Sustainable development within the built environment entails safeguarding water, minimising emissions, harnessing renewable energy sources, and optimizing their utilization. At ISH 2025, experts from the sanitation, heating, and air-conditioning sector will unveil solutions for sustainable and modern building services technology aligning with these principles.

The world’s trade fair for HVAC + Water serves as the global hub for the sanitation, heating, and air-conditioning trade and industry, welcoming specialists such as planners, engineers, retailers, architects, interior architects, and designers. ISH, held in Frankfurt, offers a platform to explore the latest innovations, gain insights, and expand professional networks.

“Our first interim assessment after the early bird price expired shows that over 2,000 companies have already indicated that they want to participate in the forthcoming ISH. They include numerous leading national and international brands from the sanitation, heating and air-conditioning sectors,” says a delighted Stefan Seitz, head of ISH brand management.

Under the theme ‘Solutions for a Sustainable Future,’ ISH 2025 spotlights the pivotal factors driving the sanitation, heating, and air-conditioning sector. Focus areas include environmentally friendly and efficient heat generation, water conservation, and ensuring hygienic air quality. The trade fair organization has tailored eight thematic solution fields to cater to visitors’ diverse needs and interests precisely.

The evolution of the sanitary and HVAC sector is mirrored by ISH’s innovative approach. A revamped concept featuring eight solution fields will guide visitors through the fair in 2025, ensuring ease of navigation. Source: Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH / Jochen Günther

A sneak peek at ISH 2025 reveals a layout designed to cater to participants’ interests with eight new solution fields. The hall layout will align with these fields to facilitate seamless navigation during the event. Here’s a preview of the new concept and key players:

Solutions for Bathrooms: Halls 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, 4.1, 5.0, 5.1, and the Forum will showcase bathroom solutions for diverse settings, from residential to commercial. Leading brands like Duravit and Grohe will present their products, ensuring a comprehensive display of sanitary installations.

Solutions for Installation: Hall 6.1 will feature modern tools and fastening materials essential for efficient installation processes in the sanitation, heating, and air-conditioning sector. Top brands include Adolf Würth and Novopress.

Solutions for Water-bearing Systems: Exhibitors in Halls 4.0 and 6.0 will present intelligent water management systems and heating solutions, emphasizing environmental sustainability. Leading brands such as Grünbeck and Viega will showcase their innovations.

Solutions for Heat Generation: Hall 9.1 and 11.0 will spotlight efficient heat generation technologies, including biomass and heat pump systems, offered by brands like BHT Windhager and Vaillant.

Solutions for Intelligent Building Management: Hall 11.1 will feature systems for energy management and building automation presented by leading brands such as Belimo and Siemens.

Indoor Air Solutions: Hall 8 will showcase ventilation and air-conditioning systems for various environments, ensuring high indoor air quality. Notable exhibitors include Helios and Systemair.

Software Solutions: For the first time, Hall 8 will host software solution exhibitors, offering planning software for building services and construction.

Solutions for Sanitary and HVAC Production: Component suppliers will be directly assigned to relevant solution fields, streamlining access to high-quality components for sanitation, heating, and air conditioning systems.

Focus on Young Talent: A dedicated space for innovative startups will provide opportunities for networking and market entry, fostering the next generation of industry leaders.

For a comprehensive overview of all solution fields, associated applications, events, and registration details, visit the ISH website at ish.messefrankfurt.

A Houzz Survey has found Gen Xers lead in median spend, while Baby Boomers drive renovation activity as spend has surged in the last three years.

According to Houzz, a premier home renovation and design platform, the median spending has surged by 13%, rising from £15,000 in 2020 to £17,000 in 2023. The 2024 UK Houzz & Home Study, which surveyed nearly 1,800 participants, revealed that spending among the top 90th percentile has skyrocketed to £200,000, doubling from £100,000 in 2020. Although renovation activity remains steady with 48% of homeowners embarking on renovation projects in 2023, this marks a slight decrease of one percentage point from the previous year.

For the second consecutive year, Gen Xers** have led the way in renovation spending, with a median expenditure of £22,000. In comparison, Millennials and Baby Boomers spent £15,000 and £16,000, respectively. The top 10% of spenders within these groups invested significantly, with Gen Xers allocating £200,000 and Baby Boomers spending £180,000. Despite Gen Xers leading in spending, Baby Boomers are the most active in renovation projects, accounting for 54% of the activity, followed by Gen Xers at 34% and Millennials at 12%.

“Despite economic headwinds, investment in home renovations continued in 2023. Gen Xers, in particular, continued to lead the charge in spending,” said Marine Sargsyan, Houzz staff economist. “As homeowners finally had the means to upgrade their spaces, the reliance on professional help remained strong. Looking ahead, nearly half of homeowners are now planning renovations, highlighting a strong enthusiasm for enhancing living spaces.”

Along with this substantial investment, nearly all renovating homeowners enlisted the help of a home professional in 2023 (93%), with specialty service providers such as electricians (59%), and plumbers (52%), hired most frequently. Homeowners are also taking the time to both plan and save for their projects. Renovation planning is typically double the time the actual construction takes. Plus, “finally having the financial means” is the project catalyst for more than a third of renovating homeowners. 

Considering that motivation, it’s no surprise that cash from savings continues to be the most common form of funding for renovation projects (86%), followed by credit cards and cash from a previous home sale (18%, each). Credit card usage jumped 7 percentage points in 2023 (10% in 2022). 

Multi-Room Renovations

Homeowners consistently undertake multiple renovation projects simultaneously. Renovating homeowners on average target nearly three interior room upgrades and two or more outdoor projects during their renovations. 

Bathrooms Lead in Project Activity

Bathrooms continue to lead as the most commonly renovated interior room (29%), closely followed by kitchens and living rooms (26% each). Following last year’s significant jump in median spend for bath and kitchen projects, these renovations saw increases of 39% and 16%, respectively, reaching £7,300 for bathrooms and £15,100 for kitchens in 2023. 

Outdoor Projects Back in the Spotlight

Following a brief drop, outdoor project activity rose 17 percentage points in 2023 (51%, compared with 34% in 2022). Outdoor lighting is the most commonly updated outdoor system (28%). Security systems follow (15%, up nearly 2 percentage points from last year), as homeowners install cameras and sensors around their properties.

* Median spend is the midpoint level, meaning half of renovating homeowners on Houzz spent more and half spent less.

** Generational categories follow Pew Research Center’s age ranges: Millennials (25-39), Gen Xers (40-54) and Baby Boomers (55-74). 

Products worldwide compete in prestigious design awards such as the Red Dot, iF, and German Design Award. The Unidrain pedal bin has been recognised with several of these honours, including the iF Design Award for its “idea, form, function, differentiation, and impact,” the German Design Award for “Excellent Design,” and the Red Dot Design Award 2024 for its “excellent quality and outstanding design” in the Product Design category.

“We’re delighted that our new pedal bin is receiving recognition with these three design awards. When we develop new products for the Reframe range, the product has to stand out and preferably solve everyday problems in a more elegant way than other products on the market. I think we’ve succeeded here once again,” product manager Jacob Honoré enthuses.

The pedal bin is the latest addition to Unidrain’s Reframe Collection. Its timeless design features an elegant and simplistic exterior, which conceals carefully thought-out solutions for specific practical challenges. With clean lines and no external mechanics, the bin is easy to clean and ideal for standing freely and visibly in any room. Additionally, its height of 31.5 cm matches that of the toilet brush, enhancing the overall design aesthetic.

The pedal bin has been designed with a soft open/close lid, so it can be placed against any surface as the lid will not hit a wall when it opens, which avoids annoying banging noises, making it both silent and stylish.
The bin has a non-slip rubber foot which complements the specially designed spring-loaded pedal, this guarantees the bin’s stability during use whilst protecting again overloading, making it an elegant yet solid, sturdy bathroom accessory.

It has a handy and hygienic removable insert. This inner container is made of impact-resistant plastic, so it is easy to clean and stays rust-free. The inner container also has a ring of double-sided tape on the inside, which simplifies the fitting of bin bags.

The pedal bin is available in brushed and polished steel as well as copper, brass and black PVD finishes. It joins the other Reframe accessories, including the soap dispenser, shower shelf, screen wiper, hooks, corner shelf, toilet brush, toilet roll holder, plus spare toilet roll holder.

www.unidrain.com