IV Produkt has announced the official UK launch of the next generation of ThermoCooler HP, an integrated reversible heat pump module to support lower-GWP HVAC specification as part of its Envistar Flex air handling unit (AHU) range.
While maintaining operational reliability, energy performance and the installation benefits of and integrated solution, the new generation has been developed around IV Produkt’s Multiref concept, allowing the DX cycle to be compatible with both R290 and R454C.
This gives designers and building owners a choice of refrigerant strategy, including R290, a natural A3 refrigerant with a GWP of 0.02, and R454C, an A2L refrigerant with a GWP of 146. Importantly, this means the entire range is compliant with scheduled EU regulation changes, covering units under 50kW in 2027 and over 50kW in 2030.
IV Produkt is the first manufacturer to use R290 in an integrated reversible solution, marking a significant step towards natural and lower-GWP refrigerant applications in integrated commercial HVAC systems.
ThermoCooler HP uses a heat pump within the AHU to either heat or cool the supply air as required, reducing the need for separate external chillers, boilers or heat pump installations in many applications. This can reduce investment and operational costs, reduce total plant space requirements, simplify installation and support single-supplier responsibility for complete system performance certification.
A central feature of ThermoCooler HP is its defrosting-free, heating-priority design. Unlike many traditional integrated systems, which are often based on cooling-led layouts, it has been developed around the heating demands of northern European climates, while retaining the ability to provide comfort cooling when required.
The DX system and heat exchangers are positioned on the warm side of the thermal wheel. This means the heat pump is not exposed to cold air entering the AHU, or the associated problems with frost accumulation on the heat exchangers that can affect traditional reversible systems during winter operation. This allows the system to deliver continuous heating without defrost cycles, helping to avoid capacity reduction, downtime and supply air temperature fluctuations.
The design also allows the AHU to prioritise the thermal wheel as the first stage of energy recovery and maintain temperature exchange efficiency. The control algorithm prioritises the thermal wheel and only calls on the heat pump when additional heating is required. In cooling mode, free cooling and night-time cooling can be prioritised before the DX cooling cycle is activated.
The launch comes as refrigerant selection becomes an increasingly important design consideration across commercial HVAC. As F-Gas requirements tighten, consultants, contractors and property owners are having to consider energy performance, long-term compliance, refrigerant availability, safety standards and embodied carbon as part of the wider specification process.
The R290 and R454C-compatible ThermoCooler HP range has been tested for more than 45,000 hours, with DX circuit components developed with, and supplied by, world-leading companies. Both versions include calibration-free leak detectors, while the R290 version is also equipped with IV Produkt’s patent-pending Evacuation Dilution Function, designed to dilute and evacuate refrigerant in the event of a leak.
The products are designed, factory tested and CE marked with the application of relevant IEC 60335-2-40 and EN 378 requirements.
The product launch is supported by significant investment at IV Produkt’s headquarters in Växjö, Sweden. Over the past three years, the company has invested more than €14 million in research and development, product development, risk assessments, CE marking and manufacturing facilities for its new generation of integrated cooling units and heat pumps.
This includes a new 5,000m² production facility dedicated to the next generation of F-Gas-compliant cooling units and heat pumps integrated into AHUs. The investment forms part of IV Produkt’s long-term growth strategy and reflects the increasing role of integrated HVAC solutions in commercial and public-sector buildings.
ThermoCooler HP also supports refurbishment and replacement projects. IV Produkt’s Easy Access concept allows larger AHUs to be delivered in modules that can pass through standard doors before being reassembled, helping to reduce logistical complexity on sites with restricted plant room access.
The original ThermoCooler HP was launched in 2017 and has since become an important part of IV Produkt’s integrated heating and cooling offer. The R454B version won Commercial HVAC Product of the Year – Ventilation at the H&V News Awards 2025, recognising the product’s defrosting-free operation, heating-priority design and suitability for commercial, public, school and office buildings.
The new Multiref platform is also available for EcoCooler, IV Produkt’s AHU-integrated cooling-only solution. This gives projects with cooling-only requirements access to the same lower-GWP refrigerant choice, including R290 and R454C, within an integrated AHU design.
IV Produkt has specialised in air handling units since 1969. The privately owned Swedish manufacturer is based in Växjö, in the county of Småland, and has grown from its roots in industrial ventilation to become a leading European AHU manufacturer, with expanding operations in the UK and across Europe.
The company has delivered more than 160,000 air handling units and continues to focus on energy efficiency, lifecycle cost and indoor climate. Its mission remains focused on creating a good indoor climate while saving energy, supported by long-term investment in product development, manufacturing capability and customer support.
Manuel Swärd, Export Director West Europe at IV Produkt, said: “These new units are a game changer for our industry. They address the new F-Gas regulation and solve several challenges for property owners, while also improving energy efficiency and reducing installation costs compared with traditional systems.
“With ThermoCooler HP, we are combining lower-GWP refrigerant choice with an integrated reversible heat pump design that can reduce plant space, simplify installation and lower the environmental footprint of the overall system. It is a win-win-win for consultants, contractors and building owners.”
Mattias Sjöberg, CEO and owner of IV Produkt, said: “We have invested in facilities, competence and product development to bring a strong and sustainable product range to the market. This launch reflects our long-term commitment to energy-efficient air handling solutions that create a good indoor climate while saving energy.
“With our new generation of AHU-integrated cooling units and reversible heat pumps, I believe we have never been better equipped for success and growth.
