Unsworth Sugden Group

Client, Schlüter-Systems Ltd, has recorded an increase in sales of 40% for its underfloor heating product.

Carl Stokes, Divisional Manager at Schlüter-Systems, comments, “The increase in enquiries and sales for our Schlüter®-BEKOTEC-THERM system is something we have been monitoring for some time, with the rise in the number of self-build projects in the UK a possible key factor.

“Underfloor heating systems such as ours are no longer only found in spas, hotels and other high-end projects with many domestic customers now viewing it as a perfect way of adding a touch of quality to their projects. We’ve also been able to benefit from the recent poor weather with many self-builders opting to install the system now so they can be prepared for the unpredictable British climate.

“Schlüter®-BEKOTEC-THERM is seen as the perfect investment thanks to its quick and even distribution of heat and low supply temperature, which in turn lead to low heating costs. As well as its simple installation, top performance and ease of use, what really makes it stand out from the crowd is its five year covering assembly warranty. Unlike other systems, which just provide component warranties, our customers have the peace of mind that our warranty covers the whole floor assembly therefore adding additional safety and benefits to this innovative system.”

This news comes as the Office for National Statistics yesterday announced that the UK is officially out of recession. Could this be a sign that things are on the up?

Carl Stokes, Divisional Manager

Client Schlüter-Systems Ltd has recently launched a series of practical workshops where tilers across the country can learn skills first-hand from the experts. Based at the company’s Coalville head office, these one-day sessions will focus on detailed practical training for tile specialists with each focusing on a different key area.

Ian Knifton, Divisional Manager, comments, “As the world’s leading supplier of fixing and protection systems we already offer a number of award-winning training courses to help fixers become more accomplished in working with tiles, such as the Schlüter Online Academy or via our existing detailed theoretical training programmes.

“However our new Innovation Workshops will provide detailed practical training right here at Schlüter-Systems which in turn will offer many benefits to the installer. These include an increase in knowledge and skills and a potential increase in their earning capacity. With more and more professionals turning to us for training we envisage these new Innovation Workshops will prove extremely popular.”

At the end of each Innovation Workshop, attendees will be certificated by Schlüter-Systems Ltd for a period of two years. Once this period has elapsed they will be encouraged to attend a refresher course before being issued with further certification. As one of our clients, we know that Schlüter-Systems are dedicated in keeping up the quality of work tilers across the country provide for their customers.

The Unsworth Sugden team supported the launch of the Innovation Workshops with a special model shoot, which took advantage of the talents of some of the country’s best tilers, press releases and print advertising as well as a brand new website.  Find out more at http://www.trainedwithschluter.co.uk/

Divisional Manager Ian Knifton talks to Stevenage tiler Andy Howard at a trial of the new Innovation Workshops from Schlüter-Systems.

Andrew, Glynn and Stuart with their handy work

Staff at client Schlüter-Systems have downed tools and picked up their frying pans during a recent charity breakfast at its Coalville head office.

The leading UK provider of tile solutions, which has already donated nearly £5,500 to charity in 2011 raised a total of £170 for Coalville Hospital during this event, which is in its fifth consecutive year.

Business Development Managers Stuart Ross and Glynn Davies donned their aprons and acted as head chefs during the event, aided by Andrew Curry as head waiter, they served 25 employees with both full English and continental options.

Keen cook Stuart comments, “Our charity breakfast has become an annual event and we are delighted to once again be donating the proceeds to Coalville Hospital. It is important to remember that whilst many have enjoyed the festive celebrations there are others for whom this time of the year hasn’t been so enjoyable and we believe this donation really reflects the true meaning of Christmas.”

This is just one of a number of charitable donations that Schlüter-Systems has made throughout the past 12 months as we support various good causes across the country, either directly or through sponsorship of our customers and partners. Other contributions have been made to Rainbows Children Hospice in Loughborough and Children Today, the chosen charity of The Tile Association.

Thanks to Steve Baker for the great photography.

Whilst many people sit back and watch this year’s Wimbledon Championships whilst tucking into their strawberries and cream, the Unsworth Sugden PR team has been busy serving up some great coverage for client Schlüter-Systems after the leading supplier of tile solutions installed several of its market leading products at the world famous Number One Court.

Many of the hospitality suites surrounding the 11,429 capacity court at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which plays host to many of the world’s best tennis players during the two-week Grand Slam tournament, now feature amongst other products the famous orange Schlüter-DITRA matting, the world’s leading uncoupling membrane which neutralises cracks and prevents movements from the screed being transferred to the tiled surface of the various hospitality areas and terraces.

After commissioning some tennis themed PR photography shots and issuing a press release, we received coverage in both the local media such as this fab piece in the Leicester Mercury and this article in Midlands Business Insider; plus many of the building and tiling trade titles including Tilezine and Building Talk.

Schlüter-Systems' Stuart Ross with the Schlüter-DITRA matting

The PR team visited EcoBuild yesterday, the world’s biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment and the UK’s largest constructon event of any kind.

Held at the ExCeL London exhibition centre in the heart of the Docklands, there were over 1,300 exhibitors and a whole host of free seminars, demonstrations and lectures available. As well as catching up with some of the construction trade media titles, we also visited the stand of client Schlüter-Systems, the leading UK supplier of tile solutions, which was extremely busy.

As you can see from the pic below, there were plenty of visitors interested in learning more about their range of market-leading products including universal structural panel Schlüter^®-KERDI-BOARD and Schluter^®-BEKOTEC-THERM, its advanced underfloor heating system.

There were many interested visitors to the Schlüter-Systems stand at EcoBuild 2011

The world’s most expensive residential apartments in the world were recently opened at One Hyde Park in London, but not before market-leading products from client Schlüter-Systems had been installed there.

Schluter, the market leader in essental tiling protection has over 7,000 products in its range, including movement joints, transition profiles, edgings and stair nosings. Many of these will now be keeping the tile installations at London’s most exclusive address, where properties reportedly start at £6.5m for a one-bedroom apartment, in first-rate condition for the duration of their lifetime.

Keep an eye on this blog for more details of this project.

However it’s not the only recent example of Schlüter products being installed in high profile capital locations. The brand new, prestigious London Syon Park hotel, the latest addition to the Hilton’s luxury Waldorf Astoria collection, also featuring a range of tile trim profiles and movement joints.

The prestigious One Hyde Park, where products from Schlüter-Systems have been installed

Think of December and what springs to mind? Christmas? Presents? Turkey? Decorations? Holiday?

What about getting dressed up in a drysuit and surfing in the freezing cold waves of Cornwall?

Because that’s what photographer Toby Savage found himself doing this month in Newquay in the second part of our adventure with Britain’s top surfer ‘Stokesy’ for client Schlüter-Systems. And not content with wading into the Atlantic upto his waist with a waterproof camera, he decided to take a surfboard, made from Schlüter-Kerdi-Board, and have a go himself!

Photographer Toby Savage getting in on the action

More shots and blog entries about this Cornwall visit will appear soon, but for those who need a recap about what we’re doing with ‘Stokesy’ click here.

Client Schlüter-Systems, the Coalville-based leading UK provider of tile solutions, has recently invested £100,000 in a brand new e-learning academy, the very first free online training facility of its kind in the industry.

As well as targeting the tiling and construction trade press with the story, the PR team also achieved the following great piece in today’s Leicester Mercury business section.

The team is also busy preparing an entry for the Schlüter Online Academy into the ‘Best Innovation’ category at the Tile Association Awards 2011. Keep checking the blog for more information….

The Schlüter Online Academy will help train people up and down the country from the comfort of their PC

(l-r) Toby, Hannah and Dave go surfing with Stokesy!

Thoroughly impressed with Schlüter-KERDI-BOARD, Stokesy even took a couple of surfboards back down to Newquay with him and has promised to give them a go out on the water. Watch this space for further information……!

Our client, Schlüter-Systems has had significant sales success over the past 12 months with it’s leading universal substrate Schlüter^®-DITRA. So much so, that the unique membrane could see you travel from London to Paris on the famous orange matting. In the last year alone, UK sales of this uncoupling membrane for tiled and natural stone installations from Schlüter have reached 500,000m². That’s the equivalent of 310 miles of the matting in length and the distance between these two great capital cities.

It’s not ‘difficile’ to work out why people all over the country are saying ‘oui’ to Schlüter^®-DITRA, the original uncoupling membrane. It remains unique to the market due to its dovetail shape design within the square recesses, plus a single laminated anchoring fleece on the underside.

Carl Stokes, Divisional Manager at Schlüter-Systems, comments, “Paris is often referred to as the City of Love and the fact that you could travel there from London on Schlüter^®-DITRA is a testament to how many people in the UK have loved our product over the past 12 months alone. Throughout its 20 plus years in the market, Schlüter^®-DITRA has remained at the top of its game and is still as effective and functional as the day it was first launched, ensuring that every tile installation lasts as long as they are designed to and leaving customers feeling ‘très bon’!”

The famous DITRA membrane paves the way!