Press Release
Thermo King Offers New Choices to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Related to Transport Refrigeration
1st October 2014
Today Thermo King, a manufacturer of transport temperature control solutions for a variety of mobile applications and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, announced that it will offer its transport customers in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa a choice on how and when to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint.
Beginning in January 2015, Thermo King will offer a new line of trailer and self-powered truck units that are energy efficient and reliable and use a next generation refrigerant that has about half the global warming potential (GWP) of refrigerant currently used. At the same time, for those transport customers who want to transition their existing units, Thermo King will offer replacement service through its dealer network. In 2016, Thermo King will then offer the same benefits with vehicle powered truck products.
“Our intent is to offer operators a choice of how and when to lower their GHG footprint without compromising the efficiency, reliability and overall product performance they expect from Thermo King,” said Ray Pittard, President of Thermo King North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa. “We made a significant investment in research and development, testing and the appropriate ATP approvals in order to bring product and service alternatives to market.”
In anticipation of the European Union’s 2014 F-Gas Regulation, Thermo King, in close partnership with refrigerant manufacturer, DuPont, selected R-452A, also known as DuPont™ Opteon® XP44, for this alternative line of transport refrigeration products.
“Since its inception by Thermo King in 1938, the transport refrigeration industry has been using class A1 refrigerants that are safe, non-flammable and have the lowest toxicity,” said Pittard. “R-452A when used in our products is the safest, most environmentally responsible, and technically and commercially viable solution for transport refrigeration applications. Plus, it has about half the GWP of refrigerants currently used today.”
“The new line of Thermo King products offers the same high level of performance as today’s portfolio including the same cooling capacity, pull-down and fuel efficiency,” said Dwight Gibson, vice president, Thermo King Europe, Middle East and Africa. “In addition, retrofitting current products with the next generation of refrigerant is a compatible solution which means that operators can increase their return on investment of units they already own with – the least amount of rework, lower fuel consumption and emissions, and retaining the residual value of the equipment.”
Thermo King will continue to offer its transport customers its current line of transport refrigeration products, and ensure that they receive optimum levels of service throughout the products’ lifecycle and until customers are ready to transition.
Ingersoll Rand Climate Commitment
On September 22, Ingersoll Rand made an environmental commitment to its employees, customers and shareholders – a roadmap to significantly increase energy efficiency and reduce our climate impact from our operations and product portfolio by 2030 (with milestones at 2020).
The commitment includes reducing GHG emissions related to its operations by approximately 35% by 2020; reducing GHG emissions related to its products by 50% by 2020; and investing $500 million in product-related research and development over the next five years to fund the long-term reduction of GHG emissions. This commitment is estimated to result in the avoidance of approximately 20,850,000 metric tons of CO2e globally by 2020, which is equivalent to the energy used by nearly 2 million homes for one year.
“We care deeply about the impact to the environment and improving the safety and overall quality of life for people,” said Ray Pittard, president of Thermo King. “Our transport refrigeration solutions will contribute to the company’s overall climate commitment while also playing an important role in the food and pharmaceutical cold chain, which impacts almost every family around the world.”
Learn More at IAA 2014
Thermo King will be present at the IAA 2014 Show in Hannover, Germany. Join leaders on Wednesday, September 24 at 15.30 #B15 in Hall 27 for a press conference on this topic followed by social event. Thermo King leaders are available for interviews upon request and by appointment.