Dear members, friends and partners of the Eurovent family,
On behalf of all of us at Eurovent, I would like to sincerely wish you a very happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year. May it be filled with health and happiness, as well as personal and professional success and growth for all.
We are putting a remarkable year behind us, one that will be remembered for generations. The year saw a great start with many exhibitions and events, including a successful Eurovent seminar during EuroShop on the European Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Regulations for Commercial Refrigeration Equipment. Then suddenly the pandemic gripped the world and stopped it in its tracks. Our lives and businesses have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis in significant and lasting ways. In such times of disruption, strong leadership is more important than ever, and our industry has shown its resilience.
During these difficult times, Eurovent and its subunits Eurovent Middle East, Eurovent Certita Certification and Eurovent Market Intelligence have endeavoured to provide continuity, predictability and clarity to the market. Through concerted efforts with our partners, we were for instance able to ensure that the HVACR sector was recognised as an essential industry with reasonable exemptions from lockdown orders. We have also continued monitoring the European and global regulatory landscape, to facilitate regulatory compliance and help our members adapt to the requirements of tomorrow. Our market intelligence programmes were more important than ever to provide accurate and reliable information about market prospects in times of uncertainty. Eurovent Market Intelligence has published an extensive study fully focused on the COVID-19 impact on the European HVACR industry.
Get report sample here.
Despite being set to work from home for several months, Eurovent successfully relaunched two essential Product Groups (Air Conditioners, and Liquid Chilling Packages and Heat Pumps). We also launched a completely new Product Group focused on Rooftop Units, for which interest is growing. In total, we have hosted 58 Working Group meetings, which elected 8 new Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen. Corresponding Membership grew to 79 manufacturers, up from 54 at the same time last year. I believe it is safe to say that lockdown has not stopped Eurovent. On the contrary, we are going stronger than ever.
This would not have been possible without our Secretary General and his Team, as well as the Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and many other dedicated persons in our Product Groups, who voluntarily walk an extra mile to make our association thrive. I would like to express a special thank you to these persons.
Sooner or later, the pandemic will subside and so will its immediate effects. We will have to be ready for the new challenges and opportunities that lie on the horizon. In Europe, we will need to reckon with the European Union’s benchmarking ambition to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. Across the globe, Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency have never been more relevant than they are today. And as countries around the world are preparing massive vaccination campaigns, the importance of refrigeration and the cold chain has entered the spotlight as well.
2021 is a fresh start. Let us drive the industry forward towards our common objectives. Through our shared values and global cooperation, we can foster innovation, level global playing fields, and contribute to a safer and more sustainable future. Once again, Eurovent wishes you and yours peaceful holidays and a happy and successful New Year!
Yours truly,
Naci Sahin
President
