German company Magnotherm has made a significant advancement in the development of refrigerant-free cooling systems, demonstrating that magnetocaloric materials can be protected by applying a copper coating and corrosion inhibitor to the alloys used in technology that is claimed to be 40 per cent more energy efficient than vapour compression. After three months of continuous … Continue reading Magnetic cooling attracts attention
A team of scientists at Australia’s Monash University have achieved a breakthrough in developing an ultra-fast charging lithium-sulphur (Li-S) battery that is poised to power everything from long-haul electric vehicles (EVs) to commercial drones. This game-changing technology, detailed in a recent publication in ‘Advanced Energy Materials’, could also pave the way for electric aircraft in the … Continue reading Aussie battery breakthrough: Ultra fast-charging lithium-sulphur tech
The Australian government introduced significant changes to the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) to tackle workforce shortages in critical industries, the updated list featuring 456 occupations eligible for skilled migration, including nine key automotive trades now officially recognised under the program. The revised CSOL updates previous lists from the temporary skilled visa program and, based … Continue reading Automotive skilled migration win
By Refrigerants Australia executive director Dr Greg Picker Recent speculation about the availability and future of refrigerants prices, unnecessary scaremongering and misinformation has increased the level of concern and uncertainty among the industry. This article looks to provide insight into the context, background, impacts and what consumers can expect to see in the near future … Continue reading Cool heads prevail: Managing Australia’s refrigerant market
The global shift towards electrified vehicles is more than just a move into the clean economy, it is driving economic transformation, with Australia prioritising workforce development to support this transition. Addressing the opportunities and the need for specialised labour requites strategic collaborations among governments, industries and training providers. These are slowly emerging to overcome future … Continue reading Electrification is reshaping industries and workforce demands
Not content with creating one of the first practical automobiles in 1886 and remaining at – or close to – the forefront of automotive innovation ever since, Mercedes-Benz has outlined a vision of the future encompassing sustainability, improved safety, elevated quality of life and hyper-personalised digital experiences. As the global automotive industry becomes ever more … Continue reading Mercedes-Benz: Vision of the future
The recent four-day Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, attracted 141,000 attendees and more than 4,500 companies, reinforcing its standing as the world’s largest trade-only event, renowned for showcasing groundbreaking technologies. Below we highlight a few innovations that captured our attention, as well as a debrief on Volvo Trucks’ keynote vision for the … Continue reading Paper batteries to electric planes: No wonder the Consumer Electronics Show is now simply CES
By Australian Refrigeration Council CEO Glenn Evans This past summer, much like the temperature, the Look for the Tick campaign achieved new milestones in driving consumer awareness. As Australia faces rising temperatures and increasing cost-of-living pressures, it’s critical for consumers to understand the value of choosing licensed professionals for the maintenance and servicing of their … Continue reading ARC Insights: More people ‘Look for the Tick’
A line on page 38 of the fourth Cold Hard Facts report, commissioned by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, sums up six years of lost opportunity: “The service usage for small MAC is significant and represents almost 19% of all HFCs consumed on RAC equipment in 2022.” That year, 644.6 tonnes … Continue reading Cold Hard Facts and uncomfortable truths about Australia’s HFC phase-down
The European Union’s ambitious HFC phase-down continues to yield unintended consequences, with the lucrative black market for R134a and other regulated high global warming potential (GWP) products showing no signs of slowing down as smugglers capitalise on sky-rocketing prices caused by legislated quotas that restrict supply. Quota System Creates a Perfect Storm The EU’s fluorinated … Continue reading Unintended consequences: Europe faces endless whack-a-mole against refrigerant smugglers
