At the Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan in Kolkata, REFCOLD India 2024—India’s premier refrigeration and cold chain technologies exhibition was officially inaugurated. The event scheduled for October 3–5, will address the increasing need for sophisticated refrigeration and cold chain solutions in the area. The cold chain logistics market in India is expected to increase from $11.64 billion in 2024 to $18.19 billion in 2029, making this event an important venue for the progress of the sector.

The inauguration was graced by Mr. Asheesh Fotedar, COO, National Centre for Cold Chain Development, NCCD, Dr Subrata Gupta, IAS; Addl. Chief Secretary, Department of Science and Technology and Biotechnology, Govt. of West Bengal, Dr Rajeev Singh – Director General, Indian Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Anup Ballaney – National President, ISHRAE, Mr. Manoj Chakravorti – Chair, Refcold 2024 and Mr. Ritesh Modi, CFO, Informa Markets in India. 

REFCOLD India 2024 showcased advancements in several industries such as seafood, pharmaceuticals, dairy, meat, agriculture, hotel, and food processing, drawing in over 10,000 visitors and more than 130 exhibitors. The exhibition featured a solid lineup of major exhibitors, including BlueStar, Daikin, Copeland, Tecumseh, Danfoss, Carrier Transicold, Paharpur, Johnson Controls, Frascold, and Tecumseh among others.

REFCOLD India 2024 is supported by eminent domestic and international associations such as the UNEP, International Institute of Refrigeration (IIF-IIR), National Centre for Cold-chain Development (NCCD), Federation of European Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (REHVA), Refrigeration and Airconditioning Trade Association (RATA), Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), All India Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Association (ACRA), International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR), ASSOCHAM India, Department of Food Processing – Govt of W Bengal, Odisha Cold Storage Association, NHB and more.

REFCOLD India 2024 is not just an exhibition but a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange. The Knowledge Zone, Innovation Zone, and Demo Zone have garnered significant attention, offering key insights into industry advancements. With over 20 sessions scheduled, Day 1 saw strong participation, particularly in the Global Poster Competition and interactive demonstrations, fostering engagement and collaboration across sectors.

The event also featured webinars on topics like “Multi-Commodity Temperature-Controlled Warehousing & Distribution”, “Design and Selection of FREON-Based Refrigeration Systems for Cold Warehouses”, and “Standalone Solar Milk Coolers”.

Engaging panel discussions and presentations on crucial topics like ‘The Cold Chain Revolution in India: Growth Drivers and Opportunity’ and ‘National Policies, Subsidies, Government Schemes for the Cold Chain Sector’ and ’Natural Refrigerants Application – The Landscape’ also took place.

On Day 2, there will be a special session titled ‘Women in ‘Cool’ Careers: HerStory of Cooling’, and  ‘Sustainable Refrigeration: Redefining the Cold Chain Landscape’.

On Day 3, there will be sessions on ‘Successful Demonstration and Future Scope of Natural Refrigerant Systems in India’.

The industry will see the fifth edition of the REFCOLD India Copeland Awards in conjunction with the REFCOLD India Expo, which is a noteworthy feature of the occasion. These honors offer a forum for recognizing achievements, ground-breaking ideas, and excellence in the refrigeration and cold chain sectors. The awards honor people and organizations at the forefront of the industry’s development, recognizing their contributions to the progress and energy-efficient solutions.

The industry’s excellent caliber of creativity and talent is evident in the 79 strong nominations received for this year’s edition across four categories. Every nominee showcased remarkable progress, which added extra difficulty to the selection process. The importance of innovation in determining the direction of the refrigeration and cold chain industries is once again highlighted by the REFCOLD India Copeland Awards.

Priyanka Dutta