Federal officials used Wire & Gas 2026 to confirm that the government intends to prohibit new vehicles entering Australia charged with R134a. This will close a gap in the HFC phase-down that is already threatening to cause a supply crunch for refrigerant used to service existing equipment as bulk R134a import quotas tighten. Wire & … Continue reading Government moves to shut out cars using R134a at the border
Fluorinated refrigerants including R-1234yf should be carved out of the European Union’s proposed universal PFAS restriction and instead regulated under the existing F-gas Regulation, according to a major study commissioned by the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). The report, which examined how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances support EU industrial competitiveness, concluded … Continue reading Proposed stay of execution for refrigerant in PFAS ban
VASA members and others in the automotive air-conditioning sector have until Sunday 10 May to provide feedback on draft units of competency that will shape how the industry trains for flammable refrigerant handling. The Mining and Automotive Skills Alliance (AUSMASA) has released a first draft of updated training products from the Certificate II in Automotive Air Conditioning … Continue reading Have your say on flammable refrigerant training units
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released proposed Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Rule 27, expanding the list of acceptable refrigerants for motor vehicle air-conditioning (MVAC) systems, including R1234yf for buses and heavy-duty vehicles, plus the addition of R444A, R456A, R452A, R480A and R1234yf as acceptable retrofits in certain applications. Mobile Air Climate … Continue reading US EPA proposes YF for buses and heavy vehicles, lists potential retrofits
Koura has launched Klea Edge 444A across the UK and Europe and positioned it as a direct aftermarket replacement for R-1234yf in automotive air-conditioning systems. The new refrigerant is claimed to offer enhanced vehicle performance and reduced environmental impact at a lower cost than current alternatives but has a higher global warming potential than the … Continue reading Just because you can… Koura publishes retrofit guides
Honeywell has officially announced its new publicly traded spin-off refrigerant company, Solstice Advanced Materials, expected to be completed by late 2025 or early 2026, allowing both companies to pursue independent growth. With projected revenue approaching A$6.7 billion, Solstice Advanced Materials will remain headquartered in Morris Plains, New Jersey, and leverage its flagship hydrofluoroolefin technology, developed … Continue reading Honeywell’s refrigerant spin-off Solstice takes shape
Chemours reported a 14 per cent increase in sales of its Opteon HFO refrigerants and low-GWP blends in 2024, reaching $810 million (A$1.25 billion). Growth was particularly strong in the fourth quarter, with a 23 per cent year-on-year rise, as customers prepared for the U.S. AIM Act, which took effect in 2024 and mandates the … Continue reading Low-GWP shift lifts sales for Chemours Opteon brand
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
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
Mercedes-Benz issued a recall for certain 2022-2023 AMG G63s and 2023 G550 SUVs in the United States due to a data mismatch during production, which resulted in the vehicles being filled with the incorrect refrigerant. While the recall notice does not explicitly state the refrigerant used, it is likely that the SUVs were charged with … Continue reading Mystery Mercedes recall over refrigerants
