SOSİAD Brings Together the Past, Present, and Future of the Refrigeration Industry on World Refrigeration Day

Organized under the theme "Cool Intelligence: Smart Transformation in Refrigeration," SOSİAD's World Refrigeration Day event brought together leading industry professionals, academics, public authorities, and international organizations in Istanbul to discuss the future of refrigeration through the lenses of sustainability, digitalization, and global transformation.

Hosted by the Refrigeration Industry Business Association (SOSİAD) on 26 June at CVK Park Bosphorus Hotel Istanbul, the event attracted broad participation from across the refrigeration and HVAC&R sectors.

Celebrated globally this year under the theme "Cool Intelligence," World Refrigeration Day was marked in Türkiye with the hashtag #serinzeka (Cool Intelligence), featuring presentations and discussions focused on the technologies and strategies shaping the future of refrigeration.

Opening the event, Türkay Yıldırım, Chairman of the Board of SOSİAD, emphasized that the refrigeration industry plays a critical role not only in industrial development but also in food safety, healthcare, energy efficiency, and climate action. He highlighted the sector's strategic contribution to sustainable development and thanked the companies supporting the organization of the event.

Industry Outlook, Green Transition, and International Developments

During the program, Hayati Can, Vice Chairman of the Board of SOSİAD, presented an overview of the association's activities while sharing insights into global industry trends, export performance, European Union and Turkish green transition incentives, the growing adoption of heat pumps, the "Made in EU" certification process, and the long-awaited cold chain legislation, which remains essential for strengthening food safety.

Sezin Sönmez Erbaş, Climate Change Expert at the Presidency of Climate Change, discussed preparations for COP31 and highlighted the importance of refrigeration technologies in achieving national and global climate objectives.

Representing AREA, International Relations Officer Marco Buoni underlined the indispensable role of air conditioning and refrigeration systems in modern society, stressing that energy efficiency and sustainable technologies will continue to shape the industry's future.

Hasan Acül, Vice Chairman of the SOSİAD Editorial Board, explored the opportunities created by artificial intelligence-powered refrigeration systems, explaining how digital transformation is expected to improve maintenance, operational efficiency, and energy management.

Representing the UNDP Cool Up Project, National Coordinator Zeynep Gökçen Aşan shared the first results of the project's demonstration initiatives and highlighted the importance of continued collaboration with the refrigeration industry to accelerate sustainable development.

The program also featured Çağlar Öcal, Project Sales Manager at Hannover Messe Sodeks, who presented key statistics and outcomes from ISK-SODEX 2025, while providing an overview of the 2027 ISK-SODEX exhibition and the upcoming ISK-SODEX Saudi Arabia 2026 event.

Panel Explores the Future of Refrigeration

The event concluded with an expert panel moderated by Hayati Can, featuring Marco Buoni, Hasan Acül, Zeynep Gökçen Aşan, and Sezin Sönmez Erbaş.

The panel examined the future of the refrigeration industry from multiple perspectives, including sustainability, climate change, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and evolving international regulations. An interactive question-and-answer session enabled participants to exchange ideas directly with the speakers.

Following the presentations, certificates of appreciation were presented to the contributors before the event concluded with a networking cocktail reception, providing industry representatives, public institutions, academics, and invited guests with valuable opportunities to strengthen professional connections and discuss future collaborations.

A Shared Vision for Sustainable Refrigeration

Throughout the event, speakers emphasized the importance of energy-efficient systems, environmentally responsible technologies, AI-supported applications, and international regulatory developments in shaping the future of refrigeration.

The discussions also highlighted the need to strengthen vocational education, promote responsible manufacturing, and expand incentive mechanisms supporting the green transition. Participants reaffirmed the strategic importance of sustainable refrigeration in addressing climate change, improving food safety, and increasing energy efficiency.

By bringing together all stakeholders of the refrigeration ecosystem on a common platform, SOSİAD once again demonstrated its commitment to fostering knowledge sharing, strengthening international cooperation, and enhancing the global competitiveness of Türkiye's refrigeration industry.

Companies Supporting the World Refrigeration Day Event

• Azak Heat Exchangers

• Buzçelik Thermal Equipment

• Cantaş Kimya

• Friterm Thermal Equipment

• Hannover Messe Sodeks

• Konya Refrigeration

• Tura Refrigeration

• Yıldırım Refrigeration & Heating