Hoshizaki Accelerating Domestic Adoption of HFC-Free Natural Refrigerants¹ Being Increasingly Used Worldwide

First Being Adopted for Standard Model Ice Machines, Additional Sales of Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers

HOSHIZAKI CORPORATION (Head office: Toyoake City, Aichi; President & COO: Yasuhiro Kobayashi; hereafter “Hoshizaki”) will expand its lineup of products that use HFC-free natural refrigerants in Japan. The company will accelerate the transition to natural refrigerants, increase the percentage of HFC-free products within its entire product lineup, and strengthen measures to mitigate environmental impact. The company is planning to begin adopting HFC-free refrigerants for standard model ice machines from early January 2024 and at the same time launch undercounter-type commercial natural refrigerant-based refrigerators and freezers.

■Hoshizaki to Adopt Natural Refrigerants in Domestic Standard Model Ice Machines for the First Time

Hoshizaki announced in February 2023 that it will be transitioning all² of its commercial refrigerators and freezers for the domestic market to natural refrigerants by the end of 2024, and is continuing to expand its lineup. Natural refrigerants will also be adopted for ice machines, not only in special-order models but also in standard models for the first time in Japan for Hoshizaki. The models will be steadily rolled out starting on January 5, 2024 and by June the company will have 14 models for sale.

■Accelerated Expansion of Natural Refrigerant Lineup for Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers in Response to Customer Requests

Regarding commercial refrigerators and freezers, Hoshizaki has been selling 68 models of upright refrigerators and freezers in the value price range since May 2023, with the models continuing to be chosen by customers promoting environmental initiatives in particular. With many customers wanting table-type models as well, a total of 52 models—32 models of table-type refrigerators and 20 models of table-type freezers—will be sold starting January 5, 2024, earlier than the initial plan. In April 2024, the company also plans to launch a total of 20 models—12 upright models and six table-type models of refrigerator-freezers, and two table-type freezer models.

■As a Global Manufacturer, Adopting Natural Refrigerants That Are Increasingly Used Worldwide

Amid the transition from HFCs, which have a high impact on global warming, to HFC-free refrigerants, global markets are widely using natural refrigerants as an alternative. According to the UN Environment Programme³, it is estimated that over 800 million domestic refrigerators using isobutane have already been produced in the world, including Japan, and that they accounted for around 75% of production in 2020. It is also reported that small ice machines sell in Europe and other regions with isobutane and propane refrigerants as a standard option.
As a global manufacturer, Hoshizaki is making considerations to mitigate environmental impact and putting forth products with globally used natural refrigerants not only overseas but also in Japan. Hoshizaki is also able to meet demands from customers requesting adoption of natural refrigerant products, such as global companies.

■Large Reduction in Environmental Impact Compared to Conventional Products

Switching to natural refrigerants can substantially⁴ lower the impact on global warming compared to Hoshizaki’s current products with HFCs.

■ Compliance with National and International Safety Standards, Follow-Up with Hoshizaki’s Technical Capabilities and Service System

Products are manufactured with Hoshizaki’s advanced technical capabilities in conformance with Japanese standard (JIS C 9335-2-89) and international standard (IEC 60335-2-89) regarding safety of commercial refrigerators, ice machines, etc. After a product is sold, there is a robust support system with around 440 sales offices and approximately 2,500 service staff members nationwide, so the products can be used with peace of mind. In the unlikely event that something does happen, service staff from the nearest sales office will promptly arrive and do the repairs onsite whether indoors or outdoors.

1: Natural refrigerants refer to substances that exist naturally in the environment and are used as refrigerants for refrigeration and air conditioning. These eco-friendly refrigerants have an ozone depletion potential (ODP) of zero and a very low global warming potential (GWP). The GWP is a value indicating the potential of a greenhouse gas to warm the earth when the value for carbon dioxide (CO₂) is set at 1. According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) OzonAction Kigali Fact Sheet 3 (released in 2017), the GWP for isobutene and propane is 3, while the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2022 (released in October 2022) puts it at <<1 (significantly less than 1).

2: Excludes some derivative models (specialty models with applications that differ from standard refrigerators and freezers).

3: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 2022 Report of the Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps Technical Options Committee, 2022 Assessment (RTOC Assessment Report 2022）

4:Hoshizaki’s existing products, which are equivalent to the products announced in this press release, use R-134a or R-404A. According to UNEP “OzonAction Kigali Fact Sheet 3,” the GWP values are 1430 (R-134a) and 3922 (R-404A).

5:Self-contained: Upright type with a stocker (ice storage and removal) for easy takeout of ice.
Undercounter: Type with a height of around 800 mm which has a top that can be used as cooking space.
Modular: Ice-making units, sleeves (ice storage), and an ice storage bin (ice storage and removal) can be combined, so this type has a high level of expandability even after being installed.

6:Pillar-less, right-hand unit available.
Pillar-less: No pillars dividing the compartment inside; right-hand unit: refrigeration unit section is on the right-hand side.