Cubigel Compressors celebrates 60 years of experience

BARCELONA, SPAIN, 13 July 2022: Cubigel Compressors of Huayi Group, the Spain-based compressor manufacturer, released a new brand positioning strategy, titled ‘Cooling Expert+’ for the commercial refrigeration industry, in commemoration of its 60th anniversary, on June 28, 2022, during Mostra Convegno Expocomfort (MCE), in Milan, Italy.

Making the announcement through a Press release, Cubigel said the strategy strengthens its brand positioning and image, focusing on ‘Cooling Expert+’ to fully sublimate the positioning of the expert with a 60-year heritage in the refrigeration industry and as a provider of overall solutions for the whole industry.

In the MCE special session of the 60th anniversary, Cubigel invited important customers from the world over to participate in the launch ceremony of its new brand positioning strategy, held under the auspices of Pedro Olalla, Sales and R&D Director, Huayi Compressor Barcelona. The ceremony included a screening of a video of Cubigel Compressors’ 60 years of industry experience. Subsequently, Tao Wen, Deputy General Manager, Huayi Compressor Barcelona, delivered the Keynote Address on four core values and in-depth connotations of the brand’s new proposition to customer representatives from around the world.

Cubigel said it not only provides reliable light-commercial refrigeration compressors but also overall services for its products, by combining Huayi Group’s strong Chinese manufacturing capabilities with its own local advantages from its base in Spain. Cubigel said that after being acquired by Huayi Group, it improved its overall production capacity and supporting service capabilities, successfully expanded its larger-scale loyal customer base and became a truly trustworthy global light-commercial refrigeration expert.

Cubigel said that in order to be the ‘Cooling Expert+’ for green light-commercial refrigeration, it attaches great importance to natural refrigerants, low-energy-consumption green solutions and related product innovations. The company said that its strong R&D capabilities allows its Green Cooling compressor series to be constantly updated and upgraded.

It further said that its R&D infrastructure has helped it overcome technical bottlenecks to meet the requirements of green refrigeration experts. At the same time, it added, it has been actively responding to industry trends and substantially expanding the application range of natural refrigerants through its product upgrades.

In addition, the company said, it aims to be the Cooling Expert+ with the most complete product range. It said it has a complete product portfolio in the market with a wide choice of displacements – from 1.4 to 42 cc – with refrigerants such as propane (R290) and isobutane (R600a), owing to its strong R&D team and 60 years of presence in Chinese and European markets. Meeting the needs of light-commercial refrigeration applications, its complete product line provides customers with convenience and choice in the process of customised selection under various working conditions, it claimed.  

Cubigel said it also aims to be the ‘Cooling Expert+’ in innovation. The company pointed out that it has been proceeding with innovations in compressor specifications, such as displacement, cooling capacity and noise levels, in addition to incorporating other cutting-edge technologies in materials, design and manufacturing processes.

The ceremony at MCE also included speeches from customers from various countries, who shared testimonies from over the years and commented on the release of the new brand proposition.

Yang said the release of the new brand strategy is not only a sublimation of Cubigel’s brand positioning but is also a process of pursuing excellence as an industry expert from R&D and production to services. Cubigel products and services, he said, embody the company’s advantages in various aspects to consolidate the brand identity of ‘Global Expert+ for Light Commercial Refrigeration’, aiming to provide the industry with the most cutting-edge and most complete solutions. Cubigel, he added, will open up new thinking and explore new paths to grow into a sustainable and socially responsible brand.

AHRI urges support for Water Heater Definition Bill

ARLINGTON, Virginia, 21 June 2022: On the eve of a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, leaders of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) today issued a letter to the leadership of the House and Senate energy committees seeking support for legislation (H.R. 7962/S. 4061) that would amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to clarify the definitions of residential and commercial water heaters, the Institute said through a Press release.

According to AHRI, the legislation corrects an error in a final test procedure rule for commercial water heaters, issued in November 2016 by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that required manufacturers to rate some of those units using residential water heater efficiency standards. This created turmoil within the industry and resulted in property owners and small business owners spending resources to find alternative solutions, because the commercial water heating equipment that fit their needs was no longer available, AHRI added.

To permanently correct this error, a narrowly tailored technical amendment to the statutory EPCA definitions of water heaters is necessary, and these bills accomplish that task, AHRI said.

“America’s HVACR and water heating manufacturers, who make the most innovative, energy-efficient products available in the world today, are grateful to Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Marsha Blackburn R-TN), and Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Tim Walberg (R-MI) for their leadership in introducing this much-needed technical amendment,” said Stephen Yurek, President & CEO, AHRI. “This bipartisan bill will realign the legal definitions of commercial and residential water heating equipment enable more appropriate product choices for small businesses and provide business certainty for water heater manufacturers.”

AHRI, Alliance Seek Senate Support for Kigali Amendment

ARLINGTON, Virginia, 16 June 2022: Leaders of member companies of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy today issued a letter to the leadership of the United States Senate urging expeditious action to ratify the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The Amendment, approved in May by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is currently awaiting floor action, AHRI pointed out. The Kigali Amendment provides for a global phasedown of hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants, an action AHRI and its 320 HVACR and water heating manufacturers have sought for more than a decade, the Institute said.

According to AHRI, the letter informed Senate Leaders Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) that ratification “will secure a position of strength for American companies in a highly competitive global market for next-generation refrigerant technologies by creating new U.S. manufacturing jobs and stimulating further investment in the U.S. economy”. It noted that “failure to ratify would close these markets to U.S. manufacturers after 2023, because the Montreal Protocol prohibits trade with countries not party to [it] or its amendments.”

According to AHRI, if the Amendment is ratified by the Senate, the United States will join some 129 other nations as full parties to the treaty, approved in October 2016, with the United States as a signatory.

 

Tecumseh strengthens leadership team

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, 9 December 2021: Commercial refrigeration company, Tecumseh Products Company has appointed Jay Pittas as CEO. Making the announcement through a Press release, the company added that two proven industry leaders have taken new commercial management roles.

The newly appointed management team includes Doug Murdock, President of the Americas, and Ricardo Maciel, President of EMEA/Asia, the company said. Ernani Nunes continues to serve as the SVP of Global Sales & Engineering, it added.

Most recently, Pittas has served as the Chairman of Tecumseh’s Board of Directors since April 2020 and, thus, has already been an integral part of Tecumseh’s leadership team, the company said. Pittas previously served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Remy International, a supplier of highly engineered automotive parts for passenger and commercial vehicles, the company said.

Prior to that, he served as President of the Wolverine Specialty Materials business, which supplied coated metals for automotive and electronic applications, it said. He has also held significant international and managerial positions with Honeywell, UOP and ARI Technologies, it added.

To further accelerate commercial growth, operational excellence and improved customer service, Pittas has appointed three proven industry leaders to commercial management positions, the company said.

Murdock, who has served Tecumseh as the President and CEO for over five years, will assume the new role of President of Americas, the company said. Maciel, a former CEO of SECOP, assumes the role of President of EMEA/Asia, it said. Nunes, a former executive from Embraco, will continue to serve as the SVP of Global Sales & Engineering, it added.

Speaking on the appointments, Pittas said: “As we all work through these most challenging times, Tecumseh is taking every step possible to further strengthen our Leadership Team and, in turn, strengthen the service we deliver to our customers.

The steps we’re announcing today speaks to that commitment. We’re thrilled to have Doug and Ricardo and Ernani take on these key leadership positions, and help us drive forward in our continued transformation at Tecumseh.”

Epta: ‘Possible to replace HCFC, HFC refrigerants with transcritical CO2 anywhere in the world’

MILAN, Italy, 29 June 2021: Increasingly stringent international regulations are driving a massive transformation in the world of commercial refrigeration – at a European level with the F-gas Regulation and internationally with the Kigali Amendment, commercial refrigeration manufacturer, Epta said through a Press release.

The company said it has already achieved important milestones in the technological development of HFC-free solutions. It added that its Life-C4R (Carbon 4 Retail) Refrigeration project, co-financed by the European Union, confirms the benefits of a natural approach.

Francesco Mastrapasqua, the company’s Institutional Affairs Manager, said: “The three-year Life-C4R – Carbon 4 Retail Refrigeration project was created to sensitise the scientific community, the component suppliers and the retail world’s key players in the use of increasingly efficient solutions. One of the goals is demonstrating how HCFC and HFC refrigerants can be completely replaced with transcritical CO₂, anywhere in the world.”

The patented FTE 2.0 Full Transcritical Efficiency and ETE Extreme Temperature Efficiency systems, Epta said, are recognised by the EU as simple and efficient systems and are at the very core of the Life-C4R. “The Life-C4R Plan is essential in validating the FTE and ETE performance in all climatic conditions, in promoting their international diffusion and in certifying both as global and reliable solutions for the future of commercial CO₂ refrigeration,” Mastrapasqua said. “The data analysis of the three Italian pilot projects and four replica prototypes in Romania and Spain, installed in collaboration with Epta Iberia and DAAS, will be presented during the Life-C4R Project digital conference, scheduled for July 1.”

The event will be an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge on the plan’s innovations, lessons learnt and the advantages of the FTE 2.0 and ETE technologies, using the results collected in store by retailers, Epta said, adding that those interested in attending the conference could do so by registering at https://blog.eptarefrigeration.com/en/life-c4r.

FTE 2.0, Epta said, represents the evolution of its patented FTE Full Transcritical Efficiency system. It is recommended at any temperature and is, therefore, a must for obtaining maximum efficiency above 37 degrees C, it said. Simple, efficient, reliable and industrialised, FTE uses flooded evaporators, it said. They allow for the difference between the evaporation temperature and the cabinet’s internal temperature to be significantly reduced and, therefore, for an energy consumption 10% lower than a traditional CO₂ system, it claimed.

This is a simple solution, the company said, where it has mechanically added only a multilevel liquid receiver to the standard configuration. On the one hand, FTE reduces the compressors’ discharge temperature, allowing for smooth functioning at high temperatures, it said. On the other hand, it guarantees their perfect lubrication, favouring a longer life cycle of the component itself, it said. FTE also guarantees up to 20% lower installation and maintenance costs, it added. Finally, the FTE 2.0 version, which is integrated into the rack, takes up less space and reduces installation and start-up times, it further added.

The ETE, Epta said, allows for 100% cooling capacity to be reached even in the hottest climates, both in industrial and commercial refrigeration applications. Recommended at temperatures between 30 degrees C and 40 degrees C, it guarantees maximum savings over 40 degrees C, also in combination with FTE, the company claimed. In this case, the transcritical CO₂ system is guaranteed to work perfectly at any latitude, even on non-booster systems and in industrial refrigeration, it said. ETE’s “secret” is contained in the refrigerant temperatures’ reduction before its distribution to end users, it said. As it leaves the air exchanger at a value close to the ambient temperature, the gas is further cooled, it said. The system, it added, allows for an almost total disappearance of “flash-gas”, creating significant energy savings over time and smooth functioning even well above 40 degrees C.

AHRI Board approves decarbonization general position statement

ARLINGTON, Virginia, 18 May 2021: The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) on May 14 released a General Position Statement on Decarbonization, advancing the association as a resource for states and localities grappling with how to successfully, sustainably and affordably reduce emissions related to the built-environment.

AHRI revealed the paper as noting, “The air conditioning, heating, ventilation, refrigeration, and water heating industry has a long history of providing innovative, high-quality, energy-saving, affordable products that enhance the comfort, safety, health, and productivity of businesses and people around the world”. It expresses AHRI’s support for “the ongoing, science-based transition to a lower carbon society, in which consumer choices for heating, cooling, water heating, and commercial refrigeration are the most energy efficient, environmentally beneficial available anywhere in the world, while maintaining appropriate and adequate levels of safety, health, comfort, and affordability”.

Stephen Yurek, President & CEO, AHRI, said: “Our member companies – which have more than 100 years of experience and expertise in product solutions, technology, and innovation – can serve as a valuable resource in helping the nation achieve a lower carbon society.”

The statement, AHRI said, comes on the heels of the success of the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, passed by Congress in 2020, which provides authority to the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate the production of high-global warming potential hydrofluorocarbons and establishes a national phase down structure for the refrigerants that are widely used in air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. That effort, AHRI said, more than 10 years in the making for the industry, is forecast to ultimately result in a 0.5 degree reduction in global temperatures over the next 30 years, even as it creates jobs and helps the industry’s global trade posture.

AHRI, others petition EPA on HFC phase-down rule

ARLINGTON, Virginia, 13 April 2021: The Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration institute (AHRI) today joined more than 35 other industry and environmental organizations in petitioning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeking uniform national standards for stationary air conditioning and commercial refrigeration equipment in the transition to climate-friendly refrigerants under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. If promulgated, these standards will result in an additional half billion tons of CO₂ reduction, over and above what already is projected to be achieved by implementation of the AIM Act, AHRI said through a Press release.

The federal standards sought by the AHRI petition align with similar standards already in place in nine states. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) submitted similar petitions under the AIM Act, AHRI pointed out.

For new residential and light-commercial central air conditioning equipment, the petition, AHRI said, seeks a regulation requiring that equipment manufacturers use refrigerants with a global warming potential (GWP) of 750 or less in equipment made after January 1, 2025, with the exception of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) equipment, whose deadline would be January 1, 2026. These transition dates would align the country with the dates adopted in December 2020 by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and nine additional Climate Alliance states, AHRI said.

For commercial refrigeration and chiller equipment, the petition seeks the GWP limits and transition dates according to the table below:

Through these petitions, AHRI said, a broad variety of stakeholders, including itself, hope to demonstrate that sufficient consensus already exists and that a regular notice and comment rulemaking would adequately represent all material interests, thereby allowing the agency to forego the negotiated rulemaking process it must consider – but is not required to undertake – for such petitions, pursuant to the AIM Act.

AHRI said its petition emphasizes that as a general matter, “the U.S. HVACR industry already is proceeding with the requested transition date as its goal; granting this petition provides order and structure to the market and streamlines industry preparation”.

The transition dates contained in its petition, AHRI said, allow “sufficient time for careful planning and preparation, both to avoid excessive costs that can unduly burden consumers, and to ensure all safety and other associated standards can be met”, according to the petition. “For example, contractors and technicians must receive appropriate training, state and local building codes must be updated and changed, and supply chains and distribution networks must be modified,” AHRI said.

“While AHRI has long believed that an earlier transition would not allow enough time for manufacturers to prepare, we have been equally clear that a later transition date would put long-term compliance with the AIM Act at risk,” said Stephen Yurek, AHRI President & CEO. “Aligning these dates also reduces costs for consumers and ensures long-term availability of energy-, environment-, and life-saving refrigerants for climate control and for the cold chain for food, vaccines, and other medicines.”

AHRI, the U.S. Department of Energy, CARB and other stakeholders have invested more than USD 7 million in research into alternative refrigerants in preparation for this transition, AHRI said, These more climate-friendly alternatives, it added, are in use today in Europe, Australia, Japan, Thailand and in more than 90% of new passenger vehicles currently sold in the United States.