Hussmann Australia will distribute Refra’s transcritical CO2 (R744) racks and R290 (propane) heat pumps and chillers after signing a “strategic partnership,” the two companies have announced.
The news was shared at the start of ATMO Australia 2025, which is being held in Sydney from May 12–13. The event is organized by ATMOsphere, publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com.
“[Hussmann’s] decision to join forces with Refra highlights how forward-thinking partnerships are shaping the new benchmarks for sustainability in refrigeration,” said Aleksej Pavšukov, CEO of Refra.
The strategic partnership enables Hussmann Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Panasonic, to expand its natural refrigerant product lineup. It currently offers CO2 condensing units for low-temperature and medium-temperature applications that range in size from 2–20HP as well as self-contained R290 cabinets.
Refra’s transcritical CO2 racks have a cooling capacity of between 15 and 800kW (1.4 and 227.4TR) and can be made to order. Its seven different types of transcritical CO2 racks can operate in ambient temperatures up to 40°C (104°F).
“By combining Refra’s decade-long expertise with Hussmann’s market reach and reputation, this collaboration is poised to make a real difference — not only in how we cool, but in how we care for the planet.”
Vinney Kumar
Deputy MD, GM Australia & Business Development Director, Hussmann Oceania
The partnership will also enable Hussmann to offer Refra’s complete portfolio of R290 chillers and heat pumps. Refra currently has three models of reversible air-to-water R290 heat pumps, which have between 20 and 550kW (5.6 and 156.3TR) of heating capacity and 20–480kW (5.6–136.4TR) of cooling capacity.
Refra manufactures both air- and liquid-cooler chillers using R290. Its lineup of air-cooled chillers offers between 20 and 800kW (5.6TR and 227TR) of cooling capacity, while its liquid-cooled chillers provide between 25kW and 2MW (7.1TR and 568.6TR) of cooling capacity.
“By combining Refra’s decade-long expertise with Hussmann’s market reach and reputation, this collaboration is poised to make a real difference — not only in how we cool, but in how we care for the planet,” said Vinney Kumar, Deputy MD and GM at Hussmann Australia.
Transcritical CO2 in Australia
In Australia, 330 supermarkets and 20 industrial sites use transcritical CO2 systems, according to ATMOsphere’s “Natural Refrigerants: State of the Industry 2024” report. In Australia, the market penetration of CO2 in commercial refrigeration is 7.7% (out of 4,295 total supermarkets).
Aldi, Woolworths and Coles, the country’s three largest supermarket operators, all have policies committing them to installing natural refrigerant-based refrigeration systems in new stores and as part of major retrofits when possible.
Woolworths has been a major proponent of the technology and had 125 stores equipped with transcritical CO2 refrigeration systems as of December 2024, while Coles had 78 stores using natural refrigerants. In Australia, the first supermarket transcritical CO2 refrigeration system was commissioned in December 2007.
