A legacy of innovative thinking
This month's column from the Institute considers the 46th anniversary of the J & E Hall International Gold Medal and its continued importance to the RACHP sector
For more than four decades, the prestigious J & E Hall International Gold Medal has served as a symbol of recognition for pioneers and trailblazers in the refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) industry. Over this time, some of the most important names in the RACHP sector have been honoured with this award. The recipient is given a gold medal that they hold for just one year, a silver replica to keep permanently and a cash prize of £5,000 donated by J & E Hall themselves.
The concept of the award was originated by DK Frazer, the chairman of the business then known as Hall Thermotank, at the IOR Annual Dinner in January 1977. In announcing the new award at the time, he highlighted that "individuals, rather than profit-driven companies, were the primary source of new ideas".