We are pleased to present interview with Patrick Koops, Head of Public Relations Bitzer Kühlmaschinenbau GmbH. He told opinion of Bitzer about trends in HVAC&R industry.
- Which three topics pose the biggest challenge for the next few years in the segments refrigeration – air conditioning – ventilation and heat pumps? Please refer to the field in which you are active.
For us, our main areas of focus are environmentally friendly refrigerants, energy efficiency and ease of use. In future too, we also intend to provide the most suitable compressors for every application, including the best refrigerant for each. We have just recently approved HFOs and HFO blends with low GWP for the CSH and CSW series of screw compressors. Safety, reliability and efficiency are our top priority. So our customers gain long-term security for planning.
- What are your main areas of focus at this year’s Chillventa in terms of your products and services?
One area of focus is energy efficiency in full-loads and, above all, in part-loads. The further development of integrated or external frequency inverters as well as new state-of-the-art and efficient mechanical capacity controls is in the foreground. In addition we focus on modern motor concepts such as permanent magnet motors or motors which are especially adapted for frequency inverters. We are also improving ease of use: refrigeration and service engineers use BEST software to quickly and easily operate all BITZER electronic components from their laptops, simply set device parameters, analyse errors or download data logs. The system concept, installation in the factory and on site as well as trouble-shooting and maintenance are extremely simplified. Making innovations intuitively usable, that’s what intelligent IQ products are for us.
- What expectations do you have on this year’s Chillventa?
Chillventa will be concerned with the effects of the F-gas Regulation and the Ecodesign Directive. Customers from Europe and the whole world are searching for solutions as to how refrigeration and air-conditioning technology can make its contribution to reducing environmental pollution. Therefore we are presenting innovations from all of our product groups: reciprocating, screw and scroll compressors as well as condensing units. In addition the SCHAUFLER Academy will be presenting itself and its new training opportunities for natural refrigerants or power electronics and other colloquia.
- How important is the Chillventa for you in comparison with other trade fairs which are relevant for you?
For us, Chillventa is the most important European trade fair for refrigeration technology and we are looking forwarding to meeting many business partners from all over the world. Due to the fact that Europe has taken on a pioneering role in climate protection in recent years, new trends and solutions can be seen here first. Effects of bans on selling products which do not meet the minimum energy efficiency standards of the Ecodesign Directive can be discussed with the industry and attention can be drawn to these important changes.
- How do you assess the economic situation in general, in the industry in which you are active?
In light of the European F-gas Regulation and the Ecodesign Directive, the refrigeration and air conditioning industry once again faces major changes. As a leader in technology, BITZER is very well prepared for this and has been manufacturing compressors for natural refrigerants such as CO
2, ammonia and propane for many years now.
- How do you assess your own economic situation in the industry in which you are active?
BITZER is in a very good economic position – as in previous years, we also achieved a new sales record in 2015: 3,400 employees made 686 million euros. The economic situation in the first half of 2016 was very satisfactory for BITZER in Europe. The challenges for us lie more in the Asian area, in particular China. As a long-standing German company with more than 80 years of experience, we also focus on innovation, reliability and continuity.
