News Headlines
19th May 2026
R410A refrigerant faces 60% price increase
UK: Beijer Ref UK, the UK’s largest refrigeration and air conditioning wholesaler, has announced a 60% price increase on R410A refrigerant as the UK faces further refrigerant price increases.
16th May 2026
DEFRA delays GB F-gas phase down
UK: The UK government has announced a delay to its proposed F-gas phase down steps from 1 January 2027, admitting that it requires “further work” following its recent consultation with industry.
13th May 2026
Daikin sales up 5.5%
JAPAN: Daikin has reported a sales increase of JPY5,015,036m (US$31,814m) for the year to the end of March, a 5.5% increase on last year.
18th May 2026
Unlocking the potential of smart heat pumps
IRELAND: Panasonic has partnered with Energised Futures, the research and innovation incubator of British energy and services company Centrica, in an effort to advance intelligent heat pump control.
18th May 2026
Lu-Ve completes US factory expansion
USA: Italian heat exchanger product manufacturer Lu-Ve has inaugurated the new 20,000m2 expansion of the production area at its US plant in Jacksonville, Texas.
17th May 2026
Car AC emissions could be cut by 60% annually
USA: A new industry study claims that refrigerant emissions from automotive air conditioning systems in Europe could be reduced by around 60% annually by 2050.
19th May 2026
R410A refrigerant faces 60% price increase
UK: Beijer Ref UK, the UK’s largest refrigeration and air conditioning wholesaler, has announced a 60% price increase on R410A refrigerant as the UK faces further refrigerant price increases.
18th May 2026
Nigel Hillier joins Clivet UK
UK: Nigel Hillier, the former managing director of Carel UK, the Italian controls manufacturer's subsidiary, has joined Clivet UK as general manager.
16th May 2026
DEFRA delays GB F-gas phase down
UK: The UK government has announced a delay to its proposed F-gas phase down steps from 1 January 2027, admitting that it requires “further work” following its recent consultation with industry.
12th May 2026
ABB develops IE6 high‑efficiency motor
UK: ABB claims to be the world’s first manufacturer to offer an IE6 hyper‑efficiency motor certified to ATEX and IECEx requirements for use in hazardous areas.
8th May 2026
RadiFlow fan offers advantages for HVAC units
GERMANY: The new RadiFlow 630mm diameter fan is said to offer high airflow rates, significantly improved efficiency in the application, and an exceptionally compact design.
3rd May 2026
Qvantum’s R290 water-source heat pump
UK: Qvantum has launched a new R290 water-to-water heat pump for communal ground-source systems and individual ground source projects.
13th May 2026
Ammonia chiller exceeds expectations
UK: The installation of Star Refrigeration’s low-charge ammonia Azanefreezer 2.0 at a food distribution hub in Daventry has delivered energy savings far exceeding initial projections.
6th May 2026
MHI helps transform Devon builders’ merchant
UK: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) air conditioning systems have transformed comfort levels for customers and staff at a relaunched builders’ merchant/DIY store and retail centre in Devon.
29th April 2026
Heat pumps earn their stripes at Chester Zoo
UK: In its ongoing partnership with Chester Zoo, Mitsubishi Electric is now supplying air-source heat pumps for the zebra, ostrich, and roan antelope habitats at the zoo’s Heart of Africa zone.
3rd May 2026
Skills gap: the answer’s already on the van
Will Overton, director of Vectis Refrigeration and founder of the Wisdom Group FM, argues that the skills gap in refrigeration and HVAC is not a training problem: it is a knowledge capture problem.
14th December 2025
When glycol loops go bad
David McKune, corporate account manager of Ecolab EU, a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services, discusses the hidden risks of ignoring coolant health in AI-era data centres.
2nd November 2025
Who really owns the S&M data?
Digital job systems and client portals have transformed service and maintenance efficiency, but they have also blurred the line between compliance reporting and intellectual property.
19th May 2026
Daikin announces summer networking events
UK: Daikin UK has planned a series of networking events this summer, promising an agenda of expert-led content, product innovation, and industry dialogue.
16th May 2026
UNEP scheme trains first all-female group from Asia
ITALY: A delegation of Asian women have taken part in a UNEP-promoted programme targeting good practices in refrigeration and air conditioning, F-gas management and natural refrigerant safety.
8th May 2026
HPA UK announces Heat Pump Week 2026
UK: The Heat Pump Association UK (HPA UK) has announced a National Heat Pump Week this October with the intention to accelerate the transition to heat pumps.