Since the acquisition of BLP in December last year, investment in machinery, systems and people have once again raised the profile of the Doncaster factory and increased production fivefold.

The highly skilled workforce that’s been there for many years have with renewed motivation and investment, responded to the challenge and are again producing doors and accessories of a high quality in large numbers.

BA Components at Doncaster work with leading retailers and manufacturers in the UK across the bedroom, kitchen and bathroom markets. The manufacturing facilities there allow BA to produce MDF wrapped decorative furniture profiles, membrane pressed door and drawer fronts and profile framed 5 piece doors.

In Cookstown, home of the Bella by BA ranges production has been increased to cope with rising demand.

The addition of new machinery to produce curved doors and accessories alongside the launch of the new Zurfiz by BA collection has resulted in production and output increases in line with current demand.

Constant research and development, coupled with continual customer feedback and market research has seen not only continued development of the Bella collections but now to continue the service to BA’s dealer network, the introduction and launch of Zurfiz by BA.

BA Components have brought the clean lines of a top end European kitchen or bedroom within reach of a wider audience with the introduction of the Zurfiz product.

This stunning and comprehensive made to measure collection of ultra modern doors is available in 20 colour options and to add to the choice and flexibility of the range the doors are also offered in 3 edge finishes, matching to produce a solid acrylic look, brushed steel for an ultra-modern continental feel and a stunning glass effect 3D edge producing a deceptively real glazed appearance.

All the doors are manufactured using 18mm MDF, and the surface finishes across the range are a mix of acrylic and PVC materials.

To compliment the range along with a full accessory range including bi-fold doors, curved doors, panels and handles, BA have created a full marketing and advertising support package. New brochures with stunning settings and photography, full POS materials and a wide advertising campaign will help BA dealers new and old promote what promises to be a stunning addition to the marketplace.

Zurfiz doors are available in kitchen, bedroom and non standard sizes.

Explains sales and marketing director, David Caulfield. “Zurfiz is all about surface – the name is a play on words. We started looking at high gloss. The ultimate is glass but we wanted to find another way to create a really good gloss. We decided to use 18mm MDF as the core and cold laminate it, either with a Senoplast acrylic or a PVC. By cold laminating we got rid of the heat problems where the composition of the materials can change. The result is a much smoother product which actually looks like glass.

” Zurfiz doors are offered with a choice of three edges, all specifically ordered and matched by Döllken. Continues David, “We’re offering a self-coloured edge which creates a look like a solid acrylic door, a 3d glass effect which is deceptively real and a brushed steel effect edge. We started off with six ultragloss solid colours, then we extended our offer to include four ultragloss woodgrains, six matt finishes and four fantasy finishes – two textured and two metallic.

Zurfiz is going out with a full marketing suite of two new brochures, inspired by the style of David Hockney. Expect a touch of the surreal: solid colours shown on kitchens and bedrooms in New York’s Central Park, woodgrains in Japan and matt finishes in Italy. As for the fantasies – well, pure fantasy.

Like BA’s well established Bella doors, Zurfiz will be made to measure, any colour, any finish with 10 -14 day turnaround. “We’re extremely pleased with the result and the initial feedback from customers who’ve seen the product” says David. Supported by a new website and advertising support, Zurfiz by BA offers a real alternative to the BA dealer network whether new or existing.

CSM Miami is the international exhibition & conference serving the cruise industry and delegates from 119 countries will be in attendance.

Organisers expect over 900 exhibitors and 10,000 attendees to make Cruise Shipping Miami 2010 the hub for breaking cruise shipping industry news. BA Components will be there as part of an N.Ireland trade mission and exhibiting on the Invest N.I. stand hoping to tap into new and potentially exciting markets.

Managing Director, Brian McCracken said, “Cruise Shipping Miami offers us the opportunity to be part of the industry’s most authoritative professional showcase. No other event in the world attracts such a broad range of industry players with over 1,700 cruise line owners and operators from 73 companies in attendance in 2009. CSM is the most effective and efficient way to do business with the cruise industry”.

BA will be exhibiting ideas for wall panelling, interior wardrobe, study and cupboard doors for cabins along with unique ideas for public spaces on board.

David Caulfield, Sales & Marketing Director is looking forward with anticipation to the event, “this is a real opportunity for us to display the versatility, durability and flexibility of our product range. The BA philosophy has always been to look for new opportunities and uses for our products and the provision of product to the Cruise Ship industry seemed a logical progression”.

As always BA Components look to the future and truly bring new designs to new horizons.

BA Components established in 1990 has grown steadily to become a major manufacturer in the UK and Irish furniture components industry and the acquisition of BLP is a logical step in a planned progress which has resulted in sustained growth over the last number of years.

The BLP business has over 100 year’s history and is well known and respected in the furniture industry. The subject of a Management buy out in February they had unfortunately become a victim of the current credit crisis and were placed in Administration on 7^th December 2009 .

Brian McCracken, BA Component’s Managing Director said, “The purchase of this well established and respected business makes total sense in the further development of both businesses. The position of the joint operation will substantially strengthen BA’s position in the UK market, allowing us to further develop our offering to volume users, while introducing the BLP ranges to our large dealer base of small, medium and large retail outlets allowing both operations opportunities for expansion and growth”

Many of the administration functions for the combined operation will be handled from the Cookstown head office but a strong planning and production team will be maintained and further developed at the Doncaster site.

Heading up the Doncaster team will be Ian Cohen who is returning to BLP as Operations Director bringing with him a wealth of experience, ability and knowledge to an operation he led for many years prior to February’s MBO.

Looking forward to the challenge of successfully growing the business in Doncaster again Ian said, “My knowledge of the procedures and protocols developed in Doncaster over years alongside good relations with a skilled and motivated workforce and a customer base I know well, will with application and co-operation from all concerned lead to seamless continuity and development well into the future.”

Production of the full BLP portfolio of MDF wrapped decorative furniture mouldings, veneer wrapped architectural mouldings, PREDOR membrane pressed cabinet doors and drawer fronts and PRODOR profile framed 5 piece constructional doors will be maintained and developed, with continuity of supply guaranteed to current customers.

Sales & Marketing Director David Caulfield added, “This exciting development provides a great opportunity to enhance our value proposition to both BLP and BA customers and the ethos of quality and design evident throughout the operation means BLP is a strong fit with our strategy to provide more added value and meaningful opportunities for the joint customer base. With a strong sales support presence on the ground and the addition of the product mix and workforce skills in Doncaster we can all look forward to continued and growing success.”

The joint business will now trade as BA Components with the BLP name preserved but presented in BA corporate style where it will sit comfortably alongside other BA brands; Bella by BA and Zurfiz by BA.

The financial security and robust business practises of BA Components will ensure continued development and expansion of the production facility at Doncaster, secure jobs for a skilled, local workforce and ensure reliable, continuous quality and supply to current and new BLP and BA customers.

Details of the price breaks have also now been released and are available from all BA Components field sales people or by logging on to BA Live.

Simply log into your account on BA Live and the new pricing will be available in the ‘Documents’ section.

A total of 12 extra price breaks have been introduced for the following sizes;

900×796
900×996
900×1200
1245×796
1245×996
1245×1200
1435×796
1435×996
1435×1200
1735×796
1735×996
1735×1200

This is a further expansion of the choice of size, colour and style options available in the Bella by ba range. You can now not only ‘Pick a colour any colour, choose a style any style’ but we could add ‘In any size’

“For variety, quality and choice you really can lead the way with by-ba”

Already well known and recognised as a Market leading brand is the popular and versatile vinyl wrapped range marketed as Bella by ba.

The Bella by ba brand has been developed successfully over last four years and has come to be recognised for quality kitchen and bedroom products, wide choice and great value for money,

The arrival of an exciting new range of kitchen and bedroom doors and accessories in January 2010 to be produced using exciting new technology and marketed under the new brand Zurfiz by ba will add further interest to the BA range. Available in 20 stunning finishes and with numerous finishing touches it promises to be THE exciting development in kitchens and bedrooms for 2010.

With a third brand utilising leading edge design features planned for Spring / Summer 2010 the news from BA Components to their dealer network and the public in general is one of exciting beginnings, development and improvement to existing ranges and a fantastic year to look forward to.

To tie all the brands together and build real recognition of the ranges into the future the company have decided to focus on the common element of each brand; by ba.

“This will be the common thread that binds all the brands together in the BA family” said Sales & Marketing Manager David Caulfield, “and will be the true mark of the quality of each brand. If it’s by ba then it is all about quality, choice, detail, inspiration and design”

The continuing consumer and trade advertising the company are in engaged in will now start to carry the by-ba mark and wherever you see it, it will firmly establish each separate brand as an essential element in the whole mix that epitomises the beliefs and ethos of BA Components.

Now really is the time to become a dealer with by-ba.

BA Components have appointed a new Area Sales Manager in East Anglia. Paul Randall who will be working out of Peterborough and reporting to Midlands Regional Manager Dave Gray comes to Bella from Howdens Joinery where he has been operating as salesman from the Peterborough branch since July last year.

Sales & Marketing Manager David Caulfield is pleased to have Paul join the team, “Paul will bring a freshness of approach to this important area, and his enthusiasm and experience will ensure the Bella customers in the East Anglia area get a service second to none, I know he’ll prove to be a real asset to BA”

Paul’s appointment is part of the continued development of the BA sales team and brings the current field sales team numbers to 10.

In many cases the framing of the furniture and the trimming top and bottom were where the design feature and interest lay, with the doors more or less plain and unadorned.

Today’s bedroom doors are becoming trend setting rather than trend following and the styles we produce seem now to be limited only by our imaginations.

Solid wood bedroom doors, Vinyl wrapped Bedroom doors; glass bedroom doors and any combination of these materials are now being offered in a plethora of shapes from curves, through sloping and arched to straight edged bedroom doors.

Slow close, soft close, parallel swing back or sliding even the method of opening and closing our bedroom doors are becoming design features.

The advent of design and home improvement shows on television, the multiplication of home design and home fashion magazines and the tendency to allow more and more people to see all aspects of our living spaces has made the bedroom and the bedroom doors we fit an essential element of our homes of today.

Whether the bedroom furniture we use is fitted or free-standing the offers available in the market today to have bespoke bedroom doors with cutting edge designs is the best there’s ever been. The limits on what we can display in our bedrooms are simply governed by the extent of our imaginations and our budgets.

For those on a smaller budget vinyl wrapped bedroom doors are now offering design features and variety that are quite stunning and certainly the Sahara and Flowline bedroom doors as offered by Bella have become an item of first choice for many bedroom designers.

Curved bedroom doors which up until recently have either been hard to find or far too expensive for normal budgets are becoming more readily available, and with full length bedroom curves now available in vinyl wrapping from Bella they are within reach of us all.

Whatever the dream, whatever the vision we have for our bedroom doors it can now be realised today, and there is no longer any excuse for blandness or mediocrity in our bedrooms designs.

With fewer resources available, you should plan your renovation carefully. Reports show that a remodelled kitchen can increase the value of your home substantially. Experts concur that the cosmetic changes we make at home are the best mode of increasing its resale value. The kitchen is an ideal place to begin since there are varied options available and the improvement can range from simple to extensive.

Prioritize your Improvements

In updating your kitchen, you should learn how to prioritize the changes you will make. Since it is hard to do improvements all at once, you have to list the changes that are important to you. If what you want is more storage space, then allocate money for new kitchen units instead of buying a new fridge of oven. Knowing how to renovate your kitchen with fewer finances means careful consideration and recognising the areas in your kitchen that needs to be changed.

Start with Small Improvements

You should begin with little changes when you want to update your kitchen. These changes can make your kitchen more attractive and boost its usefulness without spending too much. For example, why don’t you consider re-facing your kitchen units by simply adding new kitchen doors? The Bella range has been designed to help you do this with minimum effort, minimum fuss and minimum mess. By changing kitchen doors you can create a whole new look and update the total appearance of your kitchen units and kitchen furniture for a small expenditure.

You may consider replacing your kitchen door hardware by adding new handles from the Bella range or you may change your kitchen lighting for the purpose of brightening and enhancing the surrounding areas of your home. There is a wide range of options available in the Bella range, from under cupboard lighting to fit below wall mounted kitchen units, to plinth mounted halogen spotlights fitted below base kitchen units and many more. The Kitchen and Bedroom collection brochures show many examples of these options and are well worth checking carefully.

Redecorate

If you merely want a cosmetic change of the appearance for your kitchen areas then instead of spending on kitchen units and kitchen furniture and fixtures, paint or wallpaper your kitchen walls instead. A fresh coat of paint or new wallpaper can alter the appearance of your kitchen for a relatively small cost and change the total look and feel instantly.

Add a Kitchen Island

Most people complain that there is insufficient worktop space in the kitchen and this can quickly be remedied by adding a kitchen island.

There are various styles of Kitchen Island but it is vital to ensure there is sufficient space between existing work areas and where you intend to place the island. You need to consider carefully the function of your island unit and where best to locate it. You can have it in the centre of the kitchen or you may place it as a divider between the kitchen and living room.

Islands can be constructed relatively inexpensively by buying a few ready made kitchen units and adding matching kitchen doors, and if you are using the Bella collection there are over 700 available options to choose from.

For added interest the kitchen doors and kitchen units could be contrasting to add interest and character to the overall look of your kitchen furniture.

When you update your kitchen always keep in mind the potential resale value of your home even if you have no plans of moving out. Take into account the style of your home, when you do kitchen updates and make sure the kitchen units and kitchen doors are in keeping with the overall look of your home.

Whatever the option you decide on, the range and choice offered by Bella should mean whatever your taste and whatever your budget, you should find what you are looking for.

D Caulfield Bella Blog 11/09/09 1.50pm

Recently we heard of the plight of local Phoenix Integrated Primary school in the town of Cookstown where we’re based, where a shortage of USB Memory sticks meant that the 23 pupils in P5 & P6 had to share one USB stick.

This meant difficulties with homework as the boys and girls had to take turns to have the USB at home to help with their lessons.

BA were asked if something could be done to help and had pleasure in supplying each of the pupils with their very own memory stick to use every night, now’s there no excuse for homework not being handed in.

The picture shows the P5 & P6 boys and girls of Phoenix Integrated Primary school along with their teacher Miss Robinson proudly showing of their newly acquired USB sticks which were presented by David Caulfield BA’s Sales & Marketing Manager and Celine McCreesh Marketing Assistant.

BELLA News  Summer 09