World News

USA: The refrigerant leak detection software created by San-Jose-based Axiom Cloud has attracted $5m in funding to accelerate its deployment.

USA: Chinese air conditioning and heat pump manufacturer Midea has opened its first national showroom and distribution centre in New York.

EUROPE: After a decade of increases, heat pump sales in Europe fell by around 5% in 2023 – and market analysts are expecting this downward trend to continue this year.

USA/CANADA: Modine has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Canadian air handling unit manufacturer Scott Springfield Manufacturing. 

GERMANY/NETHERLANDS: Stulz Modular, the data centre design, build and maintenance services provider, is cooperating with Dutch immersion cooling specialist Asperitas in the field of liquid cooling.

PANAMA: Japanese refrigeration equipment manufacturer Hoshizaki has acquired a 25% stake in Fogel Company Inc, a manufacturer of commercial refrigeration equipment based in Republic of Panama, for US$28m.

SOUTH KOREA: Researchers claim to have developed a large capacity ultra-low temperature industrial chiller which, in tests, has achieved a 10kW cooling performance at -100℃.

EUROPE: The new F-gas regulation has now been published in the EU’s Official Journal, making it legally binding and entering into force in 20 days.

SAUDI ARABIA: Carrier is to build an advanced manufacturing and R&D facility in Saudi Arabia in a partnership with Alat, a new Riyadh-based public investment fund company.

SWEDEN: Swedish manufacturer Nibe has announced plans to streamline its business after latest financial figures confirm declines in the European heat pump market.

CHINA: Chinese scientists claim to have developed a heat-driven thermoacoustic refrigerator (HDTR) with a COP of 1.12, nearly three times higher than previously achieved.

SAUDI ARABIA: Korean air conditioning manufacturer LG and its Saudi Arabian distributor, the Shaker Group, are exploring the feasibility of manufacturing AC compressors in the Kingdom.

USA: The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the availability of a further $63m to boost US production of heat pumps.

BELGIUM: Eurovent’s Evaporative Cooling Equipment product group (PG-CT) has released its third version of Recommendation 9/11–2023: Application of Machinery Safety Regulation for cooling towers.

GERMANY: Trevor Young is to take over as CEO of the FläktGroup from March 1.

CANADA: The development of an ultra-thin graphene-based nanofilm membrane that could reduce the energy required air conditioning systems has received CAD$2m (€1.4m) in seed funding.

NEW ZEALAND: Refrigerant management company A-Gas has launched the first laboratory in New Zealand with the capability to test the quality of refrigerants against AHRI Standard 700.

USA: A California-based cheese processing company has agreed to pay over $400,000 following EPA accusations of violations pertaining to its ammonia refrigeration system.

USA: Four heat pump research projects aimed at reducing industrial greenhouse gas emissions are to receive a total of over $10m in funding from the US Department of Energy (DOE). 

USA: Nine US states have signed an agreement to significantly accelerate residential heat pump sales.

BULGARIA: A shipment of nearly one tonne of smuggled HFC refrigerants in disposable cylinders have been seized by Bulgarian customs officials.

JAPAN: Daikin is said to have entered into a capital alliance with a Japanese startup company developing a roof material with integrated solar panels and a home energy management system.

BELGIUM: The European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) has accused the European Commission of sidelining heat pumps following today’s adoption of its Industrial Carbon Management Communication to reach net zero.

USA: Despite flat fourth quarter sales compared to 2022, Carrier recorded sales for the year 2023 of $22.1bn, an 8% increase on 2022.

USA: Carrier chairman and CEO David Gitlin had the honour to ring the iconic New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) bell to open today’s trading.

SWEDEN: After thorough tests and evaluations, Swedish HVAC manufacturer Swegon is to introduce recycled and renewably produced steel in its high-volume serial production.

JAPAN: Transportation company Ocean Network Express (ONE) has commenced trials of what it claims is the world’s first dual-temperature refrigerated container equipped with controlled atmosphere (CA) functions.