Heat pump SWEDEN: Qvantum has entered into a multi-year partnership with Bad & Värme, one of Sweden’s largest HVAC chains. Under the agreement, Qvantum’s heat pump solutions will be offered through Bad & Värme’s nationwide network of member companies, significantly expanding access for households and property owners across Sweden. The collaboration represents a key milestone in Qvantum’s growth strategy and further strengthens its local footprint in the Swedish market. The pa

Why Solar Water Heating Struggles in India Despite Being a Proven Renewable Solution Solar water heating is one of the most energy-efficient renewable technologies available. A standard residential system can reduce electricity consumption for water heating by 70–80%, displacing roughly 1,500 kWh per year for a typical household. With system lifetimes exceeding 15–20 years, payback periods often fall within two to four years, even without subsidies. From a technical standpoi

Renewable energy Europe: The share of renewable energy in heating and cooling across the European Union reached a record high of 26.7% in 2024, the highest level since tracking began in 2004, when it stood at 11.7%. This reflects a year-on-year increase of 0.5 percentage points from 26.2% in 2023, although the growth rate remains below the long-term average annual increase of 0.75 percentage points recorded between 2004 and 2024. The expansion of renewable heating and cooling

Haier China: AstraZeneca’s Qingdao Pharmaceutical Park was completed and became operational at the end of 2025, equipped with CO₂ heat pump systems and a year-round combined cooling and heating solution provided by Haier Carrier. The system meets the complex air conditioning and heating demands of diverse areas, including offices and R&D centers, while ensuring stable pharmaceutical production and significantly reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. The park faces

Bathroom ITALY: Vismaravetro Srl has announced the acquisition of the bathroom furniture business unit of Koh-I-Noor, a historic name in the sector. The transaction, finalized on 17 December 2025 and effective from 1 January 2026, marks a significant step in the company’s growth under the leadership of the Vismara family. The acquisition reinforces Vismaravetro’s strategy to broaden its design scope in bathroom furniture, with particular emphasis on the contract and hospitali

Financial results Switzerland: Meier Tobler today released its preliminary, unaudited results for the 2025 financial year, reporting resilience in a challenging market and further strengthening its position. Net sales reached CHF 496.6 million (US$ 647 million), up slightly by 0.1% from the previous year, with the company gaining market share despite a declining Swiss heat pump market. Business performance was uneven, with a strong third quarter offset by weaker-than-expected

Handshake UAE: Khansaheb Group has established itself as one of the region’s leading construction and engineering conglomerates, with a legacy of shaping the UAE’s built environment and a forward-looking vision for sustainable growth. Leveraging its scale, expertise, and diverse capabilities, the group has recently acquired ANABEEB from EMSTEEL Building Materials PJSC (ADX: EMSTEEL), a prominent infrastructure company specialising in end-to-end PVC and GRP industrial pipe man

tariffs INDIA: India and the European Union reached a long-awaited trade agreement on Tuesday, aimed at significantly reducing tariffs on most goods to boost bilateral trade and lessen dependence on the United States amid rising global trade tensions. The deal is expected to double EU exports to India by 2032 by removing or lowering tariffs on 96.6% of traded goods by value, generating an estimated €4 billion ($4.75 billion) in duty savings for European companies, according t

District UAE: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Tuesday launched a AED 100 billion ($27.23 billion) mega project to expand the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) with the creation of the DIFC Zabeel District. According to the Dubai Government Media Office, the new district represents the region’s largest demand-driven expansion of a financial centre, covering 7.1 million sq. ft. of land with a t

India Boosts Air Conditioner Component Manufacturing Under PLI Scheme INDIA: India has selected five companies in the fourth round of the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods to manufacture air conditioner components. These firms will invest US$ 93.9 million (₹8630 million), generate production worth US$ 9037 million (₹83,000 million) and create nearly 1,799 direct jobs by FY 2027–28. The additions expand the scheme to 85 companies, strengthening domestic

Zenith Water Heater Considers Further Expansion in North Macedonia NORTH MACEDONIA: UAE-based Zenith Water Heater is exploring plans to expand its operations in North Macedonia, according to the country’s free economic zones authority (TIRZ). The company is assessing a potential new investment within one of the nation’s economic zones, although specific details have not been disclosed. Zenith Water Heater, a subsidiary of Star Industrial Products LLC, already operates a manuf

SPX Technologies Strengthens HVAC Portfolio with Thermolec Acquisition USA: SPX Technologies has completed the acquisition of Canada-based Thermolec Ltd. for approximately US$140 million, marking a strategic expansion of its HVAC segment. Founded in 1973, Thermolec is a Montréal-headquartered manufacturer of custom electric duct heating and related solutions, serving commercial, multi-family residential and light industrial markets across North America. The company employs ne

Panasonic Appointed to Procure Plus Framework for Low-Carbon Heating Solutions United Kingdom: Panasonic Heating and Cooling UK have been selected for the four-year Procure Plus framework, supporting the supply of low- and zero-carbon heating, hot water and smart control technologies to social housing and public sector organisations across the UK. Under the framework, Panasonic will provide its Aquarea air source heat pumps, hot water cylinders and smart control solutions to

STIEBEL ELTRON Begins Heat Pump Production at Höxter Facility GERMANY: STIEBEL ELTRON has commenced heat pump production at its newly acquired facility in Höxter, Germany, following the takeover of the former DMA mechanical engineering site in late 2022. After extensive refurbishment, one production line is now operational, with two additional lines planned. The facility will handle the full production process, from assembling refrigerant circuits to testing, charging and pac

Sustainable Cooling AFRICA: A new report by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) warns that inadequate access to cooling places over one billion people globally at risk, with Africa among the most affected regions. Without urgent action, up to 1.05 billion Africans could face high heat-related risks by 2030. In Sub-Saharan Africa, weak cooling infrastructure threatens health, food security and productivity, while countries such as Nigeria, Sudan and Mozambique are among the

CEVA Logistics to Develop New Daikin Warehouse in Spain SPAIN: CEVA Logistics has started construction of a 27,000 sq m warehouse in Tórtola de Henares, Spain, to support Daikin’s expanding air conditioning operations. Scheduled to be operational in the first quarter of 2027, the facility will enhance logistics efficiency through advanced IT systems, improved inventory management and customised storage solutions. Built to meet BREEAM Very Good standards, the warehouse will in

Rotpunkt Küchen Records Strong Growth Despite Challenging Market Conditions GERMANY: Rotpunkt Küchen closed the 2025 financial year with a 6.25% increase in sales, reaching a record US$ 123.1 million (€103.7 million), despite weak new-build activity and cautious consumer demand. Growth was driven by higher average values per kitchen order, alongside a 2.3% rise in volumes. The company reported positive performance in Germany and stable exports, which account for 80% of sales,

Flamme Küchen und Möbel to Close All Stores and End Operations in 2026 GERMANY: The long-established family business Flamme Küchen und Möbel has announced that it will cease all business activities in 2026, bringing nearly a century of operations to an end. Founded in 1929 in Bremen, the kitchen and furniture retailer will close its six stores located in Bremen, Berlin, Frankfurt, Fürth, Hanover and Munich. Managing Director Tina Flamme said the decision followed extensive co

KEDA Ghana Eyes Further Expansion Following Major Local Manufacturing Investment GHANA: KEDA (Ghana) Ceramics Company Ltd. is planning to expand its international sales footprint after investing around US$ 300 million in local manufacturing since 2017. The company, which estimates it now holds about 45% of Ghana’s domestic ceramics market, is considering a second-phase sanitary ware production line that could attract a further US$ 200–500 million in investment. The move would

Clerici Strengthens Rome Presence with Five Strategic Acquisitions ROME: Italian distribution group Clerici has accelerated its expansion in Rome through five strategic acquisitions, reinforcing its position in the Lazio region. The company has acquired 100% of Termoidraulica Agostini e Figli, ARYA Group, Lazioterm and Home Distribuzione, and signed a binding agreement to purchase Puntoclima. These businesses are leading distributors of hydronic, heating, air conditioning and

Home Depot Launches AI Tool to Speed Up Project Material Planning for Trades USA: Home Depot has launched Material List Builder AI, a new digital tool designed to help professional tradespeople create accurate project material lists in minutes rather than hours. The AI interprets project requirements and generates organised, phase-by-phase material lists, reducing manual searching and errors. Users can input details through natural language descriptions, voice-to-text, pasted

DIY and Home Improvement Outperform German Online Retail Growth in 2025 GERMANY: Germany’s online home improvement market recorded above-average growth in 2025, outperforming overall e-commerce trends. The DIY and flowers segment grew by 4.9% year on year, reaching sales of US$ 3.61billion (€3.04 billion), according to data from the German E-Commerce and Distance Selling Trade Association (BEVH). Overall German e-commerce sales to end consumers increased by 3.2% to US$ 98.7 b

Belgian DIY Retail Sales Decline in 2025 as Industry Debates Data Sharing BELGIUM: Belgian DIY stores recorded a 1.2% drop in sales in 2025 compared with the previous year, according to figures presented at the DIY, Pro & Garden trade fair in Kortrijk. In contrast, garden centres performed more strongly, posting sales growth of 3.8%. Data from the DIY & Garden Panel, which tracks 78 home and living product groups, showed an overall decline of 3.2%, largely driven by weaker pe

France Unveils Ambitious Housing Recovery Plan Targeting Two Million Homes by 2030 FRANCE: French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has presented a wide-ranging housing recovery plan aimed at addressing the country’s prolonged housing crisis. Central to the strategy is a target to build two million homes by 2030, equivalent to around 400,000 units per year, a significant increase from recent construction levels. The plan combines unprecedented financial support for social hous