News Archive - January 2012
BRC calls for natural refrigeration incentives
31 January 2012
THE British Retail Consortium (BRC) has called for stronger economic incentives for supermarkets to adopt natural refrigeration systems in their battle to reduce carbon emissions.
Just six weeks to the ACR Show
31 January 2012
IT IS now just six weeks before the doors open on the first ACR Show at the NEC - the only event of its kind in the UK.
IOR faces presidential battle
31 January 2012
THE Institute of Refrigeration is facing a presidential election battle for possibly the first time in its history. Graeme Maidment, nominated by the IoR council for the role of president elect to succeed current president Andy Pearson, is being challenged for the role by fellow members John Bowater and Steve Gill.
Tesco uses Performax refrigerant in Poland
30 January 2012
SUPERMARKET giant Tesco is using Honeywell's Genetron Performax LT refrigerant in 75 of its stores in Poland.
Ice factory fighters seek charitable status
30 January 2012
THE Great Grimsby Ice Factory Trust, the group fighting to preserve the historic Grimsby Ice Factory and its unique refrigeration equipment, is to become a company limited by guarantee and seek registered charity status. Among other benefits, the move will allow the organisation to take up a £3,500 offer of help from Lincolnshire Heritage and the Architectural Heritage Fund.
Cool new material that responds under pressure
30 January 2012
A TEAM at Barcelona University has identified a new material that exhibits what has been described as an inverse barocaloric effect at room temperature, which means that it cools when pressure is applied, unlike most other materials.
Danfoss Turbocor releases HFO1234ze prototypes
28 January 2012
DANFOSS has announced the availability to oems of prototype versions of its revolutionary oil-less Turbocor compressor to run on the new refrigerant HFO1234ze.
New brazing process could end oxy-acetylene dangers
27 January 2012
THE tragic deaths of two refrigeration engineers in separate incidents in Australia just before Christmas, have again highlighted the dangers associated with the use, storage and transportation of oxy-acetylene cylinders. These dangers could one day be a thing of the past if a new euro2.62m European project to develop a new ultra-safe brazing system is successful.
Oil terminator could end flushing problems
27 January 2012
ONE of the most difficult tasks in converting old systems to run on new alternative refrigerants is the process of removing the mineral oil, solid contaminants and acids from the existing copper tubing. Replacement of the copper piping is not always feasible or economically viable but flushing can be a messy and inexact science.
Man arrested over ac thefts
27 January 2012
A man has been arrested in Malvern and questioned by detectives about a series of thefts of air conditioning units. The man was stopped by police officers as he loaded a white Peugeot Boxer panel van. He was in the possession of items that were believed to be stolen and arrested.
French supermarkets to shut the door on open cases
20 January 2012
FRENCH supermarkets have pledged to do away with the majority of open refrigerated cabinets by 2020 in an effort to reduce energy consumption.
Beijer to acquire Norwegian distributor
20 January 2012
REFRIGERATION wholesaler G & L Beijer is to acquire the Norwegian company, Ecofrigo AS, a project-oriented refrigeration distribution company which also distributes refrigeration units from Beijer's Italian subsidiary, SCM Frigo.
Climate Center to stock HFO blends
20 January 2012
CLIMATE Center is the first company to announce it will be stocking Honeywell's new range of HFO blends and other low GWP refrigerants.
The "how to" guide to converting an ac unit to hydrocarbons
17 January 2012
WITH Chinese manufacturers now producing air conditioners to run on propane and at least one major European manufacturer known to be investigating the use of other flammable refrigerants, it might come as no surprise to learn that the German environment ministry is behind a new guide on how to convert existing split systems air conditioners to hydrocarbon refrigerants.
ACC offers £32,000 to settle Canadian class action
16 January 2012
IN THE latest chapter of legal proceedings against refrigeration compressor manufacturers accused of price-fixing, Italian company ACC has agreed to pay £32,000 and up to the same amount in costs to settle a class action in Canada. The company has also agreed to provide evidence and co-operation to the plaintiffs in pursuing their claims against the remaining defendants.
Asda completes Netto conversions
13 January 2012
CONSTRUCTION services company ISG has completed the conversion of 67 Netto retail units into Asda Supermarket stores in a demanding programme that has seen the contractor simultaneously complete eight projects at any one time across a delivery period of just nine days.
ACR News Awards finalists to be announced on Friday
10 January 2012
The waiting is nearly over. The panel of independent judges convene on Thursday to pore over this year's entries for the ACR News Awards. Much discussion is expected, some of it possibly heated, and maybe some arguments, but a consensus will be reached.
Paul Tonkinson to host ACR News Awards
10 January 2012
COMEDIAN and presenter Paul Tonkinson will be the host for the ACR News Awards 2012, being held at the National Motorcycle Museum on Wednesday March 14.
Emerson Stream compressors to debut at ACR Show
09 January 2012
A COMPLETELY new range of semi-hermetic reciprocating compressors capable of running with a number of different refrigerants, is set to make its UK debut on the Emerson Climate Technologies stand at the ACR Show.
Carrier and Midea form Indian joint venture
09 January 2012
CARRIER and Midea are to form an air conditioning manufacturing and distribution joint venture in India. Chinese manufacturer Midea will own 60% of the joint venture and its US counterpart, Carrier, 40%.
Mexichem moves to guarantee fluorspar supplies
04 January 2012
REFRIGERANT producer Mexichem has moved to secure supplies of fluorspar - a vital element in the production of HFC refrigerants - having been given the go-ahead to acquire the fluorspar producer Fluorita de Mexico and the mine concessions of Las Sabinas.
Be a winner – visit the ACR Show 2012
03 January 2012
BUSINESS opportunities abound for visitors to the ACR Show 2012, the UK's only dedicated air conditioning and refrigeration event. As well as viewing and discussing the latest products from over 100 manufacturers and suppliers, visitors will also be able to access any of the wide programme of seminars on a multitude of thought-provoking topics.
Johnson Controls expands refrigeration operations
03 January 2012
JOHNSON Controls has joined forces with West-Sussex-based contractor Danston Technical Services in an expansion of its UK Industrial Refrigeration Division.
GEA merges UK refrigeration businesses
02 January 2012
GEA has merged its UK refrigeration businesses, GEA Eurotek, GEA Grasso Holdings, GEA Refrigeration Components and GEA Grenco, into one comany.
Lu-Ve buys AIA from Beijer Group
01 January 2012
SWEDISH refrigeration and air conditioning wholesaler G & L Beijer has sold AIA, its cooler, condenser and heat exchanger manufacturing business to the Italian Lu-Ve Group. At the same time, G & L Beijer has entered into a global collaboration agreement with Lu-Ve to distribute their products.
Chinese man jailed for selling counterfeit refrigerant
01 January 2012
CHINA'S State Intellectual Property Office has confirmed the conviction of a Shanghai man for selling counterfeit refrigerant.