By Dianne M. Pogoda

 

COMPANY NEWS

LIEBHERR’S SUSTAINABLE FOCUS: At KBIS, Liebherr Appliances will introduce a collection of nine refrigeration units geared toward a more sustainable future. The new appliances achieve higher levels of efficiency, longer service life and keep food fresher with an upgraded version of its BioFresh technology. Other innovations include HydroBreeze, which creates a cool mist each time the door opens to coat and protect produce, and VarioTemp, allowing the freezer to convert to refrigeration temperatures as needed. For more detail, visit Liebherr at KBIS in Booth #W3517 or click here for more info on BioFresh technology.

SPRINKLING WITH MOEN: Moen has expanded its whole-home plumbing systems with smart sprinklers for the yard. The Moen Smart Water Network already allows homeowners to monitor and control water inside their homes. Now the company has added the Smart Sprinkler Controller and Smart Wireless Soil Sensors to control lawn irrigation systems, reducing consumption by watering only as needed. The whole-home network includes leak and flood detection, automatic shutoffs, custom presets for temperature and volume, connection to the Smart Water app, and more. Moen is showing at KBIS in Booth #N2605.

PEANUTS FOR SMEG: Italian appliance maker Smeg is launching the limited-edition FAB10 PeanutsTM compact refrigerator with an iconic image of Snoopy with his pal Woodstock on the front. The single-door unit is about 38 inches high and has a capacity of 4.31 cubic feet. Smeg made just 70 units featuring the famous beagle and bird, carrying a suggested retail price of $1,995. Smeg is showing in Booth #W3328 at KBIS.

FOTILE’S SMART RANGE HOOD: Fotile will showcase its newest over-island range hood and insert hood. Both ventilation systems are self-adjusting and can detect noxious gasses and fumes, and vents them out of the house. The hood may be paired with a Fotile cooktop so that when the cooktop is operating, the vent automatically starts ventilation. Fotile is in Booth #W5101 at KBIS.

CAESARSTONE EXPANDS PORTFOLIO: Caesarstone, a leading producer of quartz surfaces, is widening its product offering and will unveil a collection of multi-material countertop surfaces that now includes porcelain and natural stone at KBIS. The maker will launch the new counter surfaces with events and informal educational sessions with designer Brian Brown, who designed what the company is calling “an immersive Caesarstone experience named Juxtaposed,” at Booth #N651.

PEOPLE NEWS

LAURA KOHLER TO LEAD SUSTAINABILITY, DIVERSITY EFFORTS: Laura Kohler has been named Kohler Co.’s first Chief Sustainability Officer and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Officer. This new position reflects the company’s commitment to accelerating the incorporation of sustainability, social impact and DEI across Kohler’s global Kitchen & Bath, Energy and Hospitality business groups and product portfolios. Laura Kohler was most recently SVP-Human Resources, Stewardship and Sustainability. Her leadership in these areas has led to the creation and success of many Kohler programs, including Innovation for Good®, the I-Prize, Safe Water for All, and the KOHLER WasteLAB, as well as a commitment to transparency which culminated in the release of the company’s first ESG report in 2022. She reports to Chair and CEO David Kohler. Laura and David are siblings, and great-grandchildren of John Michael Kohler, who founded the company 150 years ago. Kohler is in Booth #N2205 at KBIS.

OBITUARY: Joseph A. Hardy III, founder of 84 Lumber, the nation’s largest privately held building materials supplier, died Jan. 7 on his 100th birthday. Born just outside Pittsburgh, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in WWII. With his brothers and two friends, he pooled $84,000 to buy land and a building for a new business: 84 Lumber, a cash-and-carry lumber business in the town of Eighty Four, PA,  that eventually expanded to more than 30 states. Today, it is run by his daughter, Maggie Hardy, who was named president in 1992. He also developed the Nemacolin Resort in Farmington, PA, a 2,800-acre AAA Four Diamond Resort. Builder Online has more.

CHAPTER NEWS

SHARKS IN COLUMBIA RIVER: The Columbia River Chapter is hosting “Shark Tank 2,” a reprise of its successful meet-and-greet event in which vendors share new product news with designers and specifiers. The event, modeled after “Design Bites” at KBIS, takes place Feb. 16 at Contract Furnishing Mart, 14160 SW 72nd Ave., #110, Tigard, OR, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Registration is $20 for NKBA members and $30 for non-members, with vendor fees donated to Girls Build. Register here.