NEWS


Air Control Industries launches graduate engineering programme


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ir Control Industries has launched its fi rst Engineering Graduate Programme as part of a long-term strategy to help


tackle the UK’s engineering skills shortage and strengthen in-house capability across its manufacturing operations. The employee-owned manufacturer, based in


Devon, specialises in industrial air movement and drying technologies. Its new two-year scheme will provide rotational placements across core business functions, refl ecting a wider industry push to develop domestic engineering talent amid persistent recruitment challenges. Founded in 1969 and transitioning to


employee ownership in 2023, the company is now led by Managing Director Lucy Cockerill. Its current strategy focusses on sustainable growth, technical development and workforce development. The programme will recruit one to two


graduates each year, prioritising depth of training over intake volume. Participants will gain hands-on experience in operations, manufacturing, quality assurance, product design and commercial engineering, contributing to live projects from the outset. Air Control Industries’ portfolio includes industrial fans, blowers and air knife systems designed to improve energy effi ciency, process reliability and workplace safety. These are used across sectors, including food and beverage, manufacturing and industrial processing,


supported by specialist divisions such as JetBlack Safety and Hyroic drying technology. Mat Ayres, Innovation & Engineering Manager, said the initiative is designed to support recruitment while strengthening knowledge retention and cross-functional collaboration. “Graduates will be involved in process improvement initiatives, documentation of engineering best practices, and supporting continuous improvement activities across the production environment. Developing engineering talent is critical to the long-term resilience of UK manufacturing. This programme


is designed to accelerate practical learning, embed technical expertise and bring new perspectives into the business. As an employee- owned company, we are particularly focused on creating meaningful career pathways and retaining skills within the organisation.” The fi rst cohort will begin in September at the company’s Axminster facility. The launch refl ects a broader shift among UK manufacturers towards structured early- career development as a means of addressing skills shortages, improving productivity and supporting future innovation.


Climalife and Solstice partner on new refrigerant reclamation capacity in France


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limalife has signed an agreement with Solstice Advanced Materials to expand refrigerant reclamation capacity at its


production site in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France, strengthening circular- economy infrastructure for the European RACHP sector.


Solstice will support the installation of a


new three-column distillation unit designed to process and purify increasingly complex next-generation refrigerant blends, including hydrocarbons, CO2 and HFOs. Climalife said the


technology will maximise recovery effi ciency and enable higher-purity outputs as the market transitions to lower-GWP solutions. The Osiris industrial park facility is undergoing a wider transformation to become a European hub for refrigerant lifecycle management. Climalife reports that its recovery systems have already avoided more than 48 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, with 75% of fl uorinated greenhouse gas waste recovered and reused. The company estimates that the new investment, combined with Solstice’s expertise in


advanced refrigerant technologies, could deliver a further 15 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent savings by 2030. The collaboration builds on research undertaken with European centres that has led to patented Climalife technologies for fl uorinated gas reclamation. Both companies said the agreement will support a more integrated approach to the performance and lifecycle management of next-generation refrigerants across Europe.


14 July 2026 • www.acr-news.com


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