As we bid farewell to 2017, we can look back at a year that forced the refrigeration and air conditioning industry to face the challenge of huge increases in refrigerant prices and the threat of potential shortages next year.

The level of concern was reflected in the high levels of interest that stories tracking the almost monthly price increases attracted. Of the 800,000 pages of the Cooling Post that were viewed this year, around 40,000 were views of pages dealing with refrigerant price issues.

We must hope that these issues do not prove insurmountable in 2018. But, with prices, shortages, and the F-gas phase down undoubtedly monopolising most of the industry’s action next year, we will endeavour to keep you abreast of all the latest information.

In all the Cooling Post published nearly 1,000 news items this year. These attracted just over 270,000 users, totalling nearly half-a-million separate sessions.

To all of this year’s readers we thank you for taking the time to visit, and hope to welcome you again in 2018.

Such has been the continuing popularity of the Cooling Post that all advertising space for the whole of next year was sold in October. Without those advertisers, many of whom have supported us for many years now, we would not be able to continue.

We thank you all, and wish each and everyone of you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2018.