Honeywell’s Low-Global-Warming Refrigerant for Vehicles Approved for Import, Use By Japan Regulators

By Prne, Gaea News Network
Monday, August 3, 2009

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, New Jersey -

- Significant step taken in commercialization of HFO-1234yf as global solution to meet new regulation

Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today that its new low-global-warming-potential refrigerant for mobile air conditioning can be imported and used in Japan, a significant step toward global adoption of the new refrigerant.

HFO-1234yf has been reviewed by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW); the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI); and the Ministry of the Environment (ME) in accordance with the Chemical Substances Control Law. Following these reviews, the Japan government decided that the refrigerant can be imported into Japan without volume or use restrictions and that no special controls or special monitoring are required.

“This approval from Japanese regulators moves forward the global adoption of HFO-1234yf, and is a significant step in the effort to limit greenhouse gas emissions from mobile air conditioning systems,” said David Diggs, global business director for Honeywell Fluorine Products. “HFO-1234yf is a near drop-in replacement for the current refrigerant and offers proven performance in climates around the world.”

Japan’s Chemical Substances Control Law mandates the evaluation of new chemical substances before they are manufactured or imported to Japan.

Honeywell developed HFO-1234yf in response to the European Union’s Mobile Air Conditioning Directive, which requires that all new vehicles produced starting in 2011 use a refrigerant with a global warming potential (GWP) below 150. 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 refrigerants and blowing agents that Honeywell is developing.

HFO-1234yf has undergone significant testing for safety and efficacy by independent testing groups, including the SAE International Cooperative Research Program, which comprises leading automakers. The SAE testing found HFO-1234yf to offer “superior environmental performance” to CO2, an alternative refrigerant, while having “the lowest risk for use in mobile air conditioning systems in meeting environmental and consumer needs.”

For more information on HFO-1234yf, visit www.1234facts.com.

Honeywell Fluorine Products is part of Honeywell Specialty Materials, a US$5.3 billion 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.

Source: Honeywell

U.S.: Nina Krauss, +1-973-455-4253, nina.krauss at honeywell.com; Europe: Martin Orsag, +42-0242-44-2279, martin.orsag at honeywell.com; Asia-Pacific: Judy Wang, +86-2128-94-2252, judy.x.wang at honeywell.com

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