For me Maree, there's no question.  I've had my KitchenAid for a few years now and it will last my lifetime.  It IS robust.  It's heavy, meaning it won't 'travel' around the worktop.  The acton of the mixer attachments are extremely good, reaching virtually all areas of the bowl.  It's also quite quiet.

Yes, I can thoroughly recommend my almost best friend.

I love my KitchenAid stand  mixer but if you are after attatchments than they are expensive and I dont think they have as many as the Kenwood.
The Kitchen aid is I understand run on a selection of gears to make it work.
I have been impressed with this machine but then its the only stand mixer that I have ever owned so I have nothing really to compare it with.

My sister loves her Kenwood .
She has various attatchments that she uses sometimes .
I am not sure how your present attatchments would fit a new machine.
I know that there is a more robust proffesional kenwood machine that is not a great deal larger than the domestic machine .
I presume that the proffesional model must be tougher but I am not sure, but it might be worth looking at because of the volume of use it will get making all those gourmet pet treats etc.

Thanks, MsP. I'm told that KitchenAid have a commercial model with a stronger motor than the domestic models. It also has an automatic cut-off switch in the case of overheating, or so I'm told. That's the one I'd be getting. Good point 

Thanks, Mummza. The Kenwood attachments won't fit other than the Kenwood. To be honest, I rarely used them anyway. The stand mixer is mainly for the catering (that's human, by the way) business. I tend to use the Magimix mainly for the pet treat and meals businesses. The KitchenAid attachments are very pricey but I've found a place online that is cheaper than the regular suppliers and they are approved by KitchenAid, thankfully.

I'll check them out properly today (Thursday). Have already been informed that they have to be ordered in which is a real pain. Takes about a week, I'm told. Thankfully, I don't have a job on this weekend.

Thank you for your help, ladies. Much appreciated     

Last edited by Maree (Wed 06 Feb 13 3:04pm)

A good time to be buying Maree, I know we are very lucky at the moment with how affordable these things are in Australia, so make the most of it!

I have the sausage stuffer and meat/food grinder and slicer.  I have the pasta roller and i think they call it a fettucinne maker.  I want to get the ravoli maker, but like u said Maree they are expensive.