NKBA’s highly regarded membership program hosted journalists from five countries to report on the latest developments in the North American K&B market.
By NKBA Staff
NKBA welcomed ten editors from Europe and South America for a guided tour of KBIS 2026 in Orlando as part of the Global Connect International Media Tour, marking the largest such tour the association has ever organized.
Through the NKBA’s growing international business membership program, editors hailing from the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and Brazil visited a curated selection of Global Connect exhibiting members and learned about North American brands, design directions, market insights and business nuances throughout KBIS, to report back to their home markets. Editors attended sessions designed to help international companies explore a foray into the U.S. and Canada or strengthen and expand their opportunities in the region.
KBIS, which is owned by NKBA and is the largest and most comprehensive trade show in North America dedicated to all aspects of kitchen and bath design and remodeling, was held in February at the Orange County Convention Center. The show featured more than 200 international brands, including 54 Global Connect members, and provided networking, educational opportunities and informative panels. KBIS is part of Design & Construction Week (DCW), a co-location of KBIS and the International Builders Show hosted by the National Association of Home Builders. In all, DCW drew more than 117,000 registrants and showcased some 2,250 exhibitors.
Members of the international media applauded the show and their tailored Global Connect experience.
“Visiting KBIS this year was an eye-opening experience. It was so inspiring to see the energy, creativity and innovations from North America, from bold new bathroom and kitchen designs to cutting-edge products,” said Diane Larner, founder and Editor in Chief of Bathroom Review in the UK. “The awards highlighted truly outstanding entries that demonstrated exceptional design across the industry. Walking the show floor and speaking with manufacturers offered insights you simply can’t get elsewhere. I’m already excited to see what next year’s event will bring!”
Antonia Pozo Comas, a journalist with IM Cocinas y Baños magazine in Spain, added, “Attending KBIS is always an enriching experience from a journalistic perspective. The show brings together innovation, design and technology at an international level, making it an essential event to understand where the kitchen and bath industry is heading. The media tour was especially valuable, as it allowed us to engage directly with brands and better understand the innovation behind their latest products.”
Here’s a snapshot of the NKBA Global Connect exhibitors on the International Media Tour.
The German Pavilion, supported by AMK, the German Kitchen Association and a Strategic Alliance Partner of NKBA Global Connect, included:
Elektra GmbH: Award-winning Elektra specializes in intelligent, sustainable LED lighting solutions for kitchens, baths and interiors. Its products include linear, recessed, surface-mounted, spot and integrated solutions and more, as well as lighting management systems, switches, controls and related hardware.
Burn Outdoor Kitchen: Burn produces outdoor kitchen modules, cabinetry and accessories engineered with weatherproof integrity, hidden rubber seals and integrated drainage systems. The company works with global producers of appliances, grills and cooktops for precision engineering, assembling the outdoor kitchen with the same exacting fit as an indoor kitchen.
Vauth Sagel: Vauth Sagel manufactures and sells individual solutions and modular system solutions that make everyday life easier and storage solutions that make living spaces more comfortable. Its products include cabinetry with easy-access interiors and accessories that maximize every bit of space, all sustainably produced.
W. Kirchhoff/Wasserwerk and Chambord: Wasserwerk is a subsidiary of W. Kirchhoff Inc., operating under the umbrella of the Schütte Group, a leading European supplier of premium faucets, bathroom accessories, and plumbing products for over 100 years. All its faucets are precision-crafted in Germany and include matching high-quality accessories like soap dispensers and disposal switches. Schütte’s Chambord brand produces handmade fireclay and granite sinks and faucets with a chic French aesthetic.
imos AG: imos develops and distributes software solutions for companies that design and plan furniture and accessories in the kitchen, bath, cabinetry and interiors industries, among others. Its versatile iX Interio software digitizes processes — from planning and sales to order entry and design, to production organization, manufacturing and assembly.
Feron: Family-owned Feron is a technology leader in selected segments of paper, plastic and metal foil coating. In interiors and K&B applications, it makes noble and resistant metal foils for functional and decorative surfaces in a wide range of applications, and offers optimized solutions for kitchen and home furniture, tabletops, worktops, edgebands, skirting boards, doors, interior wall cladding, mirror tiles, whiteboards and more.
Hettich/Hettich America: Hettich, headquartered in Germany’s East Westphalia furniture manufacturing hub, and Hettich America, based in Buford, Ga., produce high-quality, reliable cabinet hardware, hinges, runners, drawer box systems, sliding and folding door systems, spinning cabinet technology and more.
Kesseböhmer: Kesseböhmer creates innovative German-built storage products that are a blend of design, function and quality. Its products maximize storage space and optimize workflows throughout the home.
Mobika (Turkey): Turkish-based Mobika manufactures kitchen and bathroom furniture, interior doors, wardrobes, and dressing rooms under multiple labels. Its own brands include Viena Kitchens, Viesta Bathrooms, Kitchen’up Kitchens and Novaporta Doors, and it also creates custom kitchen, bathroom, and modular furniture for private label branding.
Guangdong Saca Precision Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (China): Saca, a subsidiary of the Star Group, is a leading producer of basic, functional and smart hardware for kitchen cabinetry and wardrobes, smart lighting systems, hinges, slides, rails and more. Founded in 1994, it currently exports to 100 countries.
Mikado Quartz (Saiens Inc.) (Vietnam): Mikado Quartz, with offices in Taichung, Taipei and Kaohsiung, offers high-quality surfaces that embrace artistic perspectives in collaboration with scientists, architects and interior designers. Materials include a non-crystalline form of silica, providing a safer environment for fabricators.
Italiana Ferramenta srl (Italy): Italiana Ferramenta, headquartered in northern Italy and operating in 70 countries, produces accessories, hardware and fittings for the furniture and cabinetry industry. Its lines include glass shelf supports, hinges, connectors, hangers, push and magnetic catches, drop-down and lift systems for cabinetry, lighting accessories, chargers, cables and more.
CentroRochas (Brazil): CentroRochas, the Brazilian Natural Stone Association, is a national association focused on business, corporate and export activities in the Brazilian stone industry. It works on collective issues, encourages exports and aims to reduce bureaucracy. Founded in 2004 in Vitória, capital of the State of Espírito Santo, the largest export region of ornamental stones in Brazil, Centrorochas monitors and analyzes export volume, engages in collective negotiations with service providers to reduce costs, offers guidelines on taxation, logistics, mining and regulations, and fosters a cooperative spirit among businesses in the sector.
Quartzforms SPA (Italy): Quartzforms is a leading producer of high-quality mineral surfaces for interior design and architecture. Driven by technological innovation and aesthetic research, it offers functional and sustainable solutions. Its latest innovation is Ecotone, combining beauty and environmental responsibility to transform every space.
Florim (Italy)/Florim USA: Based in Clarksville, Tenn., Florim USA has one of the largest porcelain tile manufacturing facilities in North America. It is a subsidiary of Modena, Italy-based Florim, and was established in 2000. The company operates more than one million square feet of production space and manufactures over 105 million square feet of tile annually. Its Milestone brand complies with the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act, which mandates the use of American-made materials in federally funded infrastructure projects. The company sources all its raw materials regionally for the body of its tile, supporting local industries and sustainable practices.
Antolini Luigi & Co. SpA (Italy): Antolini® is a global leader in natural stone production and at the forefront of the industry. The company, founded by Luigi Antolini in 1956 and active today globally, offers a wide selection of natural stones known for their unique colors, finishes and patterns, including natural stone and tile, quartz, marble, outdoor furniture, vanities and wall coverings.
Infinity Surfaces (Italy): Infinity Surfaces, a part of Gruppo Concorde, is the largest Italian manufacturer of porcelain surfaces for architecture and interior design. The company specializes in the production of large-format porcelain slabs for floors, wall cladding, kitchen countertops, custom-made furnishings, and architectural façades.
Grespania (Spain): Grespania is an international ceramic manufacturing company that produces natural stone and tile wall coverings, boasting innovative technical properties and cutting-edge designs.
Media Tour participants also engaged in select Global Connect Delegation Program activities, including daily presentations and discussions. Learn more about NKBA Global Connect here.
KBIS 2027 takes place Feb. 2 to 4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. More info here.
