AKW extends accessible kitchen range and unveils 3D design tool to bring customer designs to life
Inclusive solutions provider AKW has announced that it has extended its range of accessible kitchen products and introduced a powerful new design tool.
AKW’s kitchen range, which can be seen in its new kitchen brochure, contains pull out baskets, rise and fall kitchen work surfaces, drop down units and rotating corner unit shelves, has been expanded to include clear PETG door fronts for Shaker-style wall and base unit doors.
As well as offering good impact resistance, durability and chemical resistance, the transparent nature of the PETG door fronts means that the products inside the cupboard are easily visible. This improves the kitchen’s user experience for those with cognitive impairments, such as dementia, as it is quicker for them to locate essential items, without relying on their memory.
To bring customer designs to life at the planning stage, AKW is also now using ArtiCAD, a powerful design tool that produces full elevation and floor plan drawings, plus photo realistic 3D visuals.
According to AKW, these all help the end user and the specifier to see what is proposed, so any adjustments can be made before the build process begins. In addition, an ‘A, B, C’ price banding system has been introduced that is based on the door fronts, unit sizes or accessories chosen. This pricing zoning makes it easy to choose items that not only look good but that fit within specific budgetary requirements.
Stuart Reynolds, UK Marketing & Product Management Director at AKW: “Barriers to using the kitchen can be mental as well as physical, and to acknowledge this, we have extended our range to include door fronts that suit those living with cognitive impairments.
“We have also prioritised customer satisfaction by making it easier to visualise our kitchen layouts, moving all our production to the UK to shorten lead times and help those on a budget to choose the best items for their needs.”
A supplier of showering, daily living and kitchen solutions for people with mobility needs, AKW’s clients include the majority of local authorities, housing associations as well as national and regional contractors.
The move of all the firm’s accessible kitchen production from the Isle of Man to Cheshire last year is also helping to ensure customers receive their bespoke kitchens in the shortest possible lead times. AKW state that its products are delivered in dedicated kitchen vehicles, guaranteeing timely and secure transportation of these life-changing custom kitchens.
