Sustainable Magnetic Refrigerator Premieres in EDEKA

An alternative refrigeration technology with zero direct global warming potential has arrived at EDEKA Patchull E-Center Darmstadt, the first time this technology has faced customers in a retail setting. The Darmstadt-based company MAGNOTHERM, which develops and produces this cooling technology, partnered with Daniel Patschull, owner of EDEKA Patschull, to premiere two magnetocaloric beverage coolers by the registers to offer shoppers their first magnetically-chilled beverage before going outside into the summer heat.

“Most people don’t know how energy intensive and unsafe refrigeration is,” says Timur Sirman, CEO and co-founder of MAGNOTHERM. “Magnetic cooling offers retailers lower energy costs, less maintenance, and no flammability or explosivity.”

Traditional refrigeration works by using a compressor to circulate refrigerant gases, which absorb heat from inside the fridge and release it outside, creating a cooling effect. This process contributes to over 7% of climate change emissions. By contrast, magnetic cooling technology achieves the cooling effect without a compressor and f-gases. Instead, at atmospheric pressure, the technology uses magnets and magnetically-active metal to cool, and then transfers the cool to the cabinet using a water-based liquid.

MAGNOTHERM refrigerators can be found this summer at e-Center in Darmstadt at Eschollbrücker Straße 44, 64295 Darmstadt as well as Edeka Ercan locations in Langen and Ober-Ramstadt.

Read more about it in FAZ: Link to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

For retailers interested in this new refrigeration solution, contact info@magnotherm.com
For all other press inquiries, contact Abby Kreckel at kreckel@magnotherm.com

ENGIE New Ventures Invests in MAGNOTHERM, Raising Seed Financing to €6.8M

October 25, 2023

ENGIE New Ventures (ENV), the investment fund of ENGIE Research & Innovation for innovative start-ups that accelerate the energy transition, has invested in MAGNOTHERM. Our disruptive technology, which can also be used for cold production (refrigerators, air conditioners), uses magnetic refrigeration to liquefy hydrogen, allowing it to be transported and

POLARIS x MyMuesli Unveil POLARIS: The Future of Beverage Cooling

June 21, 2023

MAGNOTHERM, in collaboration with MyMuesli, proudly presented their latest creation, POLARIS, the magnetic beverage cooler, at an exclusive after-work event held in Munich on Friday. The evening was filled with excitement and anticipation as attendees got a firsthand look at this revolutionary cooling technology. Since its initial unveiling approximately a

€6.3M Seed Round to Commercialize First Sustainable Refrigerator

April 4, 2023

MAGNOTHERM closes €6.3 million seed funding round to mass produce first sustainable refrigerator The climate tech startup MAGNOTHERM has successfully closed its seed financing of 6.3 million with lead investor Extantia, Revent, BMH Beteiligungs-Managementgesellschaft Hessen, LAUDA Dr. R. WOBSER Beteiligungs-mbH as well as Katrin Pucknat, Arne Stoschek, Willi Tscheschner,and Christoph

Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck Visits MAGNOTHERM at Hannover Messe 2024

Darmstadt, Germany – In a significant event at Hannover Messe 2024, Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Dr. Robert Habeck visited the exhibition of MAGNOTHERM, a Darmstadt deep tech startup building a sustainable magnetic cooling solution. The meeting on April 23rd highlighted the German government’s commitment to supporting the deep tech sector, and the crucial role of startups in shaping the country’s industrial future.

During his visit, Vice Chancellor Dr. Habeck interacted with MAGNOTHERM’s groundbreaking magnetically cooled refrigeration device, the POLARIS beverage cooler. He signed the exterior of the refrigerator in a symbolic gesture of support. As a sign of gratitude, MAGNOTHERM presented engraved reusable metal ice cubes as a gift and physical manifestation of the aligned values central to both the company and the Vice Chancellor’s policies.

Timur Sirman, CEO and co-founder of MAGNOTHERM, shared insights into the opportunities and challenges faced by the company as a German-based deep tech startup. The two also discussed the ongoing needs of the sector and ways in which the growth of companies like MAGNOTHERM can help build a stronger economic future and global sustainability image for Germany.

One of the biggest challenges MAGNOTHERM shared with Robert Habeck is sourcing materials. Sirman explained: “While we have demonstrated POLARIS as a proof of concept and evidence of technological viability, scaling up and commercializing our magnetic refrigeration solution presents significant challenges. Key among these is securing a reliable supply of magnetocaloric material, particularly LaFeSi, which is crucial for enhancing energy efficiency and reducing production costs. Despite the availability of alternatives like Gadolinium, LaFeSi stands out for its superior performance. Our expertise, derived from the Functional Materials Department of TU Darmstadt, provides us with a deep understanding of these materials, yet transitioning from lab-scale production to industrial-scale remains a formidable barrier. Ironically, while German ‘hidden champions’ possess the necessary production know-how, establishing partnerships for large-scale production has been challenging due to the nascent market presence of our technology—a classic chicken-and-egg problem. Vice Chancellor Habeck’s efforts to foster collaborations between startups and established corporates are therefore timely and crucial. More courageous investments and a stronger entrepreneurial spirit are needed to bridge these gaps, enabling not just MAGNOTHERM’s refrigeration solutions but also broader applications like server cooling, air-conditioning, and heat pumps, all vital applications for achieving net-zero emissions.”

Regarding the impact of this high-level meeting on MAGNOTHERM, Sirman stated: “We set an internal goal last year to generate conversations within German nationwide political circles. Meeting Robert Habeck is as good as it gets in this regard. We are eager to follow up on this with future interactions with the ministry and other leaders. Robert Habeck often meets with large companies, so it was very special for his delegation to meet with several startups in Hannover. To get this visibility and attention as a small company was important, because we need an entire ecosystem around us to grow. There is so much potential in startups and deep tech, and we need to harness this potential in order to build the next industry which will maintain and grow our economy here in Europe, as it will not automatically maintain itself. Germany needs new industries, technologies, and companies; This starts with companies like ours who right now have futuristic, expensive, and complex technology, that in the future will be commonplace, like solar panels and LED lighting. Robert Habeck visiting us elevates the message that startups are important because we are the future of Germany.”

The visit marks a significant recognition of the potential and economic importance of startups like MAGNOTHERM in the evolving landscape of European industry. As MAGNOTHERM continues to develop and refine its technologies, the support from figures such as Vice Chancellor Habeck is invaluable in ensuring the growth of the deep tech sector and the economic future of Germany.