Gravity Bath Acquires Italian Luxury Bathware Brand DILUSSO INDIA: Gravity Bath Pvt Ltd has announced the acquisition of DILUSSO, an Italy-based luxury bathware label recognised for its design-led approach and precision engineering. The acquisition marks a key milestone in Gravity Bath’s strategy to build a globally relevant, design-centric bathware portfolio by combining European aesthetics with Indian manufacturing scale and technology expertise. Founded in Italy, DILUSSO h

Dekiln Secures ~US$3.8 Million to Commercialise Kiln-Free Tile Manufacturing UNITED KINGDOM: Dekiln Limited has secured approximately US$3.8 million in funding from the Royal Academy of Engineering to scale up its low-carbon, kiln-free tile manufacturing technology to industrial production. The funding coincides with Dekiln Chief Executive Dr. Aled Roberts being named among the inaugural Green Future Fellows, a programme designed to support engineers developing solutions that

Saudi Arabia SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has announced that invoicing under the White Land and Vacant Properties Fees Program will commence in Riyadh on Jan 1, 2026. The initiative will apply to undeveloped land plots larger than 5,000 sq. meters located within designated urban development zones. These zones are categorised by development priority, with annual fees ranging from 10 percent of land value in high-priority areas to 2.5 perc

Hisense INDIA: Hisense is positioning air conditioners as the cornerstone of its next growth phase in India, viewing the category as the fastest-growing appliance opportunity over the next decade. Citing single-digit AC penetration, CEO Pankaj Rana stated, "AC penetration in India is still in single digits, and over the next 10 years, air conditioners will be the biggest category in terms of CAGR growth." Hisense expects ACs to surpass TVs and refrigerators in value within fi

Samsung Electronics PERU: Samsung Electronics is strengthening its presence in the Latin American HVAC market by expanding beyond product sales into installation and aftersales capabilities. The company has opened a new Samsung HVAC Professional Training Center in Chiclayo, Peru, aimed at training engineers and installers in advanced installation and maintenance. The initiative is part of a broader B2B strategy to improve service quality and competitiveness in a region where

Heat Pump UNITED STATES: US homeowners face higher heat pump installation costs as the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit ends on December 31. Under the program, households could claim up to $3,200 annually, including up to $2,000 for qualifying heat pumps, covering 30% of eligible costs. From January 2026, new installations will no longer qualify, removing a key mechanism that helped offset upfront costs and reduce long-term heating expenses. The credit applied only to

United States UNITED STATES: National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) forecasts that United States household heating costs will rise 9.2% this winter, roughly three times inflation, driven by higher electricity and natural gas prices and colder weather. Average heating spending is expected to reach $995, up $84 year-on-year. Electricity-heated homes face the steepest increase (+12.2%), followed by natural gas users (+8.4%), while heating oil and propane costs

Amber Enterprises to Invest USD 55.8 Million in Punjab, India to Expand HVAC R&D Facility INDIA: Amber Enterprises India Ltd has announced plans to expand its advanced HVAC research and development centre in Punjab, supported by state incentives aimed at boosting technology innovation. The facility will focus on the development of commercial air-conditioning solutions and VRV systems. The company will invest ₹500 crore (USD 55.8 Million) over the duration of Punjab’s incentiv

EU-Backed Project Introduces Subscription-Based Model to Accelerate Heat Pump Adoption EUROPE: A new EU-funded initiative, HP SUBSCRIBE, aims to overcome the high upfront costs that limit the uptake of heat pumps in Europe’s commercial and public rented buildings. The project introduces a subscription-based model that allows tenants to access efficient heat pump heating without initial investment, while a specialised third party installs, finances and maintains the system. By

District Heating Prices Surge, Driving Sharp Rise in Iceland’s Home Heating Costs ICELAND: Latest inflation data from Statistics Iceland show a sharp increase in home heating costs, driven mainly by a 9.2% rise in district heating prices. According to Landsbankinn, this marks the largest increase in 15 years, last seen in 2010. The rise follows the introduction of new tariffs in December, meaning much of the expected January impact has already been reflected in inflation figu

GST Cut Fails to Kickstart Indian AC Sales – Primary Market Stays Subdued The recent reduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the Indian AC market from 28% to 18% has provided price relief for consumers. However, primary sales, shipments from manufacturers to distributors, have yet to see the anticipated boost, with industry insiders citing high channel inventories and cautious dealer ordering as key factors.  Distributors Hold Back Amid High Inventories   Distributor

Kohler Marks Two Decades of Retail Stores with New US Openings USA: Kohler Co. has announced the opening of three new Kohler Stores in Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Salt Lake City, as it marks the twentieth anniversary of its retail store concept. The stores provide interactive spaces where customers can view and experience products from the company’s portfolio, including bathroom and kitchen fixtures, connected home technologies and curated collections. The openings form part o