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the world of cooling.
Technology, companies and events worldwide
At Chillventa 2026 in Nuremberg, Epta and Hauser exhibited jointly for the first time, presenting transcritical CO2 systems, HAUSER XL Rack industrial units, R290 commercial cabinets, and the MyEpta digital platform.
Secop presents new R290 compressors across three product lines — KL-Series, NLE Plus, and SCE — targeting professional food service applications at Chillventa 2026 in Nuremberg. The range spans compact units for bottle coolers to high-capacity models for walk-in freezers, responding to the revised EU F-Gas Regulation's push toward natural refrigerants.
Secop will showcase its complete variable-speed propane compressor range for supermarket cabinets at Chillventa 2026, paired with three tiers of electronic control. The display includes the new entry-level NLVE15CN and a preview of the NLV New Generation platform, all targeting the EU F-Gas transition.
Heat pumps are consolidating as the central technology for building electrification and decarbonization. From 1 January 2026, EU Regulation 2024/573 restricts the use of fluorinated refrigerants with GWP ≥ 2500 for servicing and maintenance of such equipment. AFEC President Francisco Perucho emphasizes that overall efficiency is determined not by the characteristics of a single unit but by the design of the entire installation, building loads, and installation quality.
A pilot project in Volgograd demonstrates how a secondary-loop architecture using propylene glycol enables the use of natural refrigerant R290 in retail without long refrigerant piping in the sales floor.
MTA, part of Trane Technologies, has introduced modular chillers GEMINI N (cascade up to 750 kW) and packaged Aries N Deep Freezing (up to 360 kW, liquid temperature down to −30 °C) using propane R290. Aries N DF is positioned as a ready-made alternative to individually engineered NH3 and CO2 systems.
A 2026 review by NIST researcher Mark McLinden in the International Journal of Refrigeration examines the thermodynamic rationale behind the adoption of fluorinated gases and the engineering challenges that will accompany their phase-out. The paper argues that upcoming F-gas restrictions will reverse the traditional design approach: systems must be built around the properties of the chosen working fluid rather than the other way around.
Polair has released a compact three-tier blast freezer CRp3-2/3-L for GN 2/3 containers, designed for worktops with a depth of at least 700 mm. According to the manufacturer, the model delivers cooling and freezing capacity comparable to full-size blast freezers.
Clivet has commissioned a new 14,000 sq m heat pump factory in Feltre, Italy, with an annual capacity of up to 8,800 units. The facility is dedicated to commercial-grade heat pumps using natural refrigerants and is equipped with an 805 kWp photovoltaic system.
Daikin Europe has commissioned Europe's first CO2-based VRV system at a Denns BioMarkt supermarket in Wiesbaden, Germany, integrating it with propane-based built-in refrigeration equipment under a unified BMS control. The CO2 VRV range currently features a single 10 HP outdoor unit; scaling across the full VRV lineup and chillers is planned for 2028.
Merak has become the only rail HVAC supplier offering serial production units on both natural refrigerants — CO2 (R744) and propane (R290). According to the company, thousands of Greenair heat pumps have been installed worldwide, reducing energy consumption by at least 30% compared to resistive heating.
Sanhua has released a 356-page Standard Product Catalogue covering expansion valves, controllers, sensors, and other components for commercial refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump systems. The publication provides technical specifications, selection data, and application diagrams for HVAC&R professionals.
Companies, research and refrigeration events across borders.
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