Grohe Opens Water Experience Centre in Düsseldorf Germany: Grohe opened its new Water Experience Centre in Düsseldorf on 24 September. Covering approximately 590 square metres, the facility is designed to serve customers, partners and trade professionals through interactive product displays, meetings and training sessions. The opening ceremony was attended by Dr Kirsten Bender, Head of the Technology & Business Location Department at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry

Kenon to Acquire Stake in U.S. District Energy Business UNITED STATES: Kenon Holdings has agreed to invest approximately US$450 million to acquire a 25% stake in Vicinity District Energy, a major U.S. district heating and cooling infrastructure provider. Vicinity serves more than 700 customers across around 1,000 buildings in 12 U.S. cities, including Boston and Philadelphia. The company generated approximately US$611 million in revenue in 2025 and operates more than 140 mile

France’s Heat Pump Market Recovers Despite Weak Construction FRANCE: France’s HVAC market remains under pressure, although heat pumps are showing signs of recovery. According to Uniclima, air-to-water heat pump sales rose 14.7% in the first half of 2026, while small-capacity air-to-air units increased 36.2%, supported by energy-saving demand, electrification policies and hot weather. In contrast, gas and oil boiler sales fell 23.4%, reflecting the shift away from combustion h

United States Construction Labor Market Shows Mixed Signals UNITED STATES: United States construction labour market showed mixed trends in August 2026, with job openings falling by 48,000 to 251,000, although remaining 38,000 above the level recorded a year earlier, according to BLS JOLTS data. Construction layoffs also declined to 99,000, the lowest since the series began in 2000. The contrasting trends reflect weakness in residential construction alongside strong demand fro

France ties HP incentives to EU production France is contemplating a revision of its heat pump support structure to align financial incentives with its industrial strategy and enhance European manufacturing and supply-chain resilience. From 1 September 2026, the improved Coup de pouce Chauffage (“heating boost”) bonus as part of the Energy Savings Certificates (CEE) scheme will only be available for eligible heat pump models on a government-approved list. The new eligibility

Hap Seng Plans Sale Of Hafary Stake Following Takeover Offer Malaysia: Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd has agreed to sell its 50.82 per cent stake in Singapore-listed Hafary Holdings Ltd as part of a takeover offer by 23 Capital Pte Ltd. The offer values Hafary at approximately SGD 140 million (USD 102.20 million/EUR 95.10 million), with a cash offer of SGD 0.64 per share. 23 Capital, which is controlled by members of the Hafary founding family, intends to take the company private.

Mudiame University Plans Pilot Ceramic Factory In Nigeria Nigeria: Mudiame University has announced plans to establish a pilot ceramic factory within six months in partnership with several Italian organisations, following engagements at TECNA 2026 in Italy. The initiative aims to support teaching, equipment development, technology transfer and manpower training, alongside the launch of the university’s ceramic engineering programme, which has received approval from the Nation

Air Conditioner Prices Set To Rise In India India: Consumers in India are expected to face higher air conditioner prices, with manufacturers planning an increase of around 5 to 8 per cent from 1 October 2026. The price revision follows continued pressure from rising input costs, including copper, aluminium, steel, plastics and logistics expenses, along with currency movements. This marks another round of price adjustments during the year as companies respond to sustained cost

Naitron Expands Granite Composite Sink Manufacturing Capabilities in China China: Hubei Nature New Material Sanitary Appliance Co., Ltd. (NAITRON) has expanded its granite composite sink manufacturing operations in Hubei, China, supported by digitally controlled production systems and patented thermosetting moulding technology. The company provides OEM and ODM manufacturing services to global distributors and wholesalers, with production processes designed to ensure consisten

Hisense Expands UK Retail Presence Through John Lewis Partnership UK: Hisense has entered into a partnership with John Lewis & Partners to expand the availability of its products in the United Kingdom. The agreement includes the sale of ACs and selected major domestic appliances through online channels. The collaboration introduces Hisense’s product range to the retailer’s platform. The arrangement forms part of the company’s broader retail expansion in the UK, with in-store

Perge And Axen Establish Heat Pump Joint Venture In France France: PERGE and AXEN have established a joint venture, PERGE AXEN CO (P.A.C.), in Lyon, France, combining PERGE’s heating expertise with AXEN’s experience in heat pump technology. The facility has commissioned assembly lines for R290 air-to-water heat pumps, marking the start of local production. The current product range includes monobloc units with capacities from 4 to 16 kW, available in single-phase and three-ph

Ariston Partners With Keyline Sales to Expand Presence in Southern California USA: Ariston has entered into a partnership with Keyline Sales to manage sales, distribution and specification activities across Southern California and Wayne County, Nevada. The agreement focuses on expanding the availability of water heating and thermal comfort solutions in a market influenced by building decarbonisation targets and energy efficiency regulations. Through this collaboration, Aristo

Housing USA: Mortgage rates surpassed the 7% mark this week for the first time since January 2025, reaching their highest level during either of Donald Trump’s presidential terms. According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased to 7.03%, up from 6.95% the previous week. This marked the fifth consecutive week of rising mortgage rates, further increasing pressure on housing affordability. Higher borrowing costs translate into larger monthly mortgage

HVAC Germany: The Bosch Group reported solid performance in the first half of 2026 despite a challenging economic and geopolitical environment. Revenue increased by 3.6% year on year to EUR 46.4 billion, compared with EUR 44.8 billion in H1 2025. The newly acquired heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) business of Johnson Controls and Hitachi contributed approximately EUR 2 billion to the increase in sales. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) stood at EUR 2.2

heat pump GERMANY: CTA AG has established CTA International GmbH in Germany as part of its strategy to strengthen its presence in the European market. Based in Mönchengladbach, the new subsidiary will take over activities that were previously managed directly from Switzerland. CTA International GmbH will be responsible for sales, consulting and service activities across the European market, including support for specialist and trading partners, product training, project assis

Bathroom Alca, a Czech manufacturer of support frames, piping systems, shower channels and siphons, is expanding into the French market as part of its broader European growth strategy. The company is targeting the mid- to high-end segment and is leveraging its modern production capabilities and focus on product quality and innovation. According to Radka Prokopová, CEO and co-owner of Alca, France represents one of the largest markets in Europe and is therefore a key expansion

South Korean Bathroom and Fixture Suppliers Expand Consumer Businesses South Korea: Suppliers of bathroom fixtures and building products are expanding their business-to-consumer (B2C) operations amid a slowdown in residential construction. Haatz, Hyumpel and Daelim Bath are diversifying their product ranges and distribution channels beyond their traditional focus on supplying apartment developers and construction companies. Haatz, which launched its online store in 2017, has

Clas Ohlson Opens 40th Store in Finland Finland: Swedish retailer Clas Ohlson is expanding its presence in Finland with the opening of its 40th store in Joensuu on 26 September 2026. The new store has a retail area of 1,000 square metres. The company plans to open three stores in Finland during 2026, as part of its continued expansion in the country. A store in Tampere opened in April, while another is scheduled to open in Pirkkala in November. Victor Esteka, Sales & Operatio

Nigeria Partners with Italian Organisations to Develop Ceramic Manufacturing Nigeria: Mudiame University and Mudiame International Group are seeking to develop domestic ceramic engineering expertise through partnerships with Italian technology organisations. Following participation in TECNA 2026, an international ceramic and surface industry exhibition in Rimini, Italy, the university's Chancellor and Mudiame International Group Chairman, Professor Sunny Eromosele, announced

Simpolo Expands Surface Portfolio and Enters Faucet Market in India India: Simpolo Vitrified Private Limited has introduced its Perspective ’26 surface collection, expanded its manufacturing capacity and entered the faucet market as part of its bathware portfolio. The product launch was held in Rajkot and Tirupati, bringing together trade partners and architects from across India. The new surface range includes Impero-2.0, Ricco-3.0, Impatto-2.0, Marmorica-2.0, Parquet and In

Altex to Invest EUR 50 Million in Brico Dépôt Rebranding in Romania Romania: Altex, which acquired the Brico Dépôt DIY retail chain from the UK-based Kingfisher Group in 2025, plans to rebrand the business as Brico and invest EUR 50 million (USD 58.5 million) over the next three years. The investment will cover store development, product ranges, services, technology, e-commerce and artificial intelligence. Altex operates in Romania's electrical goods, household appliances and

Slovenia Allocates EUR 300 Million for Affordable Housing Slovenia: Slovenia has introduced a EUR 300 million (USD 351 million) financing programme through SID Banka to support the construction and renovation of social and affordable rental housing. The programme comprises EUR 150 million (USD 175.5 million) each from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), alongside an interest-rate subsidy from the Slovenian government. Municipal

PrimeSource Brands Acquires JACLO to Expand Decorative Plumbing Portfolio United States: PrimeSource Brands, a portfolio company of Clearlake Capital Group, has acquired Durst Corporation, which operates as JACLO Industries, through its Dimora Brands platform. The transaction marks PrimeSource Brands' 12th acquisition since its partnership with Clearlake in December 2020. Financial terms were not disclosed. Founded in 1901 and headquartered in Cranford, New Jersey, JACLO manu

Gree Electric Strengthens European HVAC Presence EUROPE: China’s Gree Electric Appliances is expanding its presence in Europe as demand for energy efficient heating and cooling systems increases. The company reported a 92% rise in sales in markets including Norway and Denmark during the first half of 2026. Gree is promoting systems that provide both heating and cooling while using less energy than traditional oil and gas-based heating. Europe’s growing air conditioning demand