Brand K Group Acquires Utopia Furniture UK: UK radiator and bathroom supplier Brand K Group has acquired Midlands-based Utopia Furniture, adding the bathroom furniture manufacturer to a portfolio that includes Just Trays, Kartell UK and Carron Bathrooms. Utopia, which has operated for more than 35 years, hand-builds bathroom furniture to order at its Wolverhampton facility and supplies more than 600 independent bathroom showrooms alongside leading housebuilders through its co

TOTO Advances Green Hydrogen in Sanitaryware Manufacturing JAPAN: TOTO has become the world’s first sanitaryware manufacturer to achieve commercial production using green hydrogen in the firing process at its Kokura Plant in Japan, a milestone recognized by Euromonitor International. The company has reduced CO₂ emissions from sanitaryware manufacturing by around 40% since 2022 through advances in firing technology and cleaner fuels. The use of hydrogen is expected to support

Samsung Opens Built-In Appliance Showroom in Germany GERMANY: Samsung Electronics has opened a permanent built-in appliance showroom in Löhne, Germany, strengthening its focus on the European kitchen appliance market. Located at the Kitchen Center Löhne, the facility provides retailers, kitchen planners and industry partners with year-round access to Samsung’s built-in portfolio and connected kitchen solutions. The showroom features refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers and the E

Masterhaus Joins Edra/Ghin Network EUROPE: Bulgarian DIY retailer Masterhaus has joined the European DIY-Retail Association (Edra) and Global Home Improvement Network (Ghin), strengthening the organisations’ presence in Bulgaria and South-Eastern Europe. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Burgas, Masterhaus is a family-run retailer with more than three decades of experience in the DIY sector. The company operates six large-scale hypermarkets offering a broad range of buildi

Zhejiang Construction Investment Wins US$191 Million Hong Kong Public Housing Contract HONG KONG: A subsidiary of Zhejiang Construction Investment Group, Huaying Construction Co. Ltd., has secured a public housing contract at Wang Cheong Factory Estate in Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The contract is valued at HKD 1.5 billion (~US$191.2 million) and has a planned construction period of 1,096 days. The award aligns with Hong Kong’s push to expand public housing supply, w

Growing Share of Rimless Water Closets in South Africa Adoption of rimless water closets is growing in South Africa as consumers show greater interest in products that are easier to clean, more hygienic, and better suited to contemporary bathroom designs. This shift reflects a change in buying preferences, with consumers increasingly looking beyond basic functionality and paying more attention to hygiene, appearance, and ease of maintenance. Developers, retailers, and install

Heiwa Expands into Spain and Belgium EUROPE: French HVAC brand Heiwa has begun its first international expansion, entering Spain and Belgium through exclusive distribution partnerships with Sonepar Spain and Cebeo. The company selected the neighboring markets for their heat pump potential and logistical proximity to France. Since launching in May 2026, Heiwa has trained nearly 500 installers in Spain and started training activities in Belgium, while its distributor networks c

Paini Group Takes Over Officina Nicolazzi Operations ITALY: Paini Group has taken over the operational management of Officina Nicolazzi, the Italian premium fittings manufacturer founded in 1960, expanding its presence in the high-end design segment. Officina Nicolazzi will retain its brand, independence and manufacturing identity, while being jointly managed with KWC under a co-leadership model. The move follows Paini’s acquisition of KWC’s Home division in 2024 and strength

Airbnb commits US$250 million to unlock stalled US housing projects UNITED STATES: Airbnb has launched a “Housing Accelerator” combining US$250 million in below-market, last-dollar financing for stalled rental projects with policy advocacy, a global housing-policy data index and a US$5 million innovation prize focused on construction and development technology. The company expects the initiative to unlock more than US$5 billion in housing investment over the next decade, star

Bauhaus Opens 25th Swedish Store in Östersund SWEDEN: Bauhaus has expanded its Swedish retail network with the opening of a new specialist store in Östersund, Jämtland, bringing its total number of stores in Sweden to 25. Covering approximately 11,000 m², the new location offers more than 30,000 products and employs over 40 staff. Located near the Lillänge shopping area, the store caters to both private and commercial customers, with a broad range of services. Key features in

France’s New Housing Recovery Remains Fragile FRANCE: France’s new housing market showed mixed signals in July 2026, with housing starts rising while building permits edged down. Housing starts increased 8.9% month-on-month to 27,677 units, supported by an 11% rise in collective housing. However, permits fell 2.5% to 29,577 units. Over the past 12 months, 370,700 homes were authorised, 9.5% below the five-year average, while starts remained 11.8% lower. Demand also weakened,

Brookfield Proposes Acquisition Of RWC Australia: Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC) Limited has entered into a process deed with Brookfield Capital Partners LLC following a non-binding proposal to acquire 100% of its ordinary shares through a scheme of arrangement at a cash offer price of AUD 4.75 per share. The offer represents premiums over recent trading levels and values the company at approximately AUD 4,100 million (USD 2,665.0 million/EUR 2,460.0 million). The propo

Nimlas Expands HVAC Presence In Eastern Finland Finland: Nimlas has expanded its presence in Eastern Finland through the acquisition of LVI-Bioneerit Oy, Savonlinnan LVI-Palvelu Oy and LVI-Myller Oy from Bioneerit Group Oy. The three companies employ around 70 personnel and generate combined annual revenue of approximately EUR 12.0 million. Following the transaction, the businesses will continue operating under their existing names as part of Nimlas Finland, with current mana

Samsung Expands HVAC Production Hub In South Korea South Korea: Samsung Electronics has announced an investment of KRW 240 billion (USD 180.0 million/EUR 165.0 million) to establish a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) production hub at its Gwangju Integrated Special City facility in South Jeolla Province. The project includes the construction of a new production line with a total floor area of 21,800 square metres at the Gwangju Campus No. 3, with operations sc

BRG Building Solutions will release its latest Tier 4 European Bathroom & Kitchen Market Reports, covering seven European markets and forecasting developments through 2030 before the end of the month. The latest reports further expand BRG Building Solutions' coverage of the European bathroom and kitchen sector, providing detailed market intelligence for Belarus, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Serbia and Slovenia. The reports deliver comprehensive analysis of market sizes

Retail store Wickes reported a 2.1% increase in revenue to £865.3 million (US$1.16 billion) for the first half of its 2026 financial year, supported by growth in its TradePro and Design & Installation businesses, which offset a slight decline in like-for-like Retail sales. For the 26 weeks ended 27 June 2026, group revenue increased from £847.9 million (US$1.14 billion) in H1 2025. Adjusted profit before tax rose 1.1% to £27.6 million (US$37.0 million), while statutory profit

production unit POLAND: Cersanit S.A., a manufacturer of ceramic and porcelain tiles and bathroom equipment, plans to implement collective redundancies affecting 487 employees across five production facilities in Poland, according to information provided by the District Labour Office in Krasnystaw. The planned reductions will affect plants in Krasnystaw, Starachowice, Opoczno, Radom and Wałbrzych, with employee notices expected to be issued in stages between August and Novemb

UK: Fireclay sink brand Shaws of Darwen has announced a significant price increase across its product portfolio, with one distributor warning that some prices could rise by as much as 300%. Jonathan White, Sales Director EMEAA at parent company Fortune Brands Innovations, confirmed that the increase will take effect from 1 November. He said current prices no longer adequately reflect the cost of manufacturing and supplying Shaws products. According to White, Fortune Brands ha

Inflation EUROPE: Euro zone wage growth continued to moderate in the second quarter, even as inflation picked up, while negotiated wage agreements indicate only a mild acceleration next year. This is expected to provide some reassurance to European Central Bank (ECB) policymakers that wage pressures remain contained. The ECB is closely monitoring wage developments amid concerns that higher energy prices could trigger stronger pay demands and create a persistent wage-price spi

US House Vote Raises Tariff Risks for India Over Russian Oil India: India faces the prospect of tariffs of up to 100% on countries purchasing Russian oil and gas after the US House of Representatives passed legislation giving President Donald Trump broader powers to impose sanctions and tariffs on such countries. The legislation is expected to go to Trump for signature. India and China are among the countries most exposed, as both are major buyers of Russian crude. Russia acc

ES Group Expands Distribution Partnership in Portugal Portugal: ES Group has signed a distribution agreement with Portuguese company Termomat for the sale of heat pump solutions under the ES Energy Save brand in Portugal. The partnership focuses on commercial real estate, with Termomat supplying HVAC and energy solutions for commercial buildings. The agreement covers heat pump solutions for both commercial properties and residential homes. As part of the partnership, training

RN Valves & Faucets Expands Bathroom Fitting Range in India India: RN Valves & Faucets has expanded its production range of PTMT taps, CP brass faucets, showers, health faucets and sanitary accessories for residential and commercial applications in India. The company, which has operated from Sahibabad Industrial Area since 2000, supplies products to residential builders, hotels, hospitals and institutional buyers. Its range includes pillar cocks, bib cocks, angle valves, wall

Trade New Zealand’s Parliament has passed legislation to implement the country’s free trade agreement with India, paving the way for reduced or zero tariffs on around 95% of New Zealand’s exports to the Indian market. The legislation was approved by 93 votes to 29, with the opposition Labour Party supporting the measure. More than half of the products covered under the agreement are expected to become duty-free from the date of implementation. In return, India will receive du

appointment Dornbracht has appointed Olaf Hoppe as managing director, effective 14 September 2026. The 59-year-old executive joins the Iserlohn-based fittings manufacturer after serving as CEO of SieMatic, where he oversaw the company’s transformation. Hoppe will assume overall management responsibilities following the departure of CSMO Caroline Schmitt and CFO Natalia Castellucci de Kolb. His appointment comes as Dornbracht continues to implement a strategy aimed at strength