Global Expansion Continues With US Deal

The Bristol Post
Michael Ribbeck
August 8 2012

A-Gas buys disposal specialist

A company based in Portishead which specializes in supplying gases used in refrigeration has just completed its fourth takeover this year.

A-Gas has gone on its acquisition spree as part of a strategy to expand into international markets.

The firm is already one of the world's largest suppliers of refrigerated gases, environmental services and specialty gases and chemicals.

The company, which also has offices in Bristol, has bough United States based RemTec International in its latest deal. The firm specializes in disposing of harmful gases.

The value of the deal was not made public but it took place with support from private equity specialist LDC, which invested in the firm in April 2011.

RemTec was set up in 1986 and provides products and services inolved in managing Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and substances high in Global Warming Potential (GWP) across the world. 

As part of the expansion plan A-Gas has now got a presence in the Middle East, China, Australia and India as well as Latin America.

RemTec has contracts with organizations all over the world to remove, recycle and remarket halocarbons.

The acquisition of RemTec follows on from similar acquisitions of Australian-based Technochem in March and SA Rural in May, and UK based A-Zone Technologies in April.

John Rutley, chairman of A-Gas International, said, "The acquisition of RemTec is another great example of our ambition to grow the business on a global scale."

"RemTec brings a market leadership position in Halons and a strong platform for growth in refrigerants; we believe that there is real scope to build further upon RemTec's success to date in North America, whilst also driving value across the enlarged group."

Ian Podmore of LDC added: "2012 has been an exceptionally busy year to date for A-Gas. RemTec is the fourth strategic acquisition completed by the business this year and not only strengthens their existing position in the global refrigerant market but also gives the business real scale within the USA."

"The transaction brings many strategic benefits to A-Gas and is part of an agreed strategy to rapidly expand and build the business both through organic investment and bolt-on acquisitions. We will continue to work closely with the team to drive their amitious growth plans."

Yann Souillard, managing director of LDC South Region, added: "LDC's South team has worked in close conjunction with the management team to support their ambitious 'buy and build' growth strategy. As part of our investment commitment, LDC works closely with our investment portfolio to provide expertise and follow-on funding when the right target companies become available."

West Gas Firm Expands With Buying Spree

Western Daily Press
9 August 2012

A company based in Portishead which specializes in supplying gases used in refrigeration has just completed its fourth takeover this year.

A-Gas has gone on its acquisition spree as part of a strategy to expand into international markets.

The firm is already one of the world's largest suppliers of refrigerated gases, environmental services and specialty gases and chemicals.

The company, which also has offices in Bristol, has bough United States based RemTec International in its latest deal. The firm specializes in disposing of harmful gases.

The value of the deal was not made public but it took place with support from private equity specialist LDC, which invested in the firm in April 2011.

RemTec was set up in 1986 and provides products and services inolved in managing Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and substances high in Global Warming Potential (GWP) across the world. 

As part of the expansion plan A-Gas has now got a presence in the Middle East, China, Australia and India as well as Latin America.

RemTec has contracts with organizations all over the world to remove, recycle and remarket halocarbons.

The acquisition of RemTec follows on from similar acquisitions of Australian-based Technochem in March and SA Rural in May, and UK based A-Zone Technologies in April.

John Rutley, chairman of A-Gas International, said, "The acquisition of RemTec is another great example of our ambition to grow the business on a global scale."

August 06, 2012 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Leading Refrigerants Supplier A-Gas International Completes Strategic Acquisition of USA Halocarbons and Recycling Specialist RemTec International

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bristol-based A-Gas International (or “the Group”), one of the world’s largest independent suppliers of refrigerants, associated environmental services, and speciality gases and chemicals, has completed the acquisition of U.S. based RemTec International (“RemTec”), a specialist in the controlled halocarbon management and sustainability industry. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The transaction represents the fourth strategic acquisition completed by A-Gas so far in 2012, and forms part of the Group’s acquisitive growth strategy which is being executed both in the U.K. and internationally.
Founded in 1986, RemTec has provided products and services involved in managing Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) and substances high in Global Warming Potential (GWP) on a worldwide basis. The Company’s patented and proprietary equipment is used to recover and reclaim Halons and their replacement agents used in the fire protection industry, and also CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs used in refrigerant and HVAC applications. Through expanding its geographic footprint to international locations such as Middle East, China, Australia and India, and integrating key technologies and equipment, RemTec possesses one of the most comprehensive and technically advanced international operations in the controlled halocarbons industry, enabling it to extract maximum value from ODS and GWP substances while safeguarding the environment.

RemTec’s capabilities represent a complete “end-to-end” solution for clients’ controlled halocarbon needs, including identification of unknown substances that may damage the environment, on-site removal and packaging and handling in accordance with all regulations, cylinder refurbishing and recertification, fractional distillation, and establishing halocarbon banks and strategic reserves. RemTec also offers safe and reliable halocarbon destruction options for all ODS and GWP material, and is one of the largest generators of carbon offset credits issued by the California Climate Action Reserve. RemTec contracts with organizations all over the world to remove, recycle, and remarket controlled halocarbons, including the US and multiple other federal governments and numerous Fortune 500 companies serving the aviation, fire suppression, refrigeration, propellant, and environmental services end markets.

RemTec also recycles used refrigerants, where its specialised equipment and expertise allows it to provide a full reclaim and product stewardship package to refrigerant users in this environmentally sensitive sector.
The acquisition provides a strong strategic fit with A-Gas’ existing operations in the Environmental Services market which is already well established in the U.K. and Europe, and provides the business with a solid foothold within the all-important North American market.

The acquisition of RemTec follows on from the successful acquisitions of Australian based Technochem in March 2012 and SA Rural in May 2012, and U.K. based A-Zone Technologies in April 2012.
Commenting on the acquisition:

John Rutley, Executive Chairman of A-Gas International said:
“The acquisition of RemTec is another great example of our ambition to grow the business on a global scale. RemTec brings a market leadership position in Halons and a strong platform for growth in refrigerants; we believe that there is real scope to build further upon RemTec’s success to date in North America, whilst also driving value across the enlarged group.”


About A-Gas International
A-Gas is an international group of companies with headquarters in the U.K. A-Gas is a market leader in the supply of refrigerants within its core territories in the U.K., South Africa, and Australia, and has state of the art storage, blending, packaging and reclamation facilities in Bristol, Cape Town, and Melbourne. The company is rapidly growing its market share in Asia and the Americas with sales offices in Singapore, Thailand, China and USA. For more information, visit www.agas.com
About RemTec International
For more information, visit www.remtec.net

The Coalition for Responsible Fire Protection September Conference

US seafood company to pay $700,000 for R22 violations

USA: One of the USA's largest seafood companies has agreed to pay a $700,000 fine for illegally importing R22 and committing other clean air violations.

The settlement, outlined in a consent decree lodged by the US Department of Justice on behalf of the US Environmental Protection Agency, concerns the improper release and illegal import of ozone depleting refrigerants.

American Seafoods Co and Pacific Longline Co, both subsidiaries of the American Seafoods Group have agreed to phase out the use of ozone depleting refrigerants, implement a comprehensive leak detection and repair programme aboard a number of their vessels and pay a $700,000 penalty to resolve federal Clean Air Act violations.



Between 2006 and 2009, American Seafoods Company and Pacific Longline Company used R22 as a refrigerant in industrial refrigeration units aboard its fishing vessels. American Seafoods illegally imported 70,000 kg of R22 refrigerant to the United States without holding valid allowances. 



The companies were also said to have failed to repair refrigerant leaks in a timely manner; failed to verify adequacy of repairs to its refrigeration systems; having inadequate records of repair service on refrigerant system and using uncertified employees to perform refrigerant-related work.

In addition to the penalty, the companies will spend an estimated $9m to $15m to convert refrigeration systems on several vessels to operate using non-ozone depleting refrigerants. The companies have also purchased and retired R22 allowances to offset the harm caused by their illegal importation.


American Seafoods Company is one of the country's largest seafood harvesters and at-sea processors of pollock, hake, cod, scallops and yellowfin sole. The company sells its products in the United States, Asia and Europe. American Seafoods Company and Pacific Longline Company are based in Seattle.

The cost of keeping your home cool is rising

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- With the heat we're feeling, many homeowners are discovering that it's gotten a lot more expensive to keep their homes cool.

The cost of cooling homes is rising because the cost of the Freon gas used in most air conditioners is skyrocketing. The reason -- new EPA regulations.

The next time you call someone like Danny Crimmens to come fix your air conditioner, be prepared for sticker shock when you get the bill.

Repairing leaky air conditioners has never been as expensive as it is right now.

The problem is the rising cost of R-22 Freon gas, the most common coolant used in both home and business air conditioners for some 40 years. In 2010, the EPA began phasing out R-22 because of concerns that it damaged the ozone layer.

"So what everybody did is agreed that beginning in 2010, they would start phasing out R-22, and phase it out over a 10-year period through 2010-2020," said Richard Ciresi, president of AireServ Heating and Cooling.

But then, last year, the EPA changed the rules. Instead of phasing out R-22 at a rate of 10 percent per year, the EPA proposed an immediate 35 percent reduction.

"Well, the moment that proposal hit the street, the price of the refrigerant R-22 tripled literally overnight," said Ciresi.

Tripled from about eight-dollars a pound to 25-dollars a pound. And much of that cost is being passed on to consumers.

"Our price just escalated wildly, some of which we tried to absorb to help our customers."

And it's going to get worse before it gets better. The closer we get to 2020, the more scarce and more expensive R-22 gas will become.

So, many homeowners will face a dilemma -- whether to pay the skyrocketing cost of repairing an older air conditioner, or buying a newer model that does not use R-22 gas.

"If someone has an old R-22 unit and maybe it needs a $500-600 repair, it's probably time to start looking at going ahead and replacing it because the next repair may be $1000 or $1200. We don't know what that number is going to be," said Ciresi.

If your air conditioner was installed before around 1997, it's more likely that it uses R-22 gas. The good news is that modern units are more efficient, and you'll save on your energy bill.

Copyright 2012 WDRB News. All Rights Reserved.

Dangerous counterfeit R-134a

By Elvis L. Hoffpauir, President and COO MACS Worldwide

Last December, MACS circulated a press release from member company Neutronics Inc’s. Refrigerant Analysis Division, warning about counterfeit R-134a refrigerant contaminated with significant quantities of R-40 (aka methyl chloride or chloromethane). R-40 is extremely toxic, flammable and highly reactive when exposed to aluminum. In some cases R-40 may react with aluminum to form a third, highly unstable compound (trimethylaluminum or TMA) that ignites in contact with air.

This counterfeit R-134a mixed with R-40 and other refrigerants has apparently been purposely designed to mimic pure R-134a at a substantially reduced cost, the likely motivation of the counterfeiters. Current refrigerant identifiers, certified to SAE J1771, are not designed to directly identify R-40.

Prior to issuing the warning, Neutronics had been engaged by the oceangoing shipping industry to assist with an R-134a refrigerant contamination problem involving R-40 that resulted in three deaths in three separate incidents. Since that time Neutronics has been working with the Army, which positively identified R-134a contaminated with R-40 in Army depot supplies. Ground combat and tactical vehicles serviced in Afghanistan and Iraq have been affected, and while the Army does not currently know the depth of contamination, it suspects that vehicles and reclaimed supplies may be contaminated.

At an April 25 meeting of Society of Engineers Interior Climate Control Standards Committee, Peter Coll, MACS director and vice president of Neutronics Refrigerant Analysis, provided field test data from 30 samples of recovered refrigerant from both vehicle and commercial applications. R-40 contamination levels of the samples ranged from less than one percent to 10.1 percent. All of the samples tested also contained other refrigerants including hydrocarbons, R-22 and R-12.

Army representatives asked that the SAE Committee form a working group to develop procedures to identify and isolate contaminated vehicles and equipment, as well as ways to safely service vehicles to return them to mission-ready status.

It should be noted that these contaminated refrigerant systems can pose a major safety issue to those working on them. Currently the industry is working on, but has not determined, the best service procedures to be used. Contaminated systems can damage recovery and recycling equipment, and can result in the requirement to replace all vehicle refrigerant circuit components.

At an April 24 meeting on R-40 in Australia organized by Michael Bennett, general manager of Refrigerant Reclaim Australia, industry representatives discussed the discovery of the counterfeit refrigerant in newly manufactured equipment imported from China. Very high levels of corrosion were said to be present in these systems, and it is thought that rapid corrosion takes place once a contaminated system is installed and operated. Like the SAE and others, this group is working to gain a better understanding of the potential extent of the contamination in order to develop an appropriate plan to manage the threat.

Ron Henselmans, vice chairman of Mobile A/C Partners Europe and editor-in-chief at “Automotive A/C Reporter,” first reported R-40 contamination found in Europe in his March, 2011 issue.
In December, 2011 R-40 contamination had not yet been discovered in North America, but in April 2012 lab tests confirmed the presence of R-40 in a number of containers of recovered refrigerant in the U.S. With the confirmation from the military that infected vehicles have invaded our shores, containment actions are of paramount importance. This problem has been seen in many parts of the world having much smaller mobile A/C fleets, so there is the potential for the same problem in the North American market.

While there is no reason to believe that this contamination is currently widespread in this market, its existence serves as one more reason service shops should remain vigilant and purchase their refrigerant from authorized distributors of their chosen refrigerant manufacturer.

The Mobile Air Conditioning Society’s blog has been honored as the best business to business blog in the Automotive Aftermarket by the Automotive Communications Awards and the Car Care Council Women’s Board!

When having your mobile A/C system professionally serviced, insist on proper repair procedures and quality replacement parts. Insist on recovery and recycling so that refrigerant can be reused and not released into the atmosphere.

If you’re a service professional and not a MACS member yet, you should be, click here for more information.

You can E-mail us at macsworldwide@macsw.org or visit http://bit.ly/cf7az8 to find a Mobile Air Conditioning Society member repair shop in your area. Visit http://bit.ly/9FxwTh to find out more about your car’s mobile A/C and engine cooling system.
The 33rd annual Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide Training Conference and Trade Show, Be the Best of the Best will take place February 7-9, 2013 at the Caribe Royale, Orlando, FL.