THE US AHR Expo show continues to grow. The latest event in Chicago from January 23-25 attracted nearly 40,000 visitors. Based on preliminary registration numbers, the 2012 Show will easily surpass the previous record of 38,534 visitors at the 2008 Show in New York City.

THE Institute of Refrigeration is facing a presidential election battle for possibly the first time in its history. Graeme Maidment, nominated by the IoR council for the role of president elect to succeed current president Andy Pearson, is being challenged for the role by fellow members John Bowater and Steve Gill.

IT IS now just six weeks before the doors open on the first ACR Show at the NEC - the only event of its kind in the UK.

THE British Retail Consortium (BRC) has called for stronger economic incentives for supermarkets to adopt natural refrigeration systems in their battle to reduce carbon emissions.

THE Great Grimsby Ice Factory Trust, the group fighting to preserve the historic Grimsby Ice Factory and its unique refrigeration equipment, is to become a company limited by guarantee and seek registered charity status. Among other benefits, the move will allow the organisation to take up a £3,500 offer of help from Lincolnshire Heritage and the Architectural Heritage Fund.

A TEAM at Barcelona University has identified a new material that exhibits what has been described as an inverse barocaloric effect at room temperature, which means that it cools when pressure is applied, unlike most other materials.

SUPERMARKET giant Tesco is using Honeywell's Genetron Performax LT refrigerant in 75 of its stores in Poland.

DANFOSS has announced the availability to oems of prototype versions of its revolutionary oil-less Turbocor compressor to run on the new refrigerant HFO1234ze.

A man has been arrested in Malvern and questioned by detectives about a series of thefts of air conditioning units. The man was stopped by police officers as he loaded a white Peugeot Boxer panel van. He was in the possession of items that were believed to be stolen and arrested.

ONE of the most difficult tasks in converting old systems to run on new alternative refrigerants is the process of removing the mineral oil, solid contaminants and acids from the existing copper tubing. Replacement of the copper piping is not always feasible or economically viable but flushing can be a messy and inexact science.