Beijer Ref US: Beijer Ref has acquired AM Distributors, a US-based HVAC distributor, as part of its expansion strategy in North America. AM Distributors has branches in Miami, Miramar and Hialeah. The company generates annual net sales of approximately SEK 460 million (US$49.7 million) and specialises in HVAC distribution services across the South Florida market. The acquisition strengthens Beijer Ref’s presence in the US HVAC distribution sector and expands its footprint in

Dexco Shuts Urussanga Plant, Consolidates Ceramic Production in Brazil Amid Efficiency Drive Brazil: Wood panel and ceramic tile manufacturer Dexco announced the shutdown of industrial operations at its Urussanga plant in Santa Catarina, Brazil, shifting ceramic tile production to Criciúma (Santa Catarina) and Botucatu (São Paulo), under its Ceusa and Portinari brands. The company, controlled by Itaúsa and the Seibel family, said the move is part of a strategy to improve capa

U.S. EPA Announces Regulatory Rollback on Refrigerant Rules, Projecting USD 2.4 Billion in Savings U.S.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), alongside President Trump, announced two regulatory actions including a final rule revising the 2023 Technology Transitions Rule and a proposed technical fix to the 2024 Emissions Reduction and Reclamation (ER&R) rule, aimed at easing restrictions on hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant. The agency estimates the changes will save

India and Canada Accelerate CEPA Talks, Targeting US$50 Billion in Bilateral Trade by 2030 CANADA: India and Canada have renewed efforts to strengthen economic relations by accelerating negotiations on the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with both countries aiming to conclude talks by the end of 2026 and increase bilateral trade to US$50 billion by 2030. Recent high-level meetings in Toronto focused on expanding cooperation across advanced manufa

MasterBrand Finalises Acquisition of American Woodmark USA: MasterBrand has completed its US$3.6 billion all-share acquisition of American Woodmark, creating a larger cabinetry manufacturer serving the North American residential market. The combined company will operate under the MasterBrand name, with headquarters remaining in Ohio while maintaining operations in Winchester, Virginia. The merger is expected to generate approximately US$90 million in annual cost savings withi

Canadian Government Increases Funding for St. Lawrence Shark Pavilion as Construction Commences CANADA: The Government of Canada has increased its funding for the St. Lawrence Shark Pavilion project in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, Quebec, by US$50,1990 (CAD 700,000,) raising its total contribution to US$2.7 million (CAD 3.8 million). Construction has now officially begun on the pavilion, which will form part of the Exploramer Museum and provide interactive exhibits focused on shark

Canadian Housing Construction Investment Continues to Decline CANADA: Investment in Canada's building construction sector declined to US$16.2 billion (CAD 22.6 billion) in March 2026, down 1.3% from February. Residential construction investment fell by 2.2% year-on-year to US$11.1 billion (CAD 15.5 billion), driven by declines in both multi-unit housing and single-family housing. Ontario recorded the largest fall in residential investment. According to the Canada Mortgage and

ADH Expands HVAC Distribution Network Through Acquisition of cfm Distributors USA: Advantage Distribution Holdings (ADH) has acquired Missouri-based cfm Distributors, a well-established HVACR distributor operating six locations and a distribution centre across Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. The acquisition marks ADH’s second purchase since its formation in 2024 and expands its footprint to 13 locations across six US states. cfm’s President and CEO, Lauren Roberts, will

Hitachi and Anthropic Partner to Advance Physical AI and Accelerate Global AI Transformation Japan/US: Hitachi and Anthropic PBC have announced a strategic partnership to strengthen Hitachi’s “Lumada 3.0” business model and accelerate the deployment of physical AI across mission-critical sectors including energy, transportation, manufacturing, and finance. As part of the collaboration, Hitachi will deploy advanced AI, including Anthropic’s Claude models, across business proce

Tecumseh and Invotech Sign Global Partnership Agreement USA: Tecumseh and Invotech have signed a Strategic Global Partnership Agreement aimed at expanding cooperation in the HVAC&R industry. The agreement focuses on accelerating innovation, improving supply chain flexibility, and supporting customers across global markets. The partnership was formalised in the presence of Jay Pittas, Chairman of Tecumseh, Ricardo Maciel, CEO of Tecumseh, and Jo Chen, Chairman and CEO of Invot

TerraVest Reports Fiscal 2026 Second Quarter Results USA: TerraVest Industries reported increased sales and adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, while net income declined compared with the previous year. Sales for the quarter ended 31 March 2026 rose to CAD 442.6 million (approximately USD 319.0 million), compared with CAD 311.5 million (approximately USD 224.7 million) in the same period of fiscal 2025. Adjusted EBITDA increased to CAD 75.5 million (approxi

SRS Distribution Completes Acquisition of HVAC Distributor Mingledorff’s USA: SRS Distribution Inc., a subsidiary of The Home Depot, has completed the acquisition of Mingledorff's LLC, a major HVAC distributor operating 42 locations across five southeastern US states. The acquisition adds HVAC distribution as a new business vertical for SRS and strengthens The Home Depot’s professional contractor strategy. The deal enhances access to HVAC equipment, parts and supplies for res

Housing At a pivotal stage in the legislative calendar, American Supply Association engaged with Capitol Hill lawmakers on key industry priorities while closely monitoring policy developments. A major highlight was the advancement of the long-anticipated Farm Bill by the House Agriculture Committee, which includes provisions from the Healthy H2O Act, a measure strongly supported by ASA. The legislation enables rural households, particularly those dependent on well water, to c

Residential ServiceTitan has released its 2026 Residential State of the Trades Report, based on a survey of 1,000 residential contractors. The findings indicate that 74% of contractors see AI as a key driver of efficiency, reflecting a clear shift toward more technology-enabled operations. However, only around 25% are currently using AI, revealing a notable gap between interest and actual adoption. Among early adopters, the benefits are already evident, with 48% reporting imp

Manufacturing Amid a growing wave of state-level environmental regulations, the chemical composition of equipment is emerging as a key focus within the U.S. regulatory landscape. Efforts to control per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have expanded beyond municipal water treatment concerns to become a direct supply chain requirement. States are increasingly advancing comprehensive policies targeting intentionally added PFAS in manufactured products. New Mexico’s propose

HVAC Significant changes may be on the horizon for tax incentives that support HVAC and sheet metal work, following the introduction of the American Energy Dominance Act (H.R. 8477). Proposed by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and supported by key stakeholders in the construction and labor sectors, the legislation aims to provide long-term stability for federal tax credits tied to energy efficiency projects across the United States. Currently, two of the most critical in

Home energy Federal funding aimed at promoting residential energy efficiency, including heat pump installations, is expected to resume soon after an extended pause. On April 15, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright informed the House Appropriations Committee that Home Energy Rebate (HER) funds could be released within a “few weeks.” The program had been under review by the Department of Energy (DOE) to ensure alignment with the administration’s policy agenda. HER comprises two

Heat Pump The AHR show hosts around 2,000 companies from the United States and several other countries, all showcasing their products within a massive exhibition space spanning acres in a major city. In comparison, this event was held at a facility typically used by the Associated Builders & Contractors of NH/VT and the Vermont Construction Academy for training in framing carpentry. The venue was equipped with multiple 240 VAC electrical service points, allowing some sponsors

Amazon Partners with Transaera to Deploy Next-Generation Heat Pump Technology Across Global Building Network US: Amazon and Transaera have entered into a new agreement to deploy Transaera’s next-generation heat pump technology across Amazon’s global building network following a successful six-month trial. Founded in 2018, U.S.-based Transaera develops energy-efficient air conditioning and dehumidification systems that use Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) to remove humidity bef

Ferguson Reports 3.6% Sales Growth and Strong Non-Residential Demand in Q1 2026 US: Ferguson Enterprises reported Q1 2026 net sales of USD 7.5 billion, up 3.6% year-on-year, with gross margin improving 30 basis points to 31.0% and operating margin rising 120 basis points to 8.2%. Diluted earnings per share increased 23.1% to USD 2.13, while adjusted diluted earnings per share rose 9.1% to USD 2.28, supported by strong non-residential revenue growth and ongoing large capital p