ALNO acts on Impulse

Posted on by Posted in Bathrooms and Kitchens

ALNO

ALNO AG has confirmed that it has sold its subsidiary Impuls Küchen GmbH (Brilon) to the Steinhoff Furniture Holding GmbH (Austria).

The change of ownership is scheduled to take place at the end of June 2015, subject to antitrust approval, although ALNO says it will continue to sell the Impuls brand – together with ALNO itself, Wellmann and Pino through its existing UK business.

ALNO AG and the Steinhoff Group will co-operate on a long-term strategy, which will secure jobs and the current trading position. Steinhoff will supply Impuls kitchens to ALNO AG for the export businesses, meaning product supply and availability will continue as usual.

Currently, the ALNO Group is represented with four brands on the market: ALNO, Wellmann, Impuls and Pino. Following the sale of Impuls, the remaining domestic brands ALNO, Wellmann and Pino can be more clearly positioned in the market, says ALNO AG.

Max Müller, CEO of ALNO AG, said:

“This transaction is for both sides a win-win situation.  The Steinhoff Group can tackle their own strategic objectives faster, while we move forward in a decisive step with the restructuring of our company.

“This year, we have achieved three major milestones in the realignment of ALNO AG: In addition to selling Impuls, we have also established a joint venture in Russia with one of the largest furniture manufacturers in the country and we have recently further increased our capital by partnering with China.

“All these developments will bring significant new business opportunities to us in the near future.”

www.alnokitchens.co.uk

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New Business Secretary to cut £10b to support small businesses

Posted on by Posted in Plumbing Industry News

john-thompson-aphc

Speaking from Bristol’s Engine Shed business centre in his first speech since taking over from Vince Cable as business secretary, Sajid Javid has pledged to cut at least £10 billion of red tape among a series of measures devised to support small firms.

Describing small businesses as Britain’s ‘engine room’, Mr Javid announced an Enterprise Bill to feature in the first Queen’s Speech of the new parliament which “helps them to succeed and creates jobs”.

He went on to add that a key measure in the Bill will be a new Small Business Coalition Service, which will help to defend small businesses against unfair payment practices and settle disputes between companies.

The secretary further explained how the bill will help businesses through extension of the Primary Authority rule, which allows a business to get regulation advice from a single local council, which all other councils are then bound to follow. Mr Javid has also vowed to “simplify and clarify the business environment” by cutting EU red tape.

John Thompson, chief executive of APHC, said:

“Industry research reveals that there are approximately 29,000 plumbing businesses in the UK, the majority of which are comprised of three or fewer employees. The secretary’s first speech demonstrates an intention to remove the needless bureaucracy and poor payment practices that can prove real obstacles to the success of such small businesses in this country. From a plumbing industry perspective, I believe that the comments are to be welcomed and we will be urging him to tackle the over burdensome legislation faced by plumbing – now one of the most regulated industries in the UK. The decision to no longer require employers to pay national insurance for apprentices under 25 is also a very positive step, which I’m certain will benefit not only small business owners, but also help to increase the number of young people in the UK entering skilled jobs.”

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New Leak Detection Correlator

Posted on by Posted in Sanitaryware

leak-detection

Water and asset monitoring specialist HWM (UK) has designed the new Touch Pro correlator for improved performance and ease of use.

The unit features upgraded electronics throughout the leak noise processing path to deliver better results in traditionally difficult leak detection situations, such as on plastic or large diameter pipes.

The Touch Pro’s high-visibility full-colour VGA touch screen greatly improves data entry and the quality of graphical representation. The intuitive user interface enables operation with the minimum number of key presses and the step-by-step menu system easily guides the user through the correlation process.

The new correlator is equipped with an Automated Filtering Intelligence System (AFIS). AFIS automatically runs up to 55 different filter combinations on each correlation, checking the quality of the result and optimising the filters to obtain the best possible result. The system can be used with both live and pre-recorded correlation data, removing the need for manual filter setting by building a virtual “expert user” into the unit.

The Touch Pro’s improved outstation offers long-range radio transmission with clear sound quality. The compact outstation features a magnet to allow it to be secured to metallic street furniture.

A purpose-designed robust case carries and protects all components, while allowing the base station and outstations to be charged from a single power lead.

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Worcester aims to make ErP as easy as A, B, C

Posted on by Posted in Heating

ErP-ABC

Domestic heating manufacturer Worcester Bosch has pledged to make ErP “as easy as A, B, C”, by dedicating a week in June to educating installers on the requirements of a new EU directive.

Worcester’s ‘ErP Week’ will run from 8 to 12 June, 2015 and will see the domestic heating specialist host a series of online seminars and live Twitter Q & A sessions with a team of experts.

The week-long programme will also preview the manufacturer’s forthcoming launch of its own ErP label calculator and a dedicated helpline for those with specific questions and queries relating to the new legislation.

Over the course of five days, Worcester will host an online seminar on the installer section of its website at 1pm and 6pm every day, giving heating industry professionals the opportunity to bring themselves up to speed with the new requirements.

Hour-long Twitter Q & A sessions at 1pm and 6pm on Monday 8, Wednesday 10, and Friday 12 June give installers the opportunity to put their questions to Worcester using the hashtag #ErPMadeEasy.

With the ErP directive requiring installers to provide an energy efficiency label for every heating appliance and system they install, Worcester’s ErP calculator will enable them to generate their own system labels, as well as giving them access to product labels for every one of its Greenstar gas and oil boilers, Greenstore cylinders, and Greensource heat pumps.

Worcester has made its complete range of Greenstar gas-fired boilers fully compliant with the new directive and added an ErP module into every one of its installer training programmes.

Martyn Bridges, director of marketing and technical support at Worcester, Bosch Group, said:

“With the introduction of the ErP’s new labelling requirements rapidly approaching, we want to make sure we’re doing all we can to help installers understand exactly what they will need to do come the 26 September.

“It is for this reason we took the decision to dedicate a full week of activity to ensure that no matter how busy installers might be, there is sure to be at least one opportunity for them to find out how the new requirements will affect their businesses.

“We’re hoping that come 12 June, there will be plenty of installers out there who see that ErP really can be as easy as A, B, C, having been in touch with us at some point over the course of the week,”

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Plumbing student wins top award

Posted on by Posted in Plumbing Industry News

plumbing-student

Exeter resident Josh Ellis has been awarded the title of the South West’s 2015 VQ Learner of the Year, in recognition of his outstanding achievement completing a vocational qualification in plumbing at Exeter College.

Mr Ellis, 21, won the gold medal at the World Skills competition, with his work deemed “near perfect” by the judges.

He has since progressed to a level three plumbing qualification and become the main installer for his company due to the exceptionally high standard of his work.

He is juggling high demand for his work with studies at college, and recently won the college’s ‘Apprentice of the Year’ award in recognition of his hard work.

Mr Ellis beat strong competition from two other shortlisted learners from the South West to be named the overall regional winner.

Taliya Hussain, 18, excelled on her childcare, learning and development course, undertaking a variety of placements throughout the community.

Lee Thorne, 35, from Bridgewater College, was highly commended after overcoming a host of personal struggles to become a business and professional studies training officer, supporting other learners.

All the regional winners from across England will be invited to an awards ceremony in London on 9 June, 2015, where the overall national winner for VQ Learner of the Year, sponsored by OCR, will be announced by garden designer and television personality Diarmuid Gavin at the event.

Mr Ellis said:

“I’m thrilled to have been named as the South West regional winner of this year’s VQ Learner of the Year Award. Completing a vocational qualification has given me the skills and drive to pursue my chosen career and I am delighted that my hard work has been recognised. I would highly recommend vocational learning to others and I hope VQ Day inspires others to explore the wide range of training options and choose a path best suited to their individual skills and interests.”

Held on 10 June, 2015, VQ Day is an annual event led by independent education charity, the Edge Foundation. It celebrates the benefits of technical, practical and vocational learning, not only to the individual but also to their communities. From 16-year-olds to those over 60, VQ day supports the acquisition of new skills and encourages the uptake of high quality vocational courses.

David Harbourne, acting chief executive officer of the Edge Foundation, said:

“Josh is a great example of how practical, technical and vocational qualifications can be the catalyst for a successful and fulfilling career. We wish him the best of luck ahead of VQ Day and in the future.”

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