World News

JAPAN: Daikin has invested in Japanese metal matrix composite materials manufacturer Advanced Composites Corporation to advance the application of the technology to air conditioning equipment parts.

KUWAIT: The  the State of Kuwait, has followed its Gulf neighbours Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in signing up to the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.

NORWAY: Oslo-based heat pump manufacturer Tequs claims to be the first to achieve Ecodesign certification for its high-temperature, water-to-water CO2 heat pumps.

BELGIUM: As a possible solution to the viability of VRF air conditioning technology in a low-GWP future, Daikin will preview a CO2 VRF system at the ISH show in March.

LITHUANIA: Rytis Bernatonis, CEO, founder and majority shareholder of commercial refrigeration equipment manufacturer Freor, has acquired the 33.34% stake in his company from private equity company Livonia Partners.

GERMANY: The German government proposal to ban the public procurement of multi-split/VRF air conditioning systems has been met with criticism by the industry.

GERMANY: The organiser of the recent Chillventa 2024 exhibition in Nuremberg have announced a small correction to its final visitor attendance figure due to “a technical issue” in ticket recording.

USA: Copeland has appointed Michael Toh as president of its Asia-Pacific regional business unit. 

IRELAND: Johnson Controls has named Richard Lek as vice president and president, Building Solutions EMEALA (Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America). 

USA: A technology adapted from the desalination industry is said improve COPs of CO2 refrigeration systems by up to 30%.

USA: The recently introduced Danfoss BOCK transcritical 6-cylinder CO2 compressor has scooped the refrigeration category award at the 2025 AHR Expo Innovation Awards.

JAPAN/CHINA: Hoshizaki, the manufacturer of commercial food and beverage refrigeration equipment, is to integrate its development, manufacturing, and sales capabilities in China under one company.

USA/UK: Refrigeration lubricant manufacturer Lubrizol has extended its distribution deal with UK company Oil Store to include Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

AUSTRIA: Michael Bauer has been named vice president for growth and success at the A-Heat Group, owners of German heat exchanger product company Güntner and Swiss dry cooler firm Jaeggi.

CANADA: US manufacturer Modine has opened a further precision cooling equipment factory in Canada.

USA: Carrier has reported has reported Q3 net sales of $6bn up 21% compared to last year. 

ITALY: Controls manufacture Carel has appointed Paolo Faraldi as its new group chief technology officer.

UK: The world’s climate targets are said to be being jeopardised by huge emissions of HFC23, a high GWP greenhouse gas used as a feedstock and in ultra-low temperature refrigeration.

USA: Heat exchanger product manufacturer Lu-Ve has broken ground on the 19,000m2 extension of its factory in Jacksonville, Texas.

POLAND: Polish customs officers have intercepted further attempts to smuggle refrigerant across the border from Ukraine in vehicle LPG tanks.

SWEDEN: Wholesaler Beijer Ref has reported a sales increase of 12% to SEK9,493m (€832m) in Q3, compared to the same period in 2023.

EUROPE: Manufacturers of certain specialist low temperature laboratory equipment have won a temporary exemption from the F-gas regulations, allowing them to continue using refrigerants with a GWP of over 150.

NETHERLANDS: Four shipping containers carrying around 4,800 cylinders of illegal F-gas refrigerants have been seized in the latest crackdown by Dutch customs authorities.

BELGIUM: The European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) has insisted that cost-effective electricity is key to heat pump uptake in Europe, on a day it has designated as Heat Pump Day.

SWEDEN/FRANCE: Swedish heat pump and energy system company Qvantum has established a subsidiary in France. 

GERMANY: The “natural” refrigerants groups Eurammon and Refrigerants, Naturally have joined forces to amplify their impact in promoting “natural" refrigerants in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump technologies.

UK: Bitzer has appointed Kent-based Ernest West & Beynon as an authorised marine service partner, with a particular focus on the specialist cooling requirements of the marine and offshore industries.