Q-Tech at Chillventa Nuremberg 2026: 6 innovations in R290 and A2L refrigerants, heat pumps and F-Gas 2027

From 13 to 15 October 2026, Q-Tech visited Chillventa in Nuremberg (Germany). It is the international trade fair for refrigeration, air conditioning, ventilation and heat pumps. According to the organiser, it brought together 1,170 exhibitors from 50 countries and over 36,000 trade visitors across almost 86,000 m².

The main conclusion is clear: changing refrigerant is no longer optional. R290, CO₂ and low-GWP A2L refrigerants took centre stage at the fair, just months before the 2027 F-Gas phase.

30-second summary

• Fair: Chillventa 2026, from 13 to 15 October, at NürnbergMesse, with 1,170 exhibitors from 50 countries.
• Refrigerants: R290 and CO₂ across all ranges, and low-GWP A2L refrigerants such as R-454B and R-454C.
• Regulation: on 1 January 2027 the European HFC quota drops by roughly half.
• Highlights: refrigerant-free magnetic cooling, heat pumps up to 180 °C and data centre cooling.

The 6 innovations that caught our attention

1. Natural refrigerants: R290 and CO₂ across all ranges

According to the trade press, the debate was no longer whether to switch to natural refrigerants, but how fast and at what cost. Propane (R290) and CO₂ (R744) appeared in compressors, heat pumps and compact units.

In homes, R290 is already in monobloc air-to-water heat pumps such as the Viessmann Vitocal 150-A R290 or the Viessmann Vitocal 250-A.

2. Low-GWP A2L refrigerants: R-454B and R-454C

Alongside the natural refrigerants, there were many units with A2L refrigerants, which are mildly flammable and have a low global warming potential. R-454B is the usual replacement for R-410A in air conditioning.

Panasonic presented the Aquarea High-Performance N series at the fair, a split air-to-water heat pump with R-454C. According to Panasonic, this refrigerant has a GWP below 150. Panasonic states that the range is already available in Europe, in 3, 5, 7 and 9 kW outputs.

It also states pipe runs of up to 50 m between units, with a 30 m height difference, and an All in One indoor unit 1,575 mm high.

3. Magnetic cooling, with no refrigerant or compressor

Magnoric announced its C1000 MarketCool supermarket display cabinet for the fair. According to the manufacturer, it delivers over 1 kW of cooling with magnetocaloric technology and a water-based fluid. It is still a pre-series unit for pilot projects.

4. Propane in minimal charges for cold rooms

Viessmann Clean & Cold Solutions presented TectoCore, its wall-mounted unit for cold rooms. It uses R290, with a maximum of 150 g per unit. Viessmann states at least 10% higher EER than the previous generation.

5. Heat pumps above 100 °C

GEA showed industrial heat pumps up to 95 °C, and Copeland up to 180 °C. Industrial process heat no longer depends on boilers alone.

Temperatures are rising in homes too. According to Panasonic, its Aquarea High-Performance M series with R290 delivers water up to 75 °C with -10 °C outdoors. Panasonic highlights that this makes it easier to replace boilers in installations with high-temperature radiators. According to Panasonic, the compact 5, 7 and 9 kW models will arrive from spring 2027. There are more options in our heat pump systems section.

6. Data centres: cooling, pipework and leak detection

Schneider Electric and Eliwell dedicated an area of their stand to data centre cooling. They also showed the LKDNext refrigerant leak detector and the Eliwell AIR cloud platform.

GF, present at Chillventa with its COOL-FIT system, offers plastic pipework for the entire cooling circuit of a data centre. It covers everything from chillers and dry coolers to coolant distribution units (CDU) and direct-to-chip liquid cooling. According to GF, its orders for direct-to-chip liquid cooling doubled in the first half of 2026.

GF states that its pre-insulated COOL-FIT 2.0 pipework installs 50% faster than metal pipework. It is designed for chilled water from 0 °C.

According to the trade press, remote monitoring and predictive maintenance were common at the fair. In homes, that control comes with thermostats and climate control and with platforms such as Viessmann ViCare.

F-Gas 2027: what changes when you renew your air conditioning

On 1 January 2027 the European HFC quota drops by roughly half. On the same day, new bans come into force for new equipment:

• Monobloc heat pumps and air conditioners up to 50 kW with fluorinated gases with a GWP of 150 or more.
• Split air-to-water heat pumps up to 12 kW with those same gases. Panasonic explains that it chose R-454C for its N series because of this regulation.
• For split air-to-air units up to 12 kW, the same ban arrives on 1 January 2029.

The regulation allows exceptions for installation safety requirements.

The refrigerant matters more and more when choosing equipment, for three reasons: gas availability, maintenance and regulation. That is why it is worth considering R290, CO₂ or a low-GWP A2L today.

The brands that welcomed us

Our visit was made possible by the invitation of several exhibiting brands. Thank you all for welcoming us at your stands.

• Viessmann: heat pumps with R290, such as the Vitocal 262-A R290 for domestic hot water, and commercial refrigeration with TectoCore.
• Panasonic: Aquarea High-Performance M heat pumps with R290 and N with R-454C. Q-Tech offers Panasonic Aquarea technical support.
• GF (Georg Fischer) and Uponor: COOL-FIT pipework for air conditioning and data centres, Uponor underfloor heating, Smatrix control and water solutions such as GF Hycleen. Q-Tech is an Official Uponor Service Centre in Málaga.
• Schneider Electric: electrical control, automation and connected refrigeration together with Eliwell.
• Walraven: fixings, vibration isolation and fire protection for installations.
• iGarden (Fairland): inverter heat pumps for pools. More information in pool heating.

Our report on ISH 2023 in Frankfurt covers another key trade fair in the sector.

Frequently asked questions

What is Chillventa?

Chillventa is an international trade fair for refrigeration, air conditioning, ventilation and heat pumps. It is held every two years at NürnbergMesse (Nuremberg, Germany). The next edition will take place from 10 to 12 October 2028.

What is the R290 refrigerant?

R290 is refrigerant-grade propane, a natural class A3 refrigerant. Panasonic attributes a GWP of 0.02 to it. Because it is flammable, it must be handled by qualified professionals.

What is the difference between R-454B and R290?

R-454B is a synthetic, mildly flammable A2L refrigerant that replaces R-410A in air conditioning. R290 is natural, class A3, and its GWP is lower still.

What changes with the F-Gas regulation in 2027?

From 1 January 2027, the HFC quota in the EU drops by roughly half. In addition, monobloc heat pumps up to 50 kW and split air-to-water units up to 12 kW will need refrigerants with a GWP below 150.

What services does Q-Tech offer for heat pumps and plant rooms?

Q-Tech offers three services for heat pumps and plant rooms:

• Pre-assembled plant room: Q-Tech assembles, tests and configures the room at its workshop, and the room arrives on site ready to connect. The final connection is carried out by the existing site installer, the appointed installer or Q-Tech. See Advanced Pre-Assembly.
• Equipment installed by another company: after a prior verification visit, the installer connects the hydraulic side and Q-Tech completes the electrical side, the controls and the internet connection. Q-Tech then configures and verifies the equipment.
• Upgrade: after a prior verification visit, Q-Tech integrates a heat pump into an existing heating or cooling system.

The verification visit is booked as an on-site hourly Expert Technician service, even if the owner or the technical management state that the installation complies with regulations. During the visit, Q-Tech confirms that it can intervene and that any defects found can be resolved, and then quotes the work.

In all three cases, if you wish, Q-Tech carries out a pre-commissioning check, remotely or on-site, or the official commissioning with the manufacturer. The technical report, the project, the certification, the certificates and any other documentation the site may require are coordinated with partners.

Heat pumps and air conditioning with Q-Tech in Málaga

The refrigerant transition is already decided with every piece of equipment chosen today.

Q-Tech advises on and integrates that equipment into a pre-assembled plant room, together with the controls and the other systems of the home, and delivers it ready to connect.

How plant room pre-assembly works

1. Q-Tech receives the necessary details and the approval of the quote or quotes.
2. It confirms the measurements, on-site or remotely, when only the connection points at the plant room are left on site.
3. With the schedule and completion week confirmed, it pre-assembles the room at its workshop.
4. It carries out the agreed tests and configurations.
5. The equipment is collected from the workshop or arrives on site tested and fully configured, and the final connection is very simple.

This means fewer journeys and fewer companies working at the same time in the same room. It also means fewer technical incidents for everyone: developer, architect, technical management and installer. More information in Advanced Pre-Assembly.

To discuss a project: Q-Tech WhatsApp or info@q-tech.es. More information in professional services.

Sources

• Refindustry: “Chillventa 2026 Breaks Records with 36,000+ Visitors and 1,170 Exhibitors” and “Chillventa 2026 Preview: Key Technologies Ahead of the October Show”.
• Cooling Post: “Chillventa 2026 to be 15% larger”.
• Refindustry: “Magnoric to Unveil 1 kW Magnetocaloric Display Cabinet at Chillventa”.
• HLK: TectoCore unit by Viessmann Clean & Cold Solutions (17 September 2026).
• Panasonic Heating & Cooling Solutions: press releases on the Aquarea High-Performance N (13 October 2026) and M (15 October 2026) series.
• Regulation (EU) 2024/573 on fluorinated gases, Annex IV.
• Thermal Control Magazine: Eliwell and Schneider Electric at Chillventa 2026.
• Chillventa: official press release and exhibitor profiles of Walraven and Georg Fischer.
• GF (gfps.com): “From chiller to chip: GF and Rittal deliver full-scope polymer cooling infrastructure” (26 February 2026) and COOL-FIT 2.0 data sheet.
• DatacenterDynamics: Georg Fischer liquid cooling orders in the first half of 2026 (21 July 2026).