Panasonic Vietnam Launches E-Waste Collection Pilot Targeting 1,000 Used Air Conditioners Vietnam: Panasonic Vietnam Co. Ltd. has partnered with electronics retailer Cao Phong Co. Ltd., operator of the Cho Lon store chain, to launch a pilot electronic waste collection programme across southern and central Vietnam from October 2026 to March 2027, initially targeting 500–1,000 used air conditioners. Customers purchasing Panasonic products at Cao Phong stores can register to sel

Texas Prison System Faces USD 1.5 Billion Air Conditioning Retrofit by 2029 US: A federal judge has ordered the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to install air conditioning across its prison system by December 31, 2029, with TDCJ estimating the work could cost approximately USD1.5 billion. As of September 1, 38 of 104 facilities were fully air conditioned and 53 partially air conditioned, while projects covered 53,676 cool beds, with 23,738 under construction, 7,34

Philippines and South Korea Fast-Track Environmental and Climate Cooperation Agreements Ahead of ASEAN Summit Philippines/ South Korea: The Philippines and South Korea are accelerating negotiations on two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) covering environmental and climate change cooperation ahead of the 49th ASEAN Summit in November 2026. Discussions between Philippine Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna and South Korean Ambassador and Deputy Minister for Climate Change J

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air Conditioners Receive Top Ratings from Three Australian Consumer Organisations in 2026 Australia: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems announced on 8 October 2026 that its residential and commercial air conditioners in Australia, marketed through its subsidiary Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioners Australia (MHIAA), received high ratings from three consumer organisations. MHIAA won CHOICE’s 2026 Best Brand (Air Conditioners) award

Samsung and LG Expand Heat Pump Plans to Support South Korea’s Green Transformation Strategy South Korea: Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics plan to expand heat-pump systems combining cooling, heating and hot water from a single outdoor unit, supporting South Korea’s K-GX strategy to electrify residential heating and reduce fossil-fuel use. The government aims to deploy 3.5 million heat pumps by 2035, cutting greenhouse-gas emissions by 5.18 million metric tons. Samsung’s

Hungary Extends Deadline for EU-Funded Residential Solar Programme Hungary: Hungary has extended the completion deadline for its EU-funded RRF-6.2.1-2021 residential solar programme to October 31, 2026, allowing complex projects to close once at least two required development elements are completed. Launched in December 2021, the scheme offers grants covering 100% of eligible costs for lower-income households, up to US$8,870 for PV-only systems and approximately US$34,560 for

Hitachi and Bosch Home Comfort Collaborate on Connected Commercial HVAC Diagnostics and Building Management Japan/Germany: Hitachi Ltd., Hitachi Global Life Solutions and Germany-based Bosch Home Comfort Group have agreed to integrate Hitachi’s HMAX for Buildings platform and exiida HVAC IoT solution with Bosch’s airCloud Pro service, enabling remote monitoring, predictive failure diagnostics and energy management for commercial HVAC equipment. Targeting continuously operated

NBCC Floats USD 1.13 Billion in Tenders to Complete 16 Stalled Supertech Housing Projects India: NBCC (India) Limited has floated 25 tenders worth USD1.13 billion (INR 96,203.3 million) to complete 16 stalled Supertech housing projects across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Karnataka, covering 50,962 homes, of which 39,870 were sold, 24,871 handed over and 14,999 remain undelivered. Appointed project management consultant by NCLAT in December 2024, NBCC’s mandate was

Italy’s Valves and Taps Sector Faces Export Challenges and New European Drinking Water Rules Italy: Italy’s valves and taps sector, with turnover of almost EUR 10 billion and exports accounting for over 60% of revenue, faces growing geopolitical uncertainty, volatile energy and logistics costs, and stricter European drinking water requirements. Francesca Paffoni, CEO of Rubinetteria Paffoni Spa and President-designate of the Italian Association of Valve and Faucet Manufacture

UK Future Homes Standard Drives Stricter Energy Efficiency and Ventilation Requirements UK: The UK’s Future Homes Standard (FHS), planned for implementation in 2025, aims to reduce carbon emissions in new homes through low-carbon heating, including heat pumps, improved insulation and energy-efficient technologies such as Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR). Updates to Building Regulations Parts F and L focus on indoor air quality, ventilation and energy performan

Egypt Advances Structural Reforms and Economic Transformation Programme to Boost Private Sector Growth Egypt: Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Ahmed Rostom, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to structural reforms under the State Ownership Policy Document and government IPO programme, expanding long-term financing, diversifying funding sources and broadening the tax base digitally. Despite slower global growth and regional geopolitical tensions, the

Abu Dhabi Branded Residences Market Enters Major Growth Phase UAE: Abu Dhabi is entering a major growth phase in branded residences, with 31 projects, including 5 completed and 26 in the pipeline, making it the sixth-largest city market globally and its pipeline joint third with Cairo. According to Global Branded Residences’ The Brand Standard, 92% of Abu Dhabi’s pipeline and 83% of its total market are standalone developments, compared with 37% globally, while branded reside

Morocco’s World Cup Preparations Are Reshaping the HVAC Market Morocco’s preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup are creating an infrastructure boom that extends far beyond football. The country is investing heavily in airports, hotels, railways, stadiums and urban infrastructure, creating a sizeable pipeline of new buildings and facilities that would require cooling, ventilation and other HVAC systems. The scale of the investment is significant. According to the IMF, Morocc

Mr DIY Prepares Market Entry in Hungary and Czech Republic Hungary/Czech Republic: Malaysian retail chain Mr DIY is preparing to enter the Hungarian market with its first store at the Köki shopping centre in Budapest. According to a report by Daily News Hungary dated 5 October 2026 and shared by the Malaysian Embassy in Hungary, the company has begun recruiting staff for the store. No opening date has been announced. Mr DIY is also preparing to open a store in the Czech Repub

Sodimac Revenue Rises 3.8% In Q2 2026 Chile: Falabella’s home improvement business Sodimac recorded a 3.8% year-on-year increase in revenue in the second quarter of 2026, reaching CLP 975.1 billion (EUR 910 million; USD 1.07 billion). The consolidated figures cover operations in Chile, Peru, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. Colombia and Mexico are not included in Falabella’s consolidated financial statements; including these markets, Sodimac’s sales increased by 10.0%. In local

Top Knobs Acquires JACLO Industries and Durst United States: Top Knobs, a Dimora company, has acquired JACLO Industries, a decorative plumbing manufacturer and distributor based in Cranford, New Jersey, along with its sister brand Durst. JACLO will join Watermark Designs within Top Knobs’ Luxury Brands division. JACLO supplies plumbing, design and contracting customers through showrooms and dealers across North America, while Durst supplies valves, fittings, drainage and wate

RAK Ceramics Appoints Leonardo De Muro as Group CMO UAE: RAK Ceramics has appointed Leonardo De Muro as Group Chief Marketing Officer, effective 1 October 2026. De Muro previously served as Corporate Vice President, International Business Development at the company and has more than 30 years of experience in the ceramics and building materials industry. In his new role, De Muro will oversee RAK Ceramics’ global brand positioning, marketing strategy and innovation activities,

Eziz Doganlar Keramika Expands Ceramic Exports to Azerbaijan Turkmenistan: Eziz Doganlar Keramika, a Turkmenistan-based manufacturer of porcelain tiles and sanitary ceramics established in 2025, has started exporting its products to Azerbaijan. The company previously shipped its first products to Georgia in August, with the latest shipment expanding its export activity into the South Caucasus. The company manufactures porcelain stoneware tiles and sanitary ware using locally

Atlas Copco Completes Acquisition of Guangdong Euroklimat China: Atlas Copco Group has completed its acquisition of Guangdong Euroklimat, a China-based manufacturer of industrial heating and cooling solutions. Founded in 2009, Guangdong Euroklimat provides equipment for applications including process cooling and energy conversion, with manufacturing and assembly facilities in Guangdong Province and Tianjin, as well as sales offices in Southeast Asia. Guangdong Euroklimat gene

FETA Rejoins Eurovent as Member Association UK: The Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (FETA) has rejoined Eurovent as a Member Association after an absence of more than 20 years. The move brings the UK trade body back into a network of 18 national associations representing the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) industry across Europe. FETA represents more than 400 manufacturers, suppliers, installers and contractors across sectors in

Pentair Completes USD 1.4 Billion Acquisition of Taco USA: Pentair has completed its acquisition of Taco Group Holdings (Taco) for USD 1.4 billion, subject to customary adjustments. Taco provides hydronic and water-based solutions, and the acquisition expands Pentair’s portfolio across commercial and other water-related applications. Taco will become part of Pentair’s Water Solutions reporting segment and will continue to operate under the Taco brand. Taco will retain a signi

Navien Opens Upgraded New Jersey Training Academy USA:Navien has opened its upgraded New Jersey Training Academy to expand technical training for contractors, distributors, sales representatives and other HVAC, plumbing and water treatment professionals. The facility includes two expanded classrooms and hands-on training areas featuring Navien products, with programmes covering installation, commissioning, operation, diagnostics and troubleshooting. The academy will offer sch

Samsung Plans Nationwide Rollout of Integrated Heat Pump in Korea South Korea: Samsung Electronics plans to expand domestic distribution of its EHS All-in-One heat pump for apartments and other multi-family housing in South Korea. The system provides cooling, floor heating and hot water from a single outdoor unit and uses heat recovery technology to reuse waste heat generated during cooling for hot water production. Samsung plans to establish a domestic supply base by 2027 an

Duravit Appoints Marcel Keller to Lead Swiss Business Switzerland: Duravit has appointed Marcel Keller as Managing Director of its Swiss business, effective 1 January 2027. Keller has experience in the sanitary and construction sectors, including sales management and growth strategy. He will oversee the company’s activities in Switzerland, with responsibilities covering its market strategy, relationships with specialist retailers and customer engagement. The appointment follo