World News
JCI extends AI factory cooling guide
USA: Johnson Controls has released its second data centre reference design guide for cooling gigawatt‑scale AI factories….
Solid-state cooling company raises $10m
UK: Barocal, a Cambridge-based deep company developing solid-state cooling and heating systems, has raised $10m to accelerate development and scale its engineering team ahead of commercial deployment….
Energy crisis boosts European heat pump sales
BELGIUM: Sales of residential heat pumps are said to have increased by an average of 25% in France, Germany and Poland in the first quarter of 2026….
US customs to auction 15 tonnes of seized refrigerant
USA: The US Customs and Border Protection is to auction approximately 15 tonnes of HFC refrigerants seized in actions by its officers. …
Kroger to spend $100m to fix refrigerant leaks
USA: Leading US retailer Kroger will pay a $2.5m civil penalty and spend an estimated $100m over the next three years to reduce refrigerant leaks from its refrigerators and other equipment. …
Data centre boost for Carrier
USA: The growing importance of cooling to the burgeoning data centre market is reflected in claims by Carrier of data centre orders being up over 500% in Q1….
A-Gas extends reclaim rewards to Australia
AUSTRALIA: A-Gas, the refrigerant supplier and lifecycle management company, has created a reclamation rewards scheme in collaboration with Australian HVACR wholesalers Actrol and Airefrig….
Carrier expands liquid cooling interest
USA: Carrier has increased its investment in ZutaCore, the US direct-to-chip, waterless liquid cooling solutions company that first attracted its interest last year….
Vertiv buys liquid-cooling technology business
UK: Critical digital infrastructure Vertiv has acquired Strategic Thermal Labs, a US specialist in advanced liquid-cooling technologies. …
Cool Intelligence is WRD 2026 theme
UK: Cool Intelligence is the theme for this year’s World Refrigeration Day 2026, focused on how cooling and sustainable heating systems are designed, installed, operated and maintained intelligently….