World News

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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.

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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. …

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…

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…

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.

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…

UK: The EIA has called for stronger enforcement by member states and the introduction of a shipment licensing system to counter the illegal European trade…

DENMARK: Refrigeration and air conditioning equipment companies Danfoss and Engie are backing a new coalition to accelerate action on the transition to “clean and efficient”…

AUSTRALIA: Authorities have seized methamphetamine worth more than AUS$400m found hidden in commercial refrigerators at a Sydney container examination facility. The container was declared to…

RUSSIA: Insulation manufacturer Armacell is to cease production at its Russian facility after signing a distribution deal with Dutch high-end PE and pre-insulated piping solutions…

BULGARIA: Customs officers in the southern Bulgarian town of Kapitan Andreevo have foiled an attempt to smuggle HFC refrigerant into the country in illegal disposable…

SPAIN: The Guardia Civil has uncovered an alleged illegal trade in refrigerant R22 being carried out by a Valencia-based company which is thought to have…