Chennai, October 12th, 2023: REFCOLD India, 2023, South Asia’s leading exhibition and conference dedicated to refrigeration and cold-chain technologies, commenced today at the Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai. Organised in collaboration between the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE) and Informa Markets, REFCOLD India 2023 is set to redefine the industry landscape. This well-reputed event represents a significant step forward in the refrigeration and cold-chain sector, unveiling a vast potential cold-chain market of around INR 4.3 trillion by 2027.
The event’s grand inauguration was spearheaded by a rich array of dignitaries including Guest of Honour – Dr. R Velraj, Vice Chancellor, Anna University; Mr. Raja M Sriraam, Chairman, RECFOLD Chennai, ISHRAE; Mr. Yogesh Thakkar, National President, ISHRAE, Mr. Anoop Ballaney, National President Elect, ISHRAE and Mr Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India.
The 6th gala edition of REFCOLD India brought together top experts, businesses, and thought leaders who are driving the industry’s transformation with over 200 exhibitors, including an impressive lineup of industry giants such as BlueStar, Copeland, Rinac India, Tecumseh, Daikin, K-Flex, Yaskawa, and Danfoss, among others. The show anticipates more than 10,000 visitors, industry leaders, and professionals, for dynamic business opportunities, knowledge-sharing sessions, and networking.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Yogesh Thakkar, National President ISHRAE said, тАЬThe adoption of integrated cold chain solutions has the potential to significantly revolutionize the traditional perishables sector, bringing about substantial changes in the market landscape and overall growth. This is especially important in a country where agriculture employs 60% of the population. To harness the potential of integrated cold chain solutions, there is a need to optimise logistics, enhance value addition facilities, adopt green refrigeration practices, and adopt energy-efficient cooling systems and natural refrigerants ultimately improving efficiency across the supply chain. Similarly, the Indian organized food industry is a vast arena with significant potential. This underscores the substantial room for growth in the food delivery sector, which, when integrated with advanced refrigeration and cold chain solutions, can further enhance food quality, safety, and delivery efficiency.тАЭ
тАЬThe pandemic acted as a catalyst, propelling India’s online food delivery market to reach approximately $21 billion by 2026, with a remarkable compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 30%тАЭ, he further added.
With the valuable support of MOFPI (Ministry of Food Processing Industries Government of India), other esteemed associations like IIR (International Institute of Refrigeration), NCCD (National Centre for Cold-chain Development), IDA (Indian Dairy Association), IIAR (International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration) and more, the event successfully bridged the gap between suppliers and buyers.
REFCOLD India offers an enriching programme of Conferences and exhibitions by technical experts of the industry focusing on Industrial Refrigeration along with Cold Chain and Reefer Transportation, Seminars and workshops on pharma, dairy, fishery and hospitality encouraging continuous learning and skill advancement. The expo covered important topics on Heat pump integrated thermal storage for dairy applications, Natural Refrigerants, Innovative Design or Technology for Net Zero Cold Storage Plants, Challenges on Dairy Processing and Storage, Safety Standards and Trouble Shooting of Refrigeration Plants, to name a few.
Commenting on the significance of REFCOLD India 2023, Mr Yogesh Mudras Managing Director, Informa Markets in India said тАЬREFCOLD India provides a transformative journey that unlocks opportunities for fresh horizons and valuable collaborations. The expo offers a plethora of opportunities to connect with industry experts and learn about cutting-edge technologies. Furthermore, the government is also taking proactive steps to boost the refrigeration and cold chain industry by establishing extensive cold storage facilities nationwide. This initiative aims to minimize food wastage, encouraging eco-friendly refrigeration practices, while simultaneously stimulating economic growth. The added attractions including our content-rich conference that aligns with the theme of тАШPreserve through Innovation for a Better FutureтАЩ will gather experts, stalwarts, and key organizations and provide the momentum the market truly deserves!тАЭ
Distinguished speakers that graced the event included notable figures like Mr. Arvind Surange, Chairman and Managing Director of ACR Project Consultants Pvt Ltd; Dr. Lambert Kuijpers, an Environmental Consultant hailing from Venlo, Netherlands; Mr. C.P. Charles, a Central Executive Committee Member at the Indian Dairy Association; Dr. Alex Pachai, representing Global Consultancy, ApS in Denmark; Dr. Omar Abdulaziz, a Mechanical Engineer affiliated with The American University in Cairo, Egypt; and Mr. Jiju Nair, who holds the position of National Marketing Manager at Honeywell, among others.
Insights on IndiaтАЩs Cold Storage and Refrigeration Technology Market:
Advancements in refrigeration technology have led to energy-efficient systems, particularly beneficial in high-energy industries like chemical manufacturing. These optimized systems and eco-friendly refrigerants not only lower carbon footprints but also reduce emissions and water waste compared to traditional cooling methods like cooling water towers.
Additionally, in India, where agricultural production is vast, but access is limited, the cold chain sector plays a vital role, further driven by the growth of organized food delivery and e-commerce segments.
REFCOLD India gathers experts from the global and Indian refrigeration sectors to drive innovation and combat food waste. It highlights the importance of cold chain management,
Mr. Madhur Sehgal, Head Climate Solutions, Danfoss said, тАЬWe are bringing an exciting opportunity to all of you to have an exclusive visit to our lead Platinum Campus on 13th October 2023. This is a unique opportunity to witness the state-of-the-art campus with next-generation R & D and production facilities, an application development center, and a customer experience center showcasing the live working performance of our products in diverse industry applications. We will also be pleased to showcase the use of the latest technologies and specific actions on our campus on HVAC, Renewable Energy, Water, and waste management, leading to faster progress toward our Net Zero Emission goals. Please join us for this exclusive event on 13th October and discover how Danfoss can help you achieve your goals of clean growth and development.тАЭ
Mr. M Srinivas Reddy, Vice President, Commercial Refrigeration Business Group, Blue Star stated, тАЬWe, at Blue Star, recognise REFCOLD as the perfect platform to showcase various refrigeration solutions. We are confident that it will help us reach our target audience well and we wish REFCOLD a huge success.тАЭ
On the sidelines of the expo, Informa Markets in India launched its 4th edition of the Festivity of Business campaign for this yearтАЩs high season. As the autumn season blankets India with its diverse array of festivals, the initiative will be a vibrant tribute to India’s economic triumphs and its burgeoning global influence. This year, Informa Markets in IndiaтАЩs initiative encompasses a rich tapestry of over 40 events till year-end, including ten signature Expos, along with distinctive Conferences, Industry Awards, Buyer-Seller Meets, and Training programmes in influential sectors. All these are poised to elevate the nation to new heights.
Chennai, August 12 2026: Kauvery Hospital, Chennai, has introduced a 5G-enabled continuous care ambulance fleet equipped with a Continuous Patient Monitoring System (CPMS) that enables specialists at the hospital to remotely monitor a patientтАЩs vital signs in real time and guide paramedics in providing appropriate emergency care while the patient is being transported to the hospital.
The service was launched by Dr. A. Amalraj IPS, Additional Director General of Police, Greater Chennai Police in the presence of Dr. Manivannan Selvaraj, Founder & Managing Director, Kauvery Group of Hospitals.
This network of 30+ advanced ambulances now available across Kauvery Alwarpet, Vadapalani, Radial Road and Maa Kauvery Radial Road, can provide emergency care to patients with a wide range of medical needs, including emergency neonatal, paediatric, neurological and cardiac care. The ambulances are strategically deployed at prime hotspot locations across Chennai to ensure faster emergency response and improved accessibility. These hotspots are identified based on population density, major public gathering points, traffic patterns, and accident-prone zones. Some of the key ambulance deployment locations across the city include: Poonamallee High Road, Porur, KilambakkamтАУVandalur stretch, Outer Ring Road , KarapakkamтАУOMR stretch, Tondiarpet, Perambur, Adyar, Guindy, Medavakkam, Kelambakkam Etc.
This strategic positioning enables ambulances to remain closer to high-demand areas, thereby reducing travel time, improving emergency response, and ensuring quicker access to patients during critical situations.
The CPMS Control Room at the hospital streamlines emergency responses from the moment a call is received. Using GPS-enabled Computer-Aided Dispatch, it quickly identifies the nearest available ambulance and dispatches it to the emergency site. The team at the center collect essential patient information and guide the dispatch process. This computer-based system enables ambulances to be deployed quickly, helping patients receive timely care within the golden hour.
The ambulances deployed are advanced cardiac life support units equipped with ventilators, defibrillators, syringe and infusion pumps, suction apparatus, and multiparameter monitors. The IoT-based architecture, supported by a central processor, collects data on vital parameters including SpO2, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and pulse rate, and transmits this information to the hospital in real time.
5G connectivity enables low-latency, high-speed transmission of patient data, even in densely populated or high-traffic areas. This allows emergency physicians to begin a preliminary assessment while the patient is still in transit. By the time the ambulance reaches the hospital, the medical team is already equipped with vital patient information, enabling them to make rapid clinical decisions and initiate appropriate treatment without delay.
In his comments, Dr. A. Amalraj IPS, said: тАЬIn a city like Chennai, where response time and coordination play a critical role during emergencies, it is important to continuously strengthen how care is delivered even before a patient reaches the hospital. Initiatives like this that bring together real-time monitoring, medical expertise and seamless coordination can enhance the overall emergency response system and make it more dependable for the public.тАЭ
Dr. Manivannan Selvaraj Founder and Managing Director Kauvery Group of Hospitals said, тАЬIn emergency care, timely intervention of experts at the hospital and their coordination with the paramedics on board the ambulance are critical. With this 5G Continuous Patient Monitoring System-enabled ambulance service, our clinical teams are connected from the very beginning. Continuous monitoring and real-time medical guidance ensure that patients receive timely attention even before reaching the hospital.тАЭ
Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj Co Founder and Executive Director Kauvery Group of Hospitals added, тАЬEmergency care is not just about response time, but about the quality of clinical decisions made during that time. Continuous monitoring and real-time connectivity allow us to extend clinical oversight beyond the hospital, supporting paramedical teams with timely inputs and improving how patients are stabilised during transit.тАЭ
The 5G continuous Care Ambulance service is also accessible through the one tap тАШSOSтАЩ feature on Kauvery Kare App. This tap activates a call from the control room to the user and enables the user or the bystander to connect with a doctor from Kauvery via a 24/7 video call system, ensuring real-time medical guidance and reassurance until emergency help arrives.
With the launch of this innovative system, Kauvery Hospital Chennai continues to focus on strengthening its emergency care services, with an emphasis on reducing delays and ensuring that medical attention begins as early as possible. The ambulance service caters to 1100 emergencies on a monthly average across the Chennai city.
The ambulance service can be accessed through the 24├Ч7 emergency helpline: 044 4000 6000 or through Kauvery Kare App on iOS and Android.