Australia's very first 'swap and go' system for refrigerants is currently being rolled out to Mitre 10 stores throughout Melbourne.
Known as ReadyGas the new system is being established in Australia by a new joint venture between one of China's biggest refrigerant exporters, Sinochem Ningbo Ltd and Air Systems Pty Ltd.
Under the system ReadyGas do not rent cylinders but sell full bottles of gas.
“We will sell them at a competitive price with no cylinder rental, no cleaning cost or any other hidden costs,” the company said in a statement. “The bottles will be owned and if returned we will give full credit.”
Products are only available to ARCtick license holders and Mitre 10 will be the exclusive wholesaler and national distributor for the swap and go system.
Current stock includes R134a, R404a, R407c and R410a, however, a full range of refrigerants will be available shortly.
ReadyGas expects the swap and go system to be operational in every Mitre 10 store across victoria by the end of 2015.
New South Wales and Queensland will follow in 2016 with other states and territories joining the national network in 2017.
According to the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) there are 75,000 authorised businesses and licensed/qualified technicians Australia-wide.
The ARC's 2013/14 annual report lists a total of 75,114 Refrigerant Handling Licences (RHL) and Refrigerant Trading Authorisations (RTA) registered on the ARC database.
A total of 45,216 applications/re-applications were received and processed by ARC in 2013/14 including 35,163 RHLs and 10,053 RTAs.
For information email info@readygas.com.au