UAE authorities have seized counterfeit refrigerants from a business in Sharjah.
The business, Sunrise Aircondtioning Spare Parts, has been fined and is no longer in business after DuPont and the Dubai Department of Economic Development took some of their products that they use in air conditioning units.
Greg Rubin is the global business manager at DuPont and he has said, “We are approaching the problem of counterfeit refrigerants very aggressively. Counterfeit refrigerants can cause significant business impact including business failure and more importantly can cause physical harm loss of life.”
Overall they confiscated 3,100 units of fake DuPont Suva and 6,000 units of another manufacturer. On top of the fine, Sunrise were also made to pay the storage costs of the goods that had been confiscated as well as the costs of painted and repackaging the products as unbranded so they could be transferred out of the country.
Counterfeit sales are not uncommon in the Emirates and it does happen across a range of industries. Research that was carried out in 2010 suggested that managers who had the responsibility of buying products, nearly half of them had bought fake ones.
Mr Rubin added, “We will continue our global effort to combat counterfeit refrigerants by working diligently with law enforcement in all regions.”
This shows us that just because a product is branded does not mean it is legitimate. Don’t run the risk of your air conditioning units breaking down, or risk causing harm to those around and buy your products from well-known suppliers of trusted brands.
Chemical engineers in Zurich have done research into a roof mat that could possibly replace air conditioning units in the future. This is because the mats essentially make the building sweat causing the temperature to be lowered, the same as humans.
The study was conducted by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and they believe they have found simple solution to lowering room temperatures. It works because the mat is made from special polymer PNIMAP. This means when it is exposed to heat above 32 degrees the mat shrinks releasing the water absorbed from rainfall. This has been proven to reduce the surface temperature of a building by 15 degrees.
This seems like a great idea but so far this has only been tested on a very small scale but according to their statistics the mat could save you up to 60 per cent in energy.
In theory this could work but in practice, what if the temperature inside your house was 31 degrees and you had replaced your air conditioning unit with one of these mats? Nothing, there would be no way of cooling your house down in this stifling temperature because the mat only works at 32 degrees and above.
Over the last few days, we are all aware of the heavy rainfall that has hit most of us. However, in the North they are preparing for even more flooding than they are already experiencing as the most intense September storm since 1981 hits.
Having said this, the amount of flood warnings are declining from the Environment Agency although there are still 68 standing. On top of this there are some less serious flood warnings, 110 in total around the country. This is in advance of the predicted 4 cm of rain that is going to fall within the next 24 hours.
Those living next to the River Ouse in Yorkshire are preparing for higher water levels and protecting their houses.
The beginning of the year saw some of the wettest months in 100 years, and then followed by a rather damp summer. I think it is fair to say we were all hoping for an Indian summer but it seems 2012 will be known as the year of the umbrella (or sandbags). Looks like we won’t need to turn our air conditioning units on as frequently after all. However, it is essential to keep them well maintained in preparation and hope for next year.
It is not just the North that is expecting these heavy rainfalls. The South and the Midlands may also encounter flooding.
So far since Sunday, 400 homes have been flooded meaning that hundreds of people are having to take refuge in temporary accommodation.
Pretty much all of us have seen the glasses that get darker to sunnier it gets well now this technology could be moving to windows which will hopefully be able to do the exact same thing.
The technology is called glass architecture and scientists are hoping this will help many organisations save on their use of energy by up to a fifth. This is a great thing, especially as everyone is trying to be more environmentally friendly and also save some money in the current economic climate.
According to researchers at De Montfort University this window technology can be operated by a button. It is currently being tested in two office buildings.
The technology has been developed by SAGE Electrochromics and it works because the glass is covered with a ceramic coating. As a result of this is can change the level of tint required when it comes into contact with a small electric voltage.
Those looking into this technology are thought to be the first to investigate whether the system changes how employees use the air conditioning when their office becomes too hot.
Dr Birgit Painter is co-ordinating the project has said, “Window blinds that are typically used to control daylight are often left down so that occupants lose the benefits of daylight and views – this is known as “blinds down, lights on” syndrome. Electrochromic glazing could address this issue, as well as reducing reliance on electric lighting and air conditioning.
“The windows can be controlled manually or automatically, with the control settings tailored to the application. And unlike blinds, the glazing still gives the occupants a view outside.”
The world’s biggest air conditioning company Daikin announced last month that they will be acquiring their rivals Goodman Global as they look to expand into the North American Market. The deal is costs around $3.7 billion. This means they will add a “strong fourth pillar” to their operations which are currently in Japan, China and Europe.
Goodman focuses on North America because is the world’s largest market for heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
The chief executive at Daikin, Noriyuki Inoue has said, “Most systems in this market are ducted-style, a segment where we have little presence.
“Goodman and Daikin can enjoy a complementary relationship by having more channels in the market to offer Goodman’s market-leading ducted products and Daikin’s existing products.”
Although this seems like a great move for the company, investors are less than impressed. This is because their shares have fallen by 3.53 per cent and the deal is going to change the size of Daikins balance sheet greatly. This is because it is being financed by debt and cash on hand. If regulators approve the deal then it is set to be complete by the end of the year.
Kelly Hoppen, interior designer has fallen out with her neighbours after her air conditioning units were causing too much noise in her home which is worth £6 million.
The problem she has encountered is that she didn’t apply for planning permission and she has placed the garden and in her newly built basement. As some are outside they noise is disrupting neighbours who have complained to Kensington and Chelsea council.
One of Kelly Hoppen’s neighbours said, “This is causing some upset. People who live on this street are wealthy and used to getting their own way and they feel that their peace and quiet us at stake.
Someone in her profession really should have known they needed planning permission before installing these units, which make a sort of rumbling noise.”
In response to the incident a spokeswoman for Ms Hoppen has said, “The moment the problem was flagged up it was dealt with straight away. We are working with the council to resolve the situation.”
The plan for the new units is to house them in a cabin at the back of her garden so they can’t be heard by her neighbours, although many are complaining about this too.
Air conditioning units that were fitted in a school gym that athletes were using for training have been taken away.
The gym they were using was that of Rokeby School in Newham and those who worked and attended to school new how hot the gym could get with some students having actually fainted because of the heat! One teacher said they could only teach for 15 minutes at a time because the temperatures were so high.
Teachers at the school are angry at LOCOG for removing the units especially since they are promoting the idea of a “legacy.” They had agreed to install the air conditioning so volley ball teams could train but when the teams left, so did the units.
The school offered to pay to keep the air conditioning so they weren’t left with a sauna of a gym but LOCOG removed them anyway.
LOCOG said the reason why they removed the units was because the term times did not fall during the hottest months of the year and were therefore unnecessary. They also said that because they had hired the cooling systems that they were not in a position to sell them to the school. According to the spokeswoman the school did get a new floor that was paid for by LOCOG.
Here at GT Refrigeration we love all things air conditioning but even we think this is brilliant and bizarre all at the same time!
The Japanese have created trousers with built in air conditioning systems to keep you cool in the summer (if it ever turns up).
With the heat over the last couple of days this might not sound like such a bad thing but there are two disadvantages. The first is the noise the trousers make. They have a whirring sound as the air circulates around the legs, which is definitely not a desirable attribute to a pair of trousers!
The second is that they inflate and deflate as the air is sucked in and out of the trousers. The makers have described it as “like a Michelin man”.
The trousers have two fans built into the sides and are powered by batteries. They are built into the pockets and the trousers only come in the colour Khaki.
There is also a matching jacket. Yes you can buy a fully air conditioned outfit! All the electrical parts to the jacket can be removed for washing. Again the disadvantage to this item of clothing is the balloon effect that occurs when the air is circulated.
The creator of the products has said that these are not fashion items; this is certainly something we can agree with. However these may be a good purchase for a long train ride home from work on those ever rare sweltering days.
The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Show was launched earlier this year and due to the response there will be another one in 2014. The dates are currently the 11th to the 13th of February and will be held in the NEC in Birmingham.
A different date has been previously announced but this coincided with another event, Mostra Convegno which is the Italian Exhibition.
Already the ACR show in 2014 is already being backed by key organisations within the industry. These include: The Institute of Refrigeration, the British Refrigeration Association, and the Federation of Environmental Trades Association, among others.
Jan Thorpe who is the event director for the show said, “It was an extremely positive result for a brand new show, and provides an excellent foundation on which to build for the next ACR Show in 2014. We are already working on exciting plans to expand the event. This includes even better networking opportunities and visitor attractions, such as cutting edge business and technical presentations, training and other high interest features.”
There were a total of 3,492 visitors and exhibitors. It proved a brilliant opportunity to view the latest developments in the industry. 30 per cent of those who visited were contractors and installers and a further 18 per cent were manufacturers. Ms Thorpe added, “The visitor analysis shows that nearly 70 per cent of visitors had either direct responsibility for purchasing decisions or influenced them. It reflects the overwhelming feedback from exhibitors that the show attracted people with serious buying power.”
If we get lucky this year and the sun decides to make an appearance then the best place to go is the Hayward Art Gallery. This is because Art and Language, a sixties art group have created the perfect summer piece.
It is a large white room which is empty apart from two refrigeration units that is keeping the air cool. The piece is called the Air Conditioning Show. The effect may be lost on you if you go in the cold and the wet but we think this is a rather brilliant idea.
Pinned to the wall of the cool room are bits of paper which say, “It is obvious, that the elements of a given framework (and this includes the constitution of construct contexts) are not at all bound to an eliminative specifying system.”
The Air Conditioning Show is among other pieces in the exhibition called Invisible, and is meant to represent when visual art started to become un-visual.
We are excited to see that someone is just as passionate about air conditioning units as we are and that they have actually decided to make some art out of it!
If you get a chance to go down and see the art work, let us know what you think below or tweet us.
Contact Use
For further information please
complete the form below.
UAE authorities have seized counterfeit refrigerants from a business in Sharjah.
The business, Sunrise Aircondtioning Spare Parts, has been fined and is no longer in business after DuPont and the Dubai Department of Economic Development took some of their products that they use in air conditioning units.
Greg Rubin is the global business manager at DuPont and he has said, “We are approaching the problem of counterfeit refrigerants very aggressively. Counterfeit refrigerants can cause significant business impact including business failure and more importantly can cause physical harm loss of life.”
Overall they confiscated 3,100 units of fake DuPont Suva and 6,000 units of another manufacturer. On top of the fine, Sunrise were also made to pay the storage costs of the goods that had been confiscated as well as the costs of painted and repackaging the products as unbranded so they could be transferred out of the country.
Counterfeit sales are not uncommon in the Emirates and it does happen across a range of industries. Research that was carried out in 2010 suggested that managers who had the responsibility of buying products, nearly half of them had bought fake ones.
Mr Rubin added, “We will continue our global effort to combat counterfeit refrigerants by working diligently with law enforcement in all regions.”
This shows us that just because a product is branded does not mean it is legitimate. Don’t run the risk of your air conditioning units breaking down, or risk causing harm to those around and buy your products from well-known suppliers of trusted brands.
Roof Mat, Thing of the Future?
Chemical engineers in Zurich have done research into a roof mat that could possibly replace air conditioning units in the future. This is because the mats essentially make the building sweat causing the temperature to be lowered, the same as humans.
The study was conducted by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and they believe they have found simple solution to lowering room temperatures. It works because the mat is made from special polymer PNIMAP. This means when it is exposed to heat above 32 degrees the mat shrinks releasing the water absorbed from rainfall. This has been proven to reduce the surface temperature of a building by 15 degrees.
This seems like a great idea but so far this has only been tested on a very small scale but according to their statistics the mat could save you up to 60 per cent in energy.
In theory this could work but in practice, what if the temperature inside your house was 31 degrees and you had replaced your air conditioning unit with one of these mats? Nothing, there would be no way of cooling your house down in this stifling temperature because the mat only works at 32 degrees and above.
Intense September Storm
Over the last few days, we are all aware of the heavy rainfall that has hit most of us. However, in the North they are preparing for even more flooding than they are already experiencing as the most intense September storm since 1981 hits.
Having said this, the amount of flood warnings are declining from the Environment Agency although there are still 68 standing. On top of this there are some less serious flood warnings, 110 in total around the country. This is in advance of the predicted 4 cm of rain that is going to fall within the next 24 hours.
Those living next to the River Ouse in Yorkshire are preparing for higher water levels and protecting their houses.
The beginning of the year saw some of the wettest months in 100 years, and then followed by a rather damp summer. I think it is fair to say we were all hoping for an Indian summer but it seems 2012 will be known as the year of the umbrella (or sandbags). Looks like we won’t need to turn our air conditioning units on as frequently after all. However, it is essential to keep them well maintained in preparation and hope for next year.
It is not just the North that is expecting these heavy rainfalls. The South and the Midlands may also encounter flooding.
So far since Sunday, 400 homes have been flooded meaning that hundreds of people are having to take refuge in temporary accommodation.
Tinted Windows Could Save on Energy Bills
Pretty much all of us have seen the glasses that get darker to sunnier it gets well now this technology could be moving to windows which will hopefully be able to do the exact same thing.
The technology is called glass architecture and scientists are hoping this will help many organisations save on their use of energy by up to a fifth. This is a great thing, especially as everyone is trying to be more environmentally friendly and also save some money in the current economic climate.
According to researchers at De Montfort University this window technology can be operated by a button. It is currently being tested in two office buildings.
The technology has been developed by SAGE Electrochromics and it works because the glass is covered with a ceramic coating. As a result of this is can change the level of tint required when it comes into contact with a small electric voltage.
Those looking into this technology are thought to be the first to investigate whether the system changes how employees use the air conditioning when their office becomes too hot.
Dr Birgit Painter is co-ordinating the project has said, “Window blinds that are typically used to control daylight are often left down so that occupants lose the benefits of daylight and views – this is known as “blinds down, lights on” syndrome. Electrochromic glazing could address this issue, as well as reducing reliance on electric lighting and air conditioning.
“The windows can be controlled manually or automatically, with the control settings tailored to the application. And unlike blinds, the glazing still gives the occupants a view outside.”
Daikin Aquires Rivals Goodman
The world’s biggest air conditioning company Daikin announced last month that they will be acquiring their rivals Goodman Global as they look to expand into the North American Market. The deal is costs around $3.7 billion. This means they will add a “strong fourth pillar” to their operations which are currently in Japan, China and Europe.
Goodman focuses on North America because is the world’s largest market for heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
The chief executive at Daikin, Noriyuki Inoue has said, “Most systems in this market are ducted-style, a segment where we have little presence.
“Goodman and Daikin can enjoy a complementary relationship by having more channels in the market to offer Goodman’s market-leading ducted products and Daikin’s existing products.”
Although this seems like a great move for the company, investors are less than impressed. This is because their shares have fallen by 3.53 per cent and the deal is going to change the size of Daikins balance sheet greatly. This is because it is being financed by debt and cash on hand. If regulators approve the deal then it is set to be complete by the end of the year.
Interior Designer At War Over Air Conditioning Units
Kelly Hoppen, interior designer has fallen out with her neighbours after her air conditioning units were causing too much noise in her home which is worth £6 million.
The problem she has encountered is that she didn’t apply for planning permission and she has placed the garden and in her newly built basement. As some are outside they noise is disrupting neighbours who have complained to Kensington and Chelsea council.
One of Kelly Hoppen’s neighbours said, “This is causing some upset. People who live on this street are wealthy and used to getting their own way and they feel that their peace and quiet us at stake.
Someone in her profession really should have known they needed planning permission before installing these units, which make a sort of rumbling noise.”
In response to the incident a spokeswoman for Ms Hoppen has said, “The moment the problem was flagged up it was dealt with straight away. We are working with the council to resolve the situation.”
The plan for the new units is to house them in a cabin at the back of her garden so they can’t be heard by her neighbours, although many are complaining about this too.
Air Conditioning Units Removed from School Gym
Air conditioning units that were fitted in a school gym that athletes were using for training have been taken away.
The gym they were using was that of Rokeby School in Newham and those who worked and attended to school new how hot the gym could get with some students having actually fainted because of the heat! One teacher said they could only teach for 15 minutes at a time because the temperatures were so high.
Teachers at the school are angry at LOCOG for removing the units especially since they are promoting the idea of a “legacy.” They had agreed to install the air conditioning so volley ball teams could train but when the teams left, so did the units.
The school offered to pay to keep the air conditioning so they weren’t left with a sauna of a gym but LOCOG removed them anyway.
LOCOG said the reason why they removed the units was because the term times did not fall during the hottest months of the year and were therefore unnecessary. They also said that because they had hired the cooling systems that they were not in a position to sell them to the school. According to the spokeswoman the school did get a new floor that was paid for by LOCOG.
Air Conditioned Outfit
Here at GT Refrigeration we love all things air conditioning but even we think this is brilliant and bizarre all at the same time!
The Japanese have created trousers with built in air conditioning systems to keep you cool in the summer (if it ever turns up).
With the heat over the last couple of days this might not sound like such a bad thing but there are two disadvantages. The first is the noise the trousers make. They have a whirring sound as the air circulates around the legs, which is definitely not a desirable attribute to a pair of trousers!
The second is that they inflate and deflate as the air is sucked in and out of the trousers. The makers have described it as “like a Michelin man”.
The trousers have two fans built into the sides and are powered by batteries. They are built into the pockets and the trousers only come in the colour Khaki.
There is also a matching jacket. Yes you can buy a fully air conditioned outfit! All the electrical parts to the jacket can be removed for washing. Again the disadvantage to this item of clothing is the balloon effect that occurs when the air is circulated.
The creator of the products has said that these are not fashion items; this is certainly something we can agree with. However these may be a good purchase for a long train ride home from work on those ever rare sweltering days.
The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Show
The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Show was launched earlier this year and due to the response there will be another one in 2014. The dates are currently the 11th to the 13th of February and will be held in the NEC in Birmingham.
A different date has been previously announced but this coincided with another event, Mostra Convegno which is the Italian Exhibition.
Already the ACR show in 2014 is already being backed by key organisations within the industry. These include: The Institute of Refrigeration, the British Refrigeration Association, and the Federation of Environmental Trades Association, among others.
Jan Thorpe who is the event director for the show said, “It was an extremely positive result for a brand new show, and provides an excellent foundation on which to build for the next ACR Show in 2014. We are already working on exciting plans to expand the event. This includes even better networking opportunities and visitor attractions, such as cutting edge business and technical presentations, training and other high interest features.”
There were a total of 3,492 visitors and exhibitors. It proved a brilliant opportunity to view the latest developments in the industry. 30 per cent of those who visited were contractors and installers and a further 18 per cent were manufacturers. Ms Thorpe added, “The visitor analysis shows that nearly 70 per cent of visitors had either direct responsibility for purchasing decisions or influenced them. It reflects the overwhelming feedback from exhibitors that the show attracted people with serious buying power.”
Air Conditioning in an Art Gallery
It is a large white room which is empty apart from two refrigeration units that is keeping the air cool. The piece is called the Air Conditioning Show. The effect may be lost on you if you go in the cold and the wet but we think this is a rather brilliant idea.
Pinned to the wall of the cool room are bits of paper which say, “It is obvious, that the elements of a given framework (and this includes the constitution of construct contexts) are not at all bound to an eliminative specifying system.”
The Air Conditioning Show is among other pieces in the exhibition called Invisible, and is meant to represent when visual art started to become un-visual.
We are excited to see that someone is just as passionate about air conditioning units as we are and that they have actually decided to make some art out of it!
If you get a chance to go down and see the art work, let us know what you think below or tweet us.
Contact Use
For further information please complete the form below.
Or contact us on:
01932 564 635
sales@gtrefrigeration.co.uk