USA: Honeywell has entered into a supply and technology license agreement with Navin Fluorine International (NFIL) to produce the refrigerant R1234yf in India.

Small-scale production is expected to begin by the end of this year at Navin Fluorine’s manufacturing plant at Surat, Gujarat, Western India.

Worldwide demand is growing for the refrigerant which is set to replace R134a in vehicle air conditioning systems. Honeywell and its key suppliers are investing approximately $300m to increase global production capacity for R1234yf, including the construction of a new, world-scale manufacturing plant at the company’s existing Geismar, Louisiana, refrigerants manufacturing site. Honeywell’s refrigerant is marketed as Solstice yf.

There are reportedly already more than 8 million cars currently on the road using R1234yf and that number is predicted to grow to more than 18 million cars by the end of 2016.

“This agreement reflects our commitment to delivering the supply chain reliability and security that customers can rely upon as they transition to next-generation products that are safe to use, available today and capable of making a significant positive environmental impact,” said Ken Gayer, vice president and general manager of Honeywell Fluorine Products. “Honeywell’s supply agreement with NFIL, one of India’s largest manufacturers of specialty fluorochemicals, represents a first step in our commercial relationship that will help us to meet growing global demand for Solstice yf,” he added.

With its GWP of 1300, R134a has been banned in new cars under the European MAC directive which requires the use of a refrigerant with a GWP below 150. R1234f is currently the only viable option.   

The US Environmental Protection Agency has also approved R1234yf to replace R134a which is banned in mobile air conditioning systems in new passenger cars and light-duty  trucks starting in model year 2021.

-END-

See also:

November 16, 2014. Mercedes takes aim at ‘toxic’ R1234yf air conditioning coolant. Driving.co.uk

October 27, 2014. Chilling effect – EU Commission alleges possible collusion over in car air conditioning systems. Lexology.com.

October 22, 2014. Honeywell hits back over EU Commision’s 1234yf ‘Objection’. Refrigeration and Air Conditioning News.

October 21, 2014. Antitrust: Commission sends Statement of Objections to Honeywell and DuPont regarding cooperation on new refrigerant used in car air conditioning systems. Press release of the European Commission.

October 21, 2014. DuPont Statement: European Commission Investigation. Press Release from Dupont.

August 28, 2013. DuPont president claims lifting of Mercedes ban changes nothing. Refrigeration and Air Conditioning News.

July 31, 2013. EU coolant row heats up. Fleet News.

July 10, 2013. Mercedes in war of words with EU over air-con chemicals. Cold War over refrigerants heats up. The Irish Times.

June 26, 2013. SAE: Controversial new vehicle refrigerant safe. Tire Business.

Dec 15, 2012. Mercedes faces off with Honeywell, DuPont over coolant safety. Automotive News. Reuters.

Sept 9, 2011. Honeywell defends “killer refrigerant” against German opposition. ACR News.

May 17, 2006. Greenhouse gas (HFC-134a) for emissions from air-conditioning systems in motor vehicles and amending. Directive 2006/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. Official Journal of the European Union.

Print PDF