Handshake GERMANY: Dr. Stefan Hartung will step down as chairman of the board of management of Bosch, effective June 30, 2026, at his own request and in mutual agreement with the company's shareholders. He will also resign from the boards of Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG. Effective July 1, 2026, Dr. Christian Fischer will succeed him as chairman, while Dr. Markus Forschner and Dr. Markus Heyn will assume the roles of vice chairmen of the board of management. During his te

Voltas Voltas is expanding exports of its air conditioners to Europe and the Middle East to improve the utilization of its existing manufacturing capacity. The company announced the initiative during its 72nd Annual General Meeting, noting that its manufacturing facilities are currently operating at around 80% capacity and that exports will help optimize production. The company also announced that non-executive Chairman Noel Tata will retire later this year upon reaching the

Daikin Daikin Applied has appointed Yu Nishiwaki as President and Chief Executive Officer, James Moe as Chief Operating Officer, and Hirokazu Hirao as Chief Operating Officer of Manufacturing, effective July 1, 2026. The leadership changes are aimed at strengthening the company's operating model as it expands its capabilities to support customers and execute its strategic priorities for fiscal year 2026 and beyond. Nishiwaki, who has served as Chief Operating Officer since 20

Handshake Carrier Global Corporation has completed the sale of its Riello business to Ariston Group for gross proceeds of approximately USD 440 million. "The sale of Riello reflects Carrier's disciplined portfolio management as we continue to focus our resources on delivering differentiated climate and energy solutions. Sale proceeds enhance our ability to invest in our core businesses, innovation and value creation for our customers and shareowners," said David Gitlin, Chair

LG South Korea: LG Electronics is strengthening its HVAC business presence in Asia by opening new HVAC academies in Taiwan and Singapore to enhance training and technical support for local business-to-business (B2B) customers and engineers. The company recently inaugurated HVAC academies in Taichung, Taiwan, and Singapore to expand its air solutions business in rapidly urbanizing markets with rising demand for industrial infrastructure. The new facilities are designed to pro

HVAC KENYA: Kenya’s High Court has upheld a Tax Appeals Tribunal decision allowing certain imported heat pumps to remain eligible for a zero-duty tariff, a ruling that is expected to impact pricing, procurement, and investment across the country's HVAC and renewable energy sectors. The decision provides greater clarity for industry stakeholders regarding the tariff treatment of energy-efficient technologies. The case involved Tile & Carpet Centre Ltd’s Aertech All-in-One hea

HVAC CANADA: As part of the federal government's pre-budget consultation process, HRAI submitted its recommendations in May, continuing its annual practice of providing policy input. The submission was developed based on feedback from HRAI members and reviewed by the association’s Policy and Priorities Committee. HRAI’s recommendations focused on four key priorities: Protecting Canada’s HVACR industry from potential trade disputes with the United States by preventing tariff

HVAC USA: Three HVAC industry associations have filed a legal challenge against portions of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Technology Transitions Reconsideration Rule, arguing that the revisions could drive up refrigerant costs and disrupt the industry's transition to lower-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants. The petition was filed by the Heating, Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Cont

US-Iran War Consequences The escalation of the Iran war in early 2026 has triggered widespread disruption across global commodities, with steel and aluminium prices emerging as key pressure points for Asian manufacturing. As conflict-related risks spread through Middle Eastern energy corridors and shipping routes, Asian producers of building products, particularly HVAC equipment and iron‑based sanitaryware, are facing sharply higher input and logistics costs. These increases

Amana Recalls 13,500 Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps in the US Over Fire Hazard Risk USA: Daikin Comfort Technologies has recalled more than 13,500 Amana window air conditioners, through-the-wall units and heat pumps in the United States due to a potential fire and burn hazard. The defect may allow the heating element to remain energised during a ground fault even when the unit is switched off. The affected products were sold between April and December 2025 and are commonly i

France to Reduce MaPrimeRénov Grants for Single Home Renovation Projects FRANCE: France plans to scale back MaPrimeRénov funding for most single-project home renovations and focus support on comprehensive, multi-measure energy upgrades. Proposed changes would remove grant eligibility for standalone projects such as roof insulation, window replacement, ventilation systems, solar water heaters and wood-burning stoves. The government argues that larger renovation packages delive

European Heatwave Drives Surge in Demand for Chinese Portable Air Conditioners EUROPE: A severe heatwave across Europe, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in some areas, has triggered a sharp increase in demand for portable air conditioners. Chinese manufacturers, particularly Midea and Gree Electric Appliances, have reported strong sales growth as consumers seek cooling solutions that avoid strict installation, noise and building regulations in several European countries. Mide

Air conditioners India: Indian air conditioner manufacturers are exploring export opportunities in Europe as record heatwaves increase demand for residential cooling solutions across the region. Companies are assessing market entry strategies as rising temperatures and changing climate conditions encourage greater adoption of air conditioning in countries where penetration has traditionally remained low. Despite the growing opportunity, Indian manufacturers face challenges in

The Shift Toward Centralised Cooling Systems in the Middle East Cooling accounts for as much as 70–80% of peak building energy demand across the Gulf, a figure that underscores just how central HVAC decisions are to real estate development, urban planning, and energy policy in the region. Against this backdrop, the structural shift away from standalone split and window units toward centralised air-conditioning systems such as VRF, ducted systems, chillers, AHUs, and packaged

Panasonic Launches New Distribution Hub in Germany to Enhance HVAC Logistics Germany: The Panasonic Opens Central Distribution Centre in Germany to Strengthen HVAC Supply Chain with the launch of a new 12,000-square-metre logistics facility in Ladbergen, North Rhine-Westphalia, to store and distribute heat pumps, air conditioning and ventilation products across the German market. The site serves as a central hub within Panasonic’s European logistics network, consolidating pro

Swegon Expands Swiss Operations with LaminAir AG Acquisition Switzerland: The Swegon Acquires LaminAir AG to Strengthen Presence in Switzerland through the acquisition of LaminAir AG, a Swiss distributor of room unit products for air distribution, expanding its product portfolio and strengthening its position in the Swiss market. Founded in 1999, LaminAir AG has 11 employees and annual sales of approximately USD 10.5 million. The company will continue to operate as a standalo

SenerTec to End Production at Schweinfurt Facility Germany: SenerTec will discontinue production at its Schweinfurt facility as parent company BDR Thermea shifts combined heat and power plant manufacturing to its European production network, ending the production of the Dachs micro combined heat and power plant at the site. The decision follows unsuccessful negotiations after employees presented an alternative plan to preserve the facility, which the company rejected. The str

Germany’s Largest Solar Thermal Plant Begins Operations in Leipzig Germany: Germany’s Largest Solar Thermal Plant Begins Operations in Leipzig with the commissioning of a ground-mounted facility featuring approximately 13,000 solar collectors that will supply CO₂-free heat to Leipzig’s district heating network. Construction began in January 2024, and after initial grid feed-ins, the plant will enter continuous operation during the summer. Developed by Leipziger Stadtwerke and

UK Government Increases Heat Pump Grant for Oil-Heated Homes in Wales UK: The UK Government Increases Heat Pump Grant for Oil-Heated Homes in Wales by raising the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant from USD 7,500 to USD 9,000 for households replacing oil boilers with heat pumps, effective 21 July. Around 10,000 eligible off-grid homes across Wales will receive information on the scheme, which targets households without mains gas that are vulnerable to heating oil price fluctuations.

Lennox and Ariston Mark One Year of North American Water Heating Joint Venture U.S.: Lennox has marked the one-year anniversary of its joint venture with Ariston Group, launched in 2025, which introduced a portfolio of residential gas, electric and heat pump water heaters across North America, expanding Lennox's home comfort offerings. The partnership has achieved strong early dealer adoption by integrating water heaters into Lennox's distribution network and controls platfor