Sapphire Technologies has launched its High Lift Oil-Free Compressor platform and begun accepting orders for oil-free centrifugal compressors designed for air-cooled chillers used in AI data centers. Designed and manufactured in California, the United States, the platform provides chiller manufacturers with an additional domestic compressor supply option amid availability constraints associated with data center growth.
The platform uses a two-stage centrifugal design with a high-speed permanent-magnet motor supported by active magnetic bearings developed and manufactured in-house. Build configurations support refrigeration capacities of up to 8,000 tons (approximately 28,135 kW) per unit. The modular compressor block is designed for integration into existing chiller products.
The compressors are designed to operate in high-lift conditions, including air temperatures up to 140°F (60°C). According to Sapphire, these conditions can reduce the capacity and efficiency of conventional compressors. The platform features proprietary power electronics configurable for AC or DC supply, including an 800 VDC option intended for integration with high-voltage power distribution systems in data centers.
The new product line builds on compressor technology developed by Sapphire and its parent company, Calnetix, for industrial and defense applications, including systems supplied to the U.S. Navy. Sapphire began designing the High Lift Compressor line earlier in 2026, using magnetic-bearing and permanent-magnet rotor components already employed in its turboexpanders and other compressor products.
“Chiller manufacturers are responding to hyperscaler demand by launching new air-cooled chiller models,” said Freddie Sarhan, CEO of Sapphire Technologies. “But the compressors the industry relies on were built for a different era and a different duty. We built ours specifically for high lift applications and with our proprietary oil-free platform that has been in production for over 25 years. We are launching our new compressor now to alleviate the chiller supply chain.”
Sapphire is currently fulfilling orders and expects to deliver its first commercial compressors by February 2027. The company also supplies magnetic bearings, controls and power electronics to chiller manufacturers and offers engineering services for custom cooling systems and subsystems.
