back centuries while also seen represented on today’s hottest runways. It’s a love affair that has not waned and is projected to live into the future indefinitely.
This month, in celebration of London Fashion Week 2023, artisan tile studio, Otto Tiles & Design, spotlights their favourite styles inspired by prominent fashion trends – colour blocking and natural raw materials among others – combining them in a unique approach to tile design.
Damla Turgut, founder of Otto Tiles & Design, says, “Fashion has long influenced interior design with the latest trends and directions from the catwalk eventually translating through into our homes. But this year more than ever, I see the two industries colliding and mirroring each other with this year’s fashion influences effortlessly filtering through into décor almost instantly and our recent ranges are a shining example of how fashion and interiors unite.”
Below are Otto Tiles & Design’s latest ranges with links to this year’s fashion and interior design trends:
Casual Comfort in Seamless, Continuous Design
Otto Tiles & Design Signature Marble Collection
Creating seamless, continuous design is currently one of the hottest trends in interiors and fashion. Otto’s unique Signature Marble Collection – notably the brand’s first marble launch – lays strong foundations for this trend. The designs, which reinterpret the brand’s signature contemporary styles but in marble, bring something completely new to the tile market, and can be scattered to create an exciting pattern to offer an unexpected linear edge that is seamless and continuous. Mixing colours, cool neutrals, and powerful patterns, these marble tiles bring instant joy.
L-R: Otto Tiles & Design Signature Marble Collection – Red Moon pictured left and Half Moon Bay tiles picture right.
Designed in London by Otto’s Founder and Creative Director, Damla Turgut, and expertly hand-crafted by skilled artisans based in Turkey, the Signature Marble Collection consists of twelve bold and innovative pieces. They are created to inspire bold creativity and design-led interiors, reminiscent of the Art-Deco era.
Boho Style
Otto Tiles & Design Zellige Tile Collection
R-L: Otto Tiles & Design zellige tiles in Marine Blue Stripe and White Arch Terracotta
A key design feature for this year in fashion is casual yet modern, similar to the modern farmhouse style trending in home interiors. For tiling, this style can be visually intriguing without being chaotic, making it the perfect pattern for minimalists with an edge.
For those who enjoy a consistent yet cutting-edge design, should envelope their rooms in Otto Tiles & Design’s collection of zellige tiles with two new eye-catching launches; arch terracotta and stripes zellige. Even though they feature a minimalist colour palette, the final effect offers personality shining through, creating a graphic pattern without feeling visually chaotic – the space feels timeless yet youthful.
Made in Morocco, from a particular type of clay sourced from the region of Fez, zellige tiles are hand-made, hand-chiselled and hand-painted using natural paints, so each tile is unique. Zellige making is an ancient art form passed down through generations. It is labour intensive and requires many years of training. Due to their handmade production process, zellige tiles have a slightly irregular surface and may feature tiny chips, erratic edges, and corners, which gives them a rustic character and means that no two zellige tiles are the same.
Artistic Forms
Otto Tiles & Design Starry Night Range
L-R: Otto Tiles & Design Starry Night encaustic cement tiles in Navy Blue
Arguably a reaction to previous minimalist, plain and neutral-toned Scandi-inspired trends, hand detail and a continuing fascination with geometric forms with foliate and floral designs are common across tiles and fashion this year.
Patterns suit themselves well to wallpaper, wall art and rugs, but for authentic retro vibes, look to tile design, too. Otto’s encaustic Starry Night cement tiles are the perfect combination of bold yet understated tones which don’t overpower interiors, with authentic patterns that print a pop of uniqueness and joy to a space. The tiles, as seen above, complement the vanity area without overwhelming the space and the decorative stars add a splash of shine.
Within each box in the Starry Night range, there are plain colour tiles, as well as three variations of star tiles, with the star appearing in different sizes and positions on each of these. This invites the client to be imaginative with this fun and playful collection, and to create their own unique constellation. This collection showcases the shift across interior and runway fashion.
Otto’s tiles are suitable for use on walls and floors in a range of environments, including laying them so that they maintain a regular pattern or, uniting them in different directions to create all kinds of stunning designs. The collection is available at Otto Tiles & Design’s showroom in Hackney. The collection is also available online at www.ottotiles.co.uk.
Building on its successful launch earlier this year, the HIP Female Skills Competition is already preparingfor an even more exciting event in 2024, with entries now open, and the GROHE GIVE Program has signed up as headline sponsor following the debut success.
HIP, the only dedicated magazine for heating and plumbing students and apprentices, is renowned for its ‘Learner of the Year’ competition and continues to be committed to providing competitions for students, with the goal to build confidence and advocate skills development along with getting the very best people into the installer industry, regardless of gender.
Alongside providing valuable skills and encouraging young professionals to enter the industry, the GIVE Program wishes to excite and encourage more women into the profession to help bridge the gender gap within the field. It’s been found through recent studies that less than 3%1 of the 150,000+2 UK plumbers are female, showcasing a startling reality.
In February and March 2024, the HIP Female Skills Competition will expand its search from two to three regions across the country, seeking the very best up-and-coming industry professionals. Level 2 and 3 plumbing & heating learners from colleges nationwide will compete in a live practical installation. Each regional winner and runner-up will go on to compete in the grand finale for the chance to win the prestigious award.
Alongside the accolade for both the winning student and college, there are fantastic prizes to be won. Each competitor will receive a certificate for taking part, with prizes generously donated by sponsors, including headline sponsor GROHE GIVE, plus many others.
The competition will be judged by Jerry Whiteley, Technical Manager at the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE). Zoë Tanner, Managing Director at HIP, shared, “We’re so excited for the next HIP Female Skills Competition. It’s been immensely encouraging to see the competition being supported again by so many big names from the industry with the likes of the GROHE GIVE Program on board, and a fantastic way for learners to build their confidence and take pride in their work. Now more than ever is the time to support the next generation of talent and we can’t wait to see what the competition brings.”
On their headline sponsorship, Christopher Penney, Leader, GIVE Program, LIXIL EMENA said, “It’s so important to try and bridge the gap between skilled installers. Obviously, we know there’s a huge gap in the workforce currently and the fact that this is an all-female competition is a huge positive for the industry and a step in the right direction. We want to set new industry standards with our products and also the people that install them, and the more women we can entice into this industry, the better.”
Running alongside HIP Female Skills Competition will be the Meet the Manufacturer series, which gives manufacturers the chance to update lecturers on the latest industry and product innovations.
The Duravit CEO answers questions about the laying of the foundation stone for the new production plant in Matane, Canada.
1. Mr Tahy, Duravit AG is investing a high double-digit million-dollar amount in the construction of a new ceramic plant in Canada. Could you please explain the background of this project?
First and foremost: For Duravit, this is the largest investment in our company’s history. It fills me with pride that we have now been able to give the go-ahead for this extraordinary project. At the same time, I feel gratitude for the trust that our owner family has placed in us.
The new plant is a milestone for Duravit in several aspects: We are setting standards for the responsible use of resources by replacing natural gas as a fossil fuel with sustainably generated energy from hydropower. In addition, we have made our supply and logistics processes sustainable to strengthen our presence in the growth market of North America with our own local production facility. Not to be forgotten: Around 240 new jobs will be created at the new site.
None of this would have been possible without the support of our local partners: the responsible Québec, and the city of Matane. With Hydro-Québec as our energy supplier, we also have a long-term partner for the supply of affordable and, above all, clean energy.
2. The new plant in Matane, Canada, is a central element in Duravit’s sustainability strategy. What does that mean specifically?
We have set ourselves the ambitious goal of climate-neutral production by 2045. The production of ceramics is one of the most energy-intensive industries. A lot has changed here in recent years, and energy and resources are now used much more efficiently. Nevertheless, we need a disruptive change in ceramics production that tackles the CO2 emission problem at the root when using natural gas. And we are grappling this change with the new plant I, therefore, see the project as a real game changer for the whole industry.
The heart of our climate-neutral production facility is the electric ceramic tunnel kiln – a groundbreaking world first for industrial ceramic production. The energy is supplied exclusively with regeneratively generated electricity from the hydroelectric power plants of the Canadian energy supplier Hydro-Québec. With the new kiln, which is about 100 meters long, we save over 9,000 tons of CO2 per year compared to a conventional gas kiln – at full capacity.
3. What are the other advantages of the new production site in Canada?
The new site in Matane fits seamlessly into Duravit’s local-for-local strategy. The location directly on the St. Lawrence River facilitates logistics and the transport of goods. The most important raw materials for ceramic production – clay, kaolin, feldspar, and quartz – are available over short distances. This allows us to significantly reduce logistics expenses and additionally save energy from fossil sources.
Compared with importing our products from Europe, we therefore expect a reduction of our CO2 emissions in the North American market of 1,500 tons per year. Together with the electric kiln, we have a reduction potential of almost 11,000 tons of CO2 per year. That is groundbreaking!
4. What will Duravit produce in Canada?
North America is one of our growth markets. We see great development potential here, which we will serve in the future with the new production site. By 2028 we want to have reached the maximum capacity of the new plant: an annual production of 450,000 large ceramic parts. In doing so, we focus entirely on the needs of the North American market. With one and two-piece toilets, but also wall-hung toilets and washbasins. Compared to today’s data, that is almost a threefold increase. Accordingly, we need production on site – close to our customers.
5. How can you imagine the set-up of the production facility in Matane?
Since we are building the plant from scratch, we can rely on state-of-the-art production processes: The building area is around 40,000 m2. Everything is highly automated and follows the principles of Industry 4.0. As mentioned, the centerpiece is the electric ceramic tunnel kiln, while other highlights include automated transport systems, glazing robots, and an automated chamber dryer. In addition, the plant will rely entirely on die-casting technology. All this is state-of-the-art.
Despite all the automation, our future employees certainly play a decisive role. Around 240 new jobs for skilled workers will be created in Matane which will strengthen the region and actuates a growth impulse at the site. As a family business with a long-term focus, we are already looking forward to working with our future team in Canada.
Concerns have long been expressed regarding the government’s lack of effort to improve Britain’s housing crisis, now tradespeople are voicing their opinions on how this can be changed. Whether it be battling against record material and labour prices, an historically small workforce, regulations that stifle the ability for builders to work, as well as being in the grips of a mental health crisis, the construction industry is facing significant obstacles.
Clive Holland, broadcaster on Fix Radio – the UK’s only national radio station dedicated to tradespeople – explains what the UK must do to meet homebuilding targets, with a point of view from the trades.
“The government’s target of building 300,000 new homes a year is completely unrealistic and feels as if they are making as many promises as they can because the general election is just around the corner. “Housing Secretary, Michael Gove, has said the planning system is not working and as such, a new reform bill is being unveiled as a part of this levelling up against this rhetoric regeneration bill. If the government is serious about its housebuilding target and demand, there is a lot that needs to be done. “For me, there’s so much red tape surrounding regeneration that’s been around for a long time. Most brownfield sites already have construction, for instance, disused office blocks, public buildings, and long forgotten industrial areas, all of which could be changed if it wasn’t for the red tape.
“I think reduced rates should be given for building on the millions of acres of brownfield across the UK as an extra incentive for major housebuilders. It would reduce the nimbyism and the naysayers who do not want to see greenfield sites concreted over. “Currently, there are well more than 1 million properties across the United Kingdom without residents, including unused second homes, whilst there are hundreds of thousands of people in need of housing – it doesn’t make sense. “Under the current rules, it takes an average of five years for a standard housing development to go through the planning system. Since the COVID pandemic, everything has been done digitally and unfortunately taken its toll on house planning. Now, we are unable to go into planning offices and speak with someone directly meaning the whole process has become a lot slower, all because they have cut back on staff. “We are still experiencing numerous sites being mothballed simply because resources and interest rates are too high. I think it’s all going to come to a grinding halt if we continue the way we’re going. “The nutrient neutrality is going to allow for an additional 100,000 homes to be built in England by 2023. Yet, it often requires mitigation as part of the development either in the form of onsite treatment of wastewater and surface water runoff or by offsetting. Builders are rejoicing about nutrient neutrality now cutting a lot of the red tape, but I don’t think it will cut a lot of the problems in the future. “Another red tape aspect that I think is a major issue is the scrapping of the four-year rule without any reasoning or replacing it with something else. This encourages the rogue element of the construction industry and can create eye sores for neighbours and the wider public – it’s a recipe for disaster. “My problem always falls back into the hands of these ministers as none of them have experience in construction and it’s time that they should be guided by people with experience and the correct expertise.”
About Fix Radio Fix Radio, the Builders Station is the home of entertainment, music and information for UK tradespeople.
Since 2017 the station has been built from the ground-up with tradespeople in mind, providing a mixture of authentic trade voices, up-beat music and a schedule designed around the tradesperson’s day.
The station’s schedule includes some of the biggest talent in the industry, including social media influencers the Bald Builders, Clive Holland of the BBC and formerly Cowboy Trap, the country’s most famous plasterer Chris Frediani from DIY SOS, plumbing influencer Andy Cam, electrician turned YouTuber Thomas Nagy, carpenter, craftsman and social media influencer Robin Clevett and TV presenter and builder, Mark Millar.
Broadcasting nationally on DAB since May 2022, Fix Radio has an average reach of 352,000 tradespeople each week. The Builders Station also boasts 24.1 average weekly
When supporting charities, the Thomas Crapper team ensures that it “makes sense”….and the bathroom manufacturer’s latest collaboration definitely does! Thomas Crapper is supporting Bowel Cancer UK with the aim of spreading the word about the importance of early diagnosis and of course, raising as much money as possible.
Thomas Crapper will be cycling 250 miles in aid of Bowel Cancer UK – from the comfort of the Huddersfield HQ on the 28th September!
The team would love your support by donating whatever you can through this dedicated JustGiving page.
All of the money donated here goes directly to the charity.
Bowel Cancer UK is the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. The team is on a mission to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer. Every year, nearly 43,000 people in the UK are told that they have bowel cancer. It is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer – over 16,500 people die from the disease each year. However, bowel cancer is treatable and curable if caught early and around 90% of people will survive for five years or more. Together we can work towards a world where no one dies of bowel cancer.
