Industry trade associations and professional bodies from around the world have finally reached agreement on an official date for World Refrigeration Day.
The global celebration will take place each year on June 26 and the entire industry across the planet is encouraged to participate to promote refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps.
World Refrigeration Day on June 26 is being introduced to raise community awareness about the role of the industry in supporting modern life and society.
Trade associations and industry groups from the United States, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, and across Europe have all given formal support for the day.
Steve Gill of World Refrigeration Day said the term ‘refrigeration’ which is being used to mark the event, is being used in relatively broad terms.
“Refrigeration is used to preserve food while refrigeration systems are also used extensively for providing thermal comfort to human beings by means of air-conditioning,” Gill said.
“Similarly, heat-pumps are devices that take heat from one source and move it to another location.
“Refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat-pump technologies and applications have evolved out of a human need for food, comfort and thermal processes, with a history dating back centuries, however it remains a longstanding frustration for those working within the industry that it doesn't receive the recognition it deserves.
“Modern life could not exist without it. There also needs to be greater appreciation by the wider community for the skills and knowledge employed on a daily basis by industry professionals to maintain this technology.”
Gill said refrigeration has such a long and fascinating history full of inventors, engineering pioneers, scientists, and industrial entrepreneurs from around the world - all of whom deserve to be recognised and remembered for their valuable contribution.
“With such a long and rich history, agreeing upon a date has proven to be challenging even at a national level, let alone on an international one,” he said.
“However, industry is united in its desire to raise its profile to the general public for all the right reasons and so we were able to build solidarity upon many common goals and finally agree on a date.
“How this date will be marked in 2019 in the United Kingdom and elsewhere is yet to be determined, however the various groups are in discussion and details of planned events will be issued in due course.”
Australian Refrigeration Mechanics Association (ARMA), CEO, Kim Limburg, said its members wholeheartedly support World Refrigeration Day.
"Refrigeration and air conditioning is the single most specialised trade we have and yet it has continued to be the most hidden," she said.
"Initiatives such as this not only put the refrigeration and air conditioning trade and it’s industry in the world spotlight, it also gives the industry’s tradespeople the recognition that they deserve.”
European Contractors Association (AREA) president, Marco Buoni, said the organisation looks forward to contributing to this event as it acknowledges the important contribution the industry makes to society.
Institute of Refrigeration CEO, Miriam Rodway, said the industry contributes to so many aspects of modern life from medicine to food supply, farming, process engineering and IT yet its an industry that is widely unrecognised.
“Bringing together the world's refrigeration community to celebrate our success and achievements is very much part of the IOR’s role to promote the advancement of refrigeration technologies, and we look forward to working more closely with everyone supporting this great campaign,” Rodway said.
“Establishing World Refrigeration Day has been the personal crusade of Steve Gill for over a decade. Although he will be the first to admit that the idea of an industry day may not be new, getting consensus for a fixed date from organisations and individuals from around the world certainly is.”
In addition to supporting World Refrigeration Day, Australia currently marks the anniversary of James Harrison on April 17.
Known as the founding father of refrigeration, Harrison was born on April 17, 1816. To support World Refrigeration Day, a web site is currently under construction at www.worldrefrigerationday.org which will be operational by September. Until then, events and updates may be found through twitter @worldrefday
Any organisation or individual wishing to support World Refrigeration Day can contact steve@worldrefrigerationday.org