World News

Industry news and insights from Europe and around the World

UK News

Latest news and developments in the United Kingdom

Products

Keep up-to-date with the latest new products and technology

Features

General articles, applications and industry analysis

Panasonic alliance will develop AHU and VRF technologies

JAPAN/HONG KONG: Panasonic has announced a strategic alliance with Hong-Kong-based AHU specialist Welcome Air-Tech Ltd (SAIVER) to develop technologies for the South East Asian market.

The Panasonic/Welcome Air-tech’s SAIVER (WAT-SAIVER) collaboration is working to deliver a new DX-AHU and VRF air conditioning solution, combining WAT-SAIVER’s indoor AHU technology and Panasonic’s outdoor VRF inverter technology. 

Both parties already have factories in Malaysia and it’s said that this alliance will take full advantage of both brands’ proven technologies. 

SAIVER was established in June 1959 to design and manufacture high-quality AHUs. Since 1992 Welcome Air-Tech Ltd has been designing and manufacturing the SAIVER AHU and distributing to the whole of the Asian and Oceania region from their factories in Malaysia and China.

WAT-SAIVER has several high-profile installations throughout Asia. These include more than 300 AHUs in Marina Bay Exhibition Hall and Casino, 200 in the 88-storey International Financial Centre in Hong Kong and 600 in the 32-storey and largest single structure hotel building – the Venetian Macau Resort Hotel.

“We see this as a great opportunity to develop, deliver and meet the higher level of environmental expectations of our customers, in addition to providing long-term business prospects across an evolving Asian market,” said Toshiyuki Takagi, managing executive officer of Panasonic Corporation and senior vice president, Appliances Company, director of Heating & Cooling Solutions Business Division.

Admitting to being excited at the opportunities that the collaboration could create, Pachu Leung, managing director of Welcome Air-Tech Ltd, said, “Together, we aim to enhance building operations, optimise energy efficiency, lower their carbon footprint and reduce energy costs. Through this partnership, we will be able to provide enhanced IAQ solutions that will play a leading role in the development of buildings of the future.”

Latest News

25th October 2026

Committee backs delinking gas and electricity prices

UK: The UK government should move all remaining energy transition policy costs from electricity costs onto the price of gas on energy bills, advises a new select committee report.
24th October 2026

House of Lords event marks HVACR Women Week

UK: As the industry prepares to celebrate the inaugural Global HVACR Women Week, the sector came together on Thursday to mark the launch and discuss the sector’s successes.
24th October 2026

Clivet rooftops using R454C

ITALY: Clivet has introduced a new generation of rooftop air-conditioning units using the lower GWP A2L refrigerant R454C.
23rd October 2026

Court installation judges R290 chillers

UK: Panasonic has supplied six 80kW ECOi-W Aqua-G Blue R290 chillers as part of a major cooling infrastructure upgrade at Leeds Magistrates Court.
23rd October 2026

Solid refrigerant firm receives $8.5m funding

USA: Pascal, a developer of barocaloric solid refrigerant technology, has raised additional funding of $8.5m to support the technology’s initial deployments with a multinational beverage manufacturer.
23rd October 2026

Westfalen opens R290 plant

GERMANY: Industrial gases manufacturer and retailer the Westfalen Group has opened a new plant to produce high-purity refrigerant R290 at its site in Münster-Gelmer.