Introducing the new toilet risers

Kingkraft are pleased to announce two new toilet risers into the UK market and our portfolio of assisted bathing products.

The EasiRiser is designed to fit over most types of WC and assists the service user with lowering and lifting off the toilet. The EasiRiser is also compatible with specialist wash/dry toilets but care needs to be taken to check that the automatic operation of the WC is not affected by the proximity of the Riser.

To avoid the user from slipping/sliding off when in use, the seat remains horizontal throughout the complete cycle.

It's incredibly easy to use with push button controls on both support arms. An automatic cut-out stops the user from colliding with the toilet when lowering and can be adjusted if used on numerous WCs.

Kingkraft's Dale Spademan, Sales and Marketing Manager, said: "This product is designed to help people with mobility issues get off and on the toilet with independence and dignity. We believe this product will be of  most use to adult and elderly users."

The Smart Home Riser is an all-in-one unit which replaces the existing WC altogether. Any wall mounted toilet* can be used and is built into the unit, moving up and down to accommodate the user.

This item is great for small bathrooms as it is flush to the wall and only protrudes 880mm.

The modern system is easy to use with an ergonomically designed remote control handset which can be fitted on either arm rest to suit the service user.

*The Geberit Aquaclean is compatible with this item.

For any more information or to request a demonstration of the EasiRiser or Smart Home Riser please contact the office on 0114 269 0697 or email info@kingkraft.co.uk

Star products for the summer

Kingkraft are incredibly excited with the two new products we have added to our portfolio and they have been welcomed by our customers with great enthusiasm.

Leit's Over Bath Changing Table (OBCT) and Foldable Shower Trolley are being sold exclusively by Kingkraft and have gone down a storm on our exhibition stands.

Leit specifically designs items that are lightweight for ease of use and therefore can be easily transported and are perfect to take away on family holidays.

The OBCT is a folding changing and showering table that fits many standard 1700 baths. When used at home, the OBCT can be folded and stored away allowing the bath to be used by other family members.

The Foldable Shower Trolley is ideal for families who have limited space in their bathrooms. Made from aluminium, it weighs approximately 18.5kg and is compatible with the OBCT. A vinyl folding top section can be supplied also. The trolley comes on lockable castors which helps with transportation.

Additional options are available for both items which include a handy travel bag, side rails and cushions etc.

Leit's products are the result of intensive research and development processes and many more items are in the pipeline.

For more information on the items or if you would like to arrange a demonstration please contact Sales Manager, Tom Harrison, on t.harrison@kingkraft.co.uk or 07703 537217.

Happy Birthday Kingkraft!

It’s May 1984 and the capital’s flood defence, the Thames Barrier, is officially opened by the Queen, Duran Duran are at the top of the chart with The Reflex. The UK’s biggest ever strike commences across the coal mines and Facebook’s inventor, Mark Zuckerberg, is born. But there was another influential birth that month, and that’s us, Kingkraft!

We’ve just celebrated 30 years and here’s a brief flavour of what happened over that time.

Kingkraft started out at Chapel-en-le-Frith in Derbyshire with the Easibath. By the time Nigel and Ruth Harrison bought the company in 1996 Kingkraft was operating out of Tideswell (pictures below) with 8 employees and had added changing tables and shower changers to their portfolio. Nigel is a qualified engineer and Ruth is a children’s physiotherapist so there was a natural fit for their respective talents.

Kingkraft was fast becoming a strong manufacturer within the disabled bathing market and had introduced a brand new bath, the Contour. Due to the heightening demand for our equipment, workers frequently had to build in the yard as there was so little space within the factory unit and with that we started looking for larger premises.

Then and now

In 2003 we purchased two industrial units just minutes away from the location of one of the miners’ strikes most prolific clashes, The Battle of Orgreave. The pit is long gone and in a reflection of the fundamental changes in Sheffield City itself, this site is now home to the Advance Manufacturing Research Centre, which is of enormous benefit to local companies as a centre of knowledge and expertise in manufacturing.

Once established in Sheffield, new developments continued at an increased rate with the launch of our most popular tub, the Multibath, followed by the luxurious Lifestyle Bath. Kingkraft had now become one of the UK’s leading manufacturers for disabled bathing and it was a natural progression to introduce complementary products from other suppliers into our product portfolio by becoming resellers for Ropox, Guldmann and Pressalit who are Scandinavian manufacturers.

2009 saw the addition of a small team of professional Physios and OT’s to the company to enable Kingkraft to provide reviews and assessments for people with sensory issues. We became the UK distributor for Protac products for sensory integration and their SenSit chair is still one of the most popular items on our exhibition stands.

After further analysis of the market in 2011, there was to be one further major change with the opening of an office centrally located in Leicester. The midlands team specifically worked on wetroom adaptations and level access shower installations.

Kingkraft is still a small family run business but that doesn’t stop us from being a leading company in the design of innovative products in our sector and that is something we are very proud of. We operate nationwide with our team of sales managers and engineers travelling from John O’Groats to Lands End to meet our customers’ needs. Internationally too, we have a strong reputation with bathing products supplied throughout Europe and as far afield as South Korea and New Zealand!

“I have spent many happy and fulfilling years at Kingkraft developing products that had style when so much of what is supplied in our industry is designed to be purely functional and not attractive.

With my son and daughter working in the company, I now look forward to the development of the next generation of Kingkraft products”.

Dr. Nigel Harrison

Now after that brief history lesson, we’ll get back to birthday cake!

Happy 30^th birthday Kingkraft!

Introducing the Baby Bather

After two years of design and production meetings our latest product has finally been unveiled.

The Kingkraft Baby Bather is designed to fit on to the base of a standard, domestic bath. The curved backrest securely holds the baby allowing washing with two hands. The backrest is also easily adjustable for positioning.

Made from hygienic polypropylene and a PVC mattress, it is easily cleaned and the soft cushioning provides a comfortable and safe environment for the baby.

It is suitable for babies and early year toddlers.

For more information on the Baby Bather please view our website or send us an email.

Who would like to earn themselves an extra £200?

Kingkraft would like to say a big "thank you" to all our trade and retail customers by putting £200 in your pockets!

We have introduced a new Installation Referral Scheme and will gladly hand over a reward for passing us details on clients and projects. An order needs to be placed with Kingkraft and the project completed for the money to be awarded.

We are looking for referrals on bath replacements, bath removals with shower tray installations, and full bathroom conversions and wet floor adaptations. Installations of Geberit Aquaclean 8000 plus toilets which have been referred will also be eligible for a payment of £40. Kingkraft will offer a payment reward of £325 for any projects that have a value of £10,000 and over.

Kingkraft have just celebrated 30 years of being in business so we have plenty of experience within the bathroom adaptation industry. We operate nationwide and therefore are an approved installer for many local authorities. Our installers are fully trained to the highest of standards and we can undertake all aspects of extra works, for example, tiling, electrical, flooring etc. Our sales managers provide free site surveys and demonstrations and non-obligation quotes. All our installations come with a 12 month warranty and extra maintenance schemes can be taken out.

The retailer must be pre-registered with Kingkraft for the scheme. If you would like to register or enquire for further information please email our Sales and Marketing Manager, Dale Spademan, on d.spademan@kingkraft.co.uk

We look forward to doing business with you!

New bathing facilities for children's hospice courtesy of Kingkraft

Kingkraft has assisted in the refurbishment of an established children's hospice thanks to our 30 years experience.

The Donna Louise Children's Hospice in Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, was desperate for new bathing equipment and facilities as the original items were very dated and not user-friendly and turned to Kingkraft for help.

With the hospice's refurbishment we was able to provide new solutions and items for the children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

Kingkraft helped create four wash areas complete with variable height basins, specialist wash and dry toilets, a changing table and shower which changes colour with the water temperature.

The new facilities are aimed around the notion of independent living, enabling the hospice's visitors, who are aged up to 19 years old, to feel self-supported and unconstrained.

Dot Gillespie, Director of Care at The Donna Louise Children's Hospice, said: "The children who come to the Donna Louise have complex needs and the equipment used initially was no longer fit for purpose. We wanted products that would last and be fit for the next decade that could be suitable for a wide range of physical and cognitive abilities.

"The new facilities are really good and the products are great. They are a million times better than the last ones. The service and dialogue between Kingkraft and ourselves has been brilliant. They have shown great willingness on the project."

Dale Spademan, Sales and Marketing Manager at Kingkraft, said: "It was interesting for us working with the Donna Louise to meet the needs of different users of different abilities in the four bathrooms. The mix of Kingkraft and Pressalit products has met this need and I am pleased that the Donna Louise now has modern aesthetic bathrooms that will make the users feel at home and will last them well into the next decade."

Changing Places facility at darts

Changing Places facility at darts, a set on Flickr.

Kingkraft's expertise in assisted bathing products helped create a new Changing Places facility for darts (Doncaster Community Arts) at The Point in the town centre.

Access to the arts has never been easier thanks to a new Changing Places facility

darts (Doncaster Community Arts) is a registered charity working across the town with people of all ages and backgrounds who have little or no access to the arts. Located within The Point, their ambition is to expand the ability of every single person with the belief that art can fuel change for individuals and communities.

darts turned to Kingkraft to help them design accessible bathroom facilities for the centre as many visitors may need assistance from parents and carers when toileting.

Kingkraft helped create the wet room complete with ceiling track hoist, variable height basin, a changing table and specialist was and dry toilet.

Kingkraft's Dale Spademan (2nd from Right) with the darts team in their new Changing Places facility.

The new facilities have now enabled visitors, especially those with profound and multiple learning disabilities, to enjoy the centre without the worry of inadequate toilet facilities.

Arts Development Manager at darts, Beci Jamieson, said: "We've been wanting to make this improvement to the building for some time. Thanks to Aiming High funding the Changing Places facility, we can now look forward to hosting more workshops suitable for people with disabilities. Kingkraft's experience and specialist knowledge for this kind of project played a massive part in the successful delivery of the project. We have an exciting future ahead!"

Dale Spademan, Sales and Marketing Manager for Kingkraft, said: "We love working on local community projects and having years of specialist knowledge meant we could advise on the best possible solution and equipment to meet the requirements of the centre."

For more information on darts please view their website on www.thepoint.org.uk or if you require advise on how Kingkraft can help you design an accessible bathroom please view the website on www.kingkraft.co.uk