Commercial refrigeration supplier FCR (Federal Commercial Refrigeration), a brand of commercial foodservice equipment distributor Federal Hospitality Equipment, has launched a propane (R290) waterloop refrigeration range across Australia and New Zealand.
The range includes individual cabinets – reach-in freezers, open and doored chillers, island freezers and serve-over displays – each with hermetically sealed R290 circuits. A common closed water loop connects the cabinets to an external heat-rejection system, which releases condenser heat outside of the retail environment, according to Vinney Kumar, Director of Supermarket & Convenience at Federal Hospitality Equipment.
“This launch represents an important step to bring innovative natural-refrigerant technology at reduced installation costs,” Kumar said. “The range provides retailers with a scalable refrigeration platform suitable for new stores, refurbishments and smaller-format locations.”
At the end of 2025 Kumar concluded an eight-year tenure with Hussmann Oceania, where he served as General Manager of Australia and Director of Operations. Hussmann Oceania is a Panasonic subsidiary. In March he joined Federal Hospitality Equipment.
Some advantages: The R290 waterloop range simplifies installation compared to traditional remote refrigeration systems, according to Kumar.
- Compared to self-contained R290 cabinets that release rejected heat indoors, the waterloop system reduces the heat load on the store’s HVAC system, lowering overall energy consumption.
- The design provides greater store layout flexibility, including easier cabinet relocation, Kumar noted.
Available equipment: In July Federal Hospitality Equipment introduced FCR’s supermarket refrigeration portfolio built for the Australian, New Zealand and Pacific markets, according to Kumar.
- Along with the propane waterloop refrigeration range, FCR supplies self-contained R290 plug-and-play cabinets.
- For medium- and large-sized supermarkets, FCR offers transcritical CO2 (R744) refrigeration systems.
Quotable: “The refrigeration industry is evolving rapidly,” Kumar said in a LinkedIn post announcing his move to Federal Hospitality Equipment. “Sustainability, natural refrigerants, energy optimization, IoT and smarter retail environments are no longer future concepts – they are today’s reality. I’m energized by the opportunity to help customers navigate this transition while delivering solutions that truly make a difference.”
“The range provides retailers with a scalable refrigeration platform suitable for new stores, refurbishments and smaller-format locations.”
Vinney Kumar, Director of Supermarket & Convenience at Federal Hospitality Equipment
