Danfoss Turbocor Marks 30 Years of Oil-Free Compressor Innovation

Date: 05 February 2025

Danfoss Turbocor is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025, marking three decades since its founding in Australia in 1995. Initially developed by a team of engineers outside the HVAC industry, the company pioneered oil-free, magnetic-bearing compressor technology, which has since gained widespread adoption. Now a wholly owned subsidiary of Danfoss, the company operates with 350 employees across facilities in the U.S., Denmark, and China. More than 140,000 Turbocor compressors have been installed worldwide as demand grows for energy-efficient and low-carbon cooling solutions.

Turbocor’s oil-free design enhances energy efficiency and reliability in commercial air conditioning and heat pump applications. The technology supports decarbonization efforts in buildings such as offices, hotels, hospitals, airports, and data centers. “Turbocor was founded by professionals outside the field of HVAC,” said Rogerio Federici, vice president and head of Danfoss Turbocor. “This allowed for the free thinking and creativity needed to develop this disruptive technology. They created something new that changed the industry and set a new standard for sustainability in HVAC.”

Compared to traditional screw compressors, Turbocor compressors can achieve up to 40% higher energy efficiency, reducing operational costs. Their magnetic-bearing system ensures zero performance degradation over time and operates with low noise levels. The quick restart capability enables the compressor to resume operation within 30 seconds of a power outage, making it well-suited for mission-critical facilities such as hospitals and data centers.

Turbocor technology has received 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.

“We are proud of the success of the Turbocor compressor technology and are looking forward to the next 30 years,” said Kristian Strand, president of Danfoss Commercial Compressors. “Turbocor compressors have transformed the HVAC industry and helped thousands of customers reduce their carbon footprint and energy consumption, a central part of Danfoss’ mission.”