World News
24th April 2019
No F-gas exemption for European manufacturers
EUROPE: European air conditioning and refrigeration manufacturers seeking a “reconsideration” of F-gas export provisions, which they say makes their products uncompetitive, have been rejected by…
24th April 2019
Flammable charge limit increase – when, not if
SPAIN: Despite last week’s vote against an increase to flammable refrigerant charge sizes, the Spanish refrigeration association AEFYT believes its a case of when, not…
24th April 2019
Lingner takes over as CEO of Swegon Germany
GERMANY: Andreas Lingner will take over as CEO of Swegon Germany GmbH. Lingner replaces Rainer Schild who, according to a company statement, leaves the company…
23rd April 2019
Air Liquide fined for ammonia leak
CANADA: Industrial and medical gases manufacturer Air Liquide Canada has been fined CAD$100,000 (€66,000) for the release of around 815kg of ammonia. The court in…
23rd April 2019
Nidec to sell Secop compressor business
JAPAN: Nidec will sell its Secop compressor business to private equity funds ESSVP IV LP, ESSVP IV (Structured) LP and Silenos GmbH & Co KG.…
22nd April 2019
UTC centre achieves LEED Platinum standard
USA: The UTC Center for Intelligent Buildings, global corporate headquarters for Carrier’s air conditioning and refrigeration technologies, has achieved the USA’s top green building certification.…
22nd April 2019
Website pinpoints “HFC-free” supermarkets
USA: The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) is marking Earth Day, today, with the launch of a new website identifying US retailers committed to using HFC-free…
20th April 2019
$2m funding for low-GWP refrigerant research
USA: The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology Institute (AHRTI), is to receive $2m from the US Department of Energy to fund research on low…
19th April 2019
A “plastic” answer to eco-friendly refrigeration?
UK/SPAIN: Researchers from the UK and Spain claim to have identified an eco-friendly solid that could provide an inexpensive and efficient alternative to established refrigerants.…
19th April 2019
Beijer Ref resurrects Kirby name
AUSTRALIA: Following its acquisition by Beijer Ref last year, refrigeration wholesaler Heatcraft Australia has been renamed Kirby to reflect its long heritage. The Kirby brand…
18th April 2019
MHI plans Euro launch of small split using refrigerant R454C
JAPAN: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has announced what it claims is the first small residential air conditioning system using lower GWP refrigerant R454C. The demonstration unit…
17th April 2019
Refrigerant producers back illegal refrigerant report
BELGIUM: The refrigerant manufacturers and suppliers have welcomed the recent report by environmental group the EIA for raising awareness of the issue of illegal HFC…
16th April 2019
Kuntz is CEO of Mitsubishi/Trane joint venture
USA: Mark Kuntz has been named as CEO of Mitsubishi Electric Trane (METUS), the joint venture formed last year to sell ductless and VRF air…
16th April 2019
Thielmann is new VDKF president
GERMANY: Karl-Heinz Thielmann, managing director of refrigeration and air conditioning distributor GVS Kälte-Klima-Technik GmbH, has been elected president of the German contractors’ group VDKF.
16th April 2019
Danfoss recognises counterfeit crackdown efforts
UAE: Danfoss has recognised the actions of authorities in the Middle East after a series of large-scale raids are said to have netted thousands of counterfeit products.
16th April 2019
Beijer Ref reports 32% sales increase
SWEDEN: Refrigeration and air conditioning wholesaler reports a net sales increase of 32% to SEK3,434m (€328m) in the first quarter, compared to the same period…
15th April 2019
Refrigeration units targeted by cocaine smugglers
MALTA: Customs officers in Malta Freeport continue to uncover large quantities of cocaine being smuggled in the refrigeration units of refrigerated containers. On Sunday, 76…
15th April 2019
Blue Star opens showroom in Dubai
UAE: Blue Star, India’s leading air conditioning and refrigeration company, has established a new office and its first state-of-the-art flagship showroom in Dubai. Blue Star…
13th April 2019
Milan the venue for latest technology discussions
ITALY: Heads of industry, environmental and government organisations will again gather in Milan in June for the 18th European Conference on the latest Technologies in…
12th April 2019
EC clears Embraco deal but Nidec must sell refrigeration business
EUROPE: The acquisition of compressor manufacturer Embraco by Japanese company Nidec has been approved by the European Commission, but Nidec must sell its domestic and…
12th April 2019
AEFYT calls for customs vigilance to stop illegal gas
SPAIN: The Spanish refrigeration association AEFYT has called for the reinforcement of customs controls to stop the illegal traffic in refrigerant gases. While applauding the…
11th April 2019
IIR issues call for action on World Refrigeration Day
FRANCE: The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) is calling on all stakeholders to help support World Refrigeration Day by actively promoting the ACR sector to…
10th April 2019
Two charged over faulty dehumidifiers
USA: Two corporate executives have been indicted in the first-ever US criminal prosecution for their roles in a scheme involving defective and dangerous domestic dehumidifiers. …
10th April 2019
RectorSeal buys ac condensate firm MSD
USA: RectorSeal, the Houston-based manufacturer of specialty sealants and related HVACR products, has acquired MSD Research and its All-Access air conditioning condensate management products. All-Access is a leading brand of…
10th April 2019
Smartcool establishes German operation
CANADA/GERMANY: Compressor optimisation technology company Smartcool Systems has established a wholly-owned subsidiary in Germany. Smartcool Systems GmbH, based in Munich, will be responsible for sales…
9th April 2019
Carel appoints sales and marketing directors
ITALY: Carel is continuing the reorganisation of its sales and marketing department, following January’s promotion of group sales and marketing director Giandomenico Lombello to group MD.
9th April 2019
Lack of enforcement encourages refrigerant black market
UK: Despite some enforcement success, EU member states are failing to apply penalties to those breaching the European F-gas regulations and the refrigerant phase down…