Australian Bidet Brand Conor Expands Into New Zealand with Full Smart Bathroom Range New Zealand: Australian bidet and smart toilet company Conor Australia is expanding into New Zealand after four years of growth in Australia. Founded in Melbourne in 2022, the company offers non-electric bidet seats, smart electric bidet seats, integrated smart toilets, portable bidets and handheld sprays. Its entire product range is WaterMark-certified, supporting compliance with Australian

UK Heat Pump UK: The UK recorded a record 8,150 applications for heat pump grants in July 2026, following increased government support for households replacing heating oil systems amid the Middle East conflict. Applications rose 81% from June and 112% year on year, exceeding the previous monthly record of 5,328. From July, eligible off-gas-grid households in England and Wales could receive an enhanced US$ 10441.4 (£9,000) grant, compared with the standard US$ 8701.1 (£7,500)

F-Gas Restrictions on High-GWP Split AC UK: Great Britain has updated guidance on its 2025 ban on single split air conditioners containing less than 3 kg of fluorinated greenhouse gases with a GWP of 750 or higher. Refrigerants such as R-407C and R-410A are covered by the prohibition. However, exemptions apply to systems used solely for product cooling, air-to-water split systems and units installed on maritime craft. Previously placed products can still be sold if businesses

Flow Service Partners Strengthens South Florida Commercial HVAC Presence Through Altman Acquisition USA: Flow Service Partners has acquired Altman Air Conditioning, expanding its commercial HVAC and mechanical services platform across South Florida. Founded in 1985, Altman provides commercial air-conditioning, equipment replacement, repairs, mechanical services and maintenance to customers across the region. The acquisition complements Cortez, another Flow company operating i

Midea RAC Partners with NARAP for HVAC Technical Training in Nigeria Nigeria: Midea Residential Air Conditioner Division (Midea RAC) partnered with the Nigerian Association of Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Practitioners (NARAP) at NARAP Day 2026, held in Abia State, Nigeria, on July 23–24, as part of its nationwide technical training initiative launched in May 2026. The program covers HVAC technologies, standardized installation practices, after-sales service, and Midea’

Johnson HVAC Distribution Completes Rebrand and Launches New Website Across 25 Locations U.S.: Johnson HVAC Distribution, formerly known as Johnson Supply, has completed its company-wide rebrand and launched a new website, extending the updated identity across all 25 branch locations serving HVAC contractors and professionals throughout Texas and Louisiana. The independently/employee-owned company, established in 1953, said the rebrand reflects its long-standing focus on HVAC

Aermec to Invest USD 17.4 Million in New Chicago Production Plant as 2026 Turnover Grows 5% Italy: Verona-based HVAC manufacturer Aermec will invest USD 17.4 million to build a 15,000-square-meter production plant in the Chicago area, with operations expected to begin in January 2028 and an initial workforce of 150 employees, while the facility could later expand to 30,000 square meters. The company, which operates in 140 countries, reported its 2026 turnover is currently up

Europe's bathroom furniture market delivered a surprising performance in 2025. While residential construction remained subdued across many countries and housing completions continued to decline in several major markets, demand for bathroom furniture proved more resilient than expected. The latest BRG data suggests that the market is no longer being driven primarily by new build activity. Instead, growth is increasingly being generated by renovation projects, bathroom modernis

Vietnam Reviews Air Conditioner Energy Standards to Improve Efficiency Vietnam: Vietnam has initiated consultations to revise TCVN 7830, the national standard for the energy performance of non-ducted air conditioners. The discussions, organised by the Vietnam National Standards and Quality Institute in collaboration with GIZ Proklima, were held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and involved government bodies, academic institutions, industry representatives and certification organ

Beijer Ref Acquires Majority Stake in Lithuania’s Refra Sweden/Lithuania: Sweden-based Beijer Ref has agreed to acquire a 90% stake in Lithuania-based Refra, with an option to purchase the remaining shares. Refra, established in 1994 and headquartered in Vilnius, manufactures heating and cooling systems using natural refrigerants such as carbon dioxide and propane, and reports annual turnover of approximately SEK 500 million (USD 53 million/EUR 49 million). The company will c

Carrier Considers New Manufacturing Plant in Fort Worth USA: United States-based Carrier Global Corp. is evaluating plans to establish a new manufacturing plant in Fort Worth, Texas, with an estimated investment of USD 433 million (EUR 399 million). The proposed facility would be located in a 1.2 million square-foot building under development in the northern part of the city. The project is being considered as part of efforts to meet growing demand for data centre cooling sys

Croatia Introduces Subsidies for Solar Systems and Heat Pumps Croatia will begin offering subsidies for photovoltaic systems, battery storage and heat pumps in single-family homes from 2 September 2026, with a total allocation of EUR 36 million (USD 39 million). The programme, administered by the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, is open to individual homeowners who are registered occupants of the property. Applications must be submitted through the nationa