Established in 1982 by faculty in the Thermal Sciences area of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Polo is known worldwide for its research, development and innovation (R&D&I) in Cooling and Thermophysics. For over three decades, Polo has established a reputation of excellence in industry-related projects, becoming the largest laboratory in Latin America and one of the world's largest in its field.

POLO’s mission is to prepare qualified engineers and conduct high-quality research committed to the real problems of the refrigeration industry, pursuing scientific and technological advances of economic and social relevance. The continuous interaction with the industrial sector strengthens our technical abilities and increases the competitiveness of our partner companies.

In our 3000-m² building, we do basic and applied research to test new ideas and improve the performance of components and cooling systems for residential, commercial, automotive and aerospace applications. The research work is carried out by professors, researchers, engineers, technicians and graduate and undergraduate students.

In 2009, Polo has become one of the Brazilian National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT/CNPq) and, in 2014, an EMBRAPII (Brazilian Company for Industrial Research and Innovation) Unit. These achievements demonstrate the quality and relevance of the research done at Polo and the commitment of the Department of Mechanical Engineering to promoting interactions with the industrial sector.

The Polo team is ready to work with you. Pay us a visit and meet our facilities and our staff.