EuroCucina 2018

EuroCucina
FTK – Technology For the Kitchen 2018

Launched in 1974, the biennial International Kitchen Exhibition and its collateral event FTK (built-in domestic appliances and their evolution) is the leading showcase for high-end kitchens.

We are just weeks away from The 22nd edition of EuroCucina. It will swing into action at Fiera Milano, Rho from 17th to 22nd of April. It is the sector’s most important and influential appointment, a forum for interface and discussion for leading Italian and foreign companies within the sector and a unique opportunity to scope the latest trends for the most convivial space in modern living. Eurocina is a big part of Saloni, every other year (on even years) is EuroCucina.

The exhibition’s strong points are its immensely high product quality and wide range of goods, not simply showcasing the latest in contemporary kitchens but also providing interesting and intriguing insights into the planning and future evolution of this particular space.

Kitchens are convivial spaces par excellence, favoured places for meeting and socialising, and are increasingly becoming open, fluid and, therefore, organised, orderly and functional areas. Opening out into living rooms calls for effective, intelligent and modular solutions. The concept of static spaces has been cast aside in favour of a touch of magic that can transform the space when needed, rather like a theatre set. Modular containers conceal work stations, island units become increasingly multifunctional to enhance the performance of home chefs or simply to accommodate people gathering for coffee and a chat, cupboards and drawers are spacious, practical and super-organised so that everything is to hand.

Given that one of the main objectives of a kitchen is to be welcoming, materials, textures and nuances are modulated to create a serene, relaxed and perfectly balanced environment. This has triggered the renaissance of natural stone and coverings that replicate it, as well as wood and metal. Colour is set to reappear, sometimes in very bright hues like purple and green.

Basically, whatever type of cooking, living and coexisting we have chosen, EuroCucina will steer us towards the perfect solution and the best design to help us feel comfortable in what is the most “lived-in” part of the home.

DATES AND OPENING HOURS

17-22 April 2018 
9.30 am – 6.30 pm
Open to the general public on
Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 April

PAVILIONS

9-11-13-15

 Getting There

2017 is still here but we can already start with a year-end review. And what a year this has been, for some of the largest and most known German companies.

Starting with Alno – As we reported back in July, the Alno group has finally filed for liquidation in September. Industry experts tried to find investors, to save the company, but with no luck…

The Alno Group had 4 brands and factories, towards the end (there were several others through the years) –

The Alno brand and the main factory in southern Germany – produced good quality kitchens, at a medium price – closed for good. Property and equipment is being liquidated.

The Wellmann brand, with a factory in northern Germany – purchased by Alno some years back produced lower price point kitchens – closed for good. Property and equipment is being liquidated.

The Pino brand, with a factory in eastern Germany – produced flat pack (knock down, RTA) cabinets, aimed at the budget kitchen market – sold to Nobilia. Production is scheduled to start again in December.

The Forster brand, a Swiss company purchased some years back, by the Alno Group – producing metal cabinets – sold to Max Müller, the former CEO of Alno, who is Swiss himself.

All that is left, at this point is the Alno name, but with all the negative that has happen to them in recent years, the image is just not too good and there are no buyers for the brand name.

Next was SieMatic – just last month, the privately owned German kitchen brand announced the sale of the majority of the shares to the Chinese home appliance supplier Nison Group.

Shareholders Ulrich W Siekmann and Kathrin André will remain as minority shareholders. SieMatic sales turnover has been decreasing for years. Since they are privately owned, the sales can only be estimated and are now near €100 million. The hope is to speed up growth and the obvious focus will be the Chinese market, where the company recently gained market share, to become their 6th largest sales market.

The management team headed by Ulrich W Siekmann and Silvia Weppler will stay with the company and will be responsible for international brand management from its present headquarters in Löhne, Germany.

Then was Poggenpohl… In the first quarter of 2017, the Swedish Nobia Group sold its shares of the Poggenpohl brand, to the Munich based industrial holding group Adcuram, for… €10 million… 

As reported by KBB Review – Darren Taylor, managing director of Winchester-based retailer Searle & Taylor, claimed the sale could see a return to form for the troubled brand.

“While I always believed it would be very difficult for the Nobia Group to find a partner investor, I was surprised that the Poggenpohl brand was sold outright for such a limited sum, and to a private equity firm with excellent experience in building, self-building and related businesses, but not necessarily in kitchens,” he said.

“Having read the press release, there are some lines that stand out: ‘investment into the brand’s positioning, the expansion of the product portfolio, support for retail partners and the Poggenpohl operated stores and optimization of the production process’. I for one, genuinely hope that these strategies are implemented immediately, as it would be great to see Poggenpohl return to its place as the number one luxury kitchen brand in the not too distant future.”

Another retailer, who wished to remain anonymous, commented: “It’s interesting but not surprising that Nobia have dumped Poggenpohl. It was never their thing as Nobia are about low/mid market and big volume. I guess the thinking originally was that owning Poggenpohl would bring some high-end credibility to the group but in the end the cost of this proved more than they wanted to bear.

“So, there were no takers when they tried to offload Poggenpohl. A premium brand company making a loss and an investment business is taking it on? I wonder if Poggenpohl will now end up yet another high-end brand, selling a run of the mill product at a premium. It should allow the new owners a decent return on investment for a few years after which the name will be played out.

Now, for some good news – as these giants (or formerly known as such) are closing doors, losing market share or changing hands, other brands, that have are gaining that business. Nobilia, who was the first kitchen brand to break the €1 billion annual turnover, has purchased the Pino factory from the bankrupt Alno and will most likely gain some of that lost market share. Other brands that are likely to gain Alno’s past business are Nolte, Häcker, Bauformat and Schüller – all able to compete at the low-to-mid priced market. Häcker has already reported sales of €512 million, vs. €466 million last year and are in the process of building a new factory, to handle the new found business.

Yesterday’s press release (April 17th, 2016) from Cosmit reads:

With an unprecedented 372,151 total attendees, up 4% since the 2014 edition – when the biennial Kitchen and Bathroom exhibitions last took place – the 55th edition of the Salone del Mobile.Milano has drawn to a close. 41,372 people visited on the Saturday and Sunday, when the fair was open to the public.

“With 67% of attendees from abroad, most of them high profile and with robust spending power, according to comments from exhibitors, this edition has yet again confirmed the strong international vocation and importance of exports as a crucial segment of the sector today”, said Roberto Snaidero, President of the Salone del Mobile.Milano”.

An increasingly international Salone, therefore, drawing in qualified attendees from all over the world, attracted by the creative and productive excellence of our industry, acknowledging the value of Made in Italy production and quality furnishing.

Due recognition of the relevance of the Salone – which has evolved over time from simple trade fair into “must-see” event, as per the publicity – and of the importance of the sector was confirmed by the presence of a large number of institutional figures from all sides of the political spectrum, and especially by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s visit to the fair, presiding over the 7th SaloneSatellite Design Award ceremony on Wednesday 13th April.

Visitors also flocked to the 19th edition of SaloneSatellite, devoted to the theme New Materials>New Design, showcasing the work of 650 young designers under 35.

The events in the fairgrounds and in the city were also very well received: Before Design: Classic put a contemporary spin on classic furnishing, with artistic direction by Ciarmoli Queda Studio and a video by filmmaker Matteo Garrone. The “space & interiors” event was devoted to architectural finishings by Migliore+Servetto Architects at the The Mall, Porta Nuova. Lastly, ROOMS. Novel Living Concepts – the state of the art of interior architecture – curated by Beppe Finessi, runs until 12th September at the Triennale di Milano, as part of the 21st Triennale International Exhibition.