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 cools sports spectators

JAPAN: Panasonic has installed an evaporative cooling system at four major Japanese sporting events this summer.

The air conditioning manufacturer’s Green Aircon Flex has featured in an Olympic beach volleyball test at Shiokaze Park, Tokyo, in July, and at a hockey test at Seaside Park Hockey Stadium, Tokyo, this month. It has also been cooling visitors to the 2019 World Rowing Junior Championships in Tokyo and will be deployed around the Tazawako Marathon course in September. 

Green Aircon Flex emits a dry, super fine mist comprised of microscopic particles measuring approximately 10μm in diameter. 

The system is said to be able to be installed and deinstalled very easily on the walls of outdoor facilities and on pipe tents as long as there is space and a power outlet. 

At the beach volleyball competition held at Shiokaze Park in July, the solution was installed at the entrance of the park helping provide relief to spectators traveling from the nearest train station to the park as well as athletes and park-goers.

Related stories:

Panasonic’s outdoor “green” cooler26 April 2019
JAPAN: Panasonic has launched an evaporative cooler in Japan, which relies on an ultra fine mist to reduce temperatures in outdoor environments. Read more…

Latest News

4th May 2026

Energy crisis boosts European heat pump sales

BELGIUM: Sales of residential heat pumps are said to have increased by an average of 25% in France, Germany and Poland in the first quarter of 2026.
4th May 2026

US customs to auction 15 tonnes of seized refrigerant

USA: The US Customs and Border Protection is to auction approximately 15 tonnes of HFC refrigerants seized in actions by its officers. 
3rd May 2026

Skills gap: the answer’s already on the van

Will Overton, director of Vectis Refrigeration and founder of the Wisdom Group FM, argues that the skills gap in refrigeration and HVAC is not a training problem: it is a…
3rd May 2026

Qvantum’s R290 water-source heat pump

UK: Qvantum has launched a new R290 water-to-water heat pump for communal ground-source systems and individual ground source projects.
3rd May 2026

IOR briefs on heat recovery

UK: The Institute of Refrigeration has published the first in a new series of Technology Briefs on the topic of heat recovery. 
2nd May 2026

Kroger to spend $100m to fix refrigerant leaks

USA: Leading US retailer Kroger will pay a $2.5m civil penalty and spend an estimated $100m over the next three years to reduce refrigerant leaks from its refrigerators and other…