Costa Rica. The ninth edition of the event, with the slogan " Sustainability and Economy, the new role of air conditioning adapting to a greener future" brought together more than 350 professionals at the Convention Center.
The ninth edition of Refricon was held on May 24 at the Costa Rican Convention Center, marking a new milestone for this annual event organized by Refrimundo. The conference brought together more than 350 professionals from the HVAC sector, including technicians, companies in the sector, designers, construction companies, developers and students from technical institutions in the country.
Since its creation, Refricon has been a platform for technical updating, but also a space to connect the different players in the market. What began almost a decade ago as a modest meeting in a room for 50 people, today is one of the must-see appointments on the air conditioning agenda in Central America.
"The event was born with the aim of contributing to the knowledge of the Costa Rican technical sector, and we were inspired by models such as ASHRAE, but adjusted to our reality," explained Alberto Jara, general manager of Refrimundo. "Today, nine editions later, we have managed to consolidate a space in which training, technological innovation and networking converge."
An edition marked by growth and a sustainable vision
The 2025 edition of Refricon was full of symbolism and advances. On the one hand, the decision to hold the event at the Convention Center represented a step forward in terms of capacity and visibility. "Being able to organize it here is a source of pride, and it tells us about the growth of the event and the commitment that the guild has assumed with this initiative," said Jara.
On the other hand, this year's thematic focus – sustainability – put on the table the responsibility that the sector has in the transition to cleaner and more efficient technologies. The conferences revolved around energy solutions, ecological refrigerants, efficient design and new economic models for the HVAC sector in a changing environmental context.
"We want this congress to be more and more a platform that inspires transformation in the sector. Air conditioning not only has to adapt to new technologies, but also to a new model of thinking that is more aware of the environment," added Jara.
Technology exhibition and free training
One of the pillars of Refricon is its free nature, a feature that has allowed the wide participation of technicians, students and professionals from different regions of the country. The event is fully financed by the sponsors and exhibiting brands, who also presented their innovations in equipment, tools, digital solutions and components in the commercial area.
"The event is not for profit. We organize it entirely from Refrimundo with our internal team. We only outsource the construction of the stands, but everything else – assembly, logistics, academic coordination – we assume as part of our commitment to the guild," Jara stressed.
The celebration of this ninth edition coincided with Refrimundo's twentieth anniversary, which added an emotional component to the event. However, the team is already thinking about 2026: a tenth edition that is projected to be even more ambitious.
"We would love to be able to double the capacity and fill two rooms of the Convention Center. Everything will depend on the support of the sponsors and the work we do from now on. But we are committed to continue growing and offering an international quality event for Costa Rica," Jara said.
At the end of the day, the message was clear: the future of air conditioning in the region depends on continuous training, innovation and collaboration between all the actors in the ecosystem. In this sense, Jara also highlighted the role of the specialized media.
"I thank ACR Latin America for helping us amplify the reach of this event. Thanks to their work, what we experience here can be shared with the entire Latin American community. They will always be our luxury guests and we look forward to their presence year after year."
