MORRIS TOWNSHIP, N.J., 5. January, 2010 – Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced
today that it has received a patent from the European Patent Office covering
the use of its new low-global-warming refrigerant, HFO-1234yf, in automobile
air conditioning.
“We are pleased that the European Patent Office has recognized Honeywell’s
right to patent the use of HFO-1234yf as an environmentally preferable
refrigerant for automotive air conditioning,” said David Diggs, global business
director for Honeywell Fluorine Products. “Honeywell has made significant
investments to develop our intellectual property, and we will employ the legal
means necessary to protect this important patent.”
Honeywell has invested considerable resources to identify next-generation
solutions for our customers and has filed more than 70 unique patent families
worldwide to protect this investment. The portfolio spans the United States,
Europe and Japan and includes two issued U.S. patents related to the use of
HFO-1234yf in air-conditioning systems.
Honeywell worked jointly with DuPont to commercialize HFO-1234yf for use in
automotive air conditioning in response to the European Union’s Mobile Air
Conditioning Directive, which requires that all new vehicle platforms produced
starting in 2011 use a refrigerant with a global warming potential (GWP) below
150. All new vehicles will be required to use a low-GWP refrigerant by 2017.
Current mobile air conditioning systems use HFC-134a, a refrigerant with a GWP
of 1,300. HFO-1234yf has a GWP of only 4. This new refrigerant is part of a
larger platform of low-GWP materials that Honeywell is developing that includes
refrigerants, aerosols, solvents and blowing agents.
Honeywell’s investment in research and development over the years has led to
numerous patents relating to other refrigerants, including R-410A, R-404A,
R-408A, R-507, R-236fa and 245fa.
For more information on HFO-1234yf, visit www.1234facts.com.
Honeywell Specialty Materials is a global leader in providing customers with
high-performance specialty materials, including fluorine products; specialty
films and additives; advanced fibers and composites; intermediates; specialty
chemicals; electronic materials and chemicals; and technologies and materials
for petroleum refining.
Honeywell International (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified
technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace
products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry;
automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris
Township, N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London, and
Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell,
please visit www.honeywellnow.com.
This release contains certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address
activities, events or developments that we or our management intends, expects,
projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are
forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon certain assumptions
and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their
perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions,
expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate.
The forward-looking statements included in this release are also subject to a
number of material risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to
economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors affecting our
operations, markets, products, services and prices. Such forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results,
developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by such
forward-looking statements.
Media Contacts:
Nina Krauss
973-455-4253
nina.krauss@honeywell.com
Sabine Chmielewski
+49-5137-999-9411
sabine.chmielewski@honeywell.com
