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These sessions focused on companies and a trade show from countries including Germany, Italy, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Ukraine.

By Nicholas Tamarin

At NKBA | KBIS’ Global Connect Lounge in the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Global Spotlight sessions served to highlight several international brands during KBIS 2024. In addition to standalone conferences dedicated to manufacturers from Ukraine, the first day, hosted by Sherry Qualls, Marketing Advisor and Business Development Consultant for the NKBA | KBIS Global Connect Program, brought manufacturer SCHOTT from Germany, while the second day, hosted by Modenus Media Founder and CEO Veronika Miller, saw New Zealand’s Concelo, Italy’s SICAM trade show and the Dekker Group from the Netherlands give presentations.

SCHOTT, which Qualls described as “the oldest most technological brand you have never heard of,” kicked things off with Jonathan Leon Ruckes, director of sales for their CERAN brand, leading a slideshow demonstration  on their innovative ceramic glass. Founded in 1884, SCHOTT provides the material for a variety of induction, gas and electric cooktops and fireplace windows and surrounds for manufacturers including Bosch, LG, Samsung, Miele, Gaggenau and GE Appliances, thanks to its high-tech glass products. Their features and benefits include:

• CERAN Luminoir is both deep black and translucent for the smart integration of clear LED lighting.
• Scratch-resistant CERAN Miradur coating is nearly as hard as a diamond and allows cooktops to remain flawless.
• Releasing zero emissions through the use of 100% green electricity in their manufacturing processes.

Leading the charge the following day, Concelo’s Allen Bertelsen and Jesse Staines broke down the Kiwi company’s innovative approach to “Better Waste Management.” After explaining that the average family generates 3.3 tons of waste annually with 70% of that coming from its kitchen waste bin, they discussed the attributes of their disposal systems that were launched in the Asian Pacific in 2018 and Green Tag Certified in 2023. Here are some benefits and features:

• Concelo boasts a new Active Lid designed to help control odors. The Active Lid is hidden from sight at the top of the bin inside the cabinet and drops down to close over the buckets when the bin is closed. When the bin is opened, the lid lifts up and away to allow an unhindered running action.
• Concelo bins run on smooth synchronized runners that include a fluid damper for seamless closing action. The runners over-extend to ensure the back bucket will clear the bottom of the counter with ease.
• Flexible mounting options allow Concelo to be top and/or side mounted, meaning it can be mounted into any cabinet width for design flexibility. Mounting at bench height allows the most ergonomic positioning of the bin to easily dispose of waste.

Next up was Italy’s SICAM trade show, which runs outside of Venice, Italy, with the 15th edition taking place October 15 to 18 this year, and has a reciprocal relationship with KBIS. The 14th edition of the international exhibit for components, semi-finished products and accessories for the furniture industry showcased impressive features:

• 653 exhibitors; 32% from 34 countries
• 8,912 companies visiting from 112 countries
• 430,000 square feet of exhibition space

Dekker Group wrapped up the chats with its Product and Marketing Director Maciej Bodziony touting the benefits of the nearly century-old family-owned business:

• Its 800,000  square foot facility produces a wide array of engineered stone countertops with a slew of green benefits.
• With thicknesses ranging between .3 and .5 inches, as opposed to up to more than an inch, its products divert 60 percent less material than competitors to the landfill.
• The waste it does produce is either reused into existing products or recycled into new ones.