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,