Refron: What's New

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	8/1/08 - Airgas Acquires Refron: Airgas acquires Refron as of 8/01/08, please see the Airgas press release.
	2/25/08 - Arkema Introduces R-427A as a Substitute for Existing R22 Applications: Arkema has added R427A to its line of refrigerants. According to Arkema’s announcement, R427A has a comparable performance to R22 and it has received SNAP approval. R427A has a zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and is one of the lowest global warming potential (GWP) R22 retrofit refrigerant available on the market. R427A has been used in R22 retrofits in Europe for several years because of the ease in converting existing R22 systems.
	2/1/08 - Refrigerant Manufacturers Increase Deposit Values of ton and ½ ton Cylinders: Effective with shipments of February 1, 2008 Arkema, DuPont, Honeywell and Ineos have all increased deposit values of ton and ½ ton cylinders. They explain that the consistent rising cost of steel is driving up the replacement cost of cylinders and therefore this change is necessary. Ton cylinder deposits have been changed from $2,800 to $3,500 and ½ ton cylinders from $750 to $1,000.
	1/15/08 - Unprecedented Price Increases for R22, Driven by Accelerated Phase out of HCFC's: As a result of the impact of Global Warming in 2006 and 2007 articles started appearing in industry publications suggesting that the global community was considering proposals for accelerating the phase out schedule of the original Montreal Protocol. In anticipation of this change, in April of 2007, all the US refrigerant manufacturers raised the price of R22 refrigerant an unprecedented $1.50 a pound. This one increase resulted in a market price increase of over 50%.
	9/22/07 - Accelerated Phase Out of HCFC’s (R-22): The U.S. Department of State announced today that 191 parties to the original Montreal Protocol agreed to accelerate the phase out schedule of HCFC product by a decade. A significant reduction for the US is the reduction of HCFC consumption by 75%, of the base, in 2010, 90% in 2015 with a phase out in 2020. If you would like a copy of this announcement please contact your Refron sales representative or email your request to info@refron.com.
	9/1/07 - Arkema and Daikin enter into a Joint Partnership to Produce HFC-125: Arkema Daikin Fluorochemicals Co. LTD a 60%-40% joint venture is focused on the production and marketing of HFC-125. Together they will build a worldwide plant on Daikin’s Changshu site using Arkema’s technological expertise. The plant will be Asia’s first of its size and is scheduled to be on stream in 2010.
	7/1/07 - Emerson releases Refrigerant Changeover Guidelines to include MO29(R422D) & Mo79(R-422A): This bulletin is intended to provide contractors with details for retrofitting Copeland DiscusTM compressor from R22 to R422A or R422D. For a copy of this bulletin, visit www.EmersonClimate.com/Refrigerant/refrigerant.htm. Refrigerants R-422A and R-422D are DuPont patented items marketed under the ISCEON name, which was purchased from Rhodia in July 2005.
	5/1/07 - DuPont Publishes their R-22 Outlook Sheet: DuPont provides their wholesalers with a sales literature piece in an effort to alert and educate the industry on the need for appropriate action to begin the transition to non-ozone depleting alternative refrigerants such as ISCEON refrigerants and R410A. For a copy of this literature please contact your Refron sales representative or email info@refron.com with your request.
	3/30/07 - DuPont and Honeywell Announce a Joint Venture: DuPont and Honeywell have announced that they will be joining forces to speed up the development of a low global warming refrigerant for the automotive and AC industries. Europe currently has regulations in place that require new low GWP (Global Warming Potential) refrigerants in mobile air conditioner applications for new model automobiles effective 2011 with a total transition complete by 2017.
	3/1/07 - Honeywell Publishes Fact Sheet on R22 Supply: Honeywell publishes their R22 allocation pamphlet. It outlines the current status of the availability of refrigerant-22 as a result of the approaching 2010 year cutback of HCFC’s, as enforced under the Clean Air Act. It is intended to prepare refrigerant-22 buyers for the possibility of shortages in available product as well as the inevitability of increase prices as supply declines. For a copy of their pamphlet, please contact your Refron sales representative or email info@refron.com.
	6/1/06 - DuPont’s ISCEON MO29 received Ashrae Designation Number R-422D: DuPont announced that Ashrae has official assigned the refrigerant designation R-422D and safety classification of A1 (non-flammable and non-toxic) to its ISCEON MO29. It is anticipated that R-422D will be a recommended replacement refrigerant for supermarket refrigeration units.
	4/1/06 - Arkema Notifies Industry of their use of a “Tamper Evident Tear Cap”: Arkema has sent out notice to all of their refrigerant wholesalers advising that they have begun shipping standard size, half ton and ton returnable cylinders with a “tamper evident tear cap”. The caps will cover the cylinder valves and are made of blue grade 1 virgin polyethylene. According to Arkema, the change was made to continue their efforts to remain one of the most cost efficient suppliers to the refrigerant industry.
	2/1/06 - Arkema Announces a $45 Million Investment to Produce R-32 at its Calvert City, Kentucky Plant: HFC-32 is an essential component of refrigerant blend R-410A, which is the probable successor of R-22 refrigerant. Arkema states this investment will strengthen its position as a leader in the development of new HFC refrigerants thereby assisting its customers in their transitions out of HCFC refrigerants. For a copy of Arkema’s announcement please contact your Refron sales representative or email info@refron.com with your request.
	11/1/05 - DuPont Announces the Introduction of their Newly Purchased Line of ISCEON Refrigerants: In July 2005 DuPont announced that it had signed an agreement with Rhodia a Paris based chemical company, to purchase its line of ISCEON refrigerants. Of course the announcement was pending regulatory approval. However, today DuPont announces the official inclusion of the ISECON non-ozone depleting products, MO79(R-422A), MO59(R-417A) and 39TC(R-423A) into their full line of refrigerant gases. Other ISECON products were also purchased however they are not addressed in this announcement.
	10/25/05 - DuPont Updates Industry on R-22 Availability Outlook for 2005-2007: In a recent industry update, DuPont presented its analysis of supply, demand, and cost-of-production factors that are likely to be affecting R-22 pricing and availability in the next few years.
	4/1/05 - Coping with the R-134a Shortage: The recent confluence of a variety of global and local factors has resulted in a shortage of R-134a supplies worldwide. The future outlook is likely to see some continued tightness.
	2/17/04 - EPA finalizes rule on recycling of Subsitute Refrigerants (i.e. HFCs): EPA finalizes rulemaking sustaining the Clean Air Act prohibition against venting hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and perfluorocarbon (PFC) refrigerants, and clarifies sales and recovery requirements for HFCs.
	9/22/03 - New EPA Supplemental Recycling & Sales Restriction Rules become effective today!: EPA's recently-published Supplemental Refrigerant Recycling Rule went into effect on September 22, 2003. The revised Rule modifies various areas of its original 1993 Recycling Rule, including how the Sales Restriction applies to Section 609-certified (mobile air conditioning) technicians.
	1/21/03 - EPA establishes HCFC Allowance System. R-22 import restrictions go into effect.: On January 21, 2003, EPA's HCFC Allowance & Allocation Final Rule was published in the Federal Register and consequently went into effect immediately upon its publication. This is an important rule upon which EPA had been working for several years.
	10/25/02 - Refron launches new, dynamic website allowing Customers to manage their data: We are happy to announce the launch of our new website, which you are currently viewing. The three main sections of the website allow you to learn more about Refron, access technical information including receiving MSDSs via e-mail, and work with your company's information including open orders, purchase history, used refrigerant returns and more. Please explore our new site, and give us your suggestions and feedback!
	10/24/02 - January AHR Expo in Chicago: If you are attending the AHR Expo, January 27-29 2003, McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago, IL. Make sure to visit us at Booth, # 2220. Our knowledgeable Refron Sales representatives are eager to meet with you and tell you more about our company, products and services. If you are already a Refron customer please also stop by to say "Hi!" and to pick up a small gift we have for you.
	10/22/02 - Atofina shutters Wichita, Kansas plant.: After 37 years of service, Atofina's Wichita fluorocarbons plant is being closed, and its operations are being transferred to Atofina's Calvert City, Kentucky facility. The Wichita location was originally established in 1965 by Racon, Inc, and was a major producer of R-22 and other refrigerants. In recent years it was utilized primarily for packaging, blending, and reclaim operations