Cyncly’s winner software provides perfect platform for Omega’s new order and quote check service

Cyncly, the leading global provider of software and content solutions that help make amazing spaces for living, has extended its partnership with kitchen manufacturer Omega to support the launch of the new Winner-powered Omega Order and Quote Check Service.

Utilising Cyncly’s industry-leading Winner Flex software, the groundbreaking Omega Order and Quote Check Service demonstrates both brands’ commitment to helping customers thrive. It has been devised to provide retailers, particularly those new to the manufacturer, with more support and guidance during the designing, quoting and ordering process at no extra cost.

The fast, intuitive service helps retailers around the world to optimize their designs and reduce avoidable, and potentially costly, quoting and ordering errors to boost profitability. The service enables retailers to export designs they have created in Winner Flex and send them to an Omega expert who will review the project and look for ways in which it can be enhanced. Improvements and refinements are worked on together in real-time to create a more collaborative partnership between Omega and its retailers and to provide trade customers with more confidence specifying Omega products.

The new Winner-powered Omega Order and Quote Check Service is a first for the UK market and has been instrumental in helping Omega grow its dealer network and launch its new In Frame collection.

“The ability to share and transfer designs between Omega and our retail partners creates significant efficiencies and improves collaboration,” said Ashley Gerrard, Design Operations Manager at Omega. “The Omega Order and Quote Check Service helps retailers gain confidence in specifying Omega products, reduces the risk of avoidable errors and protects both their margins and customer experience. It allows retailers to benefit from additional support while they build their product knowledge and familiarity with our ranges.”

Alex Ainge, Cyncly’s Solutions Group Senior Director, said: ““We’re delighted to extend our partnership with Omega, helping them attract and support new and existing customers in innovative ways. Not only does Winner enable Omega to foster strong, collaborative relationships with its new customers right from the get-go, but it can help retailers become more familiar with Omega’s comprehensive product portfolio even quicker and, of course, become fluent in the software’s considerable design capabilities.”

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Haier Europe’s Sustainability Report 2025 sets out progress in renewable electricity and appliance efficiency

Haier Europe has published its Sustainability Report 2025, presenting its environmental, social and governance performance and the priorities guiding its work across operations, products and business relationships. Covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 2025, the document has been prepared with reference to the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), supporting the company’s compliance with applicable Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requirements.

Across Haier Europe’s operations, renewable electricity accounted for over 80% of electricity use in 2025, compared with 45% in 2024. Combined Scope 1 and market-based Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions decreased by nearly 63%, reaching around 13,600 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, down from around 36,600 tonnes the previous year.

These results support Haier Europe’s climate roadmap, which includes targets to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 50% and emissions from the use of sold products by 42% by 2030, against a 2021 baseline, alongside the ambition to achieve operational carbon neutrality by 2050.

“At Haier Europe, sustainability is integral to the way we make decisions, innovate and grow. The direction set out in this report reflects a transformation that goes beyond individual initiatives: it is about building a more resilient business that creates lasting value for consumers, employees, partners and the communities in which we operate,” says Karim Bruneo, Communication, Public Affairs, ESG and Sustainability Director, Haier Europe.

Renewable electricity from procurement and on-site solar generation more than doubled compared with 2024, reaching around 42,700 MWh in 2025. These complementary sources support the company’s energy transition across its manufacturing footprint, with renewable energy projects in Türkiye, Italy and China.

Resource management is another area of progress. Haier Europe recorded a waste recycling rate of over 98%, while the Türkiye site achieved Zero Waste to Landfill status through material recycling. More than 31,000 tonnes of waste electrical and electronic equipment were collected and around 27,600 tonnes of recycled materials recovered. Packaging initiatives focus on reducing unnecessary materials and improving recyclability, supporting the company’s target of fully recyclable packaging by 2030.

The use of sold products remains the largest contributor to carbon footprint, making appliance efficiency and daily use central to its sustainability strategy. Haier Europe develops solutions around everyday consumer needs, focusing on energy efficiency, connected functionality and care across washing, refrigeration, cooking and dishwashing.

All Haier-branded washing machines offered on the market are rated A Class. The X Series 11’s Soft Wash water-softening system, for example, improves detergent performance at lower temperatures, helping consumers care for fabrics while reducing the need for higher-temperature washing.

In refrigeration, energy-efficient ranges are complemented by connected functions that help users manage food storage. Proactive Temperature adjusts fridge settings in response to factors such as weather and shopping habits, while Smart Food Locator offers guidance on where to store different foods to help preserve freshness.

Cooking innovations bring efficiency into meal preparation: A++ connected ovens offer functions that remove the need for preheating and allow several dishes to be cooked on multiple levels in a single cycle. In dishwashing, load-sensitive programmes and smart dosing adapt washing to what is inside the appliance, while Half-Load Pro allows users to target a specific basket when washing smaller loads.

Through the hOn App, consumption monitoring, personalised guidance and maintenance alerts help consumers understand how their appliances perform and make informed decisions about their use and care.

Partnerships with energy providers connect appliance use with household energy management, including services that help consumers schedule washing when electricity costs are lowest.

The company’s approach also encompasses repairability, durability and refurbishment, with the aim of keeping products in use for longer. Lifecycle assessments help identify environmental hotspots and inform product development, linking decisions about design and performance with impacts throughout an appliance’s life.

Haier Europe delivered over 109,000 hours of training in 2025, averaging more than 21 hours per employee, to support the development of technical, professional and leadership skills.

The Own It model promotes responsible decision-making, ethical behaviour, accountability and compliance across the organisation. Supplier due diligence supports responsible sourcing, while data protection and cybersecurity policies underpin the company’s approach to connected products and services.

The Haier Europe Sustainability Report 2025 is available on request.

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WuduMate brings inclusive design expertise to the Bathroom Association

The Bathroom Association has welcomed WuduMate into its growing membership, adding valuable expertise in inclusive washroom design and specialist ablution products to its expanding industry community.

Established in 2007, UK-based WuduMate designs and supplies purpose-built ablution and foot-washing products for prayer and multi-faith spaces. Its products are used in mosques, workplaces, hospitals, schools, airports, public buildings, and homes worldwide, enabling people to perform wudu safely, comfortably, and with dignity.

The company has supplied products to more than 60 countries across six continents. Its range has developed through close engagement with users, architects, specifiers and facilities professionals, ensuring that practical considerations including safety, hygiene, accessibility and ease of installation are addressed from the earliest stages of design.

WuduMate’s membership further broadens the knowledge and experience represented within the Bathroom Association. It also reflects the Association’s continued growth by bringing together manufacturers, distributors, merchants, retailers and specialist businesses across the bathroom supply chain.

Daphne Doody-Green, CEO of the Bathroom Association, said: “WuduMate has identified a very specific need and developed products that improve safety, dignity and inclusion for people using prayer and multi-faith facilities. That combination of user-led design, technical expertise and purposeful innovation will add a valuable new perspective to our membership.

“The Bathroom Association is growing because more businesses recognise the need for stronger connections across our industry. The challenges and opportunities facing the sector do not sit neatly within one part of the supply chain, so the wider the expertise represented within our community, the more useful and influential our collective work becomes.

“WuduMate’s international experience will also bring an important dimension to our conversations about product compliance, inclusive design and the changing expectations placed on modern washroom spaces. We look forward to working with the WuduMate team.”

Andy Baines, Joint Managing Director of WuduMate, said: “Joining the Bathroom Association gives us an opportunity to contribute our specialist knowledge to a much wider industry conversation.

“WuduMate was created to solve a genuine problem. Too often, people performing wudu have been expected to use facilities that are unsafe, uncomfortable or simply unsuitable. We have spent nearly two decades listening to users and working with architects, specifiers and organisations to provide a better solution.

“We share the Association’s belief that progress comes from bringing different perspectives together. We look forward to exchanging knowledge with fellow members, contributing to discussions around inclusive design and product standards, and helping the wider sector understand how thoughtfully designed bathroom and washroom spaces can better serve diverse communities.”

The Bathroom Association’s purpose is expressed through three commitments: Insight, Influence and Impact.

Through Insight, members gain access to market intelligence, technical expertise and industry knowledge that support better-informed business decisions.

Through Influence, the Association provides a stronger collective voice on the regulations, standards and policy decisions affecting the bathroom sector in the UK and internationally.

Through Impact, members work together to turn shared knowledge and industry representation into practical progress, supporting higher standards, reduced environmental impact and sustainable market growth.

WuduMate’s membership strengthens each of these areas by bringing specialist knowledge of ablution products, inclusive facilities and international markets into the Association’s work.

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Et Lorem is a finalist at the London Construction Awards 2026

Award-winning kitchen design specialist, Et Lorem, is a finalist at the London Construction Awards 2026 with a bespoke luxury kitchen set within a period home in Teddington. 

The 2026 finalists were judged by an independent panel of leading figures from across the built environment and Et Lorem is proud to be 1 of 6 finalists shortlisted for Residential Project of the Year – Single Dwelling.

Celebrating the projects, people, and companies that are shaping the UK’s built environment over the past twelve months, the London Construction Awards 2026 is part of London Build, the UK’s leading construction and design show taking place from 25 to 26 November 2026. 

Claire O’Donohue, designer at the Et Lorem Reading studio is the mastermind behind this Creekside kitchen project, which was evaluated across a range of judging criteria such as design excellence, build quality, sustainability, collaboration, innovation, time management, customer satisfaction, and value for money. 

A project with genuine collaboration, Et Lorem worked closely with not only the client but also interior designer Jo Massie of The Absolute Home, specialist cabinet makers in Essex, expert stone fabricators and its installation team, to ensure every detail was carefully resolved to create a kitchen that feels both beautifully crafted and effortless to live with.

The bespoke kitchen was created as an extension of both the home’s architecture and the family’s connection to the creek beyond. Hand painted skinny Shaker cabinetry sits alongside meticulously book matched oak veneer, with each panel carefully sequenced so that the grain flows uninterrupted throughout the room, creating a sense of calm and continuity.

At the heart of the space sits the sculptural island, designed with a soft, pill shaped breakfast bar and a fluted oak support. The fluted detailing, which appears throughout the kitchen, was inspired by the ripples and movement of the water beyond, creating a subtle thread that connects the interior to the landscape outside. Crafted in Vancouver natural stone, the island features a bespoke double layered edge and refined bird’s beak detail, bringing a sense of strength and craftsmanship while celebrating the beauty and movement of the material itself. More than a place to prepare food, the island was designed as a pace to gather, allowing the family to sit together and enjoy uninterrupted views across the creek.

Throughout the room, materials were chosen not simply for their beauty, but for the atmosphere they create. The warmth of the timber, inspired by the home’s connection to nature, the subtle fluting of the solid brass handles and the hand applied texture of the sculptural Venetian plaster hood introduce rhythm, softness, and movement to the space. Positioned beneath the pitched ceiling, the hood becomes an architectural focal point, helping the kitchen feel as though it has always belonged within the fabric of the house.

The ambition was to create a joyful space that feels intrinsically connected to both the home and its surroundings, where the creek and family life are celebrated in equal measure. Every decision was made to shape an atmosphere that invites people to gather, connect and create memories that will be enjoyed for generations to come.

Winners of a London Construction Award will be revealed at the black-tie gala and awards ceremony on 25 November 2026 at the Platinum Suite, Excel London, hosted by Maisie Adam, English stand-up comedian and the 2025 Taskmaster Champion.

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hib puts bathroom lighting in the spotlight with major new autumn collection

Bathroom specialist hib is putting decorative lighting at the heart of bathroom design with the launch of a major new collection of wall and pendant lights, alongside an expanded range of non-illuminated mirrors for Autumn 2026.

Designed to enhance how a bathroom looks and feels, the collection brings lighting and mirrors together, opening up new ways to create atmosphere and add character to the space.

With the mirror often acting as a natural focal point, wall lights can be used to layer light around it, bringing warmth and ambience while adding another decorative detail to the room. Whether framing a mirror or making a statement, the right lighting can become the jewellery of the bathroom – a finishing touch that brings the whole look together.

At the heart of the launch are three new lighting families – Aria, Halo and Lance – spanning wall and pendant designs. All are IP44 rated for use in the bathroom, with a choice of brushed nickel, black, brushed brass and brushed bronze to complement a wide range of bathroom styles and finishes. A warm 3000K colour temperature across the collection helps create a softer, more inviting atmosphere.

Rob Ginsberg, CEO at hib, said: “This launch is an important step for hib. We’re giving our retail partners a new conversation to have with their customers – not simply which mirror they want, but how they want their bathroom to feel.

“By bringing decorative lighting together with mirrors and the wider bathroom collection, retailers can help customers build a space that feels considered, balancing atmosphere and personality with practical design.”

The new lighting collection has been designed to sit naturally alongside hib’s growing range of non-illuminated mirrors, allowing customers to choose the shape and style of mirror they love, then use lighting to frame it, complement it or introduce contrast.

Aria Wall Lights. Aria brings a decorative touch to the bathroom, with three distinct shade designs. Bloom has the softness of modern classic design, Orben feels clean and contemporary, while Regent introduces a more traditional elegance. Positioned beside a mirror, each brings warmth and balance to the space.

Halo Disc & Pill. Halo takes a more sculptural approach. Disc creates a soft pool of light, while the elongated Pill draws the eye with its clean, linear form. Able to sit in anyorientation, Pill can be used to create symmetry beside a mirror or make a more expressive statement.

Lance Wall & Pendant. Lance brings a more architectural feel, with clean lines that help shape the room as well as light it. Available as both a wall light and pendant, it can frame a mirror, introduce height or create a striking focal point.

The lighting launch is accompanied by an expanded collection of non-illuminated mirrors, with new and updated designs ranging from the simplicity of Willow and bevelled Rondo to more expressive shapes including Evelyn, Octavia and Thea. Together, the collections give retailers, designers and homeowners more choice to combine mirror shape, lighting style and finish to create a look that feels individual.

Beyond lighting and mirrors, the Autumn launch also refreshes hib’s furniture collection, including the introduction of Cayla Tall. The new addition builds on the success of the existing Cayla range and reflects feedback from customers following the launch of Vanquish at KBB Birmingham earlier this year, continuing hib’s approach of listening closely to its customers and developing products around what they need.

New furniture finishes and handle designs add further choice, while updated mirrored cabinets offer more options for storage and configuration. Complementary brassware, showering and accessories help carry details across the bathroom, giving customers the freedom to create a cohesive look without everything needing to match.

Rob concludes: “The bathroom is increasingly a space where people want to express their own style. Lighting gives them another way to do that, whether through the shape of a fitting, the warmth of the light or how it works with the mirror. Across the wider collection, we’re giving customers more choice in how those details come together.”

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