E.ON Agrees to Acquire UK Energy Supplier OVO UK: E.ON has signed an agreement to acquire UK energy supplier OVO, expanding its customer base in the UK energy market. E.ON currently serves around 5.6 million customers in the country, and the addition of OVO is expected to add approximately four million more customers. The company stated that the larger customer base and digital infrastructure would support the development and expansion of energy solutions across Europe. The c

Exits India After Four Decades India: Japanese electronics major Sharp Corporation has exits India after selling its 75% stake in Sharp India to Pune-based Smart Services for INR 19.46 crore (USD 2.03 million), ending the company’s direct presence in the country after nearly four decades. Sharp entered India in 1985 through its manufacturing arm and later partnered locally to manufacture televisions and air conditioners. Over the years, the company expanded into consumer elec

HVAC AUSTRALIA: AIIR Intelligent HVAC has entered into a strategic partnership with Copeland to enhance smart HVAC system integration and energy management capabilities. Under the collaboration, all AIIR products will be equipped with a custom-configured version of Copeland’s Verdant VX4 thermostat, creating an advanced HVAC solution aimed at simplifying installation, speeding up project approvals, and improving energy efficiency. The specially configured Verdant VX4 thermost

Bathroom Villeroy & Boch reported a satisfactory performance in the first quarter of 2026 despite operating in a difficult market environment influenced by ongoing geopolitical tensions and global economic uncertainty. The company experienced a decline in revenue, mainly due to the divestment of its northern European Gustavsberg and Vatette businesses along with unfavorable currency movements. However, underlying demand trends remained relatively stable on an adjusted basis.

DIY GERMANY: The six largest DIY retail chains in Germany recorded a combined sales decline of 0.5% in 2025, with total gross turnover reaching EUR 19.435 billion (US$22.7 billion) compared to EUR 19.533 billion (US$ 22.8 billion) in the previous year. Among the leading operators, Hornbach delivered the strongest growth at 1.9%, followed closely by Globus Baumarkt with 1.8%, while Obi posted moderate growth of 0.6%. Bauhaus achieved slight growth of 0.2% and maintained its po

Daikin Daikin Holdings Singapore announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Delta Electronics to jointly develop next-generation Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU) solutions for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) data centres across the ASEAN and Oceania regions. The collaboration combines Daikin’s long-standing expertise in facility-level cooling and thermal management with Delta’s advanced capabilities in server-side liquid cooling and CDU technologies to

Daikin Europe: Daikin Industries announced strong global group results for fiscal year 2025 ended March 31, 2026, with solid growth driven by its air conditioning and applied solutions businesses despite ongoing global economic challenges. Its subsidiary, Daikin Europe, which manages HVAC-R operations across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, achieved record annual turnover of EUR 5.25 billion (US$6.1 billion), surpassing the previous fiscal year’s performance. In Eur

Daikin Daikin delivered stable growth in FY2024/25, supported by continued global demand for HVAC solutions despite challenging market conditions in several regions. The company reported higher net sales and improved profitability, driven by strong performance in commercial and industrial HVAC businesses, turnkey services, and energy-efficient solutions. Growth in sectors such as data centres, healthcare, hospitality, and industrial applications helped offset weaker residenti

HVAC UK: Daikin Rental Solutions has expanded its UK rental fleet with the addition of high-capacity cooling systems, low-carbon heating technologies, process cooling equipment, and UK-manufactured air handling units to address rising demand for flexible and energy-efficient temporary HVAC solutions. The expansion comes as organisations across the UK face increasing challenges related to ageing infrastructure, higher temperatures, stricter regulations, and the shift toward lo

Sanitaryware UAE: RAK Ceramics demonstrated resilient performance in Q1 2026 despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and elevated logistics costs across several regions. The company benefited from strong demand in key markets such as the UAE and Bangladesh, while its position as a local manufacturer enabled greater operational flexibility and quicker adaptation to changing market conditions. By increasing the use of locally sourced raw materials and p

Haier THAILAND: Haier is investing THB 5 billion (US$ 154 m) to establish a new commercial air conditioner manufacturing facility in Rayong, Thailand, with operations expected to commence in June 2027. The plant, situated on approximately 76 rai within the WHA Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate 5, is projected to become Southeast Asia’s largest central air conditioning manufacturing base. According to the company, the facility is expected to achieve an annual production capac

Reece Gains Attention as Housing and Infrastructure Demand Support Plumbing and HVAC Growth AUSTRALIA: Reece Ltd continues to benefit from stable demand across the Australian and New Zealand plumbing and HVAC markets, supported by residential construction, infrastructure investment and recurring maintenance activity. The company reported resilient trading conditions, improved operational efficiency and stable margins as supply-chain pressures eased. Reece is investing in bran

Carysil Expands Premium Kitchen Business in India INDIA: Carysil showcased its latest kitchen and bathroom innovations at Innovaxpo 2026 while accelerating expansion in the Indian market. The company introduced advanced quartz and granite sinks, integrated stainless steel worktops, RO faucet systems and its premium CX appliance range inspired by European design. Carysil also expanded into bathroom solutions through its Carysil Blue portfolio. Growth is being driven by rising

SRS Distribution Completes Acquisition of HVAC Distributor Mingledorff’s USA: SRS Distribution Inc., a subsidiary of The Home Depot, has completed the acquisition of Mingledorff's LLC, a major HVAC distributor operating 42 locations across five southeastern US states. The acquisition adds HVAC distribution as a new business vertical for SRS and strengthens The Home Depot’s professional contractor strategy. The deal enhances access to HVAC equipment, parts and supplies for res

Johnson Controls International Reports Strong Q2 2026 Performance IRELAND: Johnson Controls International plc reported strong fiscal Q2 2026 results, supported by rising demand for HVAC, data centre and energy-efficiency solutions. Quarterly sales increased 8% to USD 6.1 billion, while organic sales grew 6%. Adjusted EPS rose to USD 1.19 from USD 0.82 a year earlier, and orders increased 30% organically. The company’s backlog reached a record USD 20 billion, up 26% year-on-ye

Johnson Controls International Expands Denmark Heat Pump Hub to Boost European Manufacturing Capacity DENMARK: Johnson Controls International plc has expanded its Holme, Aarhus facility in Denmark, adding 2,300 m² of production space and an 1,800 m² testing and customer centre to double heat pump manufacturing and validation capacity. The site, powered by 100% green energy, focuses on large-scale industrial heat pumps and chillers for district heating, healthcare, research an

Duravit AG Confirms Michael Demmer as Chief Executive Officer GERMANY: Duravit AG has officially appointed Michael Demmer as CEO and Chairman of the Management Board following his interim leadership role. The decision, approved by the Supervisory Board on 29 April 2026, reflects confidence in his strategic vision for the company’s future. Duravit plans to strengthen its position as a premium bathroom brand through sustainable value creation, operational efficiency, and global

Housing Construction Vietnam: Nishi-Nippon Railroad, also known as Nishitetsu, plans to develop around 22,000 housing units in Vietnam between 2026 and 2035 through a partnership with local developer Nam Long Group. The Japanese company has acquired a 49% stake in Nam Long ADC, a subsidiary focused on affordable and middle-income housing projects, while Nam Long will retain the remaining 51% stake. The partnership will expand existing residential developments around Ho Chi Mi

Import relaxation on air conditioner and compressor India: The Government of India has extended conditional import relaxations for selected hermetic compressors used in air conditioners, refrigerators, and heat pumps until March 31, 2027, under the amended Quality Control Order framework. The revised notification allows manufacturers to continue importing specified compressor categories for captive use, subject to limits linked to their FY2024-25 import volumes. The move is a

Cera India: Cera Sanitaryware reported a 9.6% year on year decline in net profit to INR 77.33 crore (US$8.11 million) during Q4 FY26, while revenue from operations increased by 11.4% to INR 643.8 crore (US$67.5 million). The company stated that higher operating expenses, including increased stock in trade purchases and other expenditures, affected profitability during the quarter. Operating profit margin declined to 15.2% from 18.3% in the corresponding period last year. For

Ariston Group Italy: Ariston Group reported net revenues of EUR 656.1 million in Q1 2026, marking a 1.2% year on year increase, while organic revenue remained broadly stable. The company posted an adjusted EBIT of EUR 34 million with a margin of 5.2%, supported by continued growth in renewable heating solutions, particularly heat pumps in Europe and Germany. However, weak demand in the gas boiler segment across Europe and slower water heating demand in the United States impac

Housing At a pivotal stage in the legislative calendar, American Supply Association engaged with Capitol Hill lawmakers on key industry priorities while closely monitoring policy developments. A major highlight was the advancement of the long-anticipated Farm Bill by the House Agriculture Committee, which includes provisions from the Healthy H2O Act, a measure strongly supported by ASA. The legislation enables rural households, particularly those dependent on well water, to c

Residential ServiceTitan has released its 2026 Residential State of the Trades Report, based on a survey of 1,000 residential contractors. The findings indicate that 74% of contractors see AI as a key driver of efficiency, reflecting a clear shift toward more technology-enabled operations. However, only around 25% are currently using AI, revealing a notable gap between interest and actual adoption. Among early adopters, the benefits are already evident, with 48% reporting imp

Manufacturing Amid a growing wave of state-level environmental regulations, the chemical composition of equipment is emerging as a key focus within the U.S. regulatory landscape. Efforts to control per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have expanded beyond municipal water treatment concerns to become a direct supply chain requirement. States are increasingly advancing comprehensive policies targeting intentionally added PFAS in manufactured products. New Mexico’s propose