Stimulus for showrooms. Decorative plumbing and hardware buying group Forte distributed a substantial share of its strategic reserves to its shareholders so they could invest in the future of their showrooms.This was done at its annual conference at the end of February and resulted in shareholders writing up more than 500 purchase orders. Read more under Breaking News below. 

Forte buying group president C.J. Schnakenberg (Chicago Brass, Highwood, IL) announced a stimulus rebate at the buying group's recent conference. Its goals:to help shareholders make changes to showrooms, to assist Forte preferred vendors expand their showroom presence and transform the behavior of sales professionals to assist shareholders to invest in the future of their showrooms. 
"The thought of investing in new showroom displays strikes fear in our very soul," Schnakenberg said at the meeting. "Yet, that is the very thing that we need to be doing. Our showrooms have to be the best in the marketplace today to attract the business that's out there. Equally important is the need to be at our best when the market rebounds."
Complementing the stimulus rebate were nearly 60 conference specials offered by Forte's preferred vendors. The 95 shareholders at the conference issued more than 500 stock and display purchase orders from the 58 vendors in attendance.

Watts Water Technologies and its associated brands will introduce a line of lead-free products by mid-year 2009, expanding its current offerings, in response to recent legislation. Also, the company launched www.WeAreLeadFree.net, which provides frequent updates on what is happening around the country with lead-free legislation and requirements, including an interactive map.

WAC Lighting appointed Shelley Wang to president. She will oversee all operations of WAC Lighting Co., including WAC Lighting North America and W2 Architectural Lighting. WAC Lighting, a manufacturer and designer of track, recessed, undercabinet, monorail and decorative lighting, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
 
Deca , a Brazilian firm that offers metal fittings, high-end sanitary ware, showers and accessories to the Brazilian markets, announced the addition of Mitchel Magleby and Bill Howarth to its U.S. team. Magleby, who lives in the San Francisco area, will cover the West Coast region, while Howarth, who resides in Florida, has been assigned to serve the East Coast region. Deca, a division of Duratex, specializes in developing products with water-saving features and innovative designs.

Nearly 200 Milwaukee-area executives attended the second annual Green Manufacturing Summit in February, presented by Bradley Corp., in partnership with Wisconsin's Focus on Energy and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Architects, engineers, and business and community leaders shared sustainable strategies. Read more... 

"Desperate Times Call For...Simple Measures?" by Tim Fausch, publishing director of BNP Media's Architecture, Engineering & Construction and Mechanical Systems Groups. Read his blog ...

Staron Surfaces has rebranded its line of quartz surfaces, now called Radianz, to distinguish it from its other product lines, including Staron solid surfaces and Staron Tempest. The current Radianz collection features 14 colors. Several new colors are to be added by this summer. The Radianz material consists of more than 93% natural quartz crystals blended with technologically advanced polymers. Staron is a division of Samsung.

Danze introduced the Fairmont 3-function pull-out kitchen faucet with enhanced functionality. Users can select spray, bubble or pause with the push of a button on the pull-out wand. The wand can be pulled more than 30 inches from the base. The faucet collection is styled in the American traditional motif. The new pull-out spout kitchen faucet is currently available in chrome and stainless steel finishes. Additional finishes are expected to be available by mid-year.

Waterless Co. LLC offers no-flush urinals made of approximately 30% soybean resin. This composite urinal looks and functions like the company's other waterless urinals, the company says. Each urinal comes with a label certificate stating that it is made partially with soybean resin. Just one waterless urinal system can save as much as 40,000 gallons of water annually, but in addition, these urinals offer the benefit of a more sustainable, environmentally friendly manufacturing process, the company says.

PureOFlow is a high-volume reverse osmosis water purification system that reduces up to 98% of substances such as arsenic, lead and radium. The system uses a membrane technology developed under an exclusive licensing agreement with GE. This technology delivers both purification and desalination (soft water) in one unit. The high-capacity system can deliver as much as 5,600 gallons of purified water per day. The system offers a 1:1 purified-to-wastewater ratio that softens water without the use of salts.

Munich-based designer Herbert Schultes designed "mirrorwall," an integrated mirrored wall system for the modern bathroom, in collaboration with Duravit.It features a programmable mood lighting system and ample interior storage. It combines three major bathroom elements into one unified architectural piece - a mirrored wall, a sturdy ceramic "monoblock," and a wood and ceramic console combination. The washbasin, mirror, storage furniture and lighting exist as one entity. It's on display at Duravit's Manhattan showroom, 105 Madison Ave., New York, NY.

Graff has unveiled the Sade collection of faucets that includes widespread, wall-mounted, handshowers, and also single-hole design. It also offers a floor-mounted design that stands like an architectural sculpture.The faucets are made with solid brass and German ceramic valves and carry a full lifetime warranty on all mechanical aspects. Sade features an elegant fluid profile.

 Bath & Kitchen Pro, a publication created for bath-and-kitchen installers, distributors with showrooms and designers, looks at customizing kitchens and baths and profiles a contractor's showroom in the Fall 2008 issue.

Contact Publisher Bob Miodonski at 630-694-4007, e-mail: miodonskib@bnpmedia.com or visit the Web http://www.bathandkitchenpro.com www.bathandkitchenpro.com for more details.

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