McLEAN, VA — Eager to achieve growth within the North American market, BLANCO has become Plumbing Manufacturers International’s newest manufacturing member.
For more than 95 years, BLANCO’s kitchen experts have offered their customers high-quality German engineering. Their solution-oriented approach to design offers customers the BLANCO UNIT, the seamless, fully customizable combination of kitchen sink, faucet, accessories and organization systems.
Founded in Oberderdingen, Germany, in 1925, the company has marketed its granite composite and stainless steel sinks, faucets and other products in the United States for the past 35 years and in Canada for 33 years, with facilities in Lumberton, New Jersey, and Toronto. The company has additional presences in more than 100 countries around the world.
Building Relationships
BLANCO’s main contact with PMI will be Lars Christensen, vice president, strategic portfolio development & market intelligence for BLANCO North America, who first engaged with PMI in 2002. Starting with BLANCO in April, he said he has retained his PMI engagement as he held positions among various PMI member companies over the years. Christensen said being a part of PMI helps him build relationships with PMI’s allied members that are product certifiers.
“We are delighted to welcome BLANCO North America to PMI and look forward to having their active involvement and global perspective in the critical issues and challenges facing our industry,” said PMI CEO and Executive Director Kerry Stackpole.
Christensen added that he values the legislative and regulatory insights he gains through the work of Jerry Desmond, PMI’s governmental affairs consultant in California, and Stephanie Salmon, PMI’s government affairs consultant in Washington. DC. “It’s very important to know about the legislation and regulatory actions being proposed and considered. PMI has its finger on the pulse, having all the information we need,” Christensen stated.
Spreading Their Wings
Responsible for all product development for BLANCO North America, Christensen will be helping the company “spread its wings a bit over the next couple years,” he explained. “Instead of being only a sink company, we want to serve as a kitchen solution for residential homes with the BLANCO UNIT. We want to be involved in all components of the kitchen water hub. We want to be what’s in the sink, what’s around the sink, what’s on top of the sink, what’s under the sink. Our goal is to develop all of these areas.”