ACHR NEWS Editorial Staff

TALLAHASSE, Fla. — Danfoss Turbocor, manufacturer of the world’s first oil-free, magnetic-bearing compressor for the HVAC industry, is celebrating its 10th anniversary as a wholly owned Danfoss company.

The company was founded in 1994 and later became a joint venture with Danfoss. Its Turbocor compressors have delivered efficiency with low-GWP-refrigerant compatibility, helping to reduce emissions, a press release from the company said.

“From the beginning, we knew this technology was transformative; the cutting-edge technology combined with our strong manufacturing and sales network enabled us to provide our customers with solutions to improve operating performance and reach unprecedented energy-efficiency levels,” said Ricardo Schneider, president of Danfoss Turbocor.

The magnetic-bearing technology of Turbocor compressors results in zero performance degradation over the life of the compressor, reducing maintenance and replacement costs, the company said.

The permanent-magnet motors and variable-speed drives provide efficiency at both full and part loads. Their flexibility to be used in air-cooled, water-cooled or evaporative-cooled chillers operating across a wide range of applications, such as comfort cooling, low temperature process, ice storage, and heat recovery, has resulted in over 130,000 compressors being installed around the world, the company said.

Turbocor compressors have been recognized with multiple industry awards, including the Alliance to Save Energy’s Innovative Star of Energy Efficiency award, the Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute’s 2022 Product of the Year, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate and Ozone Protection Award.

Danfoss Turbocor is continuing to grow its footprint, with an expanded facility in Haiyan, China, opening next year, and the establishment of a configuration center in Nordborg, Denmark, at the Danfoss corporate headquarters. The Nordborg site currently handles sales and service for Turbocor’s European customers; a new production facility is scheduled for completion in 2026.

At its headquarters in Tallahassee, Florida, Danfoss Turbocor continues to build collaborations with local institutions.

In 2021, the company began a five-year partnership with the Florida A&M University/Florida State University College of Engineering, providing $750,000 in scholarships and research grants to develop engineering talent in the community and help students achieve their career goals. The company has also partnered with Tallahassee Community College on workforce development programs, such as its CNC machinist apprenticeship.

The new Danfoss Turbocor 167,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Tallahassee is scheduled for completion in early 2024. The new factory will increase manufacturing capacity to meet a fast-growing demand from American and international markets for high- efficiency compressors, the company said.