After growing by 4.5% in 2025, the market for energy-based aesthetic medical devices is expected to reverse course in 2026, declining by 3.9% from €7.63 billion to approximately €7.33 billion. According to the latest IC Market Forecast – Energy Based Aesthetic Medical Devices 2026 by Interconnection Consulting, the shift marks a temporary slowdown following several years of market expansion. The downturn is partly linked to geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East, where several major industry players are headquartered, putting pressure on investment confidence and supply-chain stability. At the same time, 57.2% of unit sales in 2026 are expected to come from upgrades and replacements, indicating that clinics are increasingly prioritizing the renewal of existing equipment over entirely new investments. Country performance illustrates these differences clearly. Austria is the only analyzed market expected to grow in 2026, rising by 4.4%, supported by comparatively resilient investment conditions. By contrast, France will decline by 6.4%, Italy by 6.0% and Türkiye by 5.9%, as weaker investment activity and economic or geopolitical uncertainty make clinics more cautious about purchasing new equipment. In the United States, the world's largest analyzed market, value is expected to decline by 3.6%, partly reflecting continued geopolitical uncertainty and the risk of supply chain disruptions. Private clinics remain at the center of the industry, accounting for approximately 69.9% of market value in 2026. Energy-based devices use technologies such as lasers, IPL, radiofrequency and focused ultrasound for treatments including skin rejuvenation, hair removal and body contouring, with demand increasingly supported by consumers seeking non-invasive aesthetic procedures. “The market is becoming more selective. Clinics increasingly need to see a clear improvement in treatment results and return on investment before replacing equipment they already own. This puts greater pressure on manufacturers to develop systems that combine stronger performance, versatility and measurable clinical benefits, rather than relying on technological innovation alone,” says Katarina Hornikova, Market Analyst at Interconnection Consulting. Competition remains strong, with the 17 largest companies accounting for around 70% of total market value. Leading manufacturers include Alma Lasers, BTL Aesthetics, Candela Medical, Cutera, Cynosure Lutronic, El.En. Group, Fotona, InMode, Lumenis, Merz Aesthetics, Sciton, Sinclair Pharma, and Solta Medical. As geopolitical uncertainty eases and investment recovers, continued demand for non-invasive treatments and equipment replacement is expected to bring the market back to growth. By 2029, market value is projected to reach approximately €8.46 billion, supported by an annual CAGR of around 4.9%, as clinics invest in newer technologies and aesthetic treatments continue to gain popularity among consumers. Contact Information Interconnection Consulting Katarina Hornikova, Senior Market Analyst Phone: +43 1 585 46 23 – 18 Email: hornikova@interconnectionconsulting.com

The European market for high-efficiency air filtration (EPA, HEPA & ULPA filters) is projected to grow by 4.8% in market value in 2026, highlighting sustained demand beyond the pandemic. According to the latest IC Market Forecast – EPA, HEPA & ULPA Filters 2026 by Interconnection Consulting, growth is driven by continued investments in healthcare, pharmaceutical manufacturing, cleanroom infrastructure, and stricter indoor air quality standards. "Europe's filtration market is being reshaped by a structural shift in demand. Instead of reacting to temporary events, companies are investing in high-efficiency filtration as part of long-term strategies to improve air quality, meet stricter regulations and reduce operating costs through more energy-efficient technologies," says Sasa Spirodonov, analyst at Interconnection Consulting and author of the study. Growth patterns reveal significant regional differences across Europe. Germany, the region's largest market, expanded by 5.7% in 2026, while France and the United Kingdom grew by 5.5% and 6.0%, respectively. Romania led Eastern Europe with 8.6% growth, reflecting industrial expansion and manufacturing relocation. These developments are encouraging manufacturers to expand capacity and accelerate investment in high-performance filtration technologies. High-efficiency HEPA air filters, designed to remove extremely fine airborne particles, will account for 78.2% of the European filtration market in 2026, reflecting growing demand for cleaner indoor air across healthcare, commercial buildings, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Meanwhile, EPA filters will represent just 5.8% of the market as stricter air quality standards accelerate the shift toward higher-performance filtration. In 2026, healthcare will remain the largest application, accounting for 27.4% of total market value, followed closely by commercial buildings at 26.9%. Pharmaceutical manufacturing will be the fastest-growing segment, while the aftermarket will generate 71.8% of industry revenue as companies increasingly prioritize filter replacement, maintenance, and energy-efficiency upgrades over new system installations. The competitive landscape is led by AAF International, Camfil, Deltrian, Donaldson, Freudenberg Filtration, Hengst Filtration, MANN+HUMMEL, Mikropor, Parker Hannifin, and TROX. Rising demand for cleaner indoor air and stricter efficiency requirements are encouraging manufacturers to develop longer-lasting, more energy-efficient filtration technologies that lower operating costs for end users. Looking ahead, the European EPA, HEPA & ULPA filtration market is forecast to grow at a 5.6% CAGR in terms of market value between 2026 and 2029, driven by continued investment in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, semiconductor manufacturing and stricter indoor air quality requirements Contact Information Interconnection Consulting Saša Spiridonov, Senior Market Analyst Phone: +43 1 585 46 23 – 14 Email: spirodonov@interconnectionconsulting.com

The European door intercom market is forecast to grow from €677.9 million in 2025 to €873.8 million by 2029, according to a new study by Interconnection Consulting covering Italy, Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Behind this overall growth trajectory, however, three forces are reshaping demand at very different speeds: video is overtaking audio-only technology, but unevenly across the region; new construction and renovation activity are moving at different paces from one country to the next; and IP-based technology is redrawing the competitive map far faster in some markets than in others. A market moving at two speeds IP-based systems are forecast to grow from 21.9% of installed units in 2025 to 31.0% by 2029 across the seven markets — but that average hides a sharp divide. The United Kingdom already leads with 31.1% IP penetration in 2025, more than double Italy's 11.7%. The study finds this gap holds steady all the way through 2029, rather than narrowing as the technology matures. Three factors help explain the difference. Specialised installers make up a far larger share of the trade in the UK than in Italy, and adapting to a more complex, less familiar technology depends heavily on having a base of installers who are skilled and genuinely comfortable working with it. Building type also plays a role: 51.4% of the UK market consists of detached houses, where a single owner can decide alone, compared with 30.1% in Italy, where multi-unit buildings dominate and replacing a shared system such as an entry panel requires the approval of the building's assembly. Furthermore, manufacturers focused specifically on IP systems already account for 31.6% of market volume in the UK, against just 1.5% in Italy. No single factor fully explains the divide; together, they show why the shift is playing out at different speeds market by market. This distinction between established local manufacturers and newer IP-focused entrants also helps explain the broader competitive landscape across Europe, not only the differences between the UK and Italy. Across all seven markets, the top ten manufacturers by volume hold 63.6% of the total market: concentrated at the top, certainly, but leaving more than a third of the field still up for grabs. The European market remains fragmented, leaving substantial market volume outside the top ten manufacturers. Competitive structures also differ significantly by country, with established local players remaining dominant in some markets while IP-focused entrants are gaining ground in others. Growth doesn't follow market size The latest market data reveal a more differentiated picture. Three of the seven markets contracted or remained broadly stagnant between 2024 and 2025, including two of Europe’s largest markets. Spain, by contrast, recorded value growth of 8.3% over the same period — the strongest performance among the seven countries analysed. The study indicates that Spain’s performance is not simply a one-off. Over the past several years, its construction activity has remained more stable than in the other six markets analysed, which experienced more pronounced fluctuations during the pandemic and again in 2024. Over the same period, Spain has also been one of the fastest markets shifting toward audio-plus-video systems, already close to half its installed base by 2025. A stable foundation and an upgrading product mix, in other words, are now showing up together in the numbers. The forecast presents a different picture. France — the market that declined between 2024 and 2025 — is expected to record the highest value growth among the seven countries through 2029, with a CAGR of 9.3%. The market that just went through a rough patch turns out to be the one re-stabilising fastest and pulling ahead over the long run. The lesson: a strong single year is not the same as a strong trajectory. Spain delivered the strongest performance in 2024–2025, but the current forecast suggests that the next phase of growth will favour markets recovering from a deeper correction rather than those that remained comparatively stable. A transition still far from complete The shift from audio-only to audio-plus-video systems is real, but it is far less uniform, and far less sudden, than commonly assumed. At the aggregate European level, audio-plus-video is not forecast to overtake audio-only in unit volume until 2029, and even then only four of the seven markets studied will have completed the shift to a video-majority installed base; the other three are expected to remain audio-majority through the end of the decade. Audio-only, in other words, is on its way out — but this is not a market that collapses overnight. It is a long, gradual fade, and for at least the next several years, audio-only systems will still represent a very real, sizeable part of the business, just unevenly distributed across the continent. That, in the end, is the central message: this is no longer one European market moving at one speed — and the companies still treating it that way are the ones already falling behind.

Interconnection Consulting’s 2026 online mystery shopping study, in which a total of 57 German prefabricated house manufacturers were evaluated between April and May 2026, reveals a remarkable contradiction: Never before have so many manufacturers responded to customer inquiries, yet many still fail to guide potential buyers effectively through the sales process. Significant weaknesses remain, particularly in answering specific questions, customer orientation, and proactive follow-up, leaving considerable sales potential untapped. Fast responses remain the exception With a final response rate of 97.2%, manufacturers achieved a new record. 64.2% of companies replied to the initial inquiry. Following a reminder email, the response rate increased to 86.2%, and after an additional telephone call, it reached 97.2%. At the same time, however, response speed deteriorated: only 56.0% of manufacturers replied within 24 hours (the timeframe customers typically expect). Companies that take longer risk losing potential customers before the sales process even begins. More than one in four manufacturers failed to answer a single question The quality of responses remains a major concern. Only 23.5% of manufacturers answered all questions completely, while 28.2% failed to address any of the questions asked. The evaluation covered topics including energy efficiency, heating systems, government subsidies, and photovoltaic solutions. Many manufacturers limited their responses to generic standard information or simply referred customers to future consultation appointments. "Customers who submit an inquiry expect clear answers to their specific questions. Our results show that there is often a significant gap between response speed and the actual quality of the consultation," says Allison Carranza. Follow-up remains the biggest weakness The most significant shortcomings were identified in proactive follow-up. Only 15.6% of manufacturers contacted the customer again after their initial response or followed up to determine whether further interest existed. Last year, this figure was still 30.6%. As a result, around 85% of inquiries are no longer actively pursued after the first reply. "A prefabricated house is rarely sold after a single email. The greatest sales opportunity is not lost during the initial contact, but afterward. This is exactly where many manufacturers are leaving significant potential untapped," explains Allison Carranza. The best-performing manufacturers of 2026 Overall, FingerHaus, Petershaus, Hanse Haus, and Haas Fertigbau rank among the top-performing companies in this year's study. These manufacturers demonstrate communication practices that significantly increase the likelihood of a successful sale. At the same time, the study continues to reveal substantial performance differences between the industry leaders and the market average. The results also indicate that manufacturers have recognized the importance of responding quickly but, in many cases, have forgotten how to keep the sales conversation alive throughout the customer journey. About the Study The study is based on a mystery shopping approach. Prefabricated house manufacturers were contacted via email using standardized inquiries regarding a residential construction project. Companies that did not respond within one week received a reminder email and, if necessary, were subsequently contacted by telephone. The evaluation assessed both hard skills (response times, completeness of answers, and provision of information materials) and soft skills (competence, unique selling propositions, empathy, customer orientation, and closing focus). The companies evaluated include leading German prefabricated house manufacturers such as WeberHaus, HUF HAUS, FingerHaus, SchwörerHaus, Bien-Zenker, OKAL, ELK, Hanse Haus, Regnauer Hausbau, and Danwood. Contact Information Interconnection Consulting Allison Carranza, Market Analyst Phone: +43 1 585 46 23 – 50 Email: carranza@interconnectionconsulting.com