The AHR Expo has announced the winners of the 2026 Innovation Awards, recognizing cutting-edge advancements in HVACR technology. Among the ten categories, notable innovations in refrigeration, cooling, sustainable solutions, and tools & instruments were highlighted for their technical impact and market relevance.
In the Refrigeration category, Copeland received the award for its transcritical CO2 scroll compressor with dynamic vapor injection technology. Designed for small-footprint, distributed refrigeration systems, this compressor simplifies system design while enhancing efficiency. It is rated for transcritical applications and represents a step forward in sustainable CO2 refrigeration for North America.
Daikin Applied Americas Inc. was named winner in the Cooling category for its Magnitude WME-C Quad. This dual circuit series counterflow chiller delivers up to 3,000 tons of cooling capacity and utilizes magnetic bearing compressor technology. Key features include RideThrough® and RapidRestore®, offering high part-load efficiency and reliability for mission-critical environments.
The Sustainable Solutions category award went to Blue Frontier for its BF-DOAS technology. Departing from traditional refrigerants and vapor compression cycles, BF-DOAS integrates cooling and dehumidification with a dispatchable thermal storage battery. The solution claims up to 300% greater efficiency compared to conventional systems and adapts performance with rising temperatures.
In the Tools & Instruments category, CSG Compressors (Houston & American Hermetics) won for its SAMMi platform. This AI-powered HVAC monitoring and dispatch system detects potential issues before failures occur. It automates technician dispatch, aiming to reduce downtime, prevent product loss, and shift maintenance from reactive to predictive.
The winning technologies will be featured at the AHR Expo in Las Vegas from February 2–4, 2026, where one overall Product of the Year will be selected from the ten category winners.
Read the full winner list here: https://www.ahrexpo.com/innovation-awards-2026-winners