Castel at Mostra: CO₂ market ripe for growth

Italian refrigeration component manufacturer Castel is optimistic about the growth prospects for CO₂ in its native Italy. “Our strategy is CO₂,” Alessandro Farina, the firm’s R&D/application manager, told R774.com at the Mostra Convegno Expocomfort tradeshow, taking place in Milan this week from 13-16 March. Castel is unveiling a number of new products at the show.

“In Italy, many of our customers are substituting their old plants with CO ₂ plants,” Farina said. “Our CO₂ product production tripled from 2016 to 2017, and we expect it to triple again this year.”

Asked to assess customer awareness of upcoming HFC phasedown deadlines under the EU F-Gas Regulation, Farina said: “It depends. Big OEMs are fully aware. Smaller ones, less so.”

Castel organises seminars to inform customers about the changing policy landscape in Europe. “We’re holding such a conference here at Mostra, in conjunction with [Italian refrigeration institute Centro Studi Galileo,” Farina said.

New electronic montoring device

At Mostra, Castel is displaying a new electronic device capable of monitoring the oil level inside a compressor. “Each compressor should be fitted with one of them,” said Farina.

“This is our first device to monitor compressor oil levels electronically,” he said. “Before this, we had mechanical devices. So this was a learning curve for us.”

The model on display is suitable for refrigeration systems operating at pressures of up to 45 bar. By Chillventa in October, subsequent versions will be available for pressures of 80 bar and 140 bar.

Among the other products for CO₂ transcritical systems products on display at the Mostra Convegno booth are ball valves, expansion valves, coils, connectors and check valves.

To read more about the market for natural refrigerants in Italy, click here to read Accelerate Italy magazine, or pass by the shecco booth (Hall 22, Stand 62) to pick up your own free copy.