PartagerL'IIF au China Refrigeration Expo 2026
The 37th International Exhibition for Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning, Heating and Ventilation, Frozen Food Processing, Packaging and Storage (China Refrigeration Expo 2026 – CHR 2026) took place from 8 to 10 April 2026 in Beijing, China.
The event was co-organised by the Chinese Association of Refrigeration (CAR), the China Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Industry Association (CRAA), and the Beijing International Exhibition Center Co., and remains one of the world’s most influential exhibitions for the HVAC&R sector.
The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) was represented by Prof. Min Soo Kim, President of the IIR General Conference, and Marco Durán, Head of the IIR Policy and Global Partnerships Department.
IIR contribution to the Opening Forum
The Opening Ceremony Forum was chaired by Prof. Li Xianting, Director of the Expert Committee of CHR and Vice President of CAR, who also contributes internationally as President of IIR Section E – Air conditioning, heat pumps and energy recovery.
The organisers honoured the IIR with an invitation to intervene and Prof. Min Soo Kim, President of the IIR General Conference presented on “International refrigeration research and development with industrial applications”, highlighting advances in data centre cooling technologies and cold-chain applications for road and marine transport and storage.
The Forum addressed key strategic thematic areas:
- New-Type Power Systems and the Energy Internet in the Building Sector, presented by Prof. Sun Hongbin (Taiyuan University of Technology)
- High-Temperature Heat Pump Technology and Industrial Development, presented by Prof. Wang Ruzhu (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)
- Quality-focused and brand-oriented agriculture to support China’s development as an agricultural powerhouse, presented by Prof. Du Zhixiong (Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)
Following the Opening Forum, technical sessions and specialised symposia were held throughout the three days of the exhibition, providing a platform for in-depth scientific, technical and industrial exchanges.
Alignment with IIR priorities and global cooperation
The CHR 2026 brought together more than 1,000 exhibitors from over 30 countries and regions, clearly illustrating the scale, technological maturity and international leadership of China’s refrigeration sector.
This year’s theme, “Empowering refrigeration and heat pumps with digital intelligence for a new chapter of carbon neutrality,” reflects global priorities, with energy efficiency, low-GWP refrigerants, system optimisation and digital solutions at the centre of discussions. These are precisely the areas where enhanced international cooperation is essential to meet climate and energy objectives.
The Forum exemplified how national expertise and international engagement can reinforce one another, helping to translate scientific knowledge into practical, scalable solutions.
Engagement with industry and technical exchanges
During CHR week, Marco Durán delivered congratulatory remarks on behalf of the IIR at the Moon Tech Launch Ceremony, marking the commencement of a smart low-carbon factory and the upgrading of the company’s full compressor series, coinciding with Moon Tech’s 70th anniversary.
He also addressed the press conference following the acquisition of KLAS by TICA, noting the group’s commitment to a global technological and industrial ecosystem supported by ambitious energy efficiency and carbon reduction objectives.
Technical visit to Moon Tech
The week concluded with a technical visit to Moon Tech’s headquarters in Yantai, where the IIR representation toured the modern compressor manufacturing facilities and met with senior management to explore opportunities for strengthened cooperation.
