Daikin Debuts Magnetic-Bearing Data Center Chillers and Expanded R-32 Lineup at AHR Expo 2026

Daikin Applied Americas and Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, subsidiaries of Daikin Industries, Ltd. (DIL), will showcase a broad range of new cooling and heating technologies at the 2026 AHR Expo in Las Vegas (January 28, 2026, Booth C5716), spanning hyperscale data-center chillers, next-generation VRV systems, and R-32 residential and light commercial equipment.

Mission-critical and data-center cooling

Daikin Applied will preview two product families engineered for high-density, always-on data-center environments:

• Magnitude WME-C Quad Chiller — magnetic-bearing technology, capacity range of 2,000 to 3,000 tons, ultra-low-GWP refrigerants, and RapidRestore and RideThrough recovery technologies for seamless operation during power disruptions.
• Pathfinder AWV-C Fan Deck and AWM Chiller — the AWV-C uses low-GWP R-515B refrigerant with a compressor-integrated variable frequency drive and an enhanced 28-fan deck for greater cooling capacity and optimized airflow; the AWM is a fully packaged, air-cooled chiller built around oil-free magnetic-bearing compressors, rated for operation in ambient conditions up to 131 °F.

The WME-C Quad Chiller and the AWV-C are available to customers now; the AWM Chiller is expected in early 2026.

These launches build on Daikin Applied's $163 million investment in a state-of-the-art R&D test lab at its Plymouth, Minnesota headquarters, a facility designed to accelerate development of advanced cooling technologies for hyperscale data centers and next-generation airside solutions. The company also cites strategic acquisitions in liquid cooling and custom air-handling as part of its positioning for AI-driven workloads.

Yu Nishiwaki, Chief Operating Officer of Daikin Applied, noted that cooling demands are growing increasingly complex, especially in data-center environments, and that operators need solutions delivering reliability, scalability, and efficiency without compromise. He added that the new launches reflect the company's commitment to equipping customers with technologies that perform under the most demanding conditions, both now and as workloads evolve.

Residential and light commercial: R-32 goes mainstream

Daikin Comfort Technologies will present an expanded lineup built around R-32 refrigerant, cloud-connected HERO Cloud Services for remote monitoring and optimization, and inverter heat-pump technology now extending into multi-family applications with a compact side-discharge footprint.

New product introductions include:

• FIT AURORA Cold Climate Residential Heat Pumps — 2- and 3-ton inverter models using low-GWP R-32, engineered for high-efficiency heating and cooling across a wide range of environments. The models meet or exceed specifications for the U.S. Department of Energy's "Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge."
• NEXIO MAX Light Commercial Inverter Rooftops — the top tier of a new three-tier NEXIO rooftop line, featuring Daikin's inverter technology and R-32 refrigerant, with flexible configurations for efficiency, electrification, and control in light commercial buildings.

Taka Inoue, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Daikin Comfort Technologies, stated that over the past year R-32 has proven itself as a single-component refrigerant that is easy to recycle, cost-effective, and widely available, and that the company's R-32 products go beyond comfort to optimize energy use and adapt intelligently to residential and commercial spaces.

Company background

Daikin Industries, Ltd. is a Fortune 1,000 company with more than 100,000 employees worldwide. Daikin Applied designs and manufactures commercial and industrial HVAC systems sold through a global network of sales, service, and parts offices. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America provides Daikin, Goodman, Amana, and Quietflex brand products for residential, commercial, and industrial use, with engineering and manufacturing headquartered at the Daikin Texas Technology Park near Houston, TX.