Japanese AC Manufacturer Aims to Capture North American Market Share

Daikin Industries, a leading Japanese manufacturer of residential, commercial and industrial air-conditioning systems with major markets worldwide is planning to ramp up its North American marketing effort.

Last week marked the grand opening of the company’s new Daikin AC (Americas) headquarters in Carrollton, Texas. In their opening remarks at the ceremony, Daikin officials said that they hoped to reach US $7 billion in sales this year with the opening of U.S. markets. At the same time, they realize that in order to win over the American market, they will have to sell customers that are mainly accustomed to ducted systems on ductless AC.

Daikin AC hopes to bring to North America what Daikin Industries has provided for more than 80 years—what company officials described as “technologically and aesthetically advanced energy-efficient air-conditioning systems.”

The company currently provides sales and sales support services to contractors and distributors within various strategic markets in the United States.Business development, training and marketing programs are all also coordinated from the North Texas office.

“We want U.S. customers to experience what the rest of the world has been experiencing for decades,” said Yoshinobu Inoue, president of Daikin AC (Americas). Inoue is referring to the company’s three-phase variable-refrigerant-volume (VRV) and single-phase VRV-S air-conditioning solutions, optimized for R-410A refrigerant. “Inverter technology is the basis behind our current and future product offering to the U.S. market,” he said.

The company believes that its product reliability and energy efficiency will create a new demand for more advanced air-conditioning equipment. Also, the company is considering the future expansion of its business in North America, including the development of its own duct-type system matching the requirements of the North American market.

In the coming weeks, Daikin AC will formally open its national sales office and showroom at the Carrollton headquarters.Additional sales offices are being located in major cities targeting New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Honolulu, among other cities.A trade advertising campaign and enhanced visibility at industry trade shows are also on tap for the new company.

For the time being, products sold in North America will come from Daikin Group manufacturing bases in Japan and Thailand. However, production in North America is also under consideration.

For more information go to www.daikinac.com/landing.asp

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