INCORPORATING IN THE UNITED STATES as Weilburger North America Inc., Weilburger Coatings GmbH is making a strong effort to expand into the U.S. hearth, patio, and barbecue industries with its line of high-temperature coatings. The initial focus will be on the Senotherm®Classic line (a standard quick-dry, solvent-based, high-temperature coating) and the Senotherm UHT series (an easy-to-apply Non- Smoker®coating).

Weilburger Coatings is the leader in high-temperature coatings in Europe and is growing significantly. It has production facilities in Germany, Italy, France, Poland, China, India, and Brazil. Given that China produces many of the parts used in the North American…

  TO SERVE ITS INDEPENDENT MEMBERS better, the International Casual Furnishings Association (ICFA) has created a new sales-representative council to provide insight and advice to ICFA’s board of directors. Bryan Echols, a sales representative in Concord, North Carolina, and a member of the board, will serve as 2016 chair of the council.

Gary McCray, president of Klaussner Outdoor and 2016 chair of ICFA, says, “One of our goals for ICFA has been to increase participation in our association. The formation of the sales-representative council offers this key segment that opportunity.”

Members serving three-year terms on the council are…

  THE INTERNATIONAL CASUAL FURNISHINGS ASSOCIATION (ICFA) has begun work on its first educational forum, slated for February 14 through 16, 2017, at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, Arizona. Gary McCray, president of Klaussner Outdoor and 2016 chair of ICFA, says, “ICFA’s 2017 conference, Navigating the Future, will combine giving our members educational content that they can put to work immediately in their businesses and providing networking opportunities across our industry. In keeping with our focus on participation, the event is being planned by our conference committee of retailers, sales representatives, manufacturers, and suppliers with an eye toward actionable…

  Z CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC has acquired Twin-Star International Inc. (Delray Beach, Florida). Twin-Star designs, manufactures, and markets a broad line of decorative electric fireplaces, heaters, home furnishings, and consumer electronics. With a track record of cutting-edge innovation, exceptional product quality, and outstanding customer service, the company has achieved the leading market position in the growing electric-fireplace category and is the primary supplier to many retailers across North America.

Twin-Star’s energy-efficient products are designed to provide a more economical and environmentally cleaner alternative to traditional wood- and gas burning fireplaces and to heat commercial and residential areas safely and…

  IN MARCH, BROWN JORDAN OUTDOOR KITCHENS received the Best Kitchen Award from a panel of esteemed judges at the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) show in New York, New York. According to the IFDA, Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens’ commitment to bringing luxury to the outdoors by way of offering color, style, and design was one of the many deciding factors in recognizing the company. In addition, Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens’ ability to blur the line between indoors and outdoors captured the attention of Dwayne Clark, senior director at Dwayne Clark Interior Design Management Group.

“In an industry…

  DESIGNER RICHARD FRINIER was honored with a Gold Award in this year’s ADEX competition for his Caravan collection of Sunbrella®fabrics. Greg Rosendale, residential market manager for Glen Raven Custom Fabrics (maker of Sunbrella fabrics), says, “We’re proud to be partnered with Richard Frinier and congratulate him on this new accolade for his continued design leadership. The Caravan collection of Sunbrella fabrics represents an ideal fusion of design and performance—attributes in which we take pride.”

Frinier, who has spent more than 30 years designing high-end furniture and fabrics, drew inspiration for this collection from an extended stay in Morocco.…

  WITTUS–FIRE BY DESIGN (Pound Ridge, New York) and ETE EmTechEngineering (Leipzig, Germany) teamed up in April to compete in the Pellet Stove Design Challenge at Brookhaven National Laboratory (Long Island, New York). Hosted by Alliance for Green Heat and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the competition was created to encourage innovation in residential heating.

The Wittus/ETE EmTechEngineering stove, the Pellwood, was a clear winner, achieving the cleanest burn rate overall and the lowest emissions (less than 0.5 grams per hour). The Pellwood can burn pellets or cordwood, so if pellets are not available or there…

  THE SUNBRELLA® 2016 UPHOLSTERY COLLECTION was honored with a Platinum Award in this year’s ADEX Awards. The 2016 additions to the upholstery collection emphasize design simplicity, with new bright colors and natural-inspired neutrals. The new introductions include seven fabric groupings drawing attention to vibrant colors and patterns, as well as textural neutrals.

Greg Voorhis, design director for Glen Raven Custom Fabrics (maker of Sunbrella fabrics), says, “With these new fabrics, we’re mixing two ends of the spectrum—bright to muted, old to new—and showing how they can come together to create beautiful, unassuming design. We are proud to see…