Data Centres Drive Non-Residential Construction Spending USA: Non-residential construction spending in the US increased by 0.1% in July 2026, reaching an annualised US$1.286 trillion, according to an analysis by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). The increase was driven almost entirely by the data centre sector, with spending declining in half of the 16 tracked subcategories. Private non-residential construction rose 0.4%, whereas public spending fell 0.2%. Data centr

Southern Metros Lead New-Home Construction Opportunities USA: Eight of the 10 best US metropolitan areas for purchasing newly built homes are located in the South, according to Realtor.com’s 2026 ranking. Charleston-North Charleston, South Carolina, leads the list, with new-build homes priced 12.2% below existing homes. Six of the top 10 markets are in North or South Carolina, supported by more permissive zoning, less restrictive building codes and lower land costs. Smaller,

Bangladesh Gas Crisis Threatens Ceramics Industry BANGLADESH: Bangladesh’s prolonged gas shortage has pushed its ceramics industry into a severe crisis, disrupting production at more than 30 factories across major industrial hubs. Gas pressure has fallen well below required levels, forcing many plants to operate at just 20–40% of capacity, while some production lines have been shut and workers placed on leave. The disruptions are raising production costs, weakening exports an

Britain Streamlines Infrastructure Approvals to Encourage Investment UNITED KINGDOM: Britain’s Treasury plans to make it easier to approve long-term infrastructure projects by cutting the public investment discount rate from 3.5% to 3%. The change, part of reforms to the government’s Green Book, will give greater weight to benefits that materialise over several years, potentially supporting investment in transport, housing and social infrastructure. The government will publis

Haier R290 Air-to-Water Heat Pump Range Launches with Solar Denmark DENMARK: Haier HVAC Solutions has partnered with Solar Denmark to launch its latest R290 air-to-water heat pump portfolio for professional installers across Denmark. Solar will commercialise Haier’s solutions, covering residential and small commercial applications. The portfolio includes 6-16 kW Monobloc, Hydro Split and All-in-One models, alongside a compact Mini range of 3.5 and 5 kW and commercial models o

Rite-Hite Expands European HVAC Business with KE Fibertec Acquisition DENMARK: Milwaukee-based industrial and loading dock manufacturer Rite-Hite has acquired Danish textile ventilation specialist KE Fibertec Group, strengthening its presence in Europe’s fabric HVAC solutions market. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. KE Fibertec employs around 160 people across eight subsidiaries in Denmark, the Czech Republic and the United States, including four production

South Korea’s Exports Surpass Annual Record, Reach US$709.4 Billion SOUTH KOREA: South Korea’s exports have reached US$709.4 billion so far this year, surpassing the country’s full-year record of US$709.3 billion set in 2025, according to the Korea Customs Service. Driven by surging global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips, South Korea is on track to achieve US$1 trillion in annual exports by early December, potentially becoming the fourth country after the United

Europe's Heat Waves Are Changing How People Think About Air Conditioning Air conditioning was once considered optional in much of Europe. Nowadays, it is becoming a necessity. Another summer, another round of new record-breaking temperatures across Europe, and significant changes are happening. Families that once relied on open windows and fans and thick stone walls are increasingly installing air-conditioning units, not for the extra comfort but for safety from the ever-incr

Heat Pumps Overtake Furnaces in US Heating Market USA: The United States is witnessing a shift in residential heating and cooling trends, with heat pump sales exceeding those of fossil fuel furnaces, according to a report by the Building Decarbonization Coalition. In the first quarter of 2026, heat pump shipments were 32% higher than furnace shipments and approached the level of air-conditioning unit sales. Over the past 15 years, heat pump sales have doubled, reflecting a st

Presidential Expands Services with Shipley Acquisition USA: United States-based Presidential Heating & Air Conditioning has acquired Shipley Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, expanding its service offering to include plumbing alongside heating and cooling. Shipley provides services such as drain clearing, water heater repair and replacement, fixture installation, and heating and air conditioning work for residential customers in Montgomery County, Maryland. Presidential,

PCT expands PCBA manufacturing for HVAC applications India: Pacific Cyber Manufacture Technology Co., Ltd. (PCT) has expanded its printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) manufacturing capabilities at its facility in Daman, India, with a focus on components used in residential air conditioners and other white goods. The company stated that it plans to manufacture up to 3.0 million PCBA units in 2026, supported by an installed annual capacity of up to 5.0 million units. The expan

White Label Sinks and Taps launches with former 1810 leadership UK: White Label Sinks and Taps has launched in the United Kingdom as a supplier of kitchen sinks and taps, led by former 1810 Company executives Daryl Southwell as managing director and Alison Clitheroe as operations director. The company brings together experience in the retail and contract kitchen markets and will initially focus on supplying stainless steel kitchen sinks and taps, with plans to introduce quart

US heat pump shipments exceed fossil fuel furnace shipments USA: Heat pump sales in the US have increased over the past 15 years and now exceed shipments of fossil fuel furnaces, according to an analysis by the Building Decarbonization Coalition. In the first quarter of 2026, heat pump shipments were 32% higher than fossil fuel furnace shipments and were close to the level of air-conditioning unit shipments. In new housing, heat pumps accounted for 46% of installations in 202

Arbonia reports organic revenue growth in first half of 2026 Europe: Arbonia recorded organic revenue growth of 2.3% in the first half of 2026, with incoming orders and order volumes above the previous year's levels across its large production plants. The company reported that higher material prices and currency effects affected its performance during the period. It also continued the implementation of an integrated system landscape intended to support group-wide procurement,

Hansgrohe appoints Benjamin Holzer as Vice President AXOR Germany: Hansgrohe Group has appointed Benjamin Holzer as Vice President of AXOR, succeeding Olivier Sogno. Holzer joined Hansgrohe in 2001 and has been responsible for AXOR Product Management since 2019. In his new position, he will lead the strategic development of the AXOR brand internationally. Sogno, who has led AXOR since 2019, will move to a new role heading Corporate Marketing for Hansgrohe Group. Commenting on

Germany sees renewed household interest in energy transition technologies Germany: Households in Germany are showing increased willingness to invest in climate protection, according to the KfW Energy Transition Barometer. The proportion of households willing to take action rose from 59% in 2025 to 66% in 2026, while 84% said climate protection was important or very important. The survey, conducted among more than 4,300 households between December 2025 and April 2026, found th

German furniture industry revenue declines for fourth consecutive year Germany: The German furniture industry recorded a further decline in revenue in the first half of 2026. According to data from the Association of German Furniture Manufacturers (VDM), 374 surveyed companies generated EUR 7.67 billion (USD 9.02 billion) in sales between January and June, down 2.7% from the same period in 2025. This marks the fourth consecutive year of declining industry revenue, with the se

Systemair reports 6% sales growth in Q1 2026/27 Global: Systemair reported a 6% increase in net sales to SEK 3.28 billion (approximately USD 354 million) in the first quarter of its 2026/27 financial year, covering May to July 2026. Organic growth was also 6%, with all regions contributing to the increase. Adjusted operating profit rose to SEK 324 million (approximately USD 35 million), compared with SEK 288 million (USD 29.84 million) in the corresponding period a year earli

Helgevold Group Acquires Hervik Rør Norway: Helgevold Gruppen has acquired Hervik Rør, bringing plumbing expertise into the group alongside its existing electrical, automation, ventilation, tinsmithing, climate and piping businesses. The acquisition means Helgevold Gruppen will have all the technical disciplines under one organisation and will operate as a supplier of technical installations and services across the project cycle. Hervik Rør has more than 30 employees and will

Housing South Korea is set to significantly increase public housing investment in 2027, with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) proposing a KRW 30 trillion ($21.8 billion) budget for public housing supply, aimed at addressing growing concerns over housing shortages, particularly in the greater Seoul area. The allocation represents a 41.5% increase from this year’s main budget. Under the proposal, the government plans to supply 218,000 public housing un

GDP India’s economy recorded robust year-on-year GDP growth of 7.8% in the April-June quarter, outperforming the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) 7% forecast. Growth remained resilient despite external headwinds, including the West Asia conflict, elevated energy prices, and supply-chain disruptions. The expansion was supported by strong performance in both manufacturing and services, which recorded near double-digit growth during the quarter. Manufacturing grew 9.2%, acceleratin

Ceramic industry The Bangladesh ceramics industry is facing significant operational and financial pressures, with unreliable gas supply, high import duties, and persistent foreign currency shortages disrupting production and increasing manufacturers’ operating costs. According to Sifat Arman, Deputy Managing Director of BHL Group, the inconsistent supply of natural gas has become the industry’s most pressing challenge, with many manufacturers reportedly operating at below 40%

Plumbing USA: New Jersey has adopted the 2024 New Jersey Edition of the National Standard Plumbing Code (NSPC) as the state’s updated plumbing code. The revised code establishes updated requirements for plumbing materials, fixtures, equipment, and system installation, providing contractors and code officials with current standards for plumbing work across the state. The New Jersey Division of Codes and Standards, under the state’s Department of Community Affairs, adopted the

cooling Italy’s Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE), in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Cool Coalition, has launched the first EPIC Deploy Call for Proposals, providing financial support for sustainable, energy-efficient, and climate-resilient cooling projects in Brazil, Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya, and Ethiopia. Applications are open until October 31, 2026. The funding programme focuses on two key areas: sustainable cooling in the