World News
20th March 2018
Electrolux develops bioplastic fridge
SWEDEN: Electrolux has developed a prototype refrigerator where all the visible plastic parts are made of recyclable bioplastics from renewable sources. The bioplastic for the…
19th March 2018
Italians could face jail for R32 retrofits
ITALY: The Italian refrigeration association, Assofrigoristi, has warned installers who retrofit R410A air conditioners with flammable R32 that they could face jail or a fine…
16th March 2018
Tecumseh opens Dubai office
USA/DUBAI: Compressor manufacturer Tecumseh has opened a new office in Dubai to serve Middle East customers with local sales and technical support. Tecumseh's office is…
15th March 2018
Daikin scoops five IF Design awards
[caption id="attachment_45675" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Daikin's new Altherma 3 R32 heat pump won two awards[/caption] GERMANY: Daikin air conditioning, heat pump and control products have scooped…
14th March 2018
R32 comes of age at MCE
ITALY: With R410A facing severe price and supply pressures, the lower GWP air conditioning refrigerant R32 finally came of age at this week’s Mostra Convengno…
14th March 2018
Panasonic to begin European production
CZECH REPUBLIC: Panasonic is to commence production of air-to-water indoor units from a factory in the Czech Republic. The Japanese manufacturer has confirmed that production…
14th March 2018
ASHRAE call for papers
USA: ASHRAE has announced a call for papers for its 2019 Winter Conference due to take place in Atlanta in January 2019. Papers are invited…
14th March 2018
Lennox also sells South America business
USA: Lennox has said that the sale of its Heatcraft business in Australia and Asia is part of a streamlining of its refrigeration business which…
14th March 2018
Beijer Ref to buy Heatcraft Australia
SWEDEN/AUSTRALIA: Beijer Ref is set to acquire Heatcraft Australia Pty, one of the largest refrigeration wholesalers in the region. A wholly owned subsidiary of Lennox…
12th March 2018
JCI looks to invest in HVAC interests
IRELAND: Johnson Controls International (JCI) could sell or spin-off its Power Solutions business as it seeks to strengthen and invest in its HVAC, fire and…
11th March 2018
Panasonic museum celebrates 100 years
JAPAN: Panasonic celebrated its 100th anniversary last week with the opening of the Panasonic Museum in Kadoma City, Osaka. An opening ceremony on March 7…
9th March 2018
WorksafeBC issues over 1000 ammonia orders
CANADA: Inspections of 181 ammonia refrigeration plants, carried out by British Columbia’s health and safety agency, WorksafeBC, led to over 1,000 compliance orders. In the…
8th March 2018
R22 importer faces 10 years jail
USA: A man accused of illegally importing and selling R22 refrigerant has pleaded guilty to the federal charges and faces up to 10 years in…
8th March 2018
Bitzer adds service centre in Nairobi
KENYA: German compressor manufacturer Bitzer has added a service centre to its operations in Kenya. Just 14 months after establishing its Kenya office, Bitzer is…
6th March 2018
Contractors concern at steel tariffs
[caption id="attachment_46164" align="alignright" width="300"] Paul T Stalknecht: "Tariffs will negatively impact professional contractors and consumers"[/caption] USA: The US contractors association ACCA has added its voice…
6th March 2018
Modine completes Hungary factory
HUNGARY: US company Modine Manufacturing has completed construction of a new, 92,000ft² vehicle cooling product manufacturing facility in Mezökövesd, Hungary. Situated on 1 million ft²…
6th March 2018
Updated support for alternative refrigerants
EUROPE: The REAL Alternatives 4 Life learning programme has been extended to include a set of free newly updated e-learning materials to support the move…
5th March 2018
MHI develops heat pump for R454C
JAPAN: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has introduced a commercial heat pump using the little-known lower GWP refrigerant R454C. Developed by MHI in association with Japanese energy…
4th March 2018
Embraco factory closure postponed
[caption id="attachment_45556" align="aligncenter" width="565"] The closure of the Embraco factory in Riva di Chieri has been postponed for eight months[/caption] ITALY: Workers at the threatened…
3rd March 2018
Jordan test for CO2 refrigeration
JORDAN: The Al Salam military supermarket in Amman, Jordan, has become the testbed for the Middle East’s first trial of a transcritical CO2 refrigeration system.…
3rd March 2018
Star forms Azane US joint venture
UK/USA: Glasgow-based Star Refrigeration has formed a joint venture with US cold store contractor Controlled Environments Construction to supply its low-charge Azane ammonia refrigeration systems.…
2nd March 2018
Testo and FoodLogiQ in cold chain tie-up
USA/GERMANY: Portable instrument manufacturer Testo has announced a tie up with US company FoodLogiQ, a leading provider of food safety compliance and traceability software. The…
2nd March 2018
Goodman recalls over 500,000 PTACs
USA: Over half a million Goodman commercial packaged terminal air conditioners/heat pumps (PTACs) have been recalled following concerns over fan motors overheating. It has been…
2nd March 2018
Nicotra Gebhardt bought by US motor firm
USA/ITALY: US electric motor company Regal Beloit is set to acquire Italian fan manufacturer Nicotra Gebhardt in a deal worth €125m. Nicotra Gebhardt (NG) was…
2nd March 2018
AHRI condemns US steel tariffs
[caption id="attachment_46108" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Stephen Yurek: "The HVACR and water heating industry would be negatively impacted by an increase in tariffs"[/caption] USA: The Air-Conditioning, Heating,…
27th February 2018
Brexit on HFC phase down agenda
BELGIUM: Refrigerant prices, illegal imports and the implications of Brexit on the quota system are some of the topics to be discussed at an important…
27th February 2018
Embraco workers take fight to Brussels
ITALY: A delegation of workers from Embraco will meet MEPs in Brussels tomorrow (Wednesday), as the closure of the Turin refrigeration compressor factory becomes a…