Global firms mull hydrocarbon strategies in Japan

In an effort to demonstrate the benefits of hydrocarbons in light commercial applications in Japan, representatives from SECOP and Embraco took to the stage at the ATMOsphere Japan 2017 conference in Tokyo to present their solutions to the Japanese audience.

Alexander Adamitzki, marketing & business development manager at SECOP, discussed how R290-based variable speed compressors could boost the efficiency of bottle coolers.

“Using variable speed compression, you can increase bottle cooler energy savings by 35% versus using fixed speed compression. The increased efficiency is achieved by increasing the run-time at lower speeds, evening out the energy usage and decreasing the average overall,” Adamitzki told participants in the 20 February event.

Marek Zgliczynski, manager of commercial refrigeration product engineering at Embraco, said: “We are seeing significant energy savings in bottle coolers, ice cream freezers, and household refrigerators when using our Fullmotion R290 compressors which operate on the same principle.”

Regarding safety, both Embraco and SECOP emphasised their well-established histories of working with hydrocarbons.

“SECOP has been working with R290 and R600a since 1993. Over 2015 and 2016, in just two years, we sold 8.4 million hydrocarbon units globally,” said Adamitzki.

“It is a proven track record. To date, there are no major safety incidents to speak of.”

Embraco’s Zgliczynski added: “We know that hydrocarbons are safe from our 20+ years of experience. More than 35% of embraco’s light commercial sales are already using R600a and R290.”

Japanese suppliers looking for hydrocarbon solutions

There are signs that hydrocarbons in Japan are beginning to pick up and international suppliers are taking notice.

Caio Marcelo dos Santos, sales manager for Asia Pacific at Embraco, commented: “This year, at the trade shows, there were many more hydrocarbon units than previous years in Japan.”

However, larger Japanese companies have been slow to develop hydrocarbon technology, prompting smaller suppliers, who want to go with natural refrigerants, to look outside of Japan.

SECOP and embraco are looking to take advantage of this by targeting small businesses and delivering quality products.

“If you deliver a good product with good results, then you will get visibility by top management of Japanese companies,” said Adamitzki.

“External forces, such as the Kigali Amendment [to the Montreal Protocol; on phasing down HFCs], have changed the market in Japan. We are excited by the prospects this year as we see an opportunity to enlarge our hydrocarbon sales footprint in Japan,” the Embraco representative remarked.

Zgliczynski added: “Hydrocarbons are on the rise and we believe they are coming into the Japanese market. We would like to help push the market in this direction for light commercial applications.”