Kitchen & Bath

Franke granite is composed of 80% quartz to create a surface that is durable, non-porous and stain resistant

Franke, the largest stainless steel kitchen sink manufacturer in the world and a leading name in kitchen faucets, is launching a new line of Active-Plus Faucets in eight elegant finishes that amplifies the beauty of the brand’s Granite Undermount Sink series, creating a wide variety of nature-inspired sink and faucet combinations to enhance any kitchen.

Now available for purchase in showrooms nationwide, Franke’s Active-Plus Faucets come in the following finishes: Champagne, Mocha, Onyx, Oyster, Storm, Vanilla, Polished Chrome and Satin Nickel. They feature a dual function pull-out spray nozzle to easily switch between stream and spray; a 360-degree swivel spout that reaches every inch of the sink; an ergonomic handle to smoothly transition from hot to cold and on to off; and a flow rate that is compliant with CALGreen Standards of 1.75 gallons per minute (gpm). The faucets are also certified by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

“Franke’s Active-Plus Faucets embody contemporary design and performance in a range of hues that pair perfectly with our granite sinks,” said Tammy Nixon, Senior Brand Manager, Franke Kitchen Systems. “We created this complementary line of faucets for our gorgeous granite sinks because we care as much about form and function as our customers do. They not only love to cook and entertain, but want an atmosphere in the kitchen that is warm, welcoming and well-appointed down to the last exquisite detail.”

Franke’s Active-Plus Faucets accompany Franke’s granite sinks, which are available in six earth-toned hues and nine shapes, and represent the best attributes of nature and man-made ingenuity. Composed of 80% quartz, the most durable component of granite; and bonded with 20% acrylic resin, these sinks have an enduring, non-porous, stain resistant and heat resistant surface that can withstand continual use and is easy to clean. Additionally, Franke’s custom-colored quartz is created using the heat of a kiln to ensure the sink’s color will stand the test of time. These sinks are sure to complement any style and transform the look of any kitchen.

“Franke granite sinks are both beautiful and practical,” said Nixon. “They are scratch, stain and chip resistant. In fact, if you run a fork across the surface of one of our sinks, you’ll notice that the only thing left behind is debris from the fork – and this can be easily removed.” 

Key features of the Franke Granite Undermount Sinks include:

• Innovative, Durable Design: Made of 80% quartz, Franke’s granite sinks are hard-wearing to prevent cracks, chips, scratches, stains or marks. Plus, the absence of polyester often used by other manufactures makes Franke’s granite sinks ultra-heat-resistant with the capacity to withstand temperatures up to 536 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Franke’s Integral Ledge: Available on the Peak and Orca styles, Franke’s Integral Ledge, the company’s signature innovation, allows you to add accessories like wire rack shelves and newly developed roller mats to the sink, creating a multifunctional workplace.

• Hygiene: Franke’s granite sinks are treated with Sanitized® material protection, an antimicrobial product containing silver ions, which are embedded in each sink and inhibit and reduce the multiplication (or growth) of bacteria.

The Active-Plus Faucets are sold exclusively at Franke retailers for a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) between $495 USD and $595 USD, and the Granite Undermount Sinks have a MSRP between $429 USD and $779 USD. For more details on Franke’s Active-Plus Faucets and Granite Undermount Sinks, and to find a store near you, visit www.franke.us/ks or www.frankecanada.com.

Featuring an interplay of light and water, the new kitchen faucet responds to a simple touch and encapsulates the best of Swiss luxury, precision and craftsmanship

KWC, a leading supplier of luxury kitchen and bath faucets, shower systems and accessories, has announced that the ZOE touch light PRO, an intuitive kitchen faucet controlled by a simple touch, is now available to consumers nationwide. The faucet’s signature is its touch-on / touch-off technology that changes the water temperature with the tap of a finger: 1-tap for cold water displays a blue LED light; 2-taps for warm water displays an orange LED light; and 3-taps for hot water displays a red LED light.  Additional features are: white LED lights that illuminate streaming water, Splendure™ stainless steel or stunning chrome finishes.

“Distinguished by its minimalist form and intuitive function, the ZOE touch light PRO is KWC’s latest innovation in smart-faucet technology,” said KWC Product Manager Lars C      hristensen. “Its perceptive design gives our customers the capacity to customize both temperature and flow rates for maximum convenience.” 

KWC’s ZOE touch light PRO exceptional features include:

• Customizable settings: Use KWC’s innovative pre-set program to easily customize the water temperatures and flow rates to your ideal temperature and flow: 1-tap for cold water setting, 2-taps for warm water setting and 3-taps for hot water setting. This technology and precise functionality ensures safety from water that’s too hot or shock from water that’s too cold. Plus, every individual adjustment helps save energy and water.
• luminaqua® LED-technology: When the mood strikes, activate luminaqua® – white LED lights that illuminate streaming water – to create the perfect atmosphere in your kitchen. The light ring is integrated into the pull-out spray, making it seem invisible. The LED lights use very little electricity, have a long lifespan and automatically turn off after 30 minutes.
• Pull-out hose and diverter button: Clean every corner of your sink with the hose, integrated into the spout, which extends more than 19 inches. The faucet’s high-quality metallic casing extends the life of the pull-out hose. Additionally, just one press of a diverter button changes the water stream from a full spray to a fine needle spray.
• Easy to keep clean: The jetclean faceplate not only prevents limescale from building up on your kitchen spray, but it actually does some of the cleaning for you. When water is flowing, the cone-shaped holes on the faceplate expand, dislodging any stubborn limescale deposits. The holes go back to normal size when the water flow is switched off. If limescale deposits do build up on the faceplate of your faucet, simply use the faucet’s turn-and-clean fastening mechanism to manually – and easily – clean it.
• Neoperl spray: The Neoperl aerator sprays a water-saving flow rate of 5 gallons per minute. KWC expects the faucets to earn the coveted WaterSense label without sacrificing performance or quality.

“This faucet brings a new level of luxury to the kitchen,” says KWC America President Gary Langbo. “A showpiece worthy of the most distinctive kitchens, the ZOE touch light PRO is both sculptural and smart. It reflects the timelessness, purity and performance of KWC’s exclusive Swiss water experience.”

The KWC ZOE touch light PRO, available in Splendure™ stainless steel or stunning chrome finishes, is sold exclusively at KWC showrooms across the country and for a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) between $2,495 – $2,995 (depending on finish). For more information on the product, visit www.kwc.us.com.

The Commander™ Handheld Programming Unit from Chicago Faucets allows users to easily program, monitor and maintain Chicago Faucets HyTronic^® and E-Tronic^® electronic faucets from the palm of their hands.

The diagnostics are easy to read, and step-by-step adjustment procedures are provided. Users can scan for faucets requiring attention, and when a faucet needs service, Commander will alert the user to perform diagnostics and field maintenance.

Facility and maintenance personnel can change and customize operating modes, adjust sensor range, monitor battery levels, identify serial numbers, settings and usage information, access the troubleshooting guide and obtain product information.

“The Commander is a useful tool to monitor water usage and maintenance data in any setting, from commercial buildings to hospitality and healthcare. For example, a major Midwest hospital uses Commander successfully to monitor faucet use and even to indicate where new faucets may be required,” says Adam Molberger, Product Manager for Chicago Faucets.

Commander comes with software pre-loaded for immediate faucet control. A touch screen interface gives the user access to multiple field-adjustable ranges and modes, making it easy to program a HyTronic or E-Tronic faucet to meet application requirements or user preferences. Optional desktop software allows data transfer via USB connection from the Commander unit to a PC to create usage and maintenance records.

The Chicago Faucet Company is part of the Geberit Group, a European market leader and global provider of sanitary technology. Since 1901, The Chicago Faucet Company, located in Des Plaines, Illinois, has offered commercial faucets and fittings built to stand the test of time. A combination of the best engineering, finest materials and quality workmanship has made Chicago Faucets the specified choice in healthcare facilities throughout North America.

As European market leader, the Geberit Group is a global provider in the area of plumbing technology with sales of CHF 2.4 billion and more than 12,000 employees in over 40 countries worldwide.

For additional information, contact The Chicago Faucet Company at 2100 South Clearwater Drive, Des Plaines, IL 60018, or call 800-566-2100. You can also visit Chicago Faucets at chicagofaucets.com.

SYMRNA, TENN. (May 25, 2016) – KWC, a leading supplier of luxury kitchen and bath faucets, shower systems and accessories, unveiled five complete bath lines – AVA, INTRO, ONO, PIANA, and ZOE – at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) last week. Taking inspiration from its Swiss heritage and a design aesthetic derived from elements in nature, KWC’s bath lines are crafted and engineered to bring the experience of immersing in pure Swiss waters into the home. If you couldn’t be there, KWC’s bath collections were a highlight at ICFF and include a selection of faucet options, bathtub spouts and shower valves available to the American market beginning in June. During the show, designers, architects, showroom owners and consumers experienced the new faucets in a rejuvenating Swiss Water Sanctuary – which included interactive adult coloring and fully functioning product displays that evoked the serenity of a water spa. “For more than a century, KWC has represented the pinnacle of performance, quality and craftsmanship in the manufacture of kitchen faucets. Now, we’re bringing those same attributes into the bath,” said KWC Product Manager Lars Christensen. “We have combined the most advanced technology with expert engineering to transport luxury consumers to the very source of our identity – the elemental waters of Switzerland. In fact, the designer of KWC’s famed ZOE faucet was inspired while stopping at a bubbling spring in the midst of a hike. Noticing the way the water bent when flowing from the spring, he conceived ZOE’s evocative and timeless shape.” KWC bath products feature innovative, water spa technology including thermostatic and pressure balance valves that intuitively control water temperature and flow, and CoolFix® that only allows cold (as opposed to lukewarm) water to flow when the lever is in its central position, thereby drastically reducing hot water consumption. In addition, flow rates between 1.2 – 1.75 gallons per minute (gpm) ensure that KWC faucets help save water and protect the environment.

Experience the bath lines, available to customers beginning in June, on KWC’s website and social channels. Highlights include:

· AVA: a slender, cubic-form design distinguishes this bath collection, which strikes an artful balance between the traditional and modern, and features state-of-the-art fittings for any bathroom. The current collection includes: a single lever faucet and a single lever vessel faucet. The flat lever is equipped with a special lifting mechanism which allows continuous regulation of the water flow. Additions to the collection include a widespread faucet, a side lever faucet and a wall mounted faucet available in both chrome and splendureTM stainless steel. The KWC AVA bath line will be sold exclusively at KWC showrooms across the country for a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) between $650 – $1,075 (depending on product, style and finish).

· INTRO: features the quality consumers expect from KWC products at an attractive price. The sophisticated, intuitive and ergonomic line is distinguished by technological innovations such as a Neoperl® Caché® SSR E swiveling jet regulator, which allows consumers to change the direction and angle of the jet of water to suit their needs. The collection also features a single lever faucet and a widespread faucet. The KWC INTRO bath line, available in chrome or splendure™ stainless steel, will be sold exclusively at KWC showrooms across the country for a MSRP between $345-$645 (depending on product, style and finish).

· ONO: architecturally distinctive and incredibly durable, this bath collection currently features a single lever faucet, a single lever vessel faucet and a freestanding tub filler. Additions to the collection include a widespread faucet and a wall mounted faucet available in both chrome and splendureTM stainless steel. The KWC ONO bath line will be sold exclusively at KWC showrooms across the country for a MSRP between $795 – $1,175 (depending on product, style and finish).

· PIANA: this stylish, practical and first-of-its-kind collection features proven KWC functionality and uncompromising Swiss quality that blends perfectly with a variety of tastes and styles. The collection includes a single lever faucet, a single lever vessel faucet and a widespread faucet. The KWC PIANA bath line, available in chrome or splendure™ stainless steel, will be sold exclusively at KWC showrooms across the country for a MSRP between $405 – $695 (depending on product, style and finish).

· ZOE: distinguished by minimalist form and intuitive function, KWC’s ZOE bath collection – available in both chrome and splendureTM stainless steel – was inspired by the Swiss company’s renowned kitchen faucet of the same name. Unlike most bath faucets, KWC ZOE Bath features a spout that rotates 45 degrees in either direction from its center point. This makes it easier to rinse residue from the basin without splashing the countertop and its surroundings. Incorporating a single lever faucet, widespread faucet and wall mounted faucet, ZOE has every amenity required to complete a beautiful bathroom. The KWC ZOE bath line will be sold exclusively at KWC showrooms across the country for a MSRP between $750 – $1,105 (depending on product, style and finish).

All KWC bath lines will be available exclusively at KWC showrooms across the country and for a MSRP between $375 – $1,175 (depending on line, product, style and finish). For more information on KWC and its bath lines, visit www.kwc.us.com.