Industry Trailblazer Honored During the 2026 HVAC Tactical Awards for Leadership in Technician Safety, Environmental Stewardship and Raising Standards Across the HVACR Trade

Refrigeration Technologies, an industry leader in developing safer, high‑performance HVACR chemical solutions, is proud to announce that its founder, John Pastorello, was recently named the 2026 recipient of the HVAC Tactical Lifetime Achievement Award for his nearly 40-year legacy of advancing technician-first chemistry and reshaping the HVACR trade’s standards around service chemicals for safety, performance and environmental responsibility.

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John Pastorello, founder of Refrigeration Technologies, accepts the 2026 HVAC Tactical Lifetime Achievement Award.

The HVAC Tactical Awards recognizes individuals who elevate the industry through master-level craftsmanship, teaching and servitude. Presented to leaders whose contributions leave a lasting imprint on the trade, the Lifetime Achievement Award underscores Pastorello’s commitment to redefining what HVACR chemical products should be: Technician-first by design, safer to handle and more sustainable for the planet. Through four decades of product development and leadership, he elevated expectations industrywide, proving that protection and performance belong on equal footing.

“John’s dedication to safer chemistry has changed the industry in lasting ways,” said Ben Poole, CEO of HVAC Tactical. “He pushed for higher standards long before the rest of the industry caught up, and we’re proud to commemorate his clear commitment to innovation and technician wellbeing, which continues to significantly influence how professionals work today.”

A Technician-First Standard for Safer Solutions

Pastorello’s impact is rooted in an uncommon career path spanning chemistry, HVACR fieldwork and entrepreneurship. Trained as a chemist and later shifting into the HVACR profession, he experienced firsthand how many traditional service chemicals posed risks not only to technicians, but also to equipment and the spaces where work was performed. Rather than accepting those hazards as “part of the job,” Pastorello set out to eliminate what he saw as a false choice between effectiveness and safety.

“John was never satisfied with the gap between science and the field,” added Bryan Orr, Host of the HVAC School podcast. “He believed that if we’re putting chemistry into HVAC systems, it has to be technically sound, field tested and honest about what it can and cannot do.”

Driven by the conviction that HVACR pros should never have to compromise their health to do their job, Pastorello founded Refrigeration Technologies in 1987 out of his kitchen and garage. There, he began developing non-toxic, biodegradable solutions that delivered real-world field performance without the corrosive or hazardous side effects common at the time. His strict, technician-first philosophy became the foundation of the company and remains central to its development process today.

“I didn’t start this company to reinvent chemistry; I started it to protect the people out there doing the work every day,” said John Pastorello. “If a product couldn’t perform in the field without putting HVACR pros at risk, then it wasn’t worth making.”

From Kitchen Startup to Industry Mainstay

The company’s first major breakthrough was Big Blu®, a first-of-its-kind bubble-spray leak detector capable of identifying microleaks without relying on harsh chemicals that quickly became the industry standard and remains in wide use by technicians and OEMs worldwide. Pastorello later introduced Nylog®, an oil-based gasket and thread sealant made from refrigeration-grade compressor oil that never hardens or contaminates systems—another market-first. Additional solutions followed, including the Viper® line of coil cleaners and WetRag® heat-protection products, each engineered to reduce technician exposure to hazardous substances while delivering consistent results.

Under Pastorello’s direction, Refrigeration Technologies grew from a small startup into an international manufacturer serving more than 100,000 pros worldwide, with a customer retention rate exceeding 98%. The company has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Chemistry Champion Award and appeared on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies for four consecutive years.

Now led by his son, Mike Pastorello, the brand is currently expanding its U.S. manufacturing capacity to support ongoing growth and rising demand, while building on the safety-first principles its founder established. Although retired, John Pastorello remains closely involved as an advisor on product development and innovation.

“My father grounded this organization in the simple idea that technicians deserve products that protect them while helping them deliver great results,” said Mike Pastorello, president and CEO of Refrigeration Technologies. “This recognition not only honors his vision but reinforces the culture of safety and responsibility that drives our company in everything we do and helps move the industry forward worldwide.”

To learn more about Refrigeration Technologies, visit https://www.refrigtech.com/.

ABOUT REFRIGERATION TECHNOLOGIES: Family-run and operated for nearly 40 years, Refrigeration Technologies designs and manufactures specialty chemical solutions built for technicians, by technicians. Founded on the belief that performance should never come at the expense of health, safety or environmental responsibility, the company challenges the long-held assumption that effective HVACR service requires harsh, corrosive or hazardous chemicals. Its portfolio—including Big Blu® leak detection, Nylog® sealants, Viper® coil cleaners and WetRag® heat-protection products—delivers real-world performance while reducing risk to technicians, equipment and surrounding environments. The company develops patented, non-toxic, biodegradable and low-corrosion solutions for coil cleaning, leak detection, fire protection and system maintenance. Refrigeration Technologies products are trusted by more than 100,000 pros worldwide and are widely approved by leading OEMs and global wholesalers. The company has earned industry recognition including four consecutive appearances on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Chemistry Champion Award. All products are manufactured in the United States and distributed globally across North America, South America, Europe, Australia and parts of Asia. For more information, visit https://www.refrigtech.com/.

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