Zehnder to Separate European Ventilation and Radiator Businesses from October 2026 Switzerland: Zehnder announced that it will introduce a new divisional structure from 1 October 2026, separating its European operations into two independently managed businesses: Residential Ventilation Europe and Radiators Europe. Each division will be responsible for its own financial performance. The Light Commercial Ventilation Europe business will also operate independently, while the Nor

German Ventilation Industry Sees Export Support Amid Weak Domestic Demand Germany: Order intake in Germany's air handling technology sector declined by 5% in real terms during 2025 compared with the previous year, as domestic orders fell by 14%. Foreign markets helped offset weaker demand, with international orders increasing by 5%. The sector recorded a stronger start to 2026, with total order intake during the first quarter rising by 22% year-on-year, supported by a 37% inc

UK Heat Pump Installation Growth Slowed in 2025 UK: Heat pump installations in the UK increased by 7% in 2025, compared with growth of 56% in 2024, according to figures published by the country's independent climate advisers. The data formed part of an assessment of the UK's progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The slowdown followed the withdrawal of the ECO grant scheme, which had funded heat pump installations for lower-income households. The government continues

A.O. Smith Announces Board Leadership Transition Global: A.O. Smith Corporation announced that Executive Chairman Kevin Wheeler will retire from his role on 1 July 2026. Following his departure, President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Shafer will assume the position of Chairman of the Board, while Wheeler will continue to serve as a board member. The company stated that the transition follows more than three decades of leadership by Wheeler. A.O. Smith manufactures wate

European Heatwave Drives Rise in Cooling Equipment Demand Europe: Several European countries experienced record temperatures during a heatwave that continued across the region in late June 2026. In France, the national temperature indicator, which measures average daytime and night-time temperatures across 30 monitoring stations, reached 29.8°C on 30 June, the highest level recorded since measurements began in 1947. According to experts, the weather conditions are being drive

Roca Group Returns to Profit in 2025 Spain: Roca Group reported net earnings of EUR 43 million (USD 49.5 million) for 2025, compared with a net loss of EUR 61 million (USD 70.3 million) in 2024. The company stated that the previous year's result was affected by its ongoing divestment process in Russia, where production and commercial activities had been discontinued. The 2025 financial year took place against a backdrop of limited construction activity across several Western

Heatwave Drives Surge in Air Conditioner Demand Across Europe France: France has witnessed a sharp increase in demand for air conditioners and fans as record-breaking heatwaves continue across Europe, leading to supply shortages at retailers and increased installation requests. Carrefour reported selling 30,000 cooling devices by the evening of 23 June, while Amazon France and electronics retailer Fnac Darty also recorded significant increases in cooling equipment sales. Fran

EU Proposes Energy Label Requirement for Air Conditioner Installations EU: The European Commission has proposed new rules requiring installers of air conditioners, boilers and kitchen appliances to provide customers with the official energy performance label of products when issuing installation quotations. The proposal aims to help consumers compare the energy efficiency of appliances before making a purchase, particularly in cases where products are bought directly through

Monsoon Slows Air Conditioner Sales After Strong Summer Season India: India's room air conditioner (RAC) market recorded strong growth during the peak summer season, although demand began to moderate as the monsoon advanced in June. Industry representatives stated that the sector achieved around 25% growth in sales volume and 30% growth in value during the season. However, manufacturers reported continued pressure on margins as rising raw material and commodity costs, followi

Heatwave Boosts Demand for Air Conditioner Servicing in Malaysia Malaysia: Malaysia's prolonged period of high temperatures has led to increased demand for air conditioner servicing, repairs and energy-efficient cooling solutions. With daytime temperatures reaching between 35°C and 37°C in several parts of the country, installation and maintenance companies have reported a significant rise in service requests, resulting in longer waiting times as technicians face fully booked

Proposed Rules to Require Energy Labels for Air Conditioner Installations European Union: The European Commission has proposed new legislation that would require installers of air conditioners, boilers and kitchen appliances to provide customers with the energy performance label of products when issuing installation quotations. The proposal aims to improve consumer awareness of energy efficiency and help households make informed purchasing decisions that could reduce long-ter

Ceramic Tile Industry Raises Concerns Over Import Duty Reductions Pakistan: The All Pakistan Ceramic Tiles Manufacturers Association has raised concerns over the government's decision to reduce import duties on ceramic tiles under the second phase of the tariff rationalisation policy announced in the 2026–27 budget. According to the association, the Regulatory Duty on imported tiles has been reduced by 20% and the Additional Customs Duty by 50%, a move it believes could weake

Safety Standards for Propane Heat Pumps Under Review North America: A working group responsible for updating the UL/CSA 60335-2-40 safety standard is progressing with revisions that would allow higher refrigerant charge limits for flammable A3 refrigerants, including propane (R290), in residential HVAC applications across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The revised text is expected to be completed in 2027 and incorporated into the fifth edition of the standard in 2028.

TOTO Expands Semiconductor Business with JPY 80 Billion Investment Japan: TOTO has announced plans to strengthen its semiconductor-related business by investing JPY 80 million (USD 547 million; EUR 468 million) over the next five years. The company will allocate JPY 39 million (USD 267 million; EUR 228 million) to expand production capacity at its semiconductor component facilities in Buzen City, Fukuoka Prefecture, and Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture, while the remaining inves

Homebuilder Survey Shows Stable Sales but Softer Buyer Demand United States: The latest BTIG/HomeSphere Homebuilder Survey indicated that conditions for small and mid-sized homebuilders remained broadly stable in May following two months of weaker performance. Around 28% of builders reported higher year-on-year sales, up from 24% in April, while the proportion reporting lower sales declined to 27% from 32%. However, buyer traffic remained subdued, with only 20% of respondents

HVAC Industry Responds to Growing Scrutiny Over Data Centre Expansion Global: Growing investment in data centres is creating new opportunities for the HVAC industry while also increasing public scrutiny over energy consumption, water use, electricity costs and noise. According to McKinsey & Company, global data centre infrastructure investment could reach USD 6.7 trillion (EUR 5.8 trillion) by 2030. At the same time, industry sources noted that local opposition has intensifie

Construction Spending Increases in April Canada: Investment in building construction reached CAD 23.6 billion (USD 17.2 billion; EUR 14.9 billion) in April, representing an increase of CAD 540.8 million (USD 394.8 million; EUR 341.9 million), or 2.3%, compared with the previous month. Residential building construction accounted for most of the growth, with spending rising by 3.1% to CAD 16.5 billion (USD 12.0 billion; EUR 10.4 billion). The increase in residential investment

Labour Unrest Raises Strike Risks Across Australia’s Mining and LNG Sectors Australia: Labour unrest has intensified across Australia’s resources sector, raising strike risks at major iron ore mines, ports and LNG facilities following the 2022 labour law reforms that expanded union bargaining powers. Working days lost to industrial disputes reached their highest level since 2022 in the December quarter of 2025, as workers sought higher wages and job security amid 4% inflation

Wodar Expands Kitchen Portfolio with Kubik Sink Collection UK: Wodar has expanded its product portfolio with the launch of Kubik, a British-designed range of undermount kitchen sinks and matching accessories. Developed for the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom (KBB) market, the collection is intended to provide a coordinated kitchen wet zone, combining sinks with compatible taps, waste kits, soap dispensers and accessories. The Kubik range includes four sink configurations manufa

DIY Retail Channels Driving Bathroom Product Sales in the Czech Republic The Czech Republic has established itself as one of the most mature do-it-yourself (DIY) retail markets in Central and Eastern Europe, and this channel has emerged as the dominant distribution mechanism for bathroom products across the residential segment. From sanitary ware and taps & mixers to shower enclosures and bathroom furniture, large-format DIY chains have systematically reshaped the procurement

handshake North America: Platinum Equity has entered into a definitive agreement to sell HVAC equipment supplier Heat Controller to Lennox. Headquartered in Jackson, Michigan, Heat Controller supplies HVAC equipment to distributors across North America under its Comfort-Aire and Century brands. Platinum Equity acquired the company in 2024 as part of its investment in Motors & Armatures Inc. (MARS), a distributor of HVACR parts, equipment, and supplies. Source: Lennox

Kitchen INDIA: Carysil reported a strong financial performance for the half year ended March 2026, driven by healthy revenue growth and improved profitability. Total income increased by 15.4% year-on-year to INR 257.7 crore (US$ 30 million), while EBIT rose 47.4% to INR 47.3 crore (US$ 5.5 million). Reported profit after tax (PAT) climbed 56.2% to INR 31 crore (US$3.6 million), reflecting stronger operating margins and effective cost management. The results underscore the com

Manufacturing TURKEY: Hamat's board of directors has approved the discontinuation of the company's sanitary ware manufacturing operations in Turkey, nearly a decade after establishing its production facility in the country. The operations are carried out through its subsidiary, MCP, which is responsible for the design, development, manufacturing, and sale of ceramic sanitary ware, including toilets and sinks, primarily supplying other companies within the Hamat Group. This bu

Supply Chain and Labour Constraints Challenge Asia-Pacific Construction Growth Asia Pacific: The Asia-Pacific construction sector is facing growing execution risks as supply chain disruptions, labour shortages, and power constraints threaten project delivery despite strong market demand, according to Linesight's latest regional outlook. Escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have pushed global supply chain pressures to their highest level since 2022, increasing c