Zentia, the UK’s market leader in complete ceiling solutions, is excited to announce the official launch of its latest product, the Sonify Wall Absorbers Grid System. Launched on 10th April and building on the success of the wider Sonify range, the new gridded wall absorbers promise to elevate creative possibilities
Industry-leading decorative panel and sheet experts Panelco has announced a strategic brand partnership with specialist technical and decorative panel designer and manufacturer Polyrey to expand the range of high-pressure laminate (HPL) and compact laminate products it can offer its customers. As a prominent stockist and manufacturer of innovative products, ranges
Plumb Centre, part of the Wolseley Group, is committed to transparent and competitive pricing across an everyday range of products for the Plumbing and Heating trade professional. As a business, Plumb Centre recognises the uncertainty that recent economic conditions and cost volatility has created for many of their skilled trade
Commercial lighting manufacturer and supplier, Whitecroft Lighting, has completed a major project to install innovative LED lighting systems in almost 80 stores across the UK for electrical retailer Currys, including branches in Manchester, Birmingham and Dundee. But rather than completely replacing the outdated lights, Whitecroft used its pioneering Relight system
Reynaers Aluminium UK has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting environmental initiatives and regulations following the company’s global sustainability strategy being recognised by the United Nations. The UN has awarded Reynaers Group the SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) Pioneer label for its ambitious sustainability work. Through the international certificate, the UN recognises
Major refurbishment plans for Chorlton Library in Manchester have been revealed to enhance the existing structure of the building and the fabulous dome hidden for years will be unveiled when it reopens. The library closes its door for two weeks on 24 March and will reopen with a temporary reduced
Located at the centre of one of the UK’s most important manufacturing areas, Dove Valley Park is a 200-acre industrial site that plans to continue expanding. The site currently houses occupiers such as JCB, Marstons and Rolls Royce, with further planning consent granted for up to 2.3 million sq ft
The KönigOutdoor showroom at the Sky House Design Centre is the perfect starting point for any outdoor living project. The three beautiful outdoor kitchens, made with the most durable materials, feature an array of configurations and design elements to provide inspiration to the interior or garden designer, architect and homeowner.
LED Flex strip lighting from Knightsbridge – one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of wiring accessories and lighting – is ideal for creating ambient lighting in kitchens, bedrooms and other spaces deserving colourful and energy efficient accents. Flex’s low profile – from 1.5mm to 2mm – and 8mm width makes
On Tuesday, 6 February the British Institute of KBB Installation (BiKBBI) held its 2024 conference in Westminster. This annual event, hosted at the prestigious QEII Centre and sponsored once again by Senstec and Quooker, is a crucial forum for professionals, industry leaders and experts from the KBB industry to gain
Zentia, the UK’s market leader in complete ceiling solutions, is excited to announce the official launch of its latest product, the Sonify Wall Absorbers Grid System. Launched on 10th April and building on the success of the wider Sonify range, the new gridded wall absorbers promise to elevate creative possibilities in acoustic design. Expanding on Zentia’s commitment to providing architects, interior designers, and outfitters with unparalleled flexibility, the Sonify Wall Absorbers Grid System introduces a mounted grid system for wall absorbers. This innovative approach replaces the traditional method of gluing absorbers to the wall, offering greater design precision and ease of dismounting for convenient access to services. The new Sonify Wall Absorbers Grid System offers several key features and benefits: The Sonify Wall Absorbers Grid System is set to offer professionals the tools they need to be more creative with innovative and impactful ceiling design. It is another product within a growing range that exemplifies Zentia’s commitment to creativity and innovation. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Industry-leading decorative panel and sheet experts Panelco has announced a strategic brand partnership with specialist technical and decorative panel designer and manufacturer Polyrey to expand the range of high-pressure laminate (HPL) and compact laminate products it can offer its customers. As a prominent stockist and manufacturer of innovative products, ranges and decorative designs, Panelco has grown over its two-decade history to become a byword for quality in the sector. This new partnership sees the company work together with Polyrey, part of Wilsonart Egineered Surfaces, the global leader in engineered decorative surfaces. Beginning in April, the two businesses will cooperate to offer an extensive collection of Polyrey products to Panelco’s customer base of design and architectural professionals. The collection will include Polyrey’s newly-launched Galerie range – the largest single collection of interior panels for commercial applications. Galerie gives fabricators, manufacturers and specifiers the opportunity to choose from a collection of over 800 designs comprising a multitude of decors and finishes inspired by the most prominent design and societal trends driving the interiors market. With 90 new designs and a new Silk finish which brings Galerie’s total number of finish options to 18, Polyrey has fused premium technical performance with aesthetic impact. The new partnership will see Panelco offer Polyrey’s Galerie Integral and Plus ranges, alongside the brand’s other specialist collections including Cubicle & Washroom, Durion and Doors. With over 60 years of manufacturing heritage, Polyrey are at the forefront of technical and decorative surfaces. Galerie Integral decors are available in high pressure laminate (HPL), melamine faced chipboard (MFC) and compact laminate. The Galerie Plus collection presents specifiers with an additional set of premium designs available in HPL and compact laminate. “We are delighted to announce this new partnership with Polyrey and be able to offer their extensive product range, covering all applications associated with their HPL and Compact collections.” said Julie Dean, Group Marketing Manager at Panelco. “Polyrey is well-known for supplying innovative surface solutions to the design and architectural sectors; their exceptional designs, quality, service and availability will strengthen our wider decorative portfolio. We are truly excited to be part of this partnership and look forward to seeing how the start of this new chapter will benefit both businesses.” Polyrey is a registered RIBA CPD provider in the UK, ensuring its team of engineered surfaces experts is on hand to support architects with their ongoing professional development. This expertise proved appealing to the Panelco team, who are looking forward to taking their next step as a company together with Polyrey. For more information on Panelco’s new offering, please visit panelco.com or contact sales@panelco.com. Alternatively, to explore the new Galerie collection by Polyrey, visit wilsonart.co.uk/polyrey. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plumb Centre, part of the Wolseley Group, is committed to transparent and competitive pricing across an everyday range of products for the Plumbing and Heating trade professional. As a business, Plumb Centre recognises the uncertainty that recent economic conditions and cost volatility has created for many of their skilled trade customers. This is why Plumb Centre is committed to checking them regularly against the market on popular products to ensure they are transparent and competitive, and has introduced a new pricing model to assure this. The competitive pricing will also be available on the businesses market leading digital platform, Wolseley.co.uk. Plumb Centre is an established market leading specialist merchant, and it credits this to the fact that it has continued to evolve with and for its customers. More recently, customers are increasingly seeking clear and consistent pricing for the products they buy most often, so that they can provide a clear view of costs to their customers and ensure they continue to get value. To help with this, Plumb Centre successfully piloted in 2023 in Liverpool, Manchester, the West Midlands and North Wales to deepen the relationship that Plumb Centre has with its customers. “We know that time is money for our customers, this is why we are committed to competitive pricing on trade quality products online and in our vast network of branches. At Plumb Centre, we take immense pride in actively listening to what customers want from us and in the past couple of years, rising costs and economic pressures have made it harder for them to provide their end-customers with clarity and certainty surrounding pricing,” said John Hancock, Chief Operating Officer, Wolseley Group. “Our new pricing model, along with a number of other key initiatives we will land this year, helps to bring consistency and clarity to our customers that will allow them to trust the price without having to take time away from the job and their customer. Delivering this alongside the expertise and familiar faces of our colleagues at our trade counters every day is a step that we believe will eventually become common practice across our sector.” For more detail on the move to standard pricing, please visit https://www.wolseley.co.uk/search-results/?search-term=price+checked Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Commercial lighting manufacturer and supplier, Whitecroft Lighting, has completed a major project to install innovative LED lighting systems in almost 80 stores across the UK for electrical retailer Currys, including branches in Manchester, Birmingham and Dundee. But rather than completely replacing the outdated lights, Whitecroft used its pioneering Relight system to reuse as much of each store’s existing lighting infrastructure as possible. This reduces the huge amounts of waste normally generated by major electrical refits, an important requirement for Currys as part of its 2040 Roadmap to Net-Zero strategy, which sets out how the company is reducing the carbon it produces. Whitecroft’s Relight low-energy LED lights have been installed in customer showrooms, office areas and even car parks, enabling Currys to reduce its energy consumption, helping to further cut its carbon emissions and shrink its electricity bills. Tom Gardener, Senior Facilities Manager for Currys, explains the rationale for the project: “Due to the sharp rise in energy costs in recent years, our business cases for lighting energy efficiency were flying through, particularly as the quickening returns on investment were suddenly very attractive. “Change was also driven by forthcoming legislation banning certain fluorescent lighting which sharpened our focus on how we can remove and replace some types of lighting from our estate. “Working with Whitecroft Lighting and learning about its approach to circularity – reusing and recycling materials – has been a very positive experience. We were impressed with the short and longer-term material and labour cost benefits of Relight, but we didn’t fully appreciate the carbon saving value until we worked on the product. “Our new lighting not only improved our energy efficiency but also our approach to circularity and reusing existing infrastructure. This helped to increase energy efficiency and reduce wasted carbon.” In total 77 Currys stores, mostly bigger out-of-town branches, were refitted across the UK by Whitecroft in a project that took just six months to complete. Richard Williams, Commercial Manager at Whitecroft Lighting, says the retailer’s approach to sustainability made Relight the perfect solution for the project. He says: “Currys had a clear approach to embedding circularity in its retail operation and was already a big recycler of consumer electrical goods. However, we saw an opportunity to extend this ethos beyond retail to its lighting by reducing waste in its facilities management. “While the latest LEDs would reduce operational carbon by around 40% through increasing energy efficiency, the circular approach to reusing materials, such as ceiling suspension materials and cabling, would also lower the embodied carbon, which are the emissions generated from the sourcing, manufacturing, installation and eventual disposal of products and materials.” This approach to creating a more sustainable approach by reusing and recycling material, often referred to as the Circular Economy, is being embraced more and more by businesses, builders and suppliers as the UK aims to meet stretching Net-Zero targets. In fact, the success of the Whitecroft Lighting project has helped shape Currys view of circularity. Tom Gardener continues: “Whitecroft’s Relight approach to circularity has certainly influenced facilities management at Currys, and we now expect suppliers to be clearer on type 1 and 2 emissions, and our larger T1 suppliers must report data on their own waste and travel. “Our facilities managers now increasingly factor sustainability into supplier questioning, as well as the overall performance review of all our suppliers for a project: do they fit with our direction of travel as a business, do they buy into it, or are they just paying lip-service to it?” Whitecroft Lighting is part of the Fagerhult Group, has 370 employees and turns over £55m. The company undertakes all R&D, product design and manufacturing in its UK HQ and neighbouring 10,000 sqm manufacturing facility. To find out more about Whitecroft Lighting Ltd visit www.whitecroftlighting.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Reynaers Aluminium UK has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting environmental initiatives and regulations following the company’s global sustainability strategy being recognised by the United Nations. The UN has awarded Reynaers Group the SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) Pioneer label for its ambitious sustainability work. Through the international certificate, the UN recognises companies that have adopted effective current and long-term sustainability initiatives. Since 2022, all the company’s long-term sustainability commitments and goals have been documented in its sustainability strategy Reynaers Act, focusing on reducing carbon emissions in both direct and indirect operations. Whilst the recently released consultation documents relating to the Future Homes Standard revisions in 2025 has given the industry mixed news, Reynaers continues to underline its commitment to developing innovative solutions to support sustainable building design. This includes creating systems with improved thermal efficiency and increasing the number of Cradle to Cradle products it manufactures. Technical Director at Reynaers Aluminium UK, John McComb is also the company’s sustainability champion, which sees him take an active part in developing systems that are fit for the future demands of the UK market, including leading the technical team in adapting European systems to meet UK specifications. He said: “It’s great to see the work that Reynaers is doing to support more sustainable practices, and to create systems that will support sustainable building design, recognised at such a high level. “Reynaers is committed to testing, innovation and constantly improving the performance of its windows, doors and façade systems, including thermal efficiency. With a team of technical experts both at the global headquarters and here in the UK, the company is continually working to reach its sustainability goals – and those of the wider UK and global communities, including upcoming changes to building legislation. “This approach is evident in the latest generation of Reynaers’ products, created with sustainability in mind, including the MasterPatio sliding door, which is Cradle to Cradle certified and made with recycled materials; and the MasterLine 8 and 10 systems, which offer Passive House levels of insulation without compromising on aesthetics. “Through Reynaers Act, we lay out our commitment to a more sustainable way of working and this recognition is another step forward.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Major refurbishment plans for Chorlton Library in Manchester have been revealed to enhance the existing structure of the building and the fabulous dome hidden for years will be unveiled when it reopens. The library closes its door for two weeks on 24 March and will reopen with a temporary reduced library offer from the library extension at the back of the library from 8 April. Additional work will include improvements to the exterior stonework and windows as well as the renewal of electrical and mechanical systems, to ensure the building contributes to lower carbon emissions to help the council meet its target of becoming zero carbon by 2038. The refurbishment will also create additional meeting rooms within the existing structure and when the building reopens in 2025 the library will benefit from Open + technology which will allow the library to be open and accessible for more hours every day. Services in the reduced library offer from April 8 will include free internet and Wi-Fi, a small selection of stock, and a reservation pick-up point. These reservations can be made for free on the Manchester libraries catalogue. Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure said: “Chorlton Library is one of the last of our libraries to benefit as part of our Library renewal programme. It is a unique building, a great asset to the city and one of our oldest libraries. It is a much-loved library and continues to be at the heart of the Chorlton community as it has been for the last 100 years. This work will bring it right up to date and ensure it continues to be better equipped to serve the local community and fit for purpose for the next 100 years and more as well as meeting our sustainability plans and carbon neutral targets. “As one of the busiest libraries in the city, I know it will be missed but I can assure you that the revamp will be worth the wait.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Located at the centre of one of the UK’s most important manufacturing areas, Dove Valley Park is a 200-acre industrial site that plans to continue expanding. The site currently houses occupiers such as JCB, Marstons and Rolls Royce, with further planning consent granted for up to 2.3 million sq ft of infrastructure and services, creating much-anticipated investment and employment in the area. Zentia, the UK’s leading ceiling solutions provider, has been asked to deliver a fit-out for a new build office within the industrial estate. The project scope includes meeting rooms and bathrooms that demand a seamless integration of aesthetics, functionality, and acoustic performance. CHALLENGE The client expressed a desire for a classic office visual while incorporating a burst of colour in the breakout space and meeting rooms. The challenge was to execute a visually pleasing design that complemented the new build while meeting the client’s specific colour and acoustic requirements. The project is currently in the installation phase, with main contractors Roe Developments overseeing the construction and East Midland Ceilings responsible for the ceiling installation. SOLUTION To meet the client’s visual preferences and acoustic performance requirements, Zentia opted for Aruba square tiles throughout the office space. The Aruba Colour tiles were installed in the meeting room in two different shades of grey, whilst the bathrooms featured Aruba hH tiles, ensuring a visually clean and bright ambience but with enhanced humidity resistance. The choice of Aruba tiles was driven by their excellent acoustic performance, providing a conducive environment for meetings and workspaces. Additionally, the availability of colour variations in the Aruba range appealed to the client and allowed Zentia to create a seamless transition between the standard white tiles and the specified shades of grey, ensuring a cohesive and visually appealing design. The decision to use Zentia’s Aruba tiles not only met the client’s creative expectations but also provided an easy installation process, allowing for efficient progress on-site. The benefit of Zentia’s solution was evident in the visual distinction achieved in the main areas, fulfilling the client’s vision of a classic office space with a touch of colour. Installer for the project, Barry Deane, Director at East Midlands Ceilings said: “It’s always exciting when the customer wants a change from the standard types of suspended ceiling designs. It made the project extremely interesting to be involved with, and the Aruba coloured tiles look amazing, giving a modern and visual twist over the standard install. The quality of the materials was also fantastic, with everything being manufactured and delivered to suit the project requirements perfectly.” As installation progresses on-site, Zentia remains dedicated to delivering not only visually stunning office spaces but also an environment that enhances acoustic comfort. The office fit-out at Dove Valley Industrial Park stands as a testament to Zentia’s commitment to excellence in ceiling solutions, setting a new standard for modern and visually stunning office environments in the industrial sector. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The KönigOutdoor showroom at the Sky House Design Centre is the perfect starting point for any outdoor living project. The three beautiful outdoor kitchens, made with the most durable materials, feature an array of configurations and design elements to provide inspiration to the interior or garden designer, architect and homeowner. The displays show a variety of sintered stone finishes, from classic marble to more industrial styles, and showcase various design options including handleless doors and drawers, a corner unit for a Kamado grill and a bar-style seating area with a granite worktop and cedar circular support. Pictured is: Königstone island with 12mm handleless drawers in Estatuario (large-veined marble effect). KönigOutdoor is a sophisticated high-end solution for aspirational outdoor living. Combining luxurious sintered stone surfaces with a durable weatherproof structure, a KönigOutdoor kitchen provides the look of an indoor kitchen; with the ability to withstand the elements outdoors. Each kitchen is made to order here in the UK, allowing the customer or designer to create a unique outdoor kitchen to exacting specifications. The outdoor kitchens can also be designed to accept mains services gas, water and electrical services for fully functional outdoor kitchens, outdoors. To start planning a dream outdoor kitchen, please contact Sky House Design Centre to arrange an appointment. Pictured is: KönigOutdoor island with 12mm handleless drawers in Estatuario (large-veined marble effect), 100mm black granite plinths, 30mm feature circular granite and B/Bar with cedar support. For further information on KönigOutdoor, please email info@konigstone.co.uk or visit www.konigoutdoor.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
LED Flex strip lighting from Knightsbridge – one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of wiring accessories and lighting – is ideal for creating ambient lighting in kitchens, bedrooms and other spaces deserving colourful and energy efficient accents. Flex’s low profile – from 1.5mm to 2mm – and 8mm width makes it ideal for hard to access, space-constrained locations, while its 3Mself-adhesive backing tape provides a robust and durable fixing. Waste is kept to a minimum because installers can cut the LED Flex to fit at 50mm intervals and use the excess elsewhere, re-connecting it to other strips of product where necessary. Both single and four colour (red, green, blue and white) versions are available, supported by dedicated drivers, controllers and profiles that offer a quick solution to most indoor installations. The colour-changing RGBW LED Flex are available with smart technology so they can be controlled through Knightsbridge’s proprietary SmartKnight app. The company has also introduced ‘COB’ single colour seamless strip lighting. COB stands for Chip on Board, meaning the LED diodes are built directly into the printed circuit board. The seamless strip lighting is ideal for illuminating indoor spaces since it offers a larger lighting area than traditional alternatives, resulting in no dark spots and perfect colour consistency and uniformity. The COB strip lighting is supplied with 150mm of cable and is dimmable with the appropriate control. Rated IP20 for indoor use, the 12V single colour range offers colour temperatures from 3000K to 6500K and light outputs from 510lm per metre upwards in white only. Its 24V equivalent is also for indoor use, but available in various colour temperatures of white as well as red, blue and green. The colour-changing models are rated at IP20 for indoor use and IP67 options are also available. The Flex collection encompasses 52 versions in 12V and 24V, in lengths from one metre up to 50 metres, depending on voltage and colour; all with a three-year warranty. A full range of accessories – from aluminium mounting profiles through to controllers, connectors and drivers – is also available. For further details of the Knightsbridge innovative wiring accessories and lighting products, please visit www.mlaccessories.co.uk or call 01582 887760. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
On Tuesday, 6 February the British Institute of KBB Installation (BiKBBI) held its 2024 conference in Westminster. This annual event, hosted at the prestigious QEII Centre and sponsored once again by Senstec and Quooker, is a crucial forum for professionals, industry leaders and experts from the KBB industry to gain insight, discuss key topics and make valuable connections. BiKBBI’s 2024 conference theme was “Driving industry change through collaboration”, and speakers and panellists shared opinions and experiences and debated the sector’s challenges and opportunities, across a series of engaging presentations and discussions. The event was hosted by Hannah Prevett – Deputy Editor of The Times Enterprise Network – who expertly guided activities and thoughts throughout the day. The conference was opened by CEO of BiKBBI Damian Walters, who celebrated the existing collaboration from sponsors, retail partners and stakeholders which drives positive change for the sector but warned there is still much to do and a need for greater collaboration from the whole industry on the subject of education, standards, compliance and sustainability. Results of the BiKBBI Installer Survey 2024 were also unveiled at the conference. Keynote speakers included Fergus Harradence, Deputy Director of Infrastructure Construction & Rail at the Department for Business & Trade (DBT) who shared the UK government’s predictions for 2024, highlighting that, despite the continued challenges with a shrinking workforce and the continued skills gap, there was growth potential with both consumer and business confidence increasing which would ultimately benefit the construction sector. Emily Wallace, CEO of the Trade Association Forum (TAF), also presented on the topic of the value of associations and what can be achieved when industries work together to influence policy, face challenges and grow skills. Industry insight data from AMA Research was presented alongside key findings from the Bathroom Manufacturers Association’s Understanding the Bathroom Installer Survey 2023 and kbbreview’s Retailer Survey 2024 as well as BiKBBI’s own Installer Survey 2024 – all highlighting collaboration as the pathway to success. BiKBBI hosted a sustainability panel featuring Phil Viner from Triton Showers, Tom Reynolds from the BMA and Lyrical Communications’ David Ventris-Field to discuss how to reach and support KBB installers better on the topic of sustainability. BiKBBI’s Installer Survey 2024 highlighted that 1 in 5 installers have noticed an increase in customers asking for recommendations on environmentally friendly products, and over 50% of installers feel the industry is not doing enough to reduce its impact on the environment. Diversity Ambassador for BiKBBI, the Rt. Hon Stuart Lawrence, supported by James Moore from the MoD’s Careers Transition Partnership and Apprentice Plumber Sophie Maguire, led a workshop on why and how the industry should work towards improving diversity and inclusion, highlighting the benefits that a diverse workforce can bring to businesses and the industry. Stuart Lawrence then asked delegates at the conference to sign BiKBBI’s ‘Charter for Change’ – a commitment to work with BiKBBI to explore a revised inclusivity recruitment strategy– with 55 businesses pledging their support for the charter. Education and apprenticeships also remained on the 2024 conference agenda, being a key area of focus for BiKBBI as a route to tackling the current skills gap. A panel of experts, led by Hannah Hockley from The Apprenticeship Partner, included Wickes Apprenticeship Programme Manager Connie Collett, independent retailer and apprenticeships champion Simon Taylor, KBB apprentice employer Paul Miles, and previous KBB apprentice Elliott Perry. The panel discussed recent advances in apprenticeships and training, including the new standalone Apprenticeship Standard for Fitted Furniture Installers reinforcing that access to education and training is integral to resolving the skills shortage, with Hannah Hockley highlighting the importance of the whole industry recognising the severity of the situation and the importance of support from all areas of the sector. Damian Walters, CEO of BiKBBI, said ‘The BiKBBI annual conference has seen significant growth over the past three years, and it is not by coincidence. The attendance of so many brands and businesses here today is representative of the importance that installation plays to the whole industry and recognises the role that we fulfil as an institute. The theme of the day was collaboration, which was demonstrated by the 160 delegates who took time away from their busy day jobs to come here, join the conversation, and support this vital sector of the KBB industry. But now the real work begins, and we will continue to drive the agenda on the topics raised today with the support of our corporate sponsors, retail partners and wider stakeholders. I would like to personally thank all contributors, speakers and panellists involved in today’s event, along with all of the delegates who, through collaboration, made the event a success and have given the industry a solid platform to move forward from.” The results from the BiKBBI Installer Survey 2024 can be view here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
