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The Summer Holidays: A Perfect Window for Schools to Upgrade Washrooms, Save Water and Cut Costs

Building Products Index Ltd Bathrooms, Hands free flush Leave a Comment

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As schools across the UK prepare to close their doors for the six-week summer break, now is the ideal time to undertake essential maintenance and facility upgrades without disrupting the academic calendar. Cistermiser, the UK’s leading provider of commercial washroom water management solutions, is urging schools to use this period to modernise their washroom facilities, highlighting that upgrading to water-efficient technologies can significantly reduce water consumption, lower carbon emissions, and ease the strain on stretched school budgets.

“School washrooms endure heavy, continuous use throughout the term. In many educational settings, outdated plumbing and inefficient fixtures lead to substantial water wastage,” says Richard Braid, Managing Director of Cistermiser. “A common issue raised by student councils and site managers alike is the failure of pupils to flush toilets or turn off taps, which not only creates hygiene concerns but also drives up utility bills. Not only that, but leaky loos are costing schools thousands of pounds. All of these issues can be solved by a little planning, right now.”

“Upgrading washroom facilities is not merely about improving aesthetics; it is a strategic financial decision. By reducing water usage, schools can directly lower their utility costs, freeing up essential funds that can be redirected toward educational resources and student support. Furthermore, lowering water consumption inherently reduces a school’s carbon footprint, supporting broader environmental and sustainability targets.”

A compelling example of how to tackle these challenges head-on can be found at Cathays High School in Cardiff. A mixed-sex, multi-faith school with approximately one thousand pupils, Cathays High School faced a perennial problem: representatives from the student-elected School Committee regularly complained that boys frequently failed to flush the toilets after use.

Determined to find a solution, the Site Manager, Sue Petryna, contacted Cistermiser. The team visited the school to review the issue firsthand. They recognised that a standard infrared “wave” sensor might be ignored just as easily as a manual flush handle. Working closely with their R&D Department, Cistermiser proposed the Easyflush system featuring innovative “walkaway” operation.

This “hands-free” flushing system automatically triggers a flush whenever a user gets up or walks away from the toilet. The intelligent infrared sensors operate on a dual-flush mechanism, delivering a part flush if the user leaves within 45 seconds, or a full flush if that period is exceeded. This method ensures hygiene while restricting water use to an absolute minimum.

To assist schools in understanding their potential savings, Cistermiser is offering a Free Water Survey.

“Don’t let the empty corridors of the summer holidays go to waste,” says Richard. “Book your free water survey and help your school create a cleaner, greener and more cost-effective environment for the new academic year.”

To find out more email sales@cistermiser.co.uk

For more information on water-saving solutions and how Cistermiser can help, visit www.cistermiser.co.uk

WHAT IS A LEAKY LOO AND HOW MUCH IS IT COSTING YOU?

Building Products Index Ltd Hands free flush, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

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Introduction

At first glance, everything might seem fine. The toilet flushes. The floor is dry. Maintenance hasn’t raised a flag.

But behind the scenes, a silent problem could be quietly draining your budget, undermining your sustainability targets, and wasting thousands of litres of water, every single day.

Welcome to the world of the leaky loo.

What is a leaky loo?

A leaky loo is a toilet that is continuously losing water, often with no visible signs whatsoever. Unlike a burst pipe or an overflowing cistern, these leaks are entirely internal. The culprit is usually a worn fill valve, a faulty flapper, or an inefficient flushing mechanism that never quite closes properly.

The result? Water is constantly trickling from the cistern into the pan; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

No drips. No puddles. No noise. Just ongoing, invisible water waste.

That’s precisely what makes leaky loos so costly: they’re almost impossible to detect without the right tools or expertise.

The hidden scale of the problem

A single leaking toilet can waste a lot of water:

  • 400 litres of water per day
  • 146,000 litres per year

To put that into perspective, 146,000 litres is enough to fill more than 2,400 standard bathtubs. And that’s just one toilet.

Now multiply that figure across a commercial office block, a secondary school, a hospital, or a football stadium, buildings that routinely have 20, 50, or even 100+ toilets and the cumulative waste becomes staggering.

What makes this worse is the timeline. Because these leaks produce no obvious symptoms, they often go unnoticed for months, or even years. By the time they’re identified, if they’re identified at all, the damage to your water bill, and your environmental footprint, is already done.

What does that actually cost?

Water waste isn’t just an environmental concern; it’s a direct financial liability.

In the UK, water charges are typically calculated on two components: supply (the water coming in) and wastewater (the water going out). A leaking toilet contributes to both. That means every litre trickling silently into the pan is being charged twice.

For a single leaking toilet, the annual cost can reach:

  • 💸 £587 in wasted water costs
  • 🌍 0.05 tonnes of unnecessary CO₂ emissions

Now scale that up. A building with just 10 leaking toilets is haemorrhaging £5,870 per year. A site with 50? You’re looking at over £29,000 in avoidable spend, money that isn’t going toward improving your facilities, supporting your team, or meeting your net-zero commitments.

It’s no wonder facilities managers and sustainability leads are increasingly calling leaky loos one of the most overlooked inefficiencies in building management.

A simple way to think about it

If you’re responsible for a building, ask yourself three honest questions:

  1. How many toilets are on-site?
  2. When were they last properly checked for leaks?
  3. Could even a small percentage be wasting water right now?

In our experience, many buildings have never had a dedicated water leak assessment. Toilets are installed and largely forgotten, serviced only when something goes visibly wrong. But by then, the cost has already accumulated.

Even if just 10% of your toilets are leaking, the financial and environmental impact is real, measurable, and entirely avoidable.

The solution: Fix the leak, fast

Here’s the good news: this is one of the most cost-effective problems in building management to solve.

Modern sensor-operated flushing systems are engineered specifically to eliminate the conditions that cause leaky loos in the first place. They deliver precise, controlled flushes only when needed, no continuous flow, no mechanical wear from constantly cycling valves.

The benefits go beyond water savings:

  • ✅ Eliminate continuous water loss from faulty mechanisms
  • ✅ Improve hygiene with hands-free, sensor-activated operation
  • ✅ Reduce maintenance call-outs through more reliable, durable components
  • ✅ Deliver consistent flushing performance every time

Take Easyflush Direct as an example. The total outlay per unit, including installation, is approximately £523. With annual savings of £587 per toilet, you’re looking at a payback period of 11 months.

In a world where capital projects are scrutinised and ROI matters, that’s an unusually compelling case. Very few building upgrades pay for themselves within a year and deliver ongoing environmental benefits at the same time.

Why it matters more than ever

The pressure on organisations to reduce costs and meet sustainability targets has never been greater. Water efficiency is no longer a “nice to have”, it’s a measurable component of ESG reporting, procurement criteria, and operational benchmarking.

Leaky loos represent a triple problem:

  • Wasted budget that erodes operational margins
  • Missed sustainability goals that affect reporting and reputation
  • Avoidable inefficiency that reflects poorly on building management standards

The encouraging reality is that fixing them is one of the simplest, fastest, and most impactful steps you can take to improve building performance, without major disruption or capital outlay.

Not sure if you have a leaky loo?

That’s exactly where Cistermiser can help.

We offer free professional water surveys specifically designed to identify hidden leaks, quantify waste, and give you a clear picture of exactly where savings can be made, with the data to back it up.

Whether you manage a single site or a national estate, our team can help you uncover what’s really happening behind the cistern.

Ready to find out how much you could save?

If you want to:

  • Reduce water bills with evidence-based improvements
  • Improve operational efficiency across your estate
  • Hit sustainability and ESG targets with measurable water savings

 Book a free water survey with Cistermiser today and turn a hidden problem into a clear opportunity.

Elegance meets minimalism: HEWI S 480

Building Products Index Ltd Bathroom Accessibility solutions, bathroom accessories, Bathrooms Leave a Comment

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HEWI presents the new 480 range, which sets new standards for modern design in the sanitary sector with a clear style, first-class materials and innovative surfaces. The range is based on a timeless round tube design and is characterised by finely tuned radii, reduced wall connections and a clear architectural design.

Variety of colours and surfaces for creative design

With the 480 range, HEWI offers a wide selection of finely finished surfaces, including satin finished stainless steel, chrome and powder coatings in various colours and stylish PVD coatings in brushed or glossy nuances.

The high-quality PVD coatings are a new addition to the HEWI portfolio and open up additional possibilities for durable and stylish solutions. Manufactured in the company’s own plant in Germany, they fulfil the highest quality standards and not only ensure an attractive appearance, but are also characterised by their high scratch resistance and ease of cleaning.

Whether in exclusive hotels, sophisticated elective treatment areas, prestigious public buildings or luxurious private bathrooms – the 480 range offers an optimum solution for every requirement and sets harmonious accents.

Holistic equipment solutions

The 480 range includes accessories for washbasins, WCs and showers as well as rose-free support rails. For the Care to Comfort segments, they are complemented by products from the 805 Classic range and the 900 system. Both ranges extend the product range with solutions that focus equally on user-friendliness and design and can be ideally combined with the 480 range thanks to the HEWI system concept. This results in consistent furnishing concepts that optimally fulfil both functional and aesthetic requirements.

“The 480 range combines filigree elegance, versatile design options and a modern design language that ideally complements sophisticated, design-oriented concepts,” emphasises Christiane Strathaus, Team Leader Product Management at HEWI.

HEWI Heinrich Wilke GmbH

Since its foundation in 1929, HEWI has developed into a system provider for comprehensive solutions in the areas of building hardware, sanitary accessories, and accessible products. Over the past 95 years, the company has grown to become a leader in the field of accessibility and a recognised expert in system design. In line with Universal Design, the focus for HEWI is on people’s individual needs.

 

AKW makes life better with launch of new virtual showroom

Building Products Index Ltd Bathroom Accessibility solutions, bathroom accessories, Bathrooms Leave a Comment

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AKW, one of the UK’s leading providers of accessible bathroom and kitchen solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of its easy-to-navigate and use virtual showroom. Freely accessible to all via https://www.akw-ltd.co.uk/virtualshowroom/, it features 8 different bathrooms that are fully fitted out with AKW products. Created with specifiers, installers and end users in mind, the virtual tool helps those who can’t visit the company’s two physical showrooms in Droitwich Spa and Middlewich explore AKW solutions in realistic room settings.

A virtual tour for all

The spaces in the virtual showroom include a dementia-friendly bathroom, options for retirement and care settings, and wet rooms and bathrooms suitable for social housing. Three display walls also feature shower seats, grab rails, and electric and mixer showers. The virtual showroom is also highly interactive, with many of the products in the bays offering quick links to specification sheets or videos for visitors to access more information. It is also possible to alter the colour of some of the bathroom wall panels and see AKW’s Bathroom for Life – a bath-to-wet room and wet room-to-bath solution – in action.

The virtual showroom allows visitors to see how AKW’s solutions would work in a real-life scenario, meaning that specifiers can easily show clients the products that they could have installed in their homes, whilst also providing inspiration to contractors and private-pay customers alike.

Although the virtual showroom offers a convenient way to explore AKW’s bathroom solutions remotely, it has been designed to complement and not replace AKW’s existing physical showrooms in Droitwich Spa and Middlewich. Both locations remain open for those who would prefer an in-person chance to learn about the AKW product range.

Stuart Reynolds, Product and Marketing Director at AKW, comments: “The virtual showroom adds another layer of flexibility for our customers, ensuring that AKW’s market-leading products and expertise can continue to be accessed in a way that suits them best. By combining physical showrooms with this easy-to-use digital experience, AKW continues to break down barriers, provide exceptional services and resources, and support customers, specifiers, and partners wherever they are based in the UK.”

To find out more about AKW’s Virtual showroom visit: https://www.akw-ltd.co.uk/virtualshowroom/

For more information contact AKW on 01905 823298, Email: sales@akw-ltd.co.uk or visit www.akw-ltd.co.uk

Can you confirm you would like for the comment to come from Stuart Reynolds for this release.

Kinedo Launches Stylish New Solutions for Contemporary Bathrooms

Building Products Index Ltd Bathrooms, Showers Leave a Comment

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Kinedo continues to innovate in bathroom design with the launch of three exciting product updates – the elegant Kinediva cuttable shower tray, refreshed Kinewall decorative wall panels, and a new collection of walk-in enclosures.

Perfect for both new builds and renovations, the new Kinediva tray is available in 17 sizes and three matt finishes – marine blue, beige and white – with a sleek 35mm profile and colour-matched waste cover. It’s cuttable on all four sides and can be installed flush, on the floor or on raised feet. With anti-slip coating and up to 24l/min drainage, Kinediva combines beauty, durability and accessibility.

Kinedo has also expanded its Kinewall range with bold new designs, including Pebble Grey, Bronze Marble, and statement patterns like Giraffe and Frangipani. Lightweight, easy to cut, and quick to install, these grout-free, waterproof panels are ideal for high-moisture areas and come with a 10-year warranty.

Finally, Kinedo’s updated Solo walk-in enclosures feature the striking Solo Design + range, available in five frame finishes and six glass styles – including fluted and patterned glass options for added privacy and impact. All panels are treated with anti-limescale protection and designed for flexible left/right installation.

Together, these new additions provide comprehensive, stylish bathroom solutions from a single trusted supplier.

 www.kinedo.co.uk

Stylish surfaces “Made in Germany”

Building Products Index Ltd bathroom accessories, Bathrooms Leave a Comment

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HEWI offers new surfaces using the environmentally friendly PVD process for maximum individuality in the bathroom.

More glamour in the bathroom: Brass, bronze or gold are just some of the new metallic designer surfaces from HEWI that can be used to transform contemporary sanitary rooms into personalised oases of well-being – be it in hotels, in representative public buildings, in elective surgery areas in hospitals or in the bathroom at home. Altogether, the manufacturer is offering four new standard and eight new special colours for its accessible sanitaryware and accessories, all manufactured in the PVD process. This allows for even more diversity and scope for bathroom planning.

Timelessness, elegance, style – this is what the new designer surfaces from HEWI stand for. With its sanitary systems and accessories, HEWI transforms sanitary areas and private bathrooms into feel-good spaces with that certain something extra.

Colours and surfaces are a particularly suitable element in planning to design sanitary rooms that are in tune with the atmosphere of the surrounding architecture. Be it cool, calming, warm or revitalising – HEWI offers new, inspiring colours and surfaces for selected ranges and systems to suit every customised design.

Decorative and durable

Brass, bronze, gold or black chrome, with the finish options of brushed or glossy – the new metallic designer surfaces offer a wide range of choices. They are highly decorative and emotionally appealing. But behind the fine, shimmering surfaces lie extremely robust and resistant properties. The PVD surfaces are corrosion-resistant, making them ideal for sanitary rooms or rooms with high humidity. They also have durable properties such as hardness and scratch resistance. HEWI offers a total of 4 new standard and 8 new special colours.

Creative planning scope

In order to enable consistent bathroom design in the planning phase, HEWI has also adapted the high-quality design surfaces to the standard surfaces of leading fitting manufacturers. In our own assortment, the metallic surfaces are available for selected products from the S900, S 900 Q and S 162 ranges and systems.

A Vital Step in Tackling the UK’s Water Crisis: Cistermiser Welcomes Ofwat’s £100M Water Efficiency Fund

Building Products Index Ltd bathroom accessories, Bathrooms, Hands free flush, infrared taps Leave a Comment

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Cistermiser, one of the UK’s leading providers of water and energy saving management solutions, welcomes the launch of Ofwat’s £100 million Water Efficiency Fund as a crucial investment in securing the UK’s future water supply.

The fund, designed to accelerate water-saving innovations and initiatives, represents a significant step in addressing water scarcity and improving sustainability across homes and businesses.

With non-household water use accounting for a substantial proportion of demand, Cistermiser is urging decision-makers to prioritise proven technologies that deliver immediate and measurable savings.

Cistermsier’s range of Commercial Washroom products supports the prevention of constant water flow and a reduction of water usage in commercial buildings helping drive sustainability target achievement and a reduction in annual water costs.

Commenting on the fund, Richard Braid, Managing Director of Cistermiser, says: “We strongly support Ofwat’s Water Efficiency Fund and its potential to drive meaningful reductions in water usage. However, innovation doesn’t have to be complex – smart solutions like our infrared urinal controls and sensor-activated WC dual flush, are designed to prevent costly leaks and offer businesses a simple yet effective way to reduce water waste and enhance sustainability. If the UK is serious about addressing water shortages, we must embrace proven, readily available technologies alongside new innovations.”

Toilets are a major yet often overlooked source of water waste. The Waterwise Leaky Loos report estimates 1.5 million leaking toilets across the UK, each wasting up to 400 litres daily – enough to fill four million bathtubs. The main culprits are failing flush valve seals, faulty fill valves and dual flush issues.

This preventable problem fuels the UK’s water crisis, but innovation offers a simple solution. Cistermiser’s EasyflushEVO, is a revolutionary siphonic dual flush valve that eliminates leaks by removing the vulnerable below-waterline seal, reducing failures from debris, scale and wear.

As water companies and businesses look to meet ambitious efficiency targets, Cistermiser is calling for greater awareness of the financial and environmental benefits of upgrading to intelligent washroom controls. By installing EasyflushEVO, organisations can significantly reduce water bills while ensuring compliance with evolving sustainability standards.

For more information on Cistermiser’s range of solutions, visit www.cistermiser.co.uk

AKW Launches Water Saving Mixer Shower Models

Building Products Index Ltd Bathroom Accessibility solutions, Bathrooms Leave a Comment

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AKW, one of the UK’s leading providers of accessibility solutions, has extended its range of electric mixer showers to include flow limited versions of its popular Arka Cool Touch, Arka Thermostatic and Vettora showers. These WRAS approved additions to the range now give specifiers, installers and end users the ability to achieve impressive water savings, as well as to continue to promote safe, reliable showering.

These AKW lower flow mixer showers use between 40% to 69% less water – depending on the unit chosen – than those without a flow limiter. The Vettora, Arka Cool Touch and Arka Thermostatic water saving models have a maximum flow rate of 6 lpm, 6 lpm and 8 lpm respectively, enabling significant water and subsequent cost efficiencies to be achieved.

Stylish, safe, durable and easy-to-use

AKW’s three mixer showers have been designed to be stylish, durable, safe and easy-to-use, and all feature a pre-set maximum temperature of 38°. The Arka Cool Touch TMV2 has two paddle leavers for those with limited dexterity, which independently control temperature and flow, and thanks to innovative technology the valve also remains cool-to-the-touch, while maintaining the required water temperature. The Arka Thermostatic TMV3 is approved for use in commercial care environments and has rounded paddle levers to control the temperature and flow, while the Vettora Thermostatic TMV2 features easy-to-use peg levers for simple operation.

Arka Cool Touch Mixer
Arka Thermostatic Mixer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stuart Reynolds, Head of Product and Marketing at AKW, comments: “We decided to extend our mixer shower range to include these flow limited models, as we have listened to our customers and know there is significant demand from them for products that can deliver water savings. All three flow limited showers are WRAS approved and are ideal for use by those looking for a durable showering solution that looks good but delivers in terms of its environmental credentials.”

To find out more about the AKW’s flow limited shower options visit www.akw-ltd.co.uk

For more information contact AKW on 01905 823298, Email: sales@akw-ltd.co.uk or visit www.akw-ltd.co.uk  

Stylish surfaces “Made in Germany”

Building Products Index Ltd Bathroom Accessibility solutions, bathroom accessories, Bathrooms Leave a Comment

View the HEWI entry on BPindex

Visit the HEWI website

HEWI offers new surfaces using the environmentally friendly PVD process for maximum individuality in the bathroom.

More glamour in the bathroom: Brass, bronze or gold are just some of the new metallic designer surfaces from HEWI that can be used to transform contemporary sanitary rooms into personalised oases of well-being – be it in hotels, in representative public buildings, in elective surgery areas in hospitals or in the bathroom at home. Altogether, the manufacturer is offering four new standard and eight new special colours for its accessible sanitaryware and accessories, all manufactured in the PVD process. This allows for even more diversity and scope for bathroom planning. Timelessness, elegance, style – this is what the new designer surfaces from HEWI stand for. With its sanitary systems and accessories, HEWI transforms sanitary areas and private bathrooms into feel-good spaces with that certain something extra.

Colours and surfaces are a particularly suitable element in planning to design sanitary rooms that are in tune with the atmosphere of the surrounding architecture. Be it cool, calming, warm or revitalising – HEWI offers new, inspiring colours and surfaces for selected ranges and systems to suit every customised design.

Decorative and durable

Brass, bronze, gold or black chrome, with the finish options of brushed or glossy – the new metallic designer surfaces offer a wide range of choices. They are highly decorative and emotionally appealing. But behind the fine, shimmering surfaces lie extremely robust and resistant properties. The PVD surfaces are corrosion-resistant, making them ideal for sanitary rooms or rooms with high humidity. They also have durable properties such as hardness and scratch resistance. HEWI offers a total of 4 new standard and 8 new special colours.

Creative planning scope

In order to enable consistent bathroom design in the planning phase, HEWI has also adapted the high-quality design surfaces to the standard surfaces of leading fitting manufacturers. In our own assortment, the metallic surfaces are available for selected products from the S900, S 900 Q and S 162 ranges and systems.

AKW Launches New Alveo PVC Wall Panels Range

Building Products Index Ltd Bathrooms, wall panels Leave a Comment

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AKW, one of the UK’s leading providers of accessibility solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of its new Alveo PVC bathroom wall panels range. This new collection of high-quality wall panels gives specifiers and installers even more reasons to replace costly tiles with these stunning, time and money saving alternatives.

The contemporary look that saves time and money

AKW’s stylish, long-lasting Alveo PVC bathroom wall panels are highly robust PVC panels that have been designed to be quick and easy to install, without any specialist equipment. With 600mm and 1000mm width, trimmable panels that can fit over any existing surface, including tiles, they provide a contemporary finish to any bathroom renovation or adaptation.

Thanks to their interlocking tongue and groove edge, the Alveo PVC panels provide a seamless finish when joining two panels along a flat wall. The lightweight panels are suitable for use in adaptations when installed onto a structural wall and the Alveo fixing kit allows for accessories, such as grab rails and shower seats, to be fixed in place without any indentations to the wall panels. A variety of satin anodised finish profiles are also available, including End Cap, H-section, Internal Corner, External/Internal Corner and Bottom/Top, as well as a matt white finish Safety Flooring-to-Wall profile.

Available in contemporary white gloss, white marble, concrete matt and dark graphite colour finishes, there is a colourway to suit any bathroom refurbishment. Designed to be low maintenance, the Alveo PVC wall panels are easy to clean using soapy water and with fewer joins and dirt traps and no need for grout, they are more hygienic than tiles.

New AKW Marlbrook wall panel colourways

AKW has also extended the colourways of the Marlbrook wall panels range to include a white marble and matt grey and the number of available widths. Specifiers now have six contemporary colour finishes to choose from and four easy to transport and manoeuvre sizes (ranging from 300mm to 1200mm in width). The Marlbrook range of high-pressure laminated, structural wall panels is ideal for covering uneven walls and can also be used to box around pipework if needed. Straightforward and fast to install, this structural-grade wall panel range enables fixtures such as shower seats and grab rails to be fitted securely, without impacting on weight loading.

Stuart Reynolds, Head of Product and Marketing at AKW, comments: “There are a range of demands to be met when doing a bathroom adaptation or refurbishment. Alongside the functionality and look of the space, there is always the question of cost-effectiveness and durability. Our Alveo PVC and Marlbrook wall panels deliver on all these demands and more; they achieve a high value appearance for considerably less than the cost of tiling. The range of colourways enables a non-clinical finish to be obtained and these easy to maintain wall panels can also be fitted quickly using a standard toolkit, reducing bathroom downtime, and saving on using a specialist tiler. All in all , Alveo PVC and Marlbrook offer installers long-lasting results for minimum time and effort.”

To find out more about the AKW’s wall panel ranges visit https://akw-ltd.co.uk/alveo-wall-panels/

For more information contact AKW on 01905 823298, Email: sales@akw-ltd.co.uk or visit www.akw-ltd.co.uk  

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