Electrolux and Midea Form Joint Ventures in North America USA/Mexico: Electrolux Group has entered into a long-term strategic partnership with Midea Group to establish joint ventures in refrigeration and laundry manufacturing and sales across North America. The agreement includes a sales joint venture for food preservation products, alongside manufacturing joint ventures in Juarez, Mexico and Anderson, United States. The partnership is expected to commence in the third quarte

Europe’s Construction Sector Faces Pressure Amid Middle East Crisis EU: The European construction industry is facing increased pressure due to the ongoing Middle East crisis, which has led to higher energy, fuel and transport costs, along with price volatility for key materials. According to a statement from the European construction federation, these conditions are affecting project pricing, supply chains and investment planning, particularly for petroleum-related inputs suc

Global Heat Pump Sales Decline Slightly in 2025 Global: Global heat pump sales declined by around 2% in 2025, with mixed trends across major markets. Sales in China and Japan remained largely stable, while Europe recorded growth of 11%, supported by increased demand in Germany, where sales rose in the first half of the year and heat pumps exceeded gas boiler sales. In contrast, France reported a decline, and the United States saw sales fall by approximately 13%, influenced by

TCL Opens Guangzhou Facility to Expand Air Conditioning Production China: TCL has inaugurated a new smart manufacturing base in Guangzhou as part of its expansion in air conditioning production. The facility supports the company’s growing global operations, with products sold across more than 160 countries and regions. The development follows the company reaching a cumulative production milestone of 100 million air conditioning units within five years, reflecting increased de

Roca Partners with Graha Bangunan Blitar to Expand Market Reach Indonesia: Graha Bangunan Blitar has entered into a partnership with Roca to expand the availability of sanitary products in Blitar and surrounding areas. The collaboration is aimed at strengthening distribution networks and supporting demand from the construction sector, including architects, contractors and other professionals. The initiative aligns with ongoing activity in the property sector, where access to

German PHVAC Sector Shows Signs of Slowdown Germany: The plumbing, heating, and air conditioning (PHVAC) sector in Germany is showing signs of decline, according to a survey conducted by ZVSHK among approximately 1,690 member companies. While the current business situation remains positive with an indicator of +36.4 percent, expectations for the coming months are negative at -7.4 percent. Order backlogs have fallen to an average of 11.5 weeks, around four weeks lower than the

Labour Shortage Slows Australia’s Housing Targets Australia: Australia’s housing targets are facing pressure due to a shortage of skilled workers, as the country struggles to meet its construction goals. Around 18 months into the federal government’s five-year housing accord, the country is behind target by approximately 77,000 homes. The sector continues to rely on a workforce of around two million tradespeople, but additional labour is required to support planned housing de

Beijer Ref and Copeland Extend Distribution Agreement in ANZ Australia & New Zealand: Beijer Ref and Copeland have extended their exclusive distribution agreement for Copeland ZX condensing units across Australia and New Zealand. The agreement includes distribution through Beijer Ref Australia, Kirby HVAC&R, Patton NZ and SCM Ref Australia, and covers ZX condensing units manufactured in Asia, including the HLR (Horizontal Receiver Scroll Unit) and associated platform-specific

Swegon Partners with Ahlsell to Expand Distribution in Norway Norway: Swegon has entered into a strategic partnership with Ahlsell to strengthen its market presence in Norway. Under the agreement, selected ventilation products from Swegon will be distributed through Ahlsell’s national network. As part of the arrangement, Ahlsell will take over Swegon Norway’s traded goods business, including five sales locations and associated employees. “This agreement reflects Swegon’s long

Alfa Laval Reports First Quarter Results for 2026 Sweden: Alfa Laval AB reported its financial results for the period from 1 January to 31 March 2026, showing a mixed performance. Order intake declined by 1 percent to SEK 17.6 billion (approximately USD 1.63 billion), although it recorded an organic increase of 6 percent. Net sales decreased by 3 percent to SEK 15.9 billion (approximately USD 1.47 billion), with an organic increase of 2 percent. Adjusted EBITA remained at SEK

Kvik Opens New Studio in Cologne as Part of Germany Expansion Germany: Kvik is expanding its presence in Germany with the opening of a new studio in Cologne on 6 May 2026. Located in the city centre on Hohenstaufenring, the showroom will cover around 160 square metres and will display kitchen systems along with storage solutions, bathroom furniture, wardrobe concepts and items from the company’s Living Collection, including dining tables, chairs and wall shelving. The Cologne

Gujarat Gas Reduces PNG Prices for Morbi Ceramic Units India: Gujarat Gas Ltd has reduced the price of piped natural gas (PNG) supplied to ceramic manufacturers in Morbi following industry concerns. The price has been lowered from INR 88 per cubic metre (approximately USD 1.05) to INR 77 per cubic metre (approximately USD 0.92) after negotiations. Despite the reduction, PNG remains around 48 percent more expensive than propane-LPG at INR 52 per standard cubic metre (approxima