Natalie Forster

In this new weekly feature, Plumbing Group Chief Editors Nicole Krawcke highlights the industry’s latest news stories.

In this new weekly feature, Plumbing Group Chief Editors Nicole Krawcke and Natalie Forster will highlight recap top news stories from the week.

In this new weekly feature, Plumbing Group Chief Editors Nicole Krawcke and Natalie Forster will highlight timely news stories.

Although lack of available product and labor are ongoing factors within the residential plumbing sector, there is certainly no lack of opportunity. According to the 2021 North American Plumbing Fixtures Market Report, compiled by Grand View Research, the plumbing fixture market ended 2020 with a $22.4 billion value and it is expected to grow at a rate of 7.5% from 2021 to 2028.

It’s been more than two years since kitchen and bath professionals, designers and builders have gathered for the industry’s largest trade show and conference — the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), which is held annually in conjunction with the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA).

According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) Living Impacts Design Report for 2020, there are four overarching themes emerging throughout the bath and kitchen industry: Healthy living, simplified living, connected living and living in place.

As an extension of the QuickDrain USA total shower solution, aimed to reimagine how drains should look and perform, the company recently launched its new SquareDrain point drain. Plumbing & Mechanical attended the virtual product launch event in April. 

In 2011, Milwaukee Tool and Uponor came together to launch the first M12 ProPEX Expander, a tool that changed the way many plumbing and mechanical contractors installed ProPEX fittings.

A perfect storm of events left Texas residents grasping for the most basic needs — power and running water.