The Voice of the Bathroom Industry
17/07/2012 | The award-winning Bathroom Manufacturers Association is at the forefront of the UK bathroom industry, representing manufacturers in the key areas of sustainability, designing for special needs, training and education, technical issues, marketing and lobbying. ________________________________________ The BMA is a trade association which has represented the interests of the bathroom industry in the UK for well over 100 years. As the ‘Voice of the Bathroom Industry’ the association acts as an information highway between the industry and its customers, installers, Government and media, and represents the industry at UK and European Product Standards committees and at the European Commission. Today the BMA represents around 55 major bathroom manufacturing groups and service providers, with over 80 well-known brands. The membership employs over 10,000 people across 79 sites with a combined annual turnover exceeding £1Billion. Based at the Keele University Science and Business Park, and operating from low carbon offices, the BMA is at the leading edge of UK bathroom manufacture. Sustainability | The BMA is leading an industry initiative to raise awareness of those water efficient bathroom products which are playing a major part in reducing the consumption of water in homes and public buildings. The initiative - The Water Label, and its accompanying Water Calculator - lists products which meet strict water-efficiency criteria. The on-line database is used by industry professionals and consumers alike, giving the purchaser sufficient detail to make an informed and intelligent choice. Parts of the scheme were recently adopted in Europe. Special Needs | The BMA’s Making Life Easier initiative studies the needs of disabled and elderly people and considers the challenges thus created for bathroom product designers. The association is developing, in conjunction with occupational therapists, a searchable database of suitable bathroom products. Education and Training | The Bathroom Academy was established to improve the knowledge-base of the industry. Members participate in the development of the academy and help produce the downloadable product guides. The BMA also provides teachers’ packs through its website. Technical Issues | The BMA represents members at Government forums, UK, European and International standards committees and relevant trade bodies. Technical support is given to its members across the range of bathroom products by the Technical Director.