World News

BELGIUM: The European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) has insisted that cost-effective electricity is key to heat pump uptake in Europe, on a day it has designated as Heat Pump Day.

SWEDEN/FRANCE: Swedish heat pump and energy system company Qvantum has established a subsidiary in France. 

GERMANY: The “natural” refrigerants groups Eurammon and Refrigerants, Naturally have joined forces to amplify their impact in promoting “natural" refrigerants in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump technologies.

UK: Bitzer has appointed Kent-based Ernest West & Beynon as an authorised marine service partner, with a particular focus on the specialist cooling requirements of the marine and offshore industries.

GERMANY: Chemical manufacturer BASF has received €310m from the German government for the construction of what is described as the world’s most powerful industrial heat pump.

FRANCE: Schneider Electric is set to acquire an initial 75% controlling interest in US data centre liquid cooling solutions company Motivair for $850m.

POLAND: Polish customs officers discovered an attempt to smuggle R404A refrigerant in an LPG gas tank in the boot of a car stopped in Korczowa at the border with Ukraine.

BELGIUM: Spanish logistics group Carreras is reported to have successfully completed trials of a new refrigerated semi-trailer with Thermo King’s self-charging electric refrigeration system.

AUSTRIA: Liebherr-Transportation Systems will supply 166 HVAC systems using R290 to Swiss train manufacturer Stadler Rheintal.

BELGIUM: Eurovent has published a new recommendation interpreting  and defining the European standard for process chillers EN14825:2022.

GREECE: Commercial cooler manufacturer Frigoglass Group has formed a strategic partnership with Egyptian home appliance manufacturer Fresh SAE to expand its market in the Middle East and Africa.

GERMANY: As Chillventa 2024 closes, the organiser reports an attendance of 32,796 trade visitors, 7.5% up on the last show in 2022 and just 7.5% short of 2018’s record event.

DENMARK: Food processing equipment company DSI Dantech has acquired GEA's North American freezing business.

USA: Rogerio Federici, Danfoss Turbocor’s head of sales and marketing, is to succeed Ricardo Schneider as president of the company from January 1.

USA: Daikin has advanced to the final stage of the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Technology Challenge after the successful completion of multiple field tests.

USA: Daikin Applied has taken a majority stake in Varitec Solutions, a Phoenix-based contractor and long-standing partner specialising in designing, developing and installing large-scale HVAC systems for commercial buildings.

USA: Honeywell plans to spin off its Advanced Materials business, which includes its Solstice refrigerants, into an independent, US publicly traded company.

AUSTRALIA: Wholesaler Beijer Ref is to distribute Fujitsu air conditioners, one of Australia’s top brands, throughout the continent.

GERMANY/ITALY: German copper tube manufacturer Wieland has acquired Onda SpA, the Italian-based manufacturer of advanced heat exchangers.

GERMANY: A €3.3m European initiative is set to develop a multi-source heat pump combined with energy storage using phase change materials (PCM) for zero-emission buildings.

FINLAND/IRELAND: Purmo Group, the Finnish climate solutions company, has acquired air-to-water heat pump supplier Unitherm Heating Systems.

GERMANY: Chillventa 2024 looks set to return the leading European refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump show to its pre-covid highs when it opens its doors tomorrow.

INDIA: The Indian government has opened an anti-dumping investigation into allegations that Chinese R134a refrigerant is being dumped on the Indian market at cheap prices. 

ITALY: Lu-Ve Group has acquired the remaining 25% of Refrion Srl, the Italian producer of air-cooled condensers, dry coolers and coils, having acquired a majority interest in 2022.

FRANCE: Didier Coulomb has stepped down as director general of the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) after 20 years in the role. 

BELGIUM: AREA, the European air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump contractors group, has published a guide to the new F-gas regulation.

NETHERLANDS: The TripleAqua three-pipe hydraulic heat recovery system will launch a range of  cassettes, high walls, suspended, cased, slimline and ducted series at next week’s Chillventa exhibition in Nuremberg.