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 stops patent-busting R1234yf shipment

USA/POLAND: Polish customs authorities have seized a shipment of suspected patent-infringing R1234yf refrigerant at the Baltic port of Gdynia.

The seizure is the latest action taken by refrigerant manufacturer Honeywell to stop the infringement of its Solstice products which are designed for automobile and other air conditioning systems. In the past year alone, customs authorities in coordination with Honeywell, have seized multiple shipments of patent-infringing R1234yf around the world. Honeywell has recently brought patent infringement lawsuits against one European and two Chinese companies who were either making or distributing infringing HFO-1234yf.

Honeywell has not revealed the size of this latest shipment seizure or whether the goods were pre-packed or in ISO tankers, but says the purchaser consented to the seizure and agreed to pay the cost of destroying the product.

“We’re working around the clock to protect users from products made by unknown sources, as they can be potentially harmful to equipment or to human health,” said Richard Winick, vice president and general manager, automotive refrigerants at Honeywell. “There are several easy ways to avoid buying illegal refrigerants including purchasing refrigerants only from a reputable distributor who can prove in writing that their product was supplied by Honeywell or a licensed source, never buy refrigerants in generic, or in unbranded packaging and never buy refrigerant in Europe in illegal disposable tanks.”

In September last year, Czech customs seized a shipment of R1234yf from China at Honeywell’s request . It subsequently filed suit for patent infringement against a Czech distributor for attempting to offer the product for sale. It had earlier filed two separate infringement suits in Germany against a Chinese manufacturer and a Chinese distributor for attempting to sell and distribute the suspected infringing refrigerant in Germany.

In May of this year, Richard Winick wrote to customers revealing that Honeywell had become aware of a European distributor soliciting sales of R1234yf made by the same Chinese manufacturer. When asked about this letter, a Honeywell spokesman said: “This is a separate example of attempts to illegally import HFO-1234yf into the EU that we believe infringe Honeywell’s patents and of Honeywell’s efforts to stop the illegal importation of 1234yf and other products.”

Related stories:

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

25th December 2024

Heat pump training in line with demand

UK: The UK government insists that the number of UK heat pump installers is in line with current workforce training demands.
24th December 2024

Removal of high GWP refrigerant from US nuclear site continues

USA: More than two-thirds of the 8,500,000 lb (3,855 tonnes) of high GWP refrigerant R114 has been removed from a former US uranium enrichment plant in Kentucky. 
24th December 2024

Warsaw to welcome €400m sewage heat pump project

POLAND: Energy producer PGNiG Termika SA and the Warsaw Municipal Water and Sewage Company (MPWiK) have signed agreements to build one of the largest sewage heat pump installations in the…
23rd December 2024

Systemair buys remaining shares in HSK

SWEDEN/TURKEY: Systemair has acquired the remaining shares in Turkish air handling units manufacturer HSK.
22nd December 2024

Indoor units for large spaces

UK: Panasonic Jet Air Stream indoor units provide high air volume and long throw distance for large spaces.
21st December 2024

Hoshizaki takes 51% stake in Vietnamese company

JAPAN/VIETNAM: Hoshizaki, the Japanese manufacturer of commercial food and beverage refrigeration equipment, has acquired a majority shareholding in Vietnamese company Asia Refrigeration Industry (ARICO).