ADH Expands HVAC Distribution Network Through Acquisition of cfm Distributors USA: Advantage Distribution Holdings (ADH) has acquired Missouri-based cfm Distributors, a well-established HVACR distributor operating six locations and a distribution centre across Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. The acquisition marks ADH’s second purchase since its formation in 2024 and expands its footprint to 13 locations across six US states. cfm’s President and CEO, Lauren Roberts, will

Somany Ceramics Delivers Strong FY26 Earnings Growth and Approves Investment in Manufacturing and Solar Expansion INDIA: Somany Ceramics reported a strong financial performance in FY26, with consolidated net profit rising 27.8% year-on-year to US$7.7 million (INR 7,407 lakh), compared with US$6 million (INR 5,798 lakh) in FY25. Consolidated revenue increased to US$291.9 million (INR 280,116 lakh), up from US$278.1 million (INR 266,778 lakh), while earnings per share also impr

Vietnam and Bangladesh Strengthen Trade Cooperation with Target to Double Bilateral Trade VIETNAM: Vietnam and Bangladesh reaffirmed their commitment to expanding economic and trade cooperation during the Vietnam–Bangladesh Business Forum and B2B Matching 2026 event held in Dhaka. The forum attracted nearly 200 delegates, including more than 25 Vietnamese companies and over 100 Bangladeshi businesses. Bilateral trade has consistently exceeded US$1.1 billion despite global eco

Gas Absorption Heat Pumps Return to the UK as a Transitional Low-Carbon Heating Solution UK: Pure Thermal has reintroduced the Italian-manufactured Robur gas absorption heat pump (GAHP) range to the UK market, positioning the technology as a transitional solution for commercial building decarbonisation. Widely used in the UK until 2014, GAHP systems can reduce gas consumption by approximately 40% compared with conventional boilers while delivering flow temperatures of up to 7

LUVE Expands Texas Manufacturing Facility to Support Growing US Cooling and Data Centre Demand USA: LUVE has expanded its production facility in Jacksonville, Texas, adding 20,000 m² of manufacturing space and increasing the site's total footprint to more than 30,000 m². The investment is aimed at supporting rising demand for cooling solutions across data centres, power generation and refrigeration applications. The company plans to recruit approximately 200 additional employ

Rising construction material prices Nepal: Nepal experienced a significant rise in construction material prices between February and June, creating cost pressure across infrastructure and building projects. Bitumen prices recorded one of the largest increases, rising by approximately 107%, while steel reinforcement bars increased by around 26%, cement by nearly 16%, and diesel prices also moved upward during the period. The increase affected road construction, housing develop

Daikin Thailand: Daikin Industries and Toyota Tsusho NEXTY Electronics established a new joint venture company in Bangkok, named Daikin Toyota Tsusho Electronics Thailand Ltd. The company will focus on embedded software development for air conditioning systems manufactured in Thailand. The partnership was formed to improve development efficiency, shorten development timelines, and strengthen software capabilities as HVAC systems become more advanced and digitally integrated.

Hitachi and Anthropic Partner to Advance Physical AI and Accelerate Global AI Transformation Japan/US: Hitachi and Anthropic PBC have announced a strategic partnership to strengthen Hitachi’s “Lumada 3.0” business model and accelerate the deployment of physical AI across mission-critical sectors including energy, transportation, manufacturing, and finance. As part of the collaboration, Hitachi will deploy advanced AI, including Anthropic’s Claude models, across business proce

Panasonic and British Gas Partner for Panasonic Aquarea Heat Pump Servicing and Maintenance UK: Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions has entered a partnership agreement with British Gas to provide servicing and maintenance support for Panasonic Aquarea Air Source Heat Pumps installed across the UK. Under the collaboration, British Gas’ qualified engineers, trained in maintenance, diagnostics, and repair of Panasonic Aquarea systems, will support homeowners nationwide to ensu

Defra Postpones Great Britain HFC Phasedown Reforms Beyond 2027 UK: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has confirmed that it will not introduce legislation in 2026 to amend the HFC phasedown steps scheduled from 1 January 2027 in Great Britain, following an assessment of 137 consultation responses. As a result, the existing HFC phasedown step outlined in Annex 5 of the F-gas Regulation will remain in effect for 2027. The consultation, conducted acr

Heat Pumps Gain Ground in South Korea as Subsidies Drive Residential Adoption SOUTH KOREA: South Korea’s residential heating market is undergoing a significant transition as heat pumps increasingly challenge traditional gas boilers. Supported by government electrification policies and generous subsidies covering up to 70% of installation costs, heat pumps are becoming more affordable for households. Major manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, and KD Navie

NIBE Reports Stable Q1 Growth and Improved Operating Profitability SWEDEN: NIBE delivered a resilient start to 2026, with Q1 sales remaining broadly stable at approximately US$ 1.01 billion, while profitability improved significantly. Operating profit increased to around US$ 91 million, up from US$ 82 million a year earlier, lifting the operating margin to 9.0% from 8.1%. Net profit rose to approximately US$ 53 million, supported by organic sales growth, effective cost manage

HORNBACH Group Reports Robust Performance and Continues Strategic Expansion GERMANY: HORNBACH Group reported solid results for FY2025/26 despite a challenging consumer environment and rising costs. Net sales increased by 3.8% to approximately US$ 7.2 billion, supported by strong performance in its DIY retail business and a 7.1% increase in online sales. Market shares expanded across key European markets, including Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech

Germany Approves Changes to Heating Law and Power Capacity Measures Germany: Germany’s cabinet has approved plans to replace the 2023 heating law that required new building heating systems to use at least 65 per cent renewable energy. Under the proposed changes, households will be allowed to continue using existing gas and oil boilers if they choose not to shift to alternatives such as heat pumps, district heating or biomass systems. The government stated that the new buildin

CASAVIA Signs Supply Agreement With NHC Platform Saudi Arabia: Saudi Industrial Development Co. subsidiary SIDC Ceramic Factory (CASAVIA) has signed an agreement with National Housing Company (NHC) to support the supply of sanitary ware products through the “SupplyPro” platform. The platform is designed to automate supply chain operations within the construction sector and connect manufacturers with real estate developers, contractors and end-users to improve supply efficienc

South Korea Expands Residential Heat Pump Adoption South Korea: South Korea’s residential heating market is shifting towards heat pumps as the government advances heating electrification measures and manufacturers expand household product offerings. Industry sources stated that KD Navien plans to launch a residential heat pump boiler in the domestic market next month after supplying the product in the United Kingdom. Heat pumps operate by transferring heat from outdoor air in

How Consumer Preference Has Driven the Dominance of Japanese Air Conditioners in Australia The Australian air conditioner market is significantly influenced by Japanese brands, with consumer preference playing a key role. Brands like Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Fujitsu and Panasonic consistently top buyer satisfaction surveys, command premium prices, and enjoy loyalty that no other competitor has successfully eroded. Understanding why Austr

Tecumseh and Invotech Sign Global Partnership Agreement USA: Tecumseh and Invotech have signed a Strategic Global Partnership Agreement aimed at expanding cooperation in the HVAC&R industry. The agreement focuses on accelerating innovation, improving supply chain flexibility, and supporting customers across global markets. The partnership was formalised in the presence of Jay Pittas, Chairman of Tecumseh, Ricardo Maciel, CEO of Tecumseh, and Jo Chen, Chairman and CEO of Invot

Haier and Masterwatt Partner for Dutch Heating Market Netherlands: Haier HVAC Solutions Europe and Masterwatt have entered into a strategic partnership to expand the distribution of heating technologies in the Netherlands. The collaboration will initially focus on Haier’s air-to-water heat pumps and heat pump water heaters for residential and commercial applications. The partnership combines Haier’s manufacturing and technology capabilities with Masterwatt’s distribution net

Caverion to Deliver Heat Pump Plant for Finnish District Heating Network Finland: Caverion is supplying a heat pump plant with a total heating capacity of more than 30 MW for Finnish district heating company Loiste Lämpö in Kajaani, Finland. The project will recover waste heat generated by local data centres and integrate it into the Kajaani district heating network. According to the companies, the recovered waste heat is expected to cover more than 80% of the region’s annual

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Reports FY2025 Growth Japan: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) reported increases in order intake, revenue, business profit, net income and free cash flow for FY2025. Order intake rose 20% year on year to JPY 7,653.6 billion (approximately USD 51.0 billion), while revenue increased 14% to JPY 4,974.1 billion (approximately USD 33.2 billion). Business profit increased 22% to JPY 432.2 billion (approximately USD 2.9 billion). The company stated that

GIZ Highlights Emission Reduction Potential of R290 Air Conditioners Germany: GIZ Proklima released an updated version of its “R290 Split Air Conditioners Resource Guide” in 2025, outlining the potential environmental impact of wider adoption of propane-based split air-conditioning systems. According to the organisation, global emissions from split AC systems could decline by 25% if propane (R290) units achieve a 50% market share. The guide also compared the incremental mater

India Replaces NBC 2016 with NBC 2026 India: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has officially notified the National Building Construction Standards 2026 (SP 7: 2026), replacing the National Building Code of India 2016 with immediate effect from 30 April 2026. The updated standards were introduced under Rule 15(1) of the BIS Rules, 2018, and are intended to revise India’s regulatory framework for building design, construction practices, safety standards and valuation parame

TerraVest Reports Fiscal 2026 Second Quarter Results USA: TerraVest Industries reported increased sales and adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, while net income declined compared with the previous year. Sales for the quarter ended 31 March 2026 rose to CAD 442.6 million (approximately USD 319.0 million), compared with CAD 311.5 million (approximately USD 224.7 million) in the same period of fiscal 2025. Adjusted EBITDA increased to CAD 75.5 million (approxi