World News
17th December 2013
Green party welcomes new F-gas rules
BRUSSELS: The European green parties have welcomed the outcome of yesterday evening’s agreement on revisions to the F-gas regulations. European Parliament draftsman/rapporteur and Green climate…
16th December 2013
The beginning of the end for HFCs?
BRUSSELS: The parties to the F-gas revisions stepped back from the brink today by agreeing a phase down of HFCs and equipment bans that will…
16th December 2013
Mitsubishi Electric buys rail business
JAPAN: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has acquired a controlling interest in railcar air conditioning systems manufacturer Klimat-Fer SpA. Today's announcement will see 80% of Klimat-Fer's shares…
16th December 2013
Customs officers suspended in R22 scam
INDIA: Previously a centre for CFC smuggling, India has now become a focus for the illegal imports of HCFCs. Five customs officers, one of them…
13th December 2013
Chinese R134a faces US sanctions
USA: The US International Trade Commission has sided with Mexichem in agreeing that Chinese R134a is allegedly being subsidised and sold at unfair prices. With…
13th December 2013
EC clears Secop takeover of ACC Austria
GERMANY: The Secop Group's takeover of hermetic compressor manufacturer ACC Austria has passed EC regulatory controls and is expected to be completed by the end…
12th December 2013
Copeland approval for R22 retrofit
USA: Refrigerant manufacturer Arkema says that its R22 retrofit blend R427A has been approved by Emerson for use with Copeland Discus compressors. R427A is a…
10th December 2013
Date set for fourth F-gas meeting
BRUSSELS: Next Monday, December 16, is the date that has been set for a fourth trialogue meeting on the F-gas revisions. This fourth meeting between…
10th December 2013
Honeywell to build 1234yf plant at Geismar
USA: Honeywell is to build a new 1234yf plant at its Geismar, Louisiana facility as part of a $300m investment in the new refrigerant. The…
9th December 2013
Fourth F-gas meeting gets go-ahead
BRUSSELS: The Lithuanian presidency has given a mandate for a fourth trialogue meeting in a last-ditch effort to save the F-gas regulation revisions. The news…
8th December 2013
Carbon tax reduces emissions by just 0.1%
[caption id="attachment_2563" align="alignright" width="400"] Opponents protest the imposition of Australia's controversial carbon tax[/caption] AUSTRALIA: The carbon tax introduced in Australia in July 2012, which led…
7th December 2013
R32: larger systems could be next
[caption id="attachment_2560" align="alignright" width="300"] Mitsubishi Electric is one of the leading Japanese manufacturers to have introduced wall-mounted R32 units[/caption] JAPAN: The mildly flammable refrigerant R32,…
6th December 2013
Bitzer marks 100,000th Ecoline
[caption id="attachment_2555" align="alignright" width="300"] The 100,000th new Ecoline reciprocating compressor being presented to Bitzer’s Polish distributor Berling SA (l to r): Frank Fuhlbrück (Bitzer Schkeuditz…
5th December 2013
US to investigate R134a imports
USA: The US Department of Commerce has initiated anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into imports of R134a from China. The news follows a petition by Mexichem…
5th December 2013
Daikin sets up joint venture in Saudi Arabia
BELGIUM: Daikin Europe has established a joint venture subsidiary In Saudi Arabia. Appropriately named Daikin Air Conditioning Saudi Arabia, the new company pairs Daikin with…
5th December 2013
Gas suppliers press for F-gas agreement
BRUSSELS: The group representing fluorocarbon refrigerant suppliers has urged the European negotiators to reach agreement on the F-gas revisions, end market uncertainty and deliver on…
3rd December 2013
Johnson Controls takes 60% of Hitachi ac
USA and JAPAN: Johnson Controls is to take a 60% stake in Hitachi Appliances' global air conditioning business. The new joint venture company, which will…
1st December 2013
Daikin test houses in coldest city
[caption id="attachment_1900" align="alignright" width="317"] Daikin's airtight high thermal insulation house (left) and standard test house (right)[/caption] JAPAN: With heating products of increasing importance to Daikin,…
1st December 2013
Carel is a top Electrolux supplier
[caption id="attachment_1897" align="alignright" width="394"] Winning team (l to r): Grégroire Letort, Keith R McLoughlin (president and ceo Electrolux Group), Lennart Persson (managing director of Carel…
28th November 2013
No agreement puts F-gas in limbo
BRUSSELS: The third trialogue on revisions to the F-gas regulations broke up without agreement yesterday evening, leaving the possibility that the new regulations could be…
28th November 2013
LG Electronics USA chooses Cho
USA: William Cho, a 26-year veteran of LG Electronics, has been named president of LG Electronics USA. He succeeds Wayne Park, who has been promoted…
26th November 2013
F-gas revision on verge of collapse
BRUSSELS: The F-gas revision negotiations could be on the verge of collapse unless compromises can be found between the opposing demands of green groups and…
26th November 2013
Comments sought on data centre standard
USA: A proposed standard from ASHRAE that specifically addresses the unique energy requirements of data centres is open for advisory public review. High plug loads…
25th November 2013
Plugging skills gap in low GWP refrigerants
[caption id="attachment_1813" align="alignright" width="300"] The participants fro across Europe meet during formal discussions in London recently[/caption] BRUSSELS: A number of European industry bodies are behind…
25th November 2013
Cold chain conference in Maastricht
NETHERLANDS: The 17th European Cold Chain Logistics Conference & Trade Show will take place at Crowne Plaza, Maastricht, from February 24-26, 2014. Organised by the…
25th November 2013
EC calls on France to comply with F-gas
FRANCE: The European Commission has called on France to comply with the F-gas regulations or risk court action. France has so far failed to indicate…
25th November 2013
IIR calls for move to low GWP gases
POLAND: The International Institute of Refrigeration has urged for the adoption of low GWP refrigerants despite no agreement on an HFC phase-down at last week’s…