USA: Carrier achieved net sales of $6.2bn in Q1, a 17% rise on the same period last year. Organic sales were up 2%. Approximately 16% of the rise was contributed from the acquisition of Viessmann Climate Solutions, offset by about 1% from divestitures. Carrier reports that HVAC sales in the Americas were up mid-single-digits driven by continued strength in commercial and light commercial HVAC both of which were up approximately 20%. This is said to have been partially offset by residential HVAC which was down low-single-digits.  HVAC organic sales in EMEA were down 10% with commercial H ..read more

UK: Beijer Ref Refrigerants UK has announced a new refrigerant recovery service focused on simplifying the recovery process from larger systems. Refrec Reclaim is aimed at reducing contractors’ time on site, saving them money by increasing the speed at which refrigerants are recovered, while handling the administration process. Typically targeted at systems with 100kg charge and above, Refrec technicians will use high speed recovery machines capable of recovering refrigerant 10 times faster than conventional methods.  Refrec Reclaim will also manage the logistics of the r ..read more

UK: Daikin has opened a new Sustainable Home Centre, its sixth this year, at Doncaster-based plumbing and heating supplier Spinks. With the move from fossil fuels to renewable energy, Daikin sees these centres playing a key role in educating and training heating engineers as well as informing homeowners about the advantages of sustainable, low-carbon home heating. The official opening of the new facility, a joint effort between Daikin and Spinks, was conducted by local MP Dame Rosie Winterton. Visitors were able to meet experts from Daikin UK and experience all the option ..read more

USA: Scientists from the USA’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) claim to have dramatically reduced the time and energy required to chill materials to temperatures near absolute zero. They claim that their prototype refrigerator could prove a boon for the burgeoning quantum industry, which widely uses ultracold materials. NIST says it is now working with an unnamed industrial partner to commercialise the refrigerator. It’s estimated that the prototype – a modification of the commonly used pulse tube refrigerator – could save an estimated 27,000,000W of power per year.  ..read more

ITALY: Clivet Thunder is a new air-cooled reversible heat pump equipped with inverter scroll compressors specifically designed for use with R290 refrigerant. Available in capacities from 40kW to 85kW, Thunder is said to achieve outstanding performances for medium temperature applications, with a seasonal efficiency in heating SCOP W35 up to 4.7 and SCOP W55 up to 3.6. Clivet guarantees heating, cooling and domestic hot water production up to 75°C and an operating range in heating from -20°C to +42°C ambient. Its high temperature makes it suitable for use both in new buildings and i ..read more

USA/SERBIA: US manufacturer Modine has officially opened a second facility in Sremska, Serbia, to manufacture coils for commercial and residential heat pump applications.  Serbian Prime Minister-designate Milos Vučević and US Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill were among the dignitaries who attended the grand opening ceremony. “The new production facility underscores Modine’s commitment to investing in technologies that reduce energy consumption and lower harmful emissions, like heat pumps,” said Modine president and CEO Neil D Brinker.  Colleague Eric McGinnis, Modine’s preside ..read more

USA: Refrigerant supply and management company A-Gas has completed the construction of another set of separation towers at its facility in Rhome, Texas.  These new separation towers will significantly increase A-Gas’ capability to supply the US with reclaimed refrigerant gases, a key essential for implementing the production and consumption phase down of HFCs under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act. A-Gas has now nearly quadrupled the separation capacity at the Texas facility since 2017.  The separation technology, combined with the Texas facility’s AHRI-certified ..read more

SWEDEN: Beijer Ref recorded sales of SEK7,680m (€633m) in Q1 of 2024, a 4% increase on last year. EBITA saw a similar percentage increase to SEK733m (€63m).  With the quarter affected by high comparative figures, organic sales were down -4.1%, mainly related to negative growth in HVAC of 7%. Despite the high comparative figures, OEM reported good organic growth of 9%. Commercial and industrial refrigeration had a slight negative organic growth of 3%.  EMEA reported negative sales growth of 5%, while the APAC region reported strong growth of 17%, excluding currency effects, in ..read more

UK: The Institute of Refrigeration will mark this year’s World Refrigeration Day with a celebration of the achievements and contributions of mechanical refrigeration pioneer Lord Kelvin. World Refrigeration Day on June 26 this year also marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of William Thomson, better known as Lord Kelvin, the Scottish-born father of thermodynamics and creator of the Kelvin scale. To celebrate the occasion, the Institute of Refrigeration has planned a special webinar discussion led by broadcasters Helen Czerski and Alok Jha to celebrate Lord Kelvin’s achievements and contr ..read more

The Boiler Shop’s MD, Wayne Carr, with the merchant’s latest product introduction UK: Mitsubishi Electric’s Ecodan heat pumps and hot water cylinders are to be stocked by The Boiler Shop, a Derbyshire-based independent heating and plumbing merchants. The family-owned business was established in 2000. Based in Staveley, Chesterfield, its trade counter is open six days a week selling boilers and boiler spares, plumbing materials including rainwater and underground to the professional plumbing and DIY markets. “Our Ecodan products will now be readily available to The Boiler Shop and their c ..read more