WERIT Expands Dutch Sanitary Market Presence with Rezi Sanitair Business Takeover Netherlands: Werit Kunststoffwerke W. Schneider GmbH & Co. KG will take over the business activities of its long-standing Dutch partner Rezi Sanitair Nederland BV, based in Valkenswaard, effective 1 October 2026, following the retirement of its partner. Rezi Sanitair, which has operated under its current name since 1997 and has roots dating to Philips Sanitair, founded in 1940, supplies toilet c

LG Electronics India to Raise AC Prices by 5–7% from October 2026 India: LG Electronics India will increase air conditioner prices by 5–7% from 1 October 2026, citing higher commodity prices, logistics and energy costs, and foreign exchange movements ahead of the second leg of festive sales. Voltas, Havells (LLOYD), Godrej Appliances and Bosch Home (Hitachi) have also announced 5–8% increases for RAC units, citing geopolitical developments, commodity prices, US dollar appreci

Systemair to Discontinue Production at Waalwijk Facility in the Netherlands Netherlands: Systemair intends to discontinue production at its Waalwijk facility, affecting approximately 70 employees, with the phase-out expected to be completed in early 2027, subject to employee consultations. The company plans to supply the Dutch market from other European manufacturing units while retaining sales, service, logistics, technical support and product development activities in the N

KCC Manufacturing and Transaera Partner to Scale U.S. Production of MOF-Based Outdoor Air Systems U.S.: KCC Manufacturing and Transaera have announced a manufacturing and engineering partnership to scale U.S. production of Transaera’s dedicated outdoor air systems, which use metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to remove moisture before cooling. KCC will manufacture the cabinets, support Transaera’s proprietary controls, provide systems-design integration and supply domestic produ

Daikin and Almoayyed Contracting Group Inaugurate Experience Center in Bahrain Bahrain: Almoayyed Contracting Group, in collaboration with Daikin Middle East and Africa, inaugurated the Daikin Experience Center in Bahrain, strengthening their strategic collaboration established in 2024, when Almoayyed Contracting Group became a non-exclusive authorised distributor of Daikin products and solutions in the country. The centre showcases Daikin’s split and central air-conditioning

3D Printed Housing Project INDIA: India’s Centre has sanctioned 3 lakh houses worth USD373.82 million (₹3,600 million) for Andhra Pradesh under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin 2.0. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also launched the foundation of the country’s first pilot rural housing project using 3D concrete printing technology. The US$ 1.45 million (₹14 crore) project will construct 177 houses in Guntur district, with completion expected within six months. The te

LG Electronics Expands Chiller Production SOUTH KOREA/USA: LG Electronics is expanding its global chiller manufacturing capacity to support rising demand from AI data centres. The company is establishing a new air cooled chiller plant in Virginia, USA, with production expected to begin in the first half of 2027, and expanding production lines at its Pyeongtaek and Changwon facilities in South Korea. LG plans to invest US$ 111.6 million (KRW 150000 million) across the three fa

Texas Prisons Ordered to Install Air Conditioning USA: A federal court has ordered Texas to install air conditioning across all state prisons by 31 December 2029, citing extreme heat as an unconstitutional condition. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice must immediately develop an installation plan and provide progress reports every six months. The project is estimated to cost around US$1.5 billion and require upgrades across more than 70 facilities, with only just over o

Sedona Launches Heat Pump Scheme USA: The City of Sedona, Arizona, has launched the Northern Arizona Switch Together Heat Pump Co Op to encourage homeowners to replace traditional heating and cooling systems with heat pumps. The group buying programme offers participating homeowners a 17% discount based on the national average installation cost. Eligible households may also access additional savings through Sedona’s Home Energy Retrofit Program and Arizona’s Efficiency Arizon

HVAC Groups Appeal NFPA Decision on Outdoor GFCI Requirements USA: The Air Conditioning Contractors of America and Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute have appealed the National Fire Protection Association’s rejection of a proposed extension to outdoor HVAC ground fault circuit interrupter requirements under the National Electrical Code. The groups have raised concerns over nuisance tripping, equipment compatibility, product availability and inconsistent en

Kenon to Acquire Stake in U.S. District Energy Business UNITED STATES: Kenon Holdings has agreed to invest approximately US$450 million to acquire a 25% stake in Vicinity District Energy, a major U.S. district heating and cooling infrastructure provider. Vicinity serves more than 700 customers across around 1,000 buildings in 12 U.S. cities, including Boston and Philadelphia. The company generated approximately US$611 million in revenue in 2025 and operates more than 140 mile

France’s Heat Pump Market Recovers Despite Weak Construction FRANCE: France’s HVAC market remains under pressure, although heat pumps are showing signs of recovery. According to Uniclima, air-to-water heat pump sales rose 14.7% in the first half of 2026, while small-capacity air-to-air units increased 36.2%, supported by energy-saving demand, electrification policies and hot weather. In contrast, gas and oil boiler sales fell 23.4%, reflecting the shift away from combustion h

United States Construction Labor Market Shows Mixed Signals UNITED STATES: United States construction labour market showed mixed trends in August 2026, with job openings falling by 48,000 to 251,000, although remaining 38,000 above the level recorded a year earlier, according to BLS JOLTS data. Construction layoffs also declined to 99,000, the lowest since the series began in 2000. The contrasting trends reflect weakness in residential construction alongside strong demand fro

France ties HP incentives to EU production France is contemplating a revision of its heat pump support structure to align financial incentives with its industrial strategy and enhance European manufacturing and supply-chain resilience. From 1 September 2026, the improved Coup de pouce Chauffage (“heating boost”) bonus as part of the Energy Savings Certificates (CEE) scheme will only be available for eligible heat pump models on a government-approved list. The new eligibility

Hap Seng Plans Sale Of Hafary Stake Following Takeover Offer Malaysia: Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd has agreed to sell its 50.82 per cent stake in Singapore-listed Hafary Holdings Ltd as part of a takeover offer by 23 Capital Pte Ltd. The offer values Hafary at approximately SGD 140 million (USD 102.20 million/EUR 95.10 million), with a cash offer of SGD 0.64 per share. 23 Capital, which is controlled by members of the Hafary founding family, intends to take the company private.

Mudiame University Plans Pilot Ceramic Factory In Nigeria Nigeria: Mudiame University has announced plans to establish a pilot ceramic factory within six months in partnership with several Italian organisations, following engagements at TECNA 2026 in Italy. The initiative aims to support teaching, equipment development, technology transfer and manpower training, alongside the launch of the university’s ceramic engineering programme, which has received approval from the Nation

Air Conditioner Prices Set To Rise In India India: Consumers in India are expected to face higher air conditioner prices, with manufacturers planning an increase of around 5 to 8 per cent from 1 October 2026. The price revision follows continued pressure from rising input costs, including copper, aluminium, steel, plastics and logistics expenses, along with currency movements. This marks another round of price adjustments during the year as companies respond to sustained cost

Naitron Expands Granite Composite Sink Manufacturing Capabilities in China China: Hubei Nature New Material Sanitary Appliance Co., Ltd. (NAITRON) has expanded its granite composite sink manufacturing operations in Hubei, China, supported by digitally controlled production systems and patented thermosetting moulding technology. The company provides OEM and ODM manufacturing services to global distributors and wholesalers, with production processes designed to ensure consisten

Hisense Expands UK Retail Presence Through John Lewis Partnership UK: Hisense has entered into a partnership with John Lewis & Partners to expand the availability of its products in the United Kingdom. The agreement includes the sale of ACs and selected major domestic appliances through online channels. The collaboration introduces Hisense’s product range to the retailer’s platform. The arrangement forms part of the company’s broader retail expansion in the UK, with in-store

Perge And Axen Establish Heat Pump Joint Venture In France France: PERGE and AXEN have established a joint venture, PERGE AXEN CO (P.A.C.), in Lyon, France, combining PERGE’s heating expertise with AXEN’s experience in heat pump technology. The facility has commissioned assembly lines for R290 air-to-water heat pumps, marking the start of local production. The current product range includes monobloc units with capacities from 4 to 16 kW, available in single-phase and three-ph

Ariston Partners With Keyline Sales to Expand Presence in Southern California USA: Ariston has entered into a partnership with Keyline Sales to manage sales, distribution and specification activities across Southern California and Wayne County, Nevada. The agreement focuses on expanding the availability of water heating and thermal comfort solutions in a market influenced by building decarbonisation targets and energy efficiency regulations. Through this collaboration, Aristo

Housing USA: Mortgage rates surpassed the 7% mark this week for the first time since January 2025, reaching their highest level during either of Donald Trump’s presidential terms. According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased to 7.03%, up from 6.95% the previous week. This marked the fifth consecutive week of rising mortgage rates, further increasing pressure on housing affordability. Higher borrowing costs translate into larger monthly mortgage

HVAC Germany: The Bosch Group reported solid performance in the first half of 2026 despite a challenging economic and geopolitical environment. Revenue increased by 3.6% year on year to EUR 46.4 billion, compared with EUR 44.8 billion in H1 2025. The newly acquired heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) business of Johnson Controls and Hitachi contributed approximately EUR 2 billion to the increase in sales. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) stood at EUR 2.2

heat pump GERMANY: CTA AG has established CTA International GmbH in Germany as part of its strategy to strengthen its presence in the European market. Based in Mönchengladbach, the new subsidiary will take over activities that were previously managed directly from Switzerland. CTA International GmbH will be responsible for sales, consulting and service activities across the European market, including support for specialist and trading partners, product training, project assis