Tech supplier sees opportunities in NatRef market

Fives, a leading global supplier of leak detection and refrigerant charging equipment, sees future business opportunities in the growth of natural refrigerants in the HVAC&R industry. This website spoke to Fives Sales Manager Laurent Descourtieux about the company’s current outlook on the market for natural refrigerants.

“For [the HVAC&R industry], the switch to natural refrigerants will require technical expertise as well as high quality machines and service providers,” said Descourtieux.

“With its experience, Fives is obviously a real partner.”

Fives is already a well-established global supplier in the automotive industry. The company provides refrigerant charging and leak detection solutions under its Fives Filling & Sealing division.

However, it is now looking towards the rapidly changing HVAC&R industry for opportunities to grow the business.

“As a diversification, we are looking for opportunities in other sectors, to develop our business and to develop our know-how,” said Descourtieux.

“We have found that the HVAC&R industry is very interesting for us because we have the expertise for charging refrigerants in cars, so we can do the same in any type of refrigeration unit.”

Japan a key market

Descourtieux explained that Japan is a key market for Fives due to its large HVAC&R manufacturing base and increasing interest in natural refrigerants.

“About one-and-a-half years ago, we met with the main Japanese suppliers in the HVAC&R industry and we found out that natural refrigerants were coming,” Descourtieux told this website.

“For us when a new refrigerant is coming out on the market, it means there is potential for new business and new opportunities.”

Fives believes its technology is well suited to the anticipated increase in demand for refrigerant charge and leak detection technology.

“There are a very large number of OEMs in Japan for air-conditioning units, vending machines, refrigerated displays and other HVAC&R components. So the development of CO₂ and hydrocarbons should bring us a lot of business.”

Fives, which has had a branch office and factory in Yokohama, Japan since 2009, is also a Bronze sponsor of the upcoming ATMOsphere Japan 2018 conference. The event will be held on 13 February 2018, one day before Japan’s largest retail exhibition, the Supermarket Tradeshow.

“By participating in ATMOsphere Japan 2018, Fives expects to meet the key Japanese players in the HVAC industry,” he said.

“We will take the opportunity of this conference as well to visit the Supermarket Tradeshow to catch the latest market trends.”