Brookfield Proposes Acquisition Of RWC Australia: Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC) Limited has entered into a process deed with Brookfield Capital Partners LLC following a non-binding proposal to acquire 100% of its ordinary shares through a scheme of arrangement at a cash offer price of AUD 4.75 per share. The offer represents premiums over recent trading levels and values the company at approximately AUD 4,100 million (USD 2,665.0 million/EUR 2,460.0 million). The propo

Nimlas Expands HVAC Presence In Eastern Finland Finland: Nimlas has expanded its presence in Eastern Finland through the acquisition of LVI-Bioneerit Oy, Savonlinnan LVI-Palvelu Oy and LVI-Myller Oy from Bioneerit Group Oy. The three companies employ around 70 personnel and generate combined annual revenue of approximately EUR 12.0 million. Following the transaction, the businesses will continue operating under their existing names as part of Nimlas Finland, with current mana

Samsung Expands HVAC Production Hub In South Korea South Korea: Samsung Electronics has announced an investment of KRW 240 billion (USD 180.0 million/EUR 165.0 million) to establish a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) production hub at its Gwangju Integrated Special City facility in South Jeolla Province. The project includes the construction of a new production line with a total floor area of 21,800 square metres at the Gwangju Campus No. 3, with operations sc

BRG Building Solutions will release its latest Tier 4 European Bathroom & Kitchen Market Reports, covering seven European markets and forecasting developments through 2030 before the end of the month. The latest reports further expand BRG Building Solutions' coverage of the European bathroom and kitchen sector, providing detailed market intelligence for Belarus, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Serbia and Slovenia. The reports deliver comprehensive analysis of market sizes

Retail store Wickes reported a 2.1% increase in revenue to £865.3 million (US$1.16 billion) for the first half of its 2026 financial year, supported by growth in its TradePro and Design & Installation businesses, which offset a slight decline in like-for-like Retail sales. For the 26 weeks ended 27 June 2026, group revenue increased from £847.9 million (US$1.14 billion) in H1 2025. Adjusted profit before tax rose 1.1% to £27.6 million (US$37.0 million), while statutory profit

production unit POLAND: Cersanit S.A., a manufacturer of ceramic and porcelain tiles and bathroom equipment, plans to implement collective redundancies affecting 487 employees across five production facilities in Poland, according to information provided by the District Labour Office in Krasnystaw. The planned reductions will affect plants in Krasnystaw, Starachowice, Opoczno, Radom and Wałbrzych, with employee notices expected to be issued in stages between August and Novemb

UK: Fireclay sink brand Shaws of Darwen has announced a significant price increase across its product portfolio, with one distributor warning that some prices could rise by as much as 300%. Jonathan White, Sales Director EMEAA at parent company Fortune Brands Innovations, confirmed that the increase will take effect from 1 November. He said current prices no longer adequately reflect the cost of manufacturing and supplying Shaws products. According to White, Fortune Brands ha

Inflation EUROPE: Euro zone wage growth continued to moderate in the second quarter, even as inflation picked up, while negotiated wage agreements indicate only a mild acceleration next year. This is expected to provide some reassurance to European Central Bank (ECB) policymakers that wage pressures remain contained. The ECB is closely monitoring wage developments amid concerns that higher energy prices could trigger stronger pay demands and create a persistent wage-price spi

US House Vote Raises Tariff Risks for India Over Russian Oil India: India faces the prospect of tariffs of up to 100% on countries purchasing Russian oil and gas after the US House of Representatives passed legislation giving President Donald Trump broader powers to impose sanctions and tariffs on such countries. The legislation is expected to go to Trump for signature. India and China are among the countries most exposed, as both are major buyers of Russian crude. Russia acc

ES Group Expands Distribution Partnership in Portugal Portugal: ES Group has signed a distribution agreement with Portuguese company Termomat for the sale of heat pump solutions under the ES Energy Save brand in Portugal. The partnership focuses on commercial real estate, with Termomat supplying HVAC and energy solutions for commercial buildings. The agreement covers heat pump solutions for both commercial properties and residential homes. As part of the partnership, training

RN Valves & Faucets Expands Bathroom Fitting Range in India India: RN Valves & Faucets has expanded its production range of PTMT taps, CP brass faucets, showers, health faucets and sanitary accessories for residential and commercial applications in India. The company, which has operated from Sahibabad Industrial Area since 2000, supplies products to residential builders, hotels, hospitals and institutional buyers. Its range includes pillar cocks, bib cocks, angle valves, wall

Trade New Zealand’s Parliament has passed legislation to implement the country’s free trade agreement with India, paving the way for reduced or zero tariffs on around 95% of New Zealand’s exports to the Indian market. The legislation was approved by 93 votes to 29, with the opposition Labour Party supporting the measure. More than half of the products covered under the agreement are expected to become duty-free from the date of implementation. In return, India will receive du

appointment Dornbracht has appointed Olaf Hoppe as managing director, effective 14 September 2026. The 59-year-old executive joins the Iserlohn-based fittings manufacturer after serving as CEO of SieMatic, where he oversaw the company’s transformation. Hoppe will assume overall management responsibilities following the departure of CSMO Caroline Schmitt and CFO Natalia Castellucci de Kolb. His appointment comes as Dornbracht continues to implement a strategy aimed at strength

Boiling taps Quooker UK, a manufacturer of boiling water taps, has officially entered the commercial market as part of a strategy to expand its presence in the UK office sector. The company previously supplied products to a limited number of offices but is now targeting the commercial channel as a dedicated growth area. According to Managing Director Stephen Johnson, Quooker has established a separate team of commercial specialists to develop the new channel independently fro

Wholesale market USA: According to a study by the Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), HVACR wholesale distribution in the U.S. directly supports more than 100,000 jobs and contributes nearly $33 billion in annual economic output. HARDI’s study, Keeping America Comfortable: A Baseline Economic Impact Analysis of HVACR Wholesale Distribution Across All 50 States, found that the sector supports 101,817 jobs, generates $32.9 billion in ec

Distribution Distribution major Ferguson Enterprises Inc. reported solid second-quarter sales despite an uncertain economic environment, a sluggish US residential market and challenging market conditions in Canada. During an August 10 earnings call, CEO Kevin Murphy and CFO Bill Brundage expressed confidence in the company’s outlook for the remainder of the year. Ferguson raised its guidance and now expects mid-single-digit sales growth in 2026, compared with its previous exp

Heat pump UK: North Devon College has opened a specialist heat pump training centre at its Sticklepath campus in partnership with heating technology manufacturer Vaillant Group UK. The Low Carbon Training Centre will provide apprentices with training on the latest heat pump technologies, while also offering upskilling courses for existing plumbing and heating professionals. The centre is Vaillant’s only training facility in South West England outside Bristol and one of only f

bathroom store India’s luxury bathroom market is increasingly shifting towards products that combine functionality with design, aesthetics, technology and personalization. GADOTT, the luxury bathware brand of VMS Bathware, is seeking to capitalize on this trend through design-focused products tailored to the requirements of Indian consumers. The brand currently operates through around 10 dealers, primarily in North India, along with an experience centre in New Delhi. It plans

ceramics Jaipur Capital, a strategic investment and holding platform, has acquired the manufacturing business and selected assets of Global Ceramics Private Limited through an asset transfer transaction. Manufacturing operations will be carried out through Melozzo Living Limited, a bathroom and home solutions company. As part of the transaction, Global Ceramics has transferred its industrial land, manufacturing facility, plant and machinery and other agreed business assets to

Public Handwashing Study Highlights Gaps in Plumbing Performance USA: The 2026 Clean Hands Index, based on more than 350 handwashing experiences across 240 public facilities and feedback from over 2,800 respondents, found that only 7.1% met all five criteria for an effective handwashing experience. The research assessed touch free soap dispensing, touch free faucets, warm water, hygienic hand drying and hands free exits. The findings highlight the gap between individual plumb

US Heat Pump Demand Remains Resilient After Tax Credit Ends USA: US heat pump shipments continued to increase in 2026 despite the expiry of the federal US$2,000 consumer tax credit at the end of 2025. Data through June showed no significant decline in shipments, suggesting that factors such as climate, electricity prices, replacement demand and the need for combined heating and cooling solutions are supporting purchases. Industry investment has also increased, with wider prod

A2L Refrigerants Drive Changes in US VRF System Design USA: The transition from R 410A to mildly flammable A2L refrigerants such as R 32 is changing VRF system design in the US. Manufacturers and contractors are placing greater focus on refrigerant charge, room size, leak detection, shut off valves, ventilation and early coordination between project teams. These changes have increased design complexity, equipment costs and training requirements for contractors. However, indus

Kyrgyzstan Introduces Six Month Restrictions on Selected Chinese Building Material Imports KYRGYZSTAN: Kyrgyzstan has imposed a temporary six month restriction on imports of selected building materials from third countries, with the exact product list yet to be published. The measure could affect Chinese suppliers, which are major sources of prefabricated structures, processed stone, refractory materials, ceramic tiles and sanitaryware. China accounted for around 91% of Kyrgy

German Wholesale Prices Rise GERMANY: German wholesale prices increased by 6.8% year on year in August 2026, marking their fastest annual rise since February 2023. The increase was largely driven by higher energy and raw material costs linked to the conflict in Iran and the wider Middle East. Petroleum product prices rose 36.1%, while chemical product prices increased 13.6%. Wholesale prices also rose 0.9% from July. The rise adds to inflationary pressure in Germany, with con