World News
20th January 2014
“Smart” fridge launches cyberattack
USA: An internet-connected smart fridge has been blamed for sending malicious spam emails. With the proliferation of “smart” appliances and the growing “Internet of Things”…
19th January 2014
R134a leak sends eight to hospital
GERMANY: Eight people were taken to hospital on Wednesday following a refrigerant leak at a factory outlet store in Metzingen, south west Germany. The fire…
16th January 2014
Display cabinet market to double by 2019
USA: The world market for refrigerated display cases is expected to almost double in the next six years, according to a new report. Published by…
15th January 2014
Further tests on low GWP refrigerants
USA: The Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) is to launch a second phase of its Low GWP Alternative Refrigerants Evaluation Programme (AREP). The…
15th January 2014
40,000 ac units seized in energy crackdown
SAUDI ARABIA: Around 40,000 air conditioners have been confiscated by Saudi authorities in a crack-down on contraventions of tough new energy efficiency laws. [caption id="attachment_3028"…
14th January 2014
Report plots increase in CO2 systems
BRUSSELS: A new report reveals that CO2 is being used in over 4,500 supermarket refrigeration systems across Europe. The new report, Guide 2014: Natural Refrigerants -…
11th January 2014
Customs seizes 1,200 cylinders of R22
INDIA: Customs officers in Chennai seized 1,200 13kg cylinders of R22 found in a container that arrived last week from China, the Times of India…
10th January 2014
Mauritius plans seawater ac project
[caption id="attachment_2962" align="alignright" width="440"] The Port of St Louis, Mauritius[/caption] MAURITIUS: The Island of Mauritius is the latest country to plan the construction of a…
10th January 2014
Vanlancker to head DuPont gas business
USA: Thierry F J Vanlancker will continue to head DuPont’s refrigerant business when it is spun off next year, the company has announced. Executive vice…
10th January 2014
G&L Beijer to buy Eurocool
SOUTH AFRICA: G & L Beijer AB is acquiring all the shares in South African refrigeration wholesaler Eurocool (Pty) Ltd. Founded in 1999, Eurocool has…
5th January 2014
Heatwave sparks record ac sales
ARGENTINA: Sales of air conditioners are reported to have reached record levels in Argentina during the country’s worst ever heatwave. At least seven people are…
3rd January 2014
AHR set to be record breaker
USA: With just over two weeks to go the 2014 AHR Expo in New York, the organiser is already predicting a record-breaking event. The show,…
3rd January 2014
Commissioning could save 25% – ASHRAE
USA: ASHRAE has produced a new commissioning guide that it says could result in energy savings of up to 25% in supermarket refrigeration systems. With…
3rd January 2014
Safety study of propane in small splits
FRANCE: A new article in the International Journal of Refrigeration looks at the results of a recent study into the safety of R290 in small…
1st January 2014
RDM makes key staff additions
[caption id="attachment_2683" align="alignright" width="245"] Enrico Mirandola[/caption] UK: Refrigeration controls and monitoring company Resource Data Management (RDM), has restructured its operations and announced a number of…
31st December 2013
Ebm-Papst to invest €15m
GERMANY: Fan and motor manufacturers Ebm-Papst is to invest around €15m to double the production capacity of its factory in Mulfingen-Hollenbach. [caption id="attachment_2867" align="alignright" width="300"]…
30th December 2013
Suspected refrigerant leak injures 9
USA: Nine people were taken to hospital last night after a suspected refrigerant leak at a supermarket in New Hampshire. It is reported that the…
24th December 2013
F-gas agreement: Further details revealed
BELGIUM: EFCTC, the organisation representing fluorocarbon interests in Europe, has broken ranks with other stakeholders by revealing further details of the recent F-gas revision agreement.…
24th December 2013
Carrier and Trane back call for change
FRANCE: Air conditioning suppliers Carrier and Trane are amongst 50 major international companies appealing on the newspaper website Les Echos calling for changes to make…
24th December 2013
Ceiling collapse brings down ac equipment
NEW ZEALAND: A young girl was treated for minor injuries today after part of the ceiling collapsed at an Auckland cinema bringing down ducting and…
23rd December 2013
Snow cooling created greater emissions
JAPAN: An experiment to ship snow from the north of Japan to help reduce the air conditioning load in Tokyo has created CO2 emissions three…
22nd December 2013
Bitzer shuffles top managers
GERMANY: Rob de Bruyn is the new md of Bitzer subsidiaries in Asia, Indonesia and Malaysia, replacing Gianni Parlanti who has been appointed director of…
22nd December 2013
Mitsubishi Electric fined $2.2m
AUSTRALIA: Mitsubishi Electric Australia has been fined AUS$2.2m (£1.19m) for engaging in resale price maintenance on its air conditioning units. The Federal Court of Australia…
19th December 2013
R32 unit wins eco prize
JAPAN: The new Mitsubishi Electric range of air conditioners running on the low GWP refrigerant R32, has won the top energy efficiency prize at Tokyo’s…
19th December 2013
Firefighters call R1234yf “dangerous”
GERMANY: Germany’s professional firefighters' association is calling for a clearly visible warning on all cars that are filled with the new air conditioning refrigerant R1234yf.…
18th December 2013
Petra builds factory in Saudi Arabia
[caption id="attachment_2700" align="alignright" width="300"] The Petra Engineering hq in Amman[/caption] SAUDI ARABIA: Jordanian air conditioning manufacturer Petra Engineering has established a factory in King Abdullah…
18th December 2013
Being cool is tops
USA: Refrigerators and air conditioners are in the top 10 most essential appliances according to a new list on the US website HowStuffWorks. On top…