Gift Focus - Sep/Oct 2018 (Issue 109)

8 giftfocus WINNER ANNOUNCED FOR THE REALLY GOOD DESIGN SEARCH Gift entrepreneur David Hicks has announced the winner of his first annual search for design talent. Vicky Yorke, a surface pattern designer and illustrator working from her home studio in semi-rural Worcestershire, has designs inspired by the beautiful countryside that surrounds her home. Collections in her portfolio include vibrant florals and animals, as well as patterns influenced by travels both in the UK and beyond. Vicky’s Wild At Heart collection was first inspired by a trip to the safari park in Kidderminster, near to where she lives. The judging panel consisted of one of the U.S.’s biggest distributors, Alan Harnik of Notes & Queries, Jenny Cummins of Australian gift and card distributor McMillan, Claire Castle, a buyer for WH Smith, Jakki Brown, editor of Progressive Greetings and Mark Janson-Smith, owner of Postmark gift stores. Vicky will now gain the opportunity to have her work published and taken to market globally, plus a £1,000 cash prize. Really Good founder David Hicks said: “Vicky Yorke was the standout designer who not only fit in with our style but also, planning ahead as we do, could be released in six months’ time and be interesting for design content. I’m thrilled that she’s won this first annual demanding competition.” industry news MANUFACTURERS AND RETAILERS OF DOMESTIC OVEN GLOVES TO BE AWARE OF A NEW EUROPEAN REGULATION On the 21 st April, 2018, the European Regulation (EU) 2016/425 covering Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was applied. This new regulation includes domestic oven gloves within its scope – i.e., gloves “explicitly described and marketed accordingly by their manufacturers for private use to protect against heat.” The regulation clearly defines the obligations and responsibilities of manufacturers, authorised representatives, importers and distributors of PPE. This newly added group of products includes oven gloves, pan holders, gloves for use with barbecues and, with the exception of dishwashing, any other piece of hand protection intended to be used in a domestic setting. We are currently in a one-year transition period that runs until 21st April, 2019, after which time all types of “hand protective equipment for thermal domestic risks” placed on the market will be required to undergo an EU type-examination and be CE- marked according to the new Regulation. For assessing the performance of oven gloves SATRA tests against European Standards EN420:2003 +A1:2009 and prEN407:Oct2017. Domestic ovens will typically reach 240°C at their highest settings, and at this temperature, skin will burn instantly on contact with metal or ceramic surfaces such as cookware items and oven shelving. It is therefore important that any item sold as an oven glove is constructed of material(s) able to withstand such high temperatures and that the whole glove will provide the wearer with adequate hand and wrist protection. Testing to this standard and CE Marking ensures all oven gloves on the market have standardised protective properties. Attend the SATRA Seminar on Oven Glove Regulation on the 23 rd January 2019 to find out more – the conference is aimed at manufacturers and suppliers of oven gloves. Topics covered will include various aspects of the PPE Regulation, the performance requirements of the relevant European standards and what needs to be included on labels and user information. SATRA is dedicated to supporting its customers through the certification process. It has more than 20 years of experience in certifying PPE along with extensive in-house testing knowledge. Employees are experts in their fields and are members of various international technical committees responsible for the development and application of performance standards for all types of PPE gloves. In order to continue placing oven gloves on the market, manufacturers will now have to meet the requirements of the new PPE Regulation, and it will be illegal from 21st April, 2019, to place products on the market that are not compliant with the PPE Regulation. Visit satra.com/ppe for more information.