World News
11th July 2014
US could ban R404A from 2016
USA: A number of common HFC refrigerants including R404A and R134a could be banned in certain uses from as early as January 1, 2016, under…
10th July 2014
Armacell insulates the World Cup
USA: Insulation manufacturer Armacell claims that Armacell insulation has been employed in eight out of twelve Brazilian World Cup stadiums. The new World Cup stadiums…
10th July 2014
Austria and Poland to face court over EPBD
EUROPE: Poland and Austria are the latest EU countries to face fines for failing to fully implement the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. Under this Directive,…
10th July 2014
Portables “not much better than a fan”
USA: Portable air conditioners are better than a fan, but not much, according to a new consumer report. US company Consumer Reports tested eight portable…
10th July 2014
USA/China reaffirm HFC phase-down pledge
CHINA: The USA and China have reaffirmed their agreement to phase down the production and consumption of HFCs. At the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue…
9th July 2014
SABMiller to ditch HFC fridges
UK: SABMiller, the world’s second largest brewing company, is to cease to buy HFC fridges after 2020 as part of an effort to halve its…
9th July 2014
Swegon buys Belgian firm P Lemmens
SWEDEN: Swegon is claiming European market leadership in compact air handlers following its acquisition of Belgian company P Lemmens. Formed in 1977 with headquarters in…
8th July 2014
Inverter allows fridge to run from battery
USA: CyboEnergy has introduced an inverter capable of running heavy ac loads including refrigerators, and air conditioners. Produced by California-based company CyboEnergy, the off-grid CyboInverters…
8th July 2014
Honeywell’s foam blower off to China
CHINA: Honeywell is to supply Chinese manufacturer Midea with its low GWP, HFO-based, insulation foam blowing agent Solstice LBA. The move to reduce the climate…
8th July 2014
CO2 is ideal alternative – Danfoss
USA: CO2 has been hailed as an ideal alternative refrigerant for large charge systems like supermarkets to reduce global warming impact. Speaking at last month’s…
8th July 2014
Daikin hit by €1.5m employee fraud
[caption id="attachment_6646" align="alignright" width="150"] The Daikin hq building in Osaka[/caption] JAPAN: Criminal charges are being considered against a former Daikin employee suspected of embezzling around…
8th July 2014
Watsco increases stake in Carrier JV
USA: Air conditioning and refrigeration distributor Watsco has acquired an additional 10% stake in Carrier Enterprise LLC, the US joint venture it formed with Carrier…
7th July 2014
Bitzer completes 100th CO2 course
GERMANY: Drawing on its long experience in CO2 refrigeration systems, German compressor manufacturer Bitzer has just completed its 100th CO2 training course. With interest in…
7th July 2014
Dubai plans air-conditioned city
UAE: The world’s first temperature controlled city, covering nearly 4.5 million m2 (over 1,100 acres) is planned for the oil-rich city of Dubai. Mall of…
7th July 2014
Flamco sold to Aalberts Industries
NETHERLANDS: Hvac component manufacturer Flamco has been sold to fellow Dutch company Aalberts Industries. Flamco has been a member of the Dutch Voestalpine Group’s Metal…
6th July 2014
R32 in VRF systems could be next
JAPAN: Air conditioning manufacturers in Japan could issue safety guidelines for the use of “mildly flammable” R32 in VRF systems as early as this autumn.…
4th July 2014
Karl Klein buys BlueVent Thüringen
GERMANY: Fan manufacturer Karl Klein Ventilatorenbau GmbH has taken over fellow German fan manufacturer BlueVent Thüringen GmbH. The acquisition expands Karl Klein’s product range with…
3rd July 2014
Johnson Controls builds homes for heroes
USA: Johnson Controls and its York brand heating and cooling contractors and distributors are sponsoring the Building Homes for Heroes programme for wounded or disabled…
2nd July 2014
Emerson forms Chinese joint venture
USA: Refrigeration compressor and control manufacturer Emerson Climate Technologies has created a Chinese joint venture focused on inverter technology. The agreement with Chinese company Shanghai…
1st July 2014
Beer fridge opens for patriotic Canadians
CANADA: Canadians might be celebrating with a free beer today if they can sing the Canadian national anthem correctly. Birthdays and beer are synonymous, so…
30th June 2014
Daikin Europe sales up 4%
[caption id="attachment_6428" align="alignright" width="400"] Daikin Europe's Ostend hq[/caption] BELGIUM: Daikin Europe has reported sales of €1.902bn in the year to April, up 4% on 2012.…
30th June 2014
Trane first with 1233zd chiller
FRANCE: A new non-flammable, low GWP refrigerant HFO1233zd(E) is being used for the first time in a new Trane chiller. The Series E CenTraVac water-cooled…
28th June 2014
Transcritical CO2 moves south
[caption id="attachment_6376" align="alignright" width="300"] The Advansor CO2 system from Hill Phoenix is moving south[/caption] USA: Transcritical CO2 refrigeration has moved to the warm suburbs of…
27th June 2014
Karp is Tecumseh ceo as Connor resigns
[caption id="attachment_6367" align="alignright" width="224"] James Connor: resigned[/caption] USA: Harold Karp has been named interim president and ceo of US compressor manufacturer Tecumseh following the resignation…
27th June 2014
EPA proposes approval of hydrocarbons
USA: The US Environmental Protection Agency has proposed four hydrocarbon refrigerants be approved for use in six refrigeration and air conditioning applications. The announcement officially…
27th June 2014
Sabiana bought by Swiss AFG group
SWITZERLAND: Arbonia-Forster-Holding Group (AFG) is buying a majority stake in Italian fan coil manufacturer Sabiana. Sabiana will be integrated into AFG Arbonia-Forster-Holding AG with effect…
27th June 2014
Miami firm fined for selling illegal R22 units
[caption id="attachment_6319" align="alignright" width="405"] Miami, with its international port, has become the centre of illegal refrigerant activity in the USA[/caption] USA: A Miami company has…