Page 28 - HW May 2022

wet areas – bathroom & laundry
TO GET A feel for what’s going on with the plumbing trade, I turn to Greg Wallace, Chief Executive of the Master Plumbers, for whose members business is booming but – and there’s always a “but” in the current climate – is also being restrained by a trio of factors.
The first of the plumbers’ three key concerns currently is, no surprise, a labour crisis.
“We estimate we are around three and a half thousand tradespeople short in the plumbing, drainlaying and gasfitting industry,” says Greg Wallace.
“If I had a dollar every time a member asked me if I knew of available staff, I would have retired years ago.
“So we have to keep encouraging people into the industry and making sure university isn’t the only pathway for students leaving college.
Master Plumbers’ Greg Wallace: “We have got lead out of petrol, we’ve got it out of paint, but we’re still allowing it in our drinking water!”
Athena celebrates anniversary with a major range refresh
In this its 40th year, Athena is launching two bold new vanity ranges complete with new formats, on-trend colours and finishes, as well as unique new shower bases and black shower components, all with the help of local designer Sonya Cotter (see pages 28-30 for more on this collaboration).
Launching this month, the first of two striking new vanity ranges is the sleek, minimalist Athena Fleet Modular range (photo above left) with a mix & match outlook from a range of frames and box drawers, handle finishes, benchtops and basin options.
The box drawers can be positioned anywhere inside the outer frame before being secured, and basin and top options include a blank 15mm white solid surface top allowing placement of any vessel.The range is available in eight new Laminex colours, comes in 900mm, 1200mm, 1400mm and 1600mm sizes and offers five 350mm handle options.
The second Athena vanity range scheduled for release in July is Swift (photo above right), a range of distinctive curved vanities, a single, soft-close drawer design manufactured from HPL laminate that brings with it four new Prime laminate colours including
woodgrain and marble/stone effect with suede, woodgrain, soft matt and smooth finishes.
Sizes are 900mm and 1200mm with single left or right or double- ended curve, with cut out and no cut out options, Swift’s basin and top options include a white solid surface benchtop plus vessel/basin or the new Serifos basin vanity top.
Another standout new product for Athena that’s slated for release in September is the new SlateForma one-piece shower tray (photo above centre). SlateForma, as the name suggests, is a slim profile, non- slip, textured design taken from a natural slate mould with a gel coat finish over resin composite for a high quality and easy-clean finish.
Available in Chalk (white), Stone (light grey) and Anthracite (dark grey), and in five sizes (1000x1000, 1200x900, 1200x1000, 1400x1000, and 1600x1000mm), SlateForma is compatible with all Athena shower door sets, comes with 30mm factory-fitted upstands, and is installed by laying into a bed of tile adhesive.
Quite a 40th birthday celebration, we think you will agree!
https://athena.co.nz/
26 NZHJ | MAY 2022
MORE AT www.hardwarejournal.co.nz