News Archive - February 2013
"Wet" server could drastically cut cooling costs
27 February 2013
UK: A computer server completely immersed in liquid could drastically cut the energy requirement of internet servers and data centres, according to scientists at the University of Leeds. Its designers calculate that the server cuts energy consumption for cooling by between 80 and 97%.
R32 air conditioner boosts Daikin sales in Japan
27 February 2013
JAPAN: Sales of its first air conditioner running on R32 have helped boost Daikin's residential sales in Japan, according to the company's latest financial results.
Ice factory proposal will save historic refrigeration equipment
25 February 2013
UK: Those fighting to save the Grimsby Ice Factory claim to have a come up with a proposal which will preserve both the building and the historic refrigeration equipment it contains.
Heat pumps to benefit from new energy label
22 February 2013
EUROPE: This week's adoption of the energy label for heaters in Europe from 2015 is expected to foster the uptake of renewable heating solutions and, in particular, heat pumps.
Paul Kingswell 1961-2013
20 February 2013
UK: ACR News is sad to report that Paul Kingswell, a well-known and highly respected member of the UK air conditioning and refrigeration community, passed away at the weekend.
Just a few tickets left for ACR News Awards
19 February 2013
UK: A few tickets are still available for the UK air conditioning and refrigeration industry's main event of the year - the ACR News Awards 2013.
AHRI reports on dangerous refrigerant contamination
18 February 2013
USA: Contamination of refrigerants may be far wider reaching than previously reported. A new white paper from the American Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) suggests that the R40 contamination is not restricted to R134a and has also been found in some counterfeit brand products.
Epta and IARP combine businesses
15 February 2013
EUROPE: Two of the largest Italian commercial refrigeration companies, Epta and IARP, have merged their businesses into one combined group.
German plea to EC for an extension on MAC directive deadline
14 February 2013
GERMANY: The German Federal Environment Agency, UBA, is reported to have called on the EC to offer Daimler a stay of execution on the MAC Directive until the end of 2015 if the German car maker agrees to replace R134a with CO2 in its car air conditioning systems.
WR Refrigeration backs ACR News Awards
12 February 2013
UK: Leading contractor WR Refrigeration is the latest big-name company to join the impressive list of companies sponsoring this year's ACR News Awards.
Daikin launches R32 units in India
12 February 2013
INDIA: Daikin Airconditioning India has launched air conditioners using the "mildly flammable" refrigerant R32.
GEA sees sales rise 5.2%
11 February 2013
GERMANY: The GEA Group, one of the largest refrigeration equipment manufacturers, saw sales increase by 5.2% to EUR5,901m in 2012, according to the latest financial figures.
Ziehl-Abegg achieves record sales
11 February 2013
GERMANY: Fan and motor manufacturer Ziehl-Abegg achieved its highest ever sales in 2012 despite the difficult global economic situation.
Government incentives to boost heat pump sales
11 February 2013
UK: Further growth in the UK domestic heat pump market is expected this year, according to Daikin UK.
LG appoints additional UK distributors
11 February 2013
UK: LG has appointed three new distributors in the UK - two for its air conditioning products and one for heat pumps.
SAE regrets resignations but maintains 1234yf is safe
11 February 2013
USA: The SAE International Cooperative Research Project (CRP) team charged with reviewing the use of R1234yf in car air conditioning sytems has expressed its disappointment at the resignation of German manufacturers Daimler, BMW and Audi from the group but maintains that the new refrigerant is safe and that Daimler's earlier tests ignored "real world" scenarios.
Acquisitions boost G&L Beijer sales
09 February 2013
G & L Beijer, Europe's largest refrigeration and air conditioning wholesaling group, has reported a significant increase in sales in 2012 thanks to its acquisitions of Toshiba and United Refrigeration.
Toshiba offers seven-year warranty in UK
06 February 2013
UK: Toshiba Air Conditioning is offering a seven-year warranty on its air conditioning products to all accredited installers in the UK.
German car makers set to quit 1234yf test programme
06 February 2013
EUROPE: The German press is reporting that the German car manufacturers Daimler, Audi and, perhaps, BMW, are to pull out of the latest Cooperative Research Programme (CRP) being conducted by SAE International to investigate the safety of the refrigerant R1234yf.
Saudi authorities seize 3,500 cylinders of counterfeit R134a
05 February 2013
SAUDI ARABIA: Local authorities in Saudi Arabia are reported to have seized nearly 3,500 cylinders of counterfeit refrigerant being fraudulently sold under Honeywell's Genetron brand name.
AHR show beats southwest records
05 February 2013
USA: The AHR Expo in Dallas at the end of January attracted nearly 34,000 visitors, according to figures just released by the organisers.
Search begins for top UK apprentice
05 February 2013
UK: The organisers of SkillFRIDGE have begun the search for the UK's best young apprentice refrigeration and air conditioning engineer.
BLOG: If flammables are coming where are the tools?
05 February 2013
Harp adds holograms in bid to beat the counterfeiters
05 February 2013
UK: Leading refrigerant supplier Harp International is to add holograms to its cylinders and packaging in a bid to stop counterfeiters.
DuPont man joins Emerson
04 February 2013
GERMANY: Dr Frank Rinne has joined compressor manufacturer Emerson Climate Technologies as director of application engineering. For the last six years, Dr Rinne has been technical programmes manager EMEA at refrigerant manufacturer DuPont.
DuPont warns US of need for R22 planning
04 February 2013
USA: Major refrigerant supplier DuPont has warned US customers of an immediate need for refrigerant management planning following the US EPA's announcement of a 29% reduction in supplies of R22 this year.
Jochen Winkler to retire from ASERCOM
04 February 2013
JOCHEN Winkler is to retire as president of the European refrigeration component manufacturers association ASERCOM.
Swegon to buy UK chiller company Coolmation
01 February 2013
SWEDEN: Swegon AB, the Swedish ventilation manufacturer, has signed an agreement to acquire UK chiller company Coolmation.
Sanhua acquires US heat exchanger company
01 February 2013
USA: Sanhua, the Chinese air conditioning and refrigeration component supplier, has acquired R- Squared Puckett Inc, the US manufacturer of aluminum heat exchangers, manifolds, and other brazed components.
Comments sought on new legionnellosis prevention standard
01 February 2013
USA: Changes to clarify requirements in a proposed standard to prevent legionellosis associated with building water systems are open for public comment from ASHRAE.
More CFC fridges found in Germany
01 February 2013
GERMANY: Police in Hamburg have found CFC-containing refrigerators being offered for sale as containing the legal refrigerant R600a.
Compressor firm fined $50,000 in first Canadian class action
01 February 2013
CANADA: Ongoing court cases related to the 2009 refrigeration compressor price fixing investigations have seen the settlement of the first class action in Canada.