General Australia Australia and New Zealand: GENERAL Australia has announced the departure of Philip Perham from his position as managing director for Australia and New Zealand after nearly 27 years with the company. Sachio Inami, Head of Oceania, will become the senior point of contact for the Australian market. The change follows the acquisition of Fujitsu General Limited by Paloma Rheem Holdings in 2025. Perham has served as managing director since 2017 and oversaw the tra

HVAC Factory AUSTRALIA: Climate HVAC is strengthening its position in the Australian market through innovative offerings such as Prihoda Fabric Ducting, which provides enhanced airflow performance, quicker installation, and greater design flexibility for contemporary commercial applications. The company has secured exclusive distribution rights for Prihoda fabric ducting across Eastern Australia, further underscoring its focus on delivering high-performance, future-ready HVAC

Ariston Group Acquires Full Ownership of Chromagen Australia Australia: Ariston Group has acquired the remaining 49% stake in Chromagen Australia, taking its ownership of the Australian water heating company to 100%. The business had already been 51% owned and fully consolidated by Ariston Group following its initial acquisition in January 2022. The transaction strengthens Ariston Group’s presence in Australia’s water heating market, where demand for renewable heating technol

How Consumer Preference Has Driven the Dominance of Japanese Air Conditioners in Australia The Australian air conditioner market is significantly influenced by Japanese brands, with consumer preference playing a key role. Brands like Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Fujitsu and Panasonic consistently top buyer satisfaction surveys, command premium prices, and enjoy loyalty that no other competitor has successfully eroded. Understanding why Austr

HVAC AUSTRALIA: AIIR Intelligent HVAC has entered into a strategic partnership with Copeland to enhance smart HVAC system integration and energy management capabilities. Under the collaboration, all AIIR products will be equipped with a custom-configured version of Copeland’s Verdant VX4 thermostat, creating an advanced HVAC solution aimed at simplifying installation, speeding up project approvals, and improving energy efficiency. The specially configured Verdant VX4 thermost

Reece Gains Attention as Housing and Infrastructure Demand Support Plumbing and HVAC Growth AUSTRALIA: Reece Ltd continues to benefit from stable demand across the Australian and New Zealand plumbing and HVAC markets, supported by residential construction, infrastructure investment and recurring maintenance activity. The company reported resilient trading conditions, improved operational efficiency and stable margins as supply-chain pressures eased. Reece is investing in bran

Labour Shortage Slows Australia’s Housing Targets Australia: Australia’s housing targets are facing pressure due to a shortage of skilled workers, as the country struggles to meet its construction goals. Around 18 months into the federal government’s five-year housing accord, the country is behind target by approximately 77,000 homes. The sector continues to rely on a workforce of around two million tradespeople, but additional labour is required to support planned housing de

Beijer Ref and Copeland Extend Distribution Agreement in ANZ Australia & New Zealand: Beijer Ref and Copeland have extended their exclusive distribution agreement for Copeland ZX condensing units across Australia and New Zealand. The agreement includes distribution through Beijer Ref Australia, Kirby HVAC&R, Patton NZ and SCM Ref Australia, and covers ZX condensing units manufactured in Asia, including the HLR (Horizontal Receiver Scroll Unit) and associated platform-specific

Iran Conflict Pushes Up Construction Costs and Disrupts Housing and Agriculture in Australia AUSTRALIA: The ongoing Iran war is driving significant economic pressure across Australia, particularly in construction and agriculture. Rising global fuel and material costs are increasing home building expenses, worsening the country’s housing shortage and threatening delivery of new housing targets. Builders and economists warn that affordability challenges may intensify if cost in

Nero Tapware Secures Exclusive Australian Distribution Rights for American Standard Bathroom Solutions AUSTRALIA: Nero Tapware has been appointed the exclusive Australian distributor for American Standard, expanding its presence beyond tapware and bathroom accessories into broader bathroom solutions. The partnership strengthens Nero’s product offering in the Australian market by adding a globally recognized brand with more than 150 years of heritage in bathroom innovation and

Australia Reports Rise in Housing Construction Amid Policy Debate Australia: Australian Bureau of Statistics released building activity data for the December quarter of 2025, reporting that the number of homes commencing construction during the year increased by 16.4 per cent compared to 2024. This included a 5.6 per cent rise in detached house commencements and a 35.3 per cent increase in multi-unit developments. The data indicates a recovery in housing construction, support

Roca Group Australia: Roca Group has opened a new Sydney Gallery in Surry Hills, Australia, bringing together its brands Laufen and Roca within a shared space. The facility is designed as a two level site in a heritage building and was developed by architecture firm DKO. The gallery integrates original architectural elements with modern design to present bathroom solutions focused on functionality, innovation and sustainability. The Sydney Gallery becomes part of the company

Reece Group Announces HY26 Results Amid Challenging Market Conditions Australia: Reece Group has reported its results for the first half of the 2026 financial year, reflecting housing market conditions across its operating regions. Group sales revenue increased by 6 per cent to AUD 4,648 million (USD 3,068 million), compared with AUD 4,402 million (USD 2,905 million) in the corresponding period of the previous year, supported by network expansion. On a like-for-like basis, sa

Daikin New Zealand To Open Christchurch Warehouse and Distribution Centre New Zealand: Daikin New Zealand is nearing completion of its second purpose-built facility in the country, with the new Daikin Park Christchurch warehouse and distribution centre intended to meet customer demand across the South Island. The facility will consolidate two existing Christchurch locations on a 7,870 square metre site in Hornby and will become a dedicated Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditi

Xiaomi Sets Sights on Australia’s US$3.7bn Air-Conditioning Market AUSTRALIA: Xiaomi is preparing a major push into Australia’s home appliance sector, targeting the fast-growing air-conditioning market valued at about US$3.7 billion in 2025. Backed by multi-million-dollar investments in its own manufacturing facilities, the company is shifting from an outsourced production model toward greater in-house control, with plans to internalise around 20% of air-conditioner manufactu

Australia Extends Apprenticeship Support for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Trades Australia: The Australian government has extended financial support for employers and apprentices in priority and clean energy occupations, including refrigeration and air conditioning, under the Key Apprenticeship Program. The updated measures will continue incentive payments through December 2026, with the programme supporting New Energy Apprenticeships and targeting workforce development

RICS Survey Signals Improved Construction Sentiment in Australia Australia: The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has reported improving conditions in Australia’s construction industry in 2025, led by private non-residential work and infrastructure and public projects. The latest Global Construction Monitor showed the Construction Sentiment Index rising to plus 21 from plus 15, returning to levels last seen in 2023. Infrastructure performance remained supported

South Australia and Federal Government Commit Funding for New Housing Programme Australia: The South Australian and federal governments have announced a joint housing programme valued at AUD 800 million (USD 530 million, EUR 490 million), which aims to deliver around 17,000 new homes across the state. Of this total, close to 7,000 homes are intended for first-home buyers. The initiative forms part of a wider federal commitment to increase housing supply nationally and include

Australia sees rise in dwelling construction activity Australia: Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that construction activity for new dwellings increased over the past year, though it remains below levels required to meet government housing targets. Dwelling commencements in the twelve months to September 2025 rose by 11.2 percent. The data indicates that housing demand continues to outpace supply, with delivery constraints identified as a key factor

Pre sale Finance Guarantee program Australia: The New South Wales Labor government has activated its US$ 685 million Pre sale Finance Guarantee program by supporting a 225 apartment mixed-use development in Rozelle, in Sydney's inner west. The US$ 195 million Rozelle Village redevelopment, located on the former Balmain Leagues Club site on Victoria Road, is the first project to receive backing under the scheme. The programme allows the state government to commit to presales f