Adopting R-717 refrigerant, which poses no environmental burden and thus has no concerns about future regulations due to the phase-out of fluorocarbons. The evaporative condenser method takes advantage of the characteristics of the refrigerant.
R-717 refrigerant is commonly used worldwide. In Japan, due to stricter safety regulations in the 1970s and subsidies for Freon, all manufacturers promoted the use of Freon. The Maekawa Manufacturing Group continued to provide services overseas, accumulating technology and human resources. In order to resume operations domestically in earnest, we focused particularly on improving safety technology and were able to start in 1990. As a result, we gained further recognition with the adoption of our systems for the ice skating rink and bobsleigh venue at the Nagano Olympics, and today, about 70% of our shipments continue to be R-717 refrigerant. Thanks to technological advancements, it has become possible to reduce the amount of refrigerant held from 1/10 to 1/50 without losing refrigeration capacity, compared to the methods used during the period when R-717 was considered dangerous in Japan. Not only do we have technology, but we also have a large number of experienced service personnel, from young to veteran, who are well-versed in handling R-717 refrigerant and are stationed nationwide, which is a unique feature of our company that others do not have.