The latest innovation to be added to Astracast’s existing range of stainless steel products is the revised Lausanne sink. The new design now benefits from a larger main bowl, ideal for cleaning and rinsing sizeable non-dishwasher items such as woks and grill pans. Practicality is further enhanced with the inclusion of Astracast’s unique Aquature drainer system, which allows water to efficiently drain away to reduce the drying time of large utensils.

A view of the sink market as it currently stands reflects how rapidly this sector has developed over recent years. As with most products that belong to the kitchen industry, no longer are sinks simply regarded as a basic, functional necessity but are now a key tool used to make a design statement. Those manufactured using stainless steel continue to be highly in demand despite brands exploring new avenues in terms of both product innovation and the development of materials used.

RAK Ceramics has introduced its new Fireclay Sink Collection. Suitable for both domestic and commercial use, the stunning range includes contemporary and traditional designs available in glazed white and high gloss black. Options are available for under, over and surface-mounting, with all models benefitting from a durable, non-porous glaze which provides scratch-resistance and easy maintenance.

Reginox has extended its best-selling Texas collection of contemporary stainless steel sinks by introducing two new models that include a drainer. Like all sinks within the range, the new Texas 10 and Texas 15 both feature deeper bowls with angular lines softened by subtle curves, but also include a sleek drainer which has been designed to harmonise perfectly with the overall clean and uncluttered look of the collection.

The designer looks of an integrally moulded sink are made easy for retailers with Bushboard’s Encore pre-fabricated solid surface range. As part of the innovative product offer, there are now two moulded sink models in 100% pure white acrylic available in single and one and a half bowl options. Elegantly designed with simple lines, they deliver a streamlined flow between sink and worksurface and guarantee the highest levels of hygiene and performance being durable, non-porous and inherently robust enough to cope with the high speed demands of a waste disposal unit.

Rieber sinks feature an unmistakable blend of style and quality. Rieber’s Waterstation® Cubic Sink features works on three levels. A second level in the main bowl enables the user to work with several GASTRONORM trays at once. A two-thirds size tray fits on the top level and, by turning 90 degrees; it can also be used on the lower.

Leisure Sinks’ Highlight range of composite sinks is now available in a variety of colours including cream and jet black. A smooth, rounded and versatile sink, it is at home in both traditional and modern kitchens. The range is offered as a single bowl model in Velstra composite - a robust material that offers superior hygienic properties and is perfect for those who want the excellent design qualities of composite sinks on a budget. The Highlight range is also available as a one and a half bowl model in a choice of Velstra or Neostone composites.

Sterling’s new range of farmhouse sinks is sure to make an impact in any kitchen with its lavish detailing and traditional looks. Beautifully crafted and finished, these sinks are now available in two single bowl models measuring 600mm and 800mm in addition to a 1.75 mm bowl (pictured) which measures 1000 mm.

Made in a super hard wearing quartz resin composite material, the new KP range of sinks from CDA bring a touch of style to a contemporary kitchen. The dramatic black finish is the perfect partner for shiny chrome taps - and CDA has a great selection including models with a pull out rinse. The range includes single, one and a half bowl and double bowl models, all reversible and suitable for use with a waste disposer.

BLANCO’s renowned attention to detail is nowhere more evident than in the new waste design on its extensive range of popular BLANCOSUPRA stainless steel undermount bowls. The new cover – the BLANCOTOPPER - is exceptionally stylish and practical. Not only does it enhance the appearance of the sink, disguising the basket strainer waste when not in use; it also effectively reduces splashing.

Carron Phoenix’s Carlow 150 ceramic sink draws together three key design threads in a single model. As a one and a half bowl sink that fits a 600mm cabinet it offers the most popular option; the premium ceramic material works superbly with the current trend for traditional furniture styles. Adding a stylish and modern touch is the Revolution overflow and basket strainer waste. The smart polished chrome flat disk sits flush and is operated by a simple click action to seal the sink and hold in water or release it.

Franke is celebrating 100 years in business with its state-of-the art Centinox sink along with two stunning taps and innovative accessories. The Centinox sink encompasses all the elegance, style and precision engineering expected from Franke; the new Slim-Top inset sink edge gives the appearance of a fashionable undermount sink.

Developments include our ground-breaking I F flat-edge technology for inset sinks. Sitting at just 1mm above the worktop, the innovative I F flat edge has changed the profile of the inset stainless steel sink forever. The latest generation of inset I F sinks in premium quality stainless steel sit easily with the streamlined, high-gloss kitchen schemes currently dominating kitchen design.

Reginox has added new sizes to its best-selling Texas range of stainless steel sinks, with eight different options now available. Texas reflects the trend for deeper bowls and features a small 10mm radius in each corner, resulting in a uniform and minimalist design that offers a clean and uncluttered look.

Waterstation® Round offers a focus for the kitchen and the option of a shared cooking experience. Providing the equivalent of around 3 metres of work surface on just 0.8 m² of floor space, Waterstation® Round works as a standalone unit, but also offers a practical and stylish solution to awkward spaces such as corners.

Carron Phoenix’s granite sinks just get even better because as from 1st June, the company is introducing the world-class Sanitized® anti-bacterial system across all of its granite products. This superb benefit also comes free of charge as no additional price premium will be made for it – good news for retailers looking to have an edge in a competitive market.

Franke is 100 years old and celebrating with the new Centinox sink along with two stunning taps and innovative accessories.

Crestwood adds some striking new square bowl sinks to its kitchen sink range with fashionable and angular styling to provide a contemporary look. Available either as a single bowl or bowl and a half version, both are surface mounted with right and left hand options.

The new All-In-One and Miniboil HydroTaps from Zip offer even more choice when it comes to convenience, with three new finishes: brushed chrome, black chrome and gold plated.

Ideal for smaller kitchens or as part of a sleek and minimal look, the All-In-One combines the functionality of a traditional mixer tap with the convenience of HydroTap to give hot, warm or cold water and instant filtered boiling and chilled water.

Ultra-modern Franke Mythos inset sinks are designed to offer the ultimate in choice and style for the discerning homeowner. The new Mythos Fusion MTF in beautiful onyx is made from Fraganite impregnated with Sanitized; it features stainless steel ribs which are completely flat and fused into the drainer. Available in both single and one-and-a-half bowl configurations, the sink complements stainless steel appliances and sleek, minimalist kitchen furniture.

There’s nothing like a good cuppa at the end of a busy day, but the last thing you want to do is have to wait for the kettle to boil. InSinkErator have the answer - their stylish Steaming Hot Water Taps provide instant 98° filtered hot water at the touch of a lever – producing up to 100 cups of hot water per hour!

Continually expanding its portfolio of products to meet the demands of the consumer, Caple has just introduced into the 2009 brochure the Lyon sink.

Blending perfectly with contemporary spaces, the chic finish of the stainless steel Lyon sink makes a great addition to any kitchen. Customising the sink is made easy with the exclusive frosted glass chopping board. With a printed design on the glass, the Lyon sink brings a fresh edge to the kitchen.

Cool black glass combines with stainless steel in the visually stunning KVL12 one and a half bowl luxury sink. Designed to be a real talking point in any kitchen, the sink is beautiful and at the same time extremely practical.

With around 3 metres of work surface on just 0.8 m², Waterstation® Round works centrally and also for awkward spaces such as corners. Find out more at www.bglrieber.co.uk

CD (UK) Ltd have updated their range of Fontana sinks to include 10 of the new Corian® colours (shot shows new Designer White).

Hygienic and easy to clean, high-performance Corian® has long been a favourite of kitchen designers for worktops. Fontana Sinks combine Corian® with the highest quality stainless steel base which offers a practical and durable finish which is also easy to maintain.

The Shaws Classic Waterside fireclay sink has been extremely well accepted by the industry and is available from kitchen specialist outlets. Interior designers are happy that this unusual style of contemporary, bow fronted ceramic kitchen sink is now widely available throughout the UK.

New from Reginox is Niagara, a stunning kitchen mixer tap designed to perfectly complement the current vogue for angular sink shapes softened by subtle curves.

Pegler Yorkshire’s Strata range of brassware has seen a huge amount of interest since its launch. The renowned Francis Pegler kitchen range is underpinned by the superb quality that is synonymous with the Pegler Yorkshire brand. Its selection of taps and mixers are designed to meet the needs of any environment from domestic to some commercial.

Committing to a huge product research and development programme, Britain’s leading manufacturer of kitchen sinks and taps, Astracast, looked at material trends, shapes and colours, before coming up not only with a product that is perfectly suited to the current trend for natural stone in the home, but is unique, innovative and technically advanced.

As key trend looks revolve around organic tones, warmth and harmony, Carron Phoenix’s Espresso granite, launched a year ago, is strongly coming into its own as the company reports a sharp rise in popularity for this chocolate-based, pearlescent colour.

Reginox has launched its new RF 700S (pictured above) and RF 750S stainless steel sinks. The company is positioning the two new sinks as additions to its popular RF 500 range of luxury sinks, a contemporary collection which has proved popular with homeowners seeking esoteric design within the kitchen.

Following the economic downturn and the associated slow down in R&D investment, the sink and tap market is starting to show signs of recovery and design flair and innovation are back on the up.

Responding to the ongoing demand for streamlined inset sink designs in today’s modern kitchen, BLANCO has added more than twenty new models to its range of IF flat edge sinks; bringing the number of options to thirty. Models include an update on the perennially popular 1 ½ bowl sink, as well as single bowl single drainer models. There are also IF versions of the popular square look BLANCOClaron and BLANCOZerox undermount bowls.

Leisure Sinks has launched a range of competitively priced kitchen sink and tap packs to make specification and installation cost effective and simple. Comprising its water-saving Aquanomic taps, sink, waste, tap hole stopper and fixing kit - each pack represents a saving of 5% on the items if bought individually from the Euroline, Linear and Lexin ranges.

This majestic Abode stainless steel Stalto Professional tap has been created for people who want the perfect blend of design, performance and sheer quality. Abode taps form a perfect partnership with their newly created range of kitchen sink designs.

Innovative and stylish with quality and performance assured, the new Edge Sio sink from Astracast is truly inspired.

The Zip HydroTap is the only kitchen appliance of its kind in the UK, delivering instant freshly filtered boiling and chilled water from the same unit – simply by the touch of a tap.

CD (UK) Ltd’s range of Fontana Corian® sinks provides the ultimate seamless solution for the Kitchen.

High performance Corian® has long been a favourite of kitchen designers for worktops. With more than 70 colours in the extensive Corian® kitchen colour palette, Fontana sinks now allow a seamless flow between the worktop and sink in all of these colours.

Combining convenience with environmental awareness, GROHE Blue provides filtered water in the freshest form with superior taste direct from the kitchen tap. The starter kit comprises a GROHE Blue tap, under-sink filter and an attractive glass carafe.

Carron Phoenix’s upgraded tap offer for 2010 brings the number of taps designed to complement its extensive sink range to over 30 designs, including pull-out and filter tap styles, in 12 different finishes.

Waterstation® Round creates a central focus for the kitchen and a more ‘shared’ cooking experience.

With around 3 metres of work surface on just 0.8 m², Waterstation® Round works centrally and also for awkward spaces such as corners. Find out more at www.bglrieber.co.uk

Egerton, a British made double bowl, ceramic sink from Shaws of Darwen. With a unique patterned front and offset dividing wall the sinks come without overflows but include 3½” waste outlets which accommodate basket strainer or waste disposer.

Gourmet Sink 14 – Practical Butler style for the family kitchen. A cavernous butler’s style which really fits into kitchen furniture. It has an integrated ceramic ledge with 3 pre-punched tap holes that can accommodate either a monoblock, a pair of sink taps or a bridge mixer, so there’s no worktop needed around the back of sink. Integrated soap recesses eliminate the need for clutter around the sink area. Dimensions: L595mm x W600mm x D255mm.Ceramic drainers also available. Shown with Kludi RAK Sink Mixer No4.

Carron Phoenix’s best selling Bali sink has had a material makeover and is now available in ceramic as well as its current granite form. Launched at KBB, the brand new Bali ceramic sink enhances the company’s offer with an appealing, contemporary design which complements the company’s current traditional ceramic styles of Shonelle, Solaris and classic Belfasts.

The brand new Rennie tap from Carron Phoenix is poised as a modern classic, combining an elegant design with a nod towards Charles Rennie Macintosh, along with high quality materials and beautiful craftsmanship.

The ‘Made in England’ Shaws of Darwen Classic Collection range of ceramic sinks are available in white and biscuit finishes and suit the more contemporary styles of kitchen designs. The Shaker double and the Inset sink work well together and are manufactured to blend into the simple lines of a modern interior, accompanied by matching chrome Helmshore taps from our Waterside collection. The Shaker features a dropped central dividing wall and both sinks have round overflows and standard 3½” wastes to accommodate either basket strainer or waste disposer. Visit www.shawsofdarwen.com to view our complete range of sinks and taps.

CD (UK) Ltd’s range of Fontana Corian® sinks provides the ultimate seamless solution for the Kitchen.

As a result of the noticeable increase in the popularity of its award-winning IF flat-edge technology in premium quality 18/10 stainless steel, BLANCO has now introduced 20 new models. The flat edge gives the appearance of laying almost flush with the worktop, a concept which was launched to international acclaim for its combination of appealing aesthetics and practical hygiene benefits.

This Abode Linear monobloc tap has been created for people who want the perfect blend of design, performance and sheer quality. Abode taps form a perfect partnership with their newly created range of kitchen sink designs.

Innovative and stylish with quality and performance assured, the new range of sinks and taps from Astracast are truly inspirational – yet totally practical solutions for the modern kitchen.

Bristan has extended its kitchen taps collection with the launch of three new contemporary monobloc designs; Bacchus, Enzor and Oval.

Reginox has launched a stylish collection of accessories to complement a number of its designer stainless steel sinks, aimed at the high end of the market.

Pegler Yorkshire has produced The Kitchen Collection brochure which includes its extended range of kitchen brassware. It provides an informative and comprehensive overview of Pegler’s taps and mixers, designed to meet the needs of any environment from domestic to some commercial - from high neck sink taps to deck sink mixers, single lever monoblocs to designer mixers with dual flow spouts.

One of Britain’s leading distributors to the kitchen industry, D K Distribution of Manchester are supplying an exciting new range of sink and tap designs including products from leading manufacturer Pyramis. DK Distribution are now the national distributors for Pyramis products.

2010 brings the launch of the first GROHE boiling hot water tap – GROHE Red, combining convenience with innovation.

Ideal for kitchens of all styles and sizes, the Bistro sink from Brass and Traditional Sinks offers classic styling suitable for enhancing wooden or hand painted cabinetry or the ideal way to add a traditional twist to modern kitchen units – it’s the ideal sink for both modern and classic applications.

The new products from Franke have been designed to build on the success of previous portfolios – no mean feat in difficult times! Franke selected the bestsellers and listened to the demands of the market over the past twelve months; and has introduced new products which push the boundaries of technology and are very clever!