By Dianne M. Pogoda
COMPANY NEWS
GAGGENAU GOES INTERACTIVE IN MILAN: German luxury kitchen appliance brand Gaggenau will feature an interactive installation in Milan’s historic Villa Necchi Campiglio during Milan design week, which runs through June 12. The program includes a series of talks live-streamed by Dezeen , which has more detail here, or you can register to attend at gaggenau.com.
HOW SAFE IS YOUR HOME’S AIR? Not very, apparently. A recent survey by Panasonic finds that builders and homeowners alike are unaware of how poor indoor air quality (IAQ) is. The survey quizzed both groups on the causes of indoor air pollution and its role in health-related issues, and how to remedy the situation, including the installation of indoor air purification systems. Utopia has more.
TRUE LAUNCHES BOTTOM FREEZER: True Residential has introduced a 36-inch refrigerator with a bottom freezer — the first such configuration for the brand better known for column- and side-by-side styles. The units are available with solid and glass doors, have adjustable shelves and use environmentally friendly R600a refrigerant. Click for more info.
NINE WINS FOR LG: LG Electronics has won a 2002 Energy Star® Partner of the Year award for Sustained Excellence, the ninth time since 2012 that the company has earned the honor. This designation recognizes the company’s commitment to protecting the environment. LG’s sales of Energy Star-certified products jumped 45 percent in 2021 over 2020 to $3.6 billion. According to the company, its products designated as Energy Star “Most Efficient” in 2021 will save more than two billion pounds of CO2 over the life of these products — equivalent to carbon sequestered over 10 years by planting 16 million trees — and its clothes washers and dishwashers sold last year will save 38 billion gallons of water over their lifespan, enough to fill more than 57,000 Olympic-size swimming pools. Click for more on LG here, or for more on Energy Star’s 2022 winners and program.
ROBAM GROWING IN AMERICA: China-based ROBAM, a maker of high-end appliances, has initiated a dealer-focused partnership with Nationwide Marketing Group to expand its presence in North America. ROBAM produces cooktops, ranges, dishwashers, built-in steam ovens, portable combi ovens and range hoods. It holds the Guinness World Record for most powerful suction in a range hood, and introduced a number of products, including its 36-inch Tornado range hood and R-MAX Series 30-inch touchless range hood, at KBIS in February. ROBAM was founded in 1979 and has U.S. office in San Francisco. Nationwide is a buying, marketing and business support organization that serves more than 5,000 independent dealers of appliances, furniture, bedding, electronics and other categories, representing some 14,000 stores.
PEOPLE NEWS
FORMICA’S WINNERS: Business of Home reports that the grand prize winners of Formica’s fifth annual FORM Student Innovation Competition are Sarah Dezember and Wenhan Zhang from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. They were chosen from among more than 100 student furniture design entries from across North America for their submission Twins Tables — a multifunctional furniture piece geared toward urban living. Their work will be on display at NeoCon next week at The Mart in Chicago.
BRYANT TAPPED AT BEKO: Chuck Bryant has been promoted to director of OEM sales and marketing at Beko Home Appliances. Bryant was previously manager of the department that handles original equipment manufacturing. In his expanded role, Bryant, will oversee the full life cycle of Beko OEM products and customers and direct all OEM product-related functions. Bryant has logged more than 34 years in the home appliance industry, including positions with GE Appliances, LG Electronics’ Signature Kitchen Suite division, Bosch and Siemens Home Appliances, and Haier.
EVENTS
MARKET DAYS AT A&D BUILDING: The Architects & Designers Building will host market days on June 28-29 at its 150 East 58th Street hub in New York. Programming will be presented by A&D’s partners, including The Architect’s Newspaper, AN Interiors, Luxe Interiors + Design, Aspire, Galerie, Interior Design, Metropolis, Design NYC, NKBA and ASID, among others. Showrooms will be open and offer chef demos, product debuts and more. Go here for more.
CHAPTER NEWS
VENDOR NIGHT IN CENTRAL OHIO: Hello, Columbus! The Central Ohio Chapter is hosting an evening of networking at the MSI Columbus showroom, 6399 Broughton Avenue, on June 9, 5 to 8 p.m. You’ll get a guided tour through this new design facility, which specializes in countertops, flooring, tile and hardscaping products, and visit rotating vendor stations. Appetizers and refreshments will be served at the event, sponsored by Miele, PPG, 2020 and the Natural Stone Institute. The cost is $30 to attend; register here .
HIT THE LINKS WITH CHICAGO MID WEST: After a two-year hiatus owing to COVID-19, the Chicago Mid West Chapter’s golf outing will return on June 20, at the Village Links of Glen Ellyn,
485 Winchell Way in Glen Ellyn, Ill. Signature sponsor is Calia Stone Boutique. Come to play or just for dinner — registration and lunch starts at 11:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Dinner and open bar begin at 6 p.m. The cost for golf, lunch, dinner and cocktails is $850 for a foursome or $220 for a single golfer, and non-golfers may join for dinner and cocktails only for $75. Additional sponsors are Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery, Daltile, MSI and Sprovieri’s Custom Counters. Register here.
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME: Enjoy Brewers Baseball and networking on June 23 with the Wisconsin/Upper Michigan Chapter’s Baseball & Beer outing. The Brew Crew takes on the Cardinals at Brewers Stadium in Milwaukee. Tickets are $50 for NKBA Members, $100 for non-members, and include complimentary food and beverages. Game time is 1:10 p.m. Go here to register.
