Las Vegas hosted North America’s largest heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) trade show, the AHR Expo, from to . Samsung Electronics used the event to showcase its expanding portfolio of AI-driven HVAC solutions, signaling a strategic push into a market it views as a key growth engine.
The company’s presence at AHR Expo 2026 centered on the theme “Enabling Better Living,” demonstrating how artificial intelligence and advanced maintenance innovations can benefit both residential and commercial applications. Samsung’s ambitions extend beyond simply offering products; the company aims to deliver integrated energy management solutions, leveraging its SmartThings platform to connect and optimize HVAC systems.
Commercial HVAC Focus: DVM S2+ and FläktGroup Synergies
For the commercial sector, Samsung highlighted the DVM S2+, a high-efficiency air conditioning solution featuring on-device AI. This AI capability allows the system to learn from its environment in real-time, minimizing energy consumption while maintaining optimal indoor comfort. The DVM S2+ represents a significant upgrade in Samsung’s commercial offerings, focusing on both performance and efficiency.
Samsung is also leveraging its recent acquisition of FläktGroup, Europe’s largest HVAC equipment provider, to offer customized solutions. The combination of Samsung’s chiller technologies and FläktGroup’s cooling solutions is targeted at high-value applications, such as data centers and cleanrooms. This strategic partnership allows Samsung to address a broader range of commercial HVAC needs.
Residential Market Expansion: Hylex and Heat Pumps
In the residential market, Samsung is focusing on sustainability and efficiency. The company introduced Hylex, an inverter-based outdoor unit utilizing the R454B refrigerant, which has a low global warming potential (GWP). This move aligns with growing environmental regulations and consumer demand for eco-conscious HVAC options. Hylex is specifically designed to meet North American consumer preferences, offering inverter technology for high energy efficiency, low noise, and a compact design.
Samsung is also strengthening its lineup of EHS residential air-to-water heat pumps (AWHPs). These heat pumps offer a practical alternative to traditional fossil-fuel boilers, maximizing hot-water supply and heating efficiency. The expansion of the EHS lineup demonstrates Samsung’s commitment to providing sustainable heating and cooling solutions for homeowners.
AI and Connectivity as Differentiators
A key differentiator for Samsung in the competitive North American HVAC market is the integration of its SmartThings and SmartThings Pro platforms. In residential settings, SmartThings enables seamless connectivity and evolving user experiences. For commercial applications, SmartThings Pro provides advanced solutions for building-wide energy optimization and maintenance efficiency. Chanwoo Park, Executive Vice President at Samsung Electronics B2B Integrated Offering Center, emphasized that SmartThings Pro “brings HVAC data, workflows, and automation into a single enterprise platform.”
SmartThings Pro, launched at AHR 2026, is an AI-powered IoT platform designed to equip HVAC professionals with a centralized solution for remotely managing, monitoring, and optimizing HVAC systems. The platform allows for remote diagnostics, maintenance, and troubleshooting, including real-time alerts for system faults and access to HVAC cycle data. Remote adjustments, such as Field Setting Value (FSV) adjustments and Smart Reset functions, are also available.
Market Trends and Samsung’s Outlook
According to Samsung, key trends shaping the U.S. HVAC market in include a focus on sustainability and high efficiency. Environmental regulations, such as the adoption of low-GWP refrigerants, are expanding, and there’s a shift towards high-efficiency inverter heat pump systems. Demand for eco-conscious heat pumps is increasing in the residential segment, while Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems are gaining traction in the commercial sector.
The company anticipates the HVAC market to grow at a stable annual rate of approximately 5%. Samsung aims to become a top-tier player in the North American HVAC market by leveraging advanced technologies and a diverse product portfolio. This includes expanding into the ducted market through synergies with FläktGroup and continuing to roll out products with low GWP and AI-powered energy-saving technologies.
Samsung’s strategy involves strengthening its regional distribution network through its joint venture with Lennox, Samsung Lennox HVAC North America, focusing on energy-efficient, inverter-based ductless systems. The company believes that its unique strengths in connectivity, combined with its expanding product range, will position it for success in the increasingly competitive North American HVAC landscape.
