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

Honeywell reports second R1234yf seizure

BELGIUM: Refrigerant manufacturer Honeywell has announced a further seizure of patent-busting R1234yf in Poland, the second seizure in that country in just three months.

The action is the latest taken by Honeywell to stop the sale of R1234yf, which is protected by numerous Honeywell patents.

In the past 12 months, Honeywell says it has participated in multiple global product seizures and has brought patent infringement lawsuits against three entities either making or distributing infringing R1234yf, which is widely used in car air conditioning systems.

“This latest seizure in Poland underscores how effective our joint efforts with authorities have become,” said Richard Winick, vice president and general manager, Automotive Refrigerants at Honeywell. “It’s vital that HFO1234yf resellers and users purchase their refrigerant only from a reputable distributor to avoid potential legal, equipment and health risks to their businesses which can result from illegal product purchases.”

Related stories:

Honeywell stops patent-busting R1234yf shipment25 July 2019
USA/POLAND: Polish customs authorities have seized a shipment of suspected patent-infringing R1234yf refrigerant at the Baltic port of Gdynia. Read more…

Honeywell gets tough on R1234yf – 30 October 2018
USA: Action by Honeywell has resulted in the seizure of a shipment of R1234yf, with the refrigerant manufacturer filing alleged patent infringement lawsuits in the Czech Republic and Germany. Read more…

Latest News

21st November 2024

Ideal receives £5.2m government funding boost

UK: Heat pump manufacturer Ideal Heating and its hot water cylinder manufacturing sister company Gledhill have received almost £5.2m from the UK government.
21st November 2024

Poland seizes 115 tonnes of F-gas

POLAND: At least 115 tonnes of F-gas are said to have been seized in Poland as part of a European crackdown on the illegal F-gas trade.
21st November 2024

EU crackdown disrupts illegal HFC trade

BELGIUM: A six-month operation to disrupt the illegal trade in refrigerant gases has intercepted more than 400,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent material. 
21st November 2024

UK government boost for heat pumps

UK: The UK government has announced a boost for heat pumps with an extra £30m for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and the relaxing of planning application rules.
20th November 2024

EIA survey finds leaks at 50% of stores

USA: An undercover investigation claims to have detected HFC refrigerant leaks at 50% of supermarkets visited in Northern California.
20th November 2024

Police bust scrap AC network

SPAIN: The Civil Guard says it has uncovered a network dedicated to illegal handling of refrigerant and waste electrical and electronic equipment.