Happenings

2022 • Q4 Happenings

NKBA’s Design Trends Report Forecasts the Future of Kitchen & Bath Design; KBIS Show Registration Continues

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), the world’s leading non-profit trade association for the kitchen and bath industry and owner of the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), released its highly anticipated Design Trends research report in October. The annual report provides insight into the styles, colors, product features, materials and technology that will dominate kitchen and bath design over the next two to three years. “Kitchens and baths are bigger and more involved,” said Tricia Zach, Head of Research, NKBA. “The study revealed that consumers want spaces to be multi-functional to meet their at-home work, education, and entertaining needs.” Other key findings of the 2023 Design Trends report include: • Vibrant Design. Bold colors, accents and mixed materials/themes are increasingly a factor in kitchens and baths. • Sustainability Matters. Manufacturers’ sustainability practices are becoming more important to designers as they recommend products to clients. • Expanded Spaces. Breaking down walls to expand spaces to add function or conceal clutter: For kitchens, this means adding larger or double islands and walk-in pantries; for baths, it means adding a closet, dressing area and/or sitting room. • Wellness Drives Design. Especially in the primary bath, where designers are creating spa-like experiences that offer clients a retreat for the mind and body. • Tech to Make Life Easier. Technology continues to play a growing, but clearly “functional” role in the kitchen and bath. This annual online survey is conducted with members of the NKBA and the kitchen and bath industry, including designers, showrooms, dealers, specialists, manufacturers, kitchen and bath remodelers/contractors and architects. Occupations excluded (if not qualified) are fabricators, home centers, honorary members and installers. Participants must have designed, specified or sold products for at least one kitchen or bathroom project in the past year. Of the nearly 600 participants, 99 % are from the U.S. and 1 % are from Canada; 65 % are NKBA members and 35 % are non-members. The full 2023 NKBA Design Trends report is available at https://nkba. org/ for $2995, but is free to all NKBA members and the media. And registration continues at https://kbis.com/# for the 2023 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show to be held January 31-February 2, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The annual event, owned by the NKBA and produced by Emerald Expositions, is the largest North American trade expo and networking opportunity for kitchen and bath industry professionals. n

“Kitchens and baths are bigger and more involved. The study revealed that consumers want spaces to be multi-functional to meet their at-home work, education, and entertaining needs.”

Sugatsune Celebrates 40 Years in the U.S.

This year marks the 40th anniversary for Sugatsune America, Inc. which was established as the first overseas subsidiary of its Japanese parent company. Founded in 1930, Sugatsune Kogyo Co., Ltd., built a reputation for developing high-quality furniture fittings that helped revolutionize the way furniture was built in Japan. As the company’s success grew, so did the way in which Sugatsune products enriched people’s lives and supported how they worked. “We wanted to provide people with an opportunity to experience the same Joy that people in Japan had when using our products,” said Jun Sugasawara, President and CEO. “We believed that the best place to start was in the largest consumer market so, in 1982, we set our sights on the United States. Since then, we have continued to grow our customer base and have been able to deliver convenience and satisfaction to more people.” Introduced in the mid-1980s, Lapcon products incorporated rotary damper technology into its hardware resulting in quiet, luxurious movement. Starting with the Tallman closet hinging system, this soft-closing system evolved as Sugatsune worked with a large Japanese toilet manufacturer to develop a damper that eliminated the annoyances of slamming toilet seats. Shortly after, this idea matured into what became Sugatsune’s “Quiet Home” concept which set the stage for the soft-closing drawers and cabinets found in many American kitchens today. “Sugatsune is a trendsetter in many regards,” said Steve Hirasawa, Executive Vice President of Sugatsune America, Inc. “It is the company’s dedication to creating new and thoughtful products that continue to motivate me and is the main driver behind the company’s success in America. We look forward to the next 40 years.” n

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Ahlstrom-Munksjö to Operate Under the Business Name Ahlstrom

Ahlstrom-Munksjö now operates under the business name Ahlstrom after completing the ownership reorganization of its Decor business and thus proceeded with its plan, announced in May 2022, to change its name. The divested Decor business continues as an independent company under the well-recognized Munksjö name. In June 2022, Ahlstrom-Munksjö announced its intention to accelerate the pace of its strategy execution and set a goal to become the preferred sustainable specialty materials provider through a clearly defined purpose, sharper strategic focus and ambitious sustainability targets. A new operating model and reporting structure, effective as of July 2022, was implemented to effectively carry out the work. “This is a natural step for us as the name Ahlstrom has more than 170 years meritorious history,” said President and CEO Hans Sohlström. “We are serving five growing markets and are leading the development in all these areas among the top companies. We will continue to operate through 38 plants in 13 countries and with some 7,000 employees who represent more than 50 nationalities.” “Our strategic ambition for 2025 is to become the leader in combining fibers into performance materials,” he continued. “All we do will serve our purpose to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. It is now our turn to take Ahlstrom to the future and transform it to the Preferred Sustainable Specialty Materials Company.” The change of the business name to Ahlstrom is accompanied by a renewed logo where the symbol remains the same and the name is changed to Ahlstrom. In line with the name change, the company’s web address has been changed to www.ahlstrom.com. The legal company names will remain unchanged until they are changed later country by country in compliance with local legislation. The name change to Ahlstrom will not affect the company’s customers or sales, strategy, structure, reporting or commitments. The Decor business continues with the name Munksjö. Its offering consists of decorative surface materials for building material industries. Munksjö is the only international brand focused exclusively on decor paper. n

HANS SOHLSTRÖM. PRESIDENT AND CEO, AHLSTROM “This is a natural step for us as the name Ahlstrom has more than 170 years meritorious history.” PRESIDENT AND CEO HANS SOHLSTRÖM

Sierra Forest Acquires Weber Plywood

Sierra Forest Products Inc., a leading North American distributor of decorative building materials, has completed the acquisition of Weber Plywood & Lumber Co., Tustin, California. Weber Plywood was founded in 1958 by Don Weber, who passed away two years ago at the age of 92. Sierra Forest Products is part of the UCS Forest Group of Companies, which includes Upper Canada Forest Products in Canada, UCS Global internationally, and A&M Wood Specialty in Ontario. Sierra has been serving U.S. customers for over 36 years, with facilities in Chicago, Salt Lake City, St. George, Boise, Los Angeles, Seattle, Coeur D’Alene, Portland, and Denver. “We are delighted to welcome the Weber Team to the UCS Forest Group of Companies,” said Warren Spitz, President & CEO of UCS Forest Group. “I personally knew Don Weber for many years, and we are honored to have the opportunity to carry on his wonderful legacy. Don built a tremendous business over the last six decades, providing long-lasting value to customers and consistently following through on the commitment to excellence. Together, the Weber and Sierra teams will work collectively towards our shared goal of delivering the difference to the Southern California market.” n

U.S. Manufacturing and Factory Jobs Booming

American manufacturing is back, following decades of outsourcing and automation, according to a recent article in the New York Times. The issues affecting production and supply chain problems caused by COVID have created a perfect storm for the resurgence of domestic manufacturing—and companies are answering that call. As of August of this year, American manufacturers added approximately 1.43 million jobs, up from the roughly 1.36 million jobs lost from February to April of 2020, when COVID shuttered many businesses and companies. The rebound is attributed to several factors unique to the pandemic recession and recovery. While COVID-19 greatly disrupted global supply chains, that dilemma opened the door for a new American Industrial Revolution, says the Times. The article also credited Federal stimulus spending during the pandemic with helping to shift consumer buying habits away from services towards goods, which also helped boost domestic factory production and growth. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, after the COVID-19 pandemic began, manufacturing output fell at a 43-% annual rate and hours worked fell at a 38-% rate in the second quarter of 2020. These were the largest declines since World War II. Since then, manufacturing output has continued to grow steadily through the second quarter of 2022 and was 3.5 % above the level in the fourth quarter of 2019, the last quarter not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hours worked in manufacturing increased in all but two quarters since the third quarter of 2020 and have recovered to within 1.2 % of the level in the fourth quarter of 2019. Labor productivity in manufacturing was 4.7 % higher in the second quarter of 2022 than in the fourth quarter of 2019. And while manufacturers have continued to struggle to find raw materials, component parts and skilled workers, the job growth rate—despite the continued struggle to find skilled workers— has surpassed what some longtime promoters of American factory employment anticipated. “We have 67,000 more workers today than we had in February 2020,” Chad Moutray, the chief economist for the National Association of Manufacturers, told the NYT. “I didn’t think we would get there, to be honest with you.”. s p