World News

Industry news and insights from Europe and around the World

UK News

Latest news and developments in the United Kingdom

Products

Keep up-to-date with the latest new products and technology

Features

General articles, applications and industry analysis

Daikin moves to integrate refrigeration business

Daniel Winch will assume full responsibility for sales and service of commercial
refrigeration in 16 countries in Central and Eastern Europe

AUSTRIA/ITALY: Daikin is taking steps to further integrate its commercial refrigeration operations in Europe.

Daikin Central Europe (DACE), which is responsible for 16 countries, has established a single source business units for its food retail and commercial refrigeration business by combining its Daikin and AHT operations. Meanwhile, in Italy, a team comprising components of Daikin Air Conditioning Italy SpA, Zanotti SpA and AHT Italia will be formed under the leadership of AHT Italia.

The new business units in Central Europe and Eastern Europe, which comprises Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldavia, Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, Poland, will combine the product and service range of both Daikin and AHT. 

According to Daikin CE, this organisational change is designed to provide improved service and support to customers in the retail food industry. 

“Following the final acquisition of AHT in 2019, Daikin came closer to its goal of becoming a full-service provider. The new unit will now offer and live the “one-stop-shop” concept and is combing the experience of DACE and AHT staff and partners,” the company said in a statement.

The new strategic business unit, named Project Fresh, will be led by Daniel Winch, who currently heads the commercial department at DACE and will be fully supported by an experienced AHT team. Winch joined Daikin in 2016, has 25 years of experience in the HVACR industry and previously worked for Carrier. 

Improved synergy

Daikin is known to have been working on proposals to improve synergy sales of Daikin Group products in food retail and forecourt sectors since the acquisition of AHT in 2019. 

The process has also been initiated in Italy, where a team comprising components of Daikin Air Conditioning Italy SpA, Zanotti SpA and AHT Italia has been formed under the leadership of AHT Italia.

AHT Italia promises better customer service, supported by an internal after-sales service department covering all Daikin’s refrigeration systems, AHT, Zanotti, Tewis and Hubbard. With the new structure, AHT Italia says it will not only be a supplier, but also a consultant and partner in the commercial refrigeration sector, able to offer feasibility studies, services and assistance.

Latest News

11th April 2026

Flammable refrigerants explained

DENMARK: Danfoss is to tackle the topic of flammable refrigerants in the next of its RETHINK Live series of virtual events. 
11th April 2026

Marathon challenge for Panasonic heat pump

UK: Rikki Field, an engineer with London-based contractor Salix Mechanical, is set to run the London Marathon with a Panasonic Etherea heat pump on his back.
11th April 2026

Project proves heat pumps can assist the grid

GERMANY: Viessmann, along with transmission system operators TenneT Germany and TransnetBW claim to have demonstrated that heat pumps can help prevent grid congestion.
10th April 2026

Africa and China sign MoU

CHINA: U‑3ARC, the Union of African Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Associations, has signed a signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese Association of Refrigeration.
10th April 2026

Heat pumps replace gas boilers at Surrey offices

The three Climaveneta EW-HT water-to-water heat pumps UK: The refurbishment of a landmark 70,000ft2 Surrey office block has seen gas-fired boilers and air-to-water cooling systems replaced with Mitsubishi Electric heat…
9th April 2026

Retail CO2 systems in Europe exceed 100,000

BELGIUM: Installations of transcritical CO2 systems in European food retail establishments exceeded 100,000 last year, according to new estimates from market development company ATMOsphere.