Chillventa 2026
Our review

Chillventa 2026 clearly showed the growing importance of natural refrigerants. CO2, propane and ammonia are used across different applications and capacity ranges. At the same time, the available technologies continue to evolve: higher capacities, new compressor concepts and a broader range of components are creating new possibilities.
 

Major technological breakthroughs were limited. Instead, the exhibition showed an industry that continues to develop existing solutions. What does this mean for system design? We take a closer look at the developments that are most relevant to our work.

The development is not limited to a single refrigerant. Priorities vary depending on the application.
 

For CO2, the capacity range continues to expand. New compressor concepts and higher available capacities create additional opportunities for industrial refrigerating systems and heat pumps. Various solutions using hydrocarbons were also presented for heat pumps and chillers. Ammonia remains relevant for industrial and specialised applications.
 

This puts one key question increasingly at the centre of system design: Which refrigerant and which system are best suited to the specific application?

As applications and capacity ranges expand, the available range of components is developing as well. For CO2 applications, the exhibition featured high-pressure heat exchangers as well as valves and oil management components designed for high operating pressures.
 

This creates additional options for system design. However, the interaction of the entire system remains crucial. New components must suit the application and meet the requirements for efficiency, operational safety and availability.

One particularly relevant development goes beyond the conventional refrigerating system: refrigeration and heat utilisation are increasingly considered together.
 

Chillventa featured various heat pumps and reversible systems using natural refrigerants. The solutions ranged from CO2 and propane to ammonia, covering smaller applications as well as high-temperature and industrial systems.
 

Where refrigeration is required and heat can be utilised at the same time, it makes sense to consider the system as a whole. Efficient refrigeration is no longer the only focus. The question of how available energy can be used effectively is equally important.

Remote access and the visualisation of operating data were also key topics at Chillventa. Some of the solutions presented aim to use available data to identify potential problems at an early stage.
 

However, more data alone does not create added value. What matters is how the data can support day-to-day operation, maintenance, system optimisation and reliable operation.

Our conclusion from Chillventa 2026 is deliberately measured: major technological breakthroughs were limited. At the same time, technologies continue to evolve in many areas.
 

Natural refrigerants are expanding into different applications and capacity ranges. The range of components is growing, refrigeration and heating applications are moving closer together, and operating data is becoming increasingly important. At the same time, the exhibition also showed that refrigerating systems using synthetic refrigerants continue to be offered.
 

For Frigo-Consulting, the focus is therefore not on one particular refrigerant, but on the application. The decisive factor is which system best meets the technical, energy and operational requirements of a project.
 

We do not assess new technologies in isolation. We consider how they interact within the overall system and evaluate their practical benefits.

Whether you are planning a refrigerating system, a heat pump or heat recovery, we consider the requirements and the overall system to develop a suitable solution.
 

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