Megacold Cryochillers – and how they meet the F-GAS regulations

High-tech manufacturers are coming under increasing pressure to conform to climate rules. Ben White, Product Manager, explains how Megatech keeps them on the right side of the regulations

High-tech manufacturing – whether of semiconductor chips, optical coatings for glasses, or a range of other products – often requires the controlled environment of a vacuum chamber. However, there is a problem: every surface in a chamber has tiny layers of moisture on it, and when you pump out the air, that water evaporates and hangs around in the chamber, making it difficult to get a truly clean vacuum.

The solution is cryogenic chillers. Yet cryochillers are facing increasing complex regulation due to the fact they contain fluorinated gas, or F-GAS, which contributes to global warming. Here’s a look at the regulations – and how Megatech helps cryochiller users navigate what has become a legal minefield.

The benefits of cryochillers

Cryochillers are specialized refrigeration systems designed to achieve extremely low temperatures. They use cryogenic cooling techniques to remove heat from an environment, enabling applications where precise, ultra-low temperature control is critical. Unlike standard chillers that might cool water or other fluids to a few degrees above freezing, cryochillers are engineered to operate at sub-zero levels.

When creating a high-quality vacuum, a cryochiller addresses the problem of water vapor by cooling surfaces to such low temperatures that these vapors rapidly condense or freeze upon contact. This dramatically improves the speed at which a vacuum can be formed and enhances the purity of the environment inside the chamber – resulting in a more efficient, reliable, and cleaner vacuum in which to carry out high-tech manufacturing.

Tightening regulations

As the technology of cryochillers has advanced, so has the regulatory landscape. When the EU first introduced F-GAS regulations in 2006, the primary focus was on leak prevention, training, safe disposal, and reporting of imports and exports. Since then, however, there have been amendments to introduce a quota system, which is now required to import HFC equipment into the EU.

Since leaving the EU, the UK has also introduced its own quota system, adding to the complexity. Major fines – running into the millions of Euros – have been issued to illegal imports, so it is imperative to ensure that this is handled correctly.

The most recent changes to the F-GAS regulations were in 2024, as the phase-out of HFCs were expedited with the aim of a 95% reduction by 2030 and a complete phase-out by 2050. Stricter rules on imports were also added, and some hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) equipment, such as commercial refrigerators with a certain global warming impact, faced complete bans.

Introducing Megatech

Since our beginnings in the south of the UK, Megatech has been involved in refrigeration equipment containing F-GAS. We began importing and servicing cryochillers in the early days of vacuum system leak detection, and have positioned ourselves at the forefront of the F-GAS regulatory landscape – navigating the complexities behind the scenes so our customers don’t have to worry about them. This includes through:

• Certified expertise – our engineers are trained and certified to the highest F-GAS standards
• Clarity over confusion – our specialist advisers track every regulatory change, translating it into clear, actionable guidance
• Smarter systems – we pride ourselves on proprietary refrigerant blends, advanced leak protection, and continual product innovation
• Collaboration – we work closely with refrigerant producers to adopt lower-impact technologies as they emerge
• Cost stability – we strategically stockpile quota, shielding customers from price spikes
• Strategic presence – we have operations in both the UK and Germany, perfectly positioning us to support European and UK markets

Net zero by 2050 may seem like a long way off – but it will come around in the blink of an eye. At Megatech, we are already preparing for it by developing cryochiller systems that use no fluorinated gas at all, including a new energy-saving model with a variable-speed compressor – delivering up to 50% energy savings.

Both now and in the future, our customers can rest assured that they will meet all F-GAS regulations, enabling them to stay focused on what they do best: delivering exceptional products.

To learn more about Megatech and its range of cryochillers, please visit https://www.megatech.com/brands/megacold/cryogenic-chillers.