ATMOsphere Australia 2019
This feed will be updated regularly with media coverage & other important updates. Last updated 14 May 2019.
The 4th edition of ATMO Australia took place in Melbourne on 8–9 May 2019.
Follow our coverage below with the most memorable quotes and photos from the conference with the latest updates on top. #ATMOAustralia #GoNatRefs
[PRESENTATIONS] You can access all the presentations directly in the conference program here.
[PICTURES] See all the pictures from the event here.
MEDIA COVERAGE
CONFERENCE FEED
CONCLUSIONS
Summary of the conference and conclusions by Jan Dusek, shecco.
FRIDGIES OF THE FUTURE
Leading experts will discuss the current and future natural refrigerants-based training opportunities and experiences they gained in terms of safety in Australia & New Zealand.
“So, why natural refrigerants? Natural refrigerants are a huge part of this industry and they naturally feed into the #innovation space” — Shannon Baldock, TAFE SA
“This is what we are doing. Taking the content, bringing it to the class, throwing it into the #VR headsets and then the students are there” — Shannon Baldock, TAFE SA
“We have decided we will open up a Beijer Ref academy here in #Australia” — Inderpal Saund, Beijer Ref Australia
“As a group, we need to remove the fear and we need to replace it with knowledge” — Inderpal Saund, Beijer Ref Australia
“We need to encourage an online voice for our industry’s students to become tomorrow’s advocates” — Glenn Marsh, TAFE NSW
“I highlight the fact that the ARC Green Scheme Accreditation provides that pathway for fridgies of the future to upskill” — Rod Cumming, ARC (Australian #Refrigeration Council)
“A bad system is almost the same as a bad marriage. Its going to cost a lot of money to get out of them” — Ian Tuena, ARA (Australian #Refrigeration Association)
“We see ourselves as being the conduit for connection in the industry, to connect people and fill gaps” — Tony Gleeson, AIRAH (Australian Institute of #Refrigeration, Air conditioning and Heating)
TECHNOLOGY ROUND TABLE — COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
At the technology round table strategic presentations on Commercial Refrigeration will be presented by leading industry representatives, followed by a panel discussion.
“Our Plug N’ Cool system used in an Australia-made self contained R290 cabinet system is now available in #Australia” — Esequias Pereira, Embraco
“This is where it is going. You get a high efficiency hot water solution running on natural refrigerants combined with solar power” — Trent Miller, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air Conditioners #Australia
“Right now Emerson has transcritical CO2 at about 8 sites across #Australia & #NewZealand. By this time next year I believe we’ll be talking some number around 16” — Shannon Lovett, Emerson Climate Technologies
“That’s our R290 horizontal scroll compressor released at Chillventa last year, really it was gearing up for the IEC charge limit increase. I think with the charge limit change that’s technology we will see develop further in the near future” — Shannon Lovett, Emerson Climate Technologies
“The evidence is clear, sustainable CO2 systems are a reality and can work in the Australian climate negating the so called CO2 equator” — Dave Redden, Refrigeration Innovations
“The business case for ejectors is there” — — Dave Redden, Refrigeration Innovations
“If you do install hydrocarbons, you have to at least make everyone aware of what you are installing on site” — Nis Jensen, Scantec
“Know your #refrigerants, their properties and estimate their future commercial viability” — Nis Jensen, Scantec
“We are testing our transcritical CO2 condensing in #Australia now and we are quite sure that the unit is able to survive in the Australian market” — Gaku Shimada, Panasonic
“Panasonic and Hussman are ready to deliver transcritical CO2 units to #Australia now” — Gaku Shimada, Panasonic
News of an increase in hydrocarbon charge limits could definitely signal a change in direction — Ian Skelton, Carel
END USER PANEL
In this on-stage panel discussion, leading end users will share their experiences using different types of natural refrigerant technologies, including benefits, challenges and future plans.
“We are currently working on a CO2 -30°C brine plant with an ammonia chiller for condensing. It is ready for a gas charge next week and we are eagerly awaiting to commission it” — Mark Plummer, Nestlé
“We see in Emergent Cold that natural refrigerants are future proof and we can see that synthetics are only going to be regulated out by some kind of cost driver mechanism” — Mike Nolan, Emergent Cold
“Why would we go to a future with low-charge? The first answer to that is to reduce ammonia charge…the second answer to that is to reduce ammonia charge. Looking at low charge is the future for us here in #Australia” — Mike Nolan, Emergent Cold
“Increases in power prices have sent shockwaves through our #business” — Jarrod Swaine, Ritchies #Supermarkets
“The reason for our choosing #CO2 was low toxicity and non-flammability being on an airport facility” — Chris Fox, Link Logistics
“There’s no substitute for hands on workshops in the plant room for your service providers” — Dario Ferlin, Woolworths
TECHNOLOGY ROUND TABLE — INDUSTRIAL REFRIGERATION
At the technology round table strategic presentations on Industrial Refrigeration will be presented by leading industry representatives, followed by a panel discussion.
“Centralized Low Charge #NH3 systems can step in and replace just about all #HFC #refrigeration systems that serve 100,000 or so cold stores in this country” — Stefan Jensen, Scantec
“This NH3/CO2 system installation for a distribution center in western #Sydney is the first for the contractor, the end user and for Mayekawa #Australia. The system is scheduled to be commissioned by early June 2019” — Peter O’Neill, Mayekawa
“Why Ammonia/CO2? Three reasons: Escaping synthetics, Safety by design, dollars and cents” — Mack Hajjar, Tri Tech Refrigeration Australia
“The biggest benefit I see, is that with how the CO2 industry has developed recently, it is now making it possible for those who want to use naturals, actually be able to use naturals” — Mack Hajjar, Tri Tech Refrigeration Australia
“In Gordon Brothers we see a great future for low charge #ammonia products especially in the chiller range of products” — Jannie Howard, Gordon Brothers
“With the phase out of #HFCs having started, we see some users showing some interest in moving to alternatives” — Jannie Howard, Gordon Brothers
“Installers and engineers have to be trained on CO2. This is the key for CO2 to be successful in the market” — Andreas Meier, TEKO
“There’s a lot of opportunity for CO2 heat pumps” — Terry Plaisted, Automatic Heating
CONTRACTORS PANEL
Leading contractors will share their experiences using different types of natural refrigerant technologies, including benefits, challenges and future plans.
“We’re here for the long term. The three things we need to focus on is #education. This means for ourselves, our tradesmen and our customers” — Mike Baker, Baker Refrigeration
“We need to have a lot more people trained in our industry to continue the trend” — Ricky Gatti, Coolphase
“Our biggest challenge is changing mindsets. For our customers and our own people. Also, costs can be higher for transcritical #CO2. We need to get used to that” — Ricky Gatti, Coolphase
“This is a picture of the #transcritical #CO2 system we installed at the #Hobart Airport. If you care to visit beautiful #Tasmania, you’ll see it from the runway” — Pieter Boon, Degree C
“One of the big problems is that by the time the end user comes to us, they generally have made up their mind with what they want. We are saying this needs to be a different kind of partnership” — Michael Riese, Cold Logic
“Unless we get the general end user community educated, we are just going to be banging our heads against the wall” — Michael Riese, Cold Logic
“Let’s make sure that the people who haven’t got as much experience in large #refrigeration systems also get behind us to make sure the systems are more #energyefficient and make sure the client actually gets what he wants” — Michael Riese, Cold Logic
SNEAK PEEK AT THE FUTURE
Introduction to TAFE SA and their virtual reality (VR) training for natural refrigerants: In this project, TAFE SA has combined the latest in digital learning strategies with a tradesperson’s no-nonsense approach. The project has created innovative training products by simplifying the development of content. Students have access to high risk worksites from the safety of the classroom enabling them to be better prepared for the real world of work while improving engagement and retention in their studies.
“With augmented reality, every single one of my technician doesn’t have to be “Einstein” because I can have “Einstein” sitting in Germany talking my technician through what to do on-site” — Shannon Baldock, TAFE SA
“The applications where I see this happening is two-fold. Immersive video for #training is really powerful. It’s easy to capture and deliver. Second application is augmented reality & mixed reality. You’ll see more of this in service and repair” — Shannon Baldock, TAFE SA
POLICY & ENERGY PANEL DISCUSSION
Industry and government experts will discuss Australian, New Zealand’s and global policy and regulatory issues and the impact of the cooling sector on climate change. Key topics discussed will include the Kigali Amendment, the transition to zero net emissions systems, sustainability and renewables in integrated solutions.
Peter Brodribb, Expert Group mentioned that Australia is on track to meet Kigali phase-down schedule and that they anticipate a smooth technology transition in most sectors (foreshadowed by the EU phase down).
“Air source #heatpumps we’ve identified to have a really big opportunity in #decarbonising #buildings” — Tom Yankos, ClimateWorks #Australia
“We have the #technology in the built #environment sector to achieve net zero or even to be carbon positive. We are entering the critical decade. The time is now” — Tom Yankos, ClimateWorks #Australia
“Looking at the polls at the moment, #climatechange is becoming a political issue and we’ve got an #election now that is being called a climate election” — Scott Hamilton, Australian-German Energy Transition Hub
“Water to water heat pumps: Aquatic centers are almost a perfect solution for this. But convincing councils to use this is very difficult because they are expensive” — Derek Harbison, Smart Consult
“If you really stop & think about this… the sorts of systems we’re talking about @ this #conference today, there’re much broader ramifications further than #coldstores & #supermarkets — & for the general public at large” — Derek Harbison, Smart Consult
“The potential savings from avoiding wasted food is 8 times the potential benefits from saving #energy” — Alan Pears, Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP) & RMIT University
“Over 40% of fossil fuel in industry is used in process heating. We have very strong reasons why coal, liquid fuel and natural gas need to be replaced” — Alan Pears, Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP) & RMIT University
“They’re unfairly comparing, because the gas costs are often much higher than they realized. We need to much better and understand the costs of the existing systems so that we can make the best possible case for new #technology” — Alan Pears, A2EP
“We’ve found that the importance of hardware when evaluating the #energyefficiency of #refrigeration systems is often overstated and that the controls aspect is often under represented” — Michael Bellstedt, Minus 40 (on behalf of Sustainability VIC)
WELCOME & INTRODUCTION
“We are delighted to have so many new faces at ATMOsphere Australia 2019.” — Caroline Rham, shecco
We’re bringing you a fantastic lineup for this year’s ATMO Australia — our most ambitious program to date — with great features, including:
- 30+ SPEAKERS — Most of whom are first-timers and over 12 end user & contractors speakers
- 1.5 DAY CONFERENCE — Not only packed with knowledge but with several unparalleled networking opportunities
- TRULY UNIQUE PLATFORM — A meeting place for all local and international HVAC&R stakeholders representing all interest groups such as end users, contractors, manufacturers, academia, NGOs and government experts to name a few!
Read ATMO Australia 2019 preview article “Fresh perspectives at a refreshed ATMO Australia” in the newly published Accelerate Australia & NZ.
WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO AT ATMO AUSTRALIA 2019
[LOOKING TO THE FUTURE WITH VR] TAFE SA will hold a demo of their virtual reality (VR) refrigerant safety training where the audience will see the virtual classroom on the big screen.
[NEW PERSPECTIVES] The conference boasts over 33 expert speakers, most of whom are first-time speakers and almost half of whom represent end-user and contractor companies.
[POLICY & ENERGY PANEL] Perhaps one of the strongest sessions of the conference will see industry and government experts will discuss Australia, New Zealand and global policy and regulatory issues and the impact of the HVAC&R sector on climate change. See all of our expert speakers here.
[END USER PANEL] Nestlé, Woolworths, Aldi, Ritchies Supermarkets, Emergent Cold and Link Logistics will offer their valuable perspectives and outline the benefits, challenges and future potential surrounding the use of #NatRefs.
[GET YOUR FREE rCUP] Thanks to our Gold sponsors Embraco, Mayekawa, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air-Conditioners Australia, SCM Frigo/Beijer Ref Australia and Emerson Climate Technologies, we are gifting rCups to our first 144 attendees! rCup is BPA-free, 100% recyclable and made from recycled coffee cups in Australia!
DISCOVER AMMONIA
Would you like to learn more about the latest low charge ammonia technology first-hand from one of the leading experts in the industry?
Join the Industrial Refrigeration Technology Round Table session to listen to our Platinum Sponsor Scantec’s presentation highlighting the benefits of switching to low-charge NH3 systems.
Stefan Jensen of Scantec will explain how low-charge ammonia refrigeration systems are the most efective and future proof alternative to HFC-based systems and how a retrofitted or a new plant can pay for itself in 3–6 years based on energy savings alone.
The session will also feature presentations from Mayekawa, TEKO, KAV Consulting, Tri Tech Refrigeration Australia and Automatic Heating. Don’t miss this highly-anticipated session to hear about all the different technologies available for industrial refrigeration!