![A Samsung Electronics model introduces the EHS hybrid home heat pump at the AHR Expo in Orlando, Florida, last year. [Photo=Samsung Electronics]](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2026/01/19/20260119154632130781.jpg)
SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are set to compete head-to-head in North America as they seek a larger share of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) market, which is gaining momentum amid rapid growth in artificial intelligence infrastructure.
With demand for home appliances slowing and competition from low-priced Chinese products intensifying, both South Korean companies are increasingly targeting data center heat-management solutions as a key business-to-business growth engine.
Samsung and LG will take part in AHR Expo 2026, North America’s largest HVAC trade show, which runs for three days starting Feb. 2 in Las Vegas. This year’s exhibition is expected to focus on power efficiency and advanced cooling technologies as AI-driven data centers proliferate.
The push reflects what industry executives describe as an “AI supercycle.” High-performance graphics processing units used for generative AI consume vast amounts of electricity and generate intense heat.
Cooling accounts for roughly 40 percent of data center operating costs, making thermal management a critical issue for major technology companies.
As a result, the HVAC market is expanding beyond residential air conditioners to include systems designed for large buildings and data centers. Market researchers estimate the North American HVAC market will grow from $51.61 billion last year to $75.75 billion by 2032. Samsung and LG are competing with established global players such as Trane and Carrier.
Samsung has pursued rapid expansion through mergers, acquisitions and partnerships. It formed a joint venture with U.S.-based HVAC company Lennox to secure a North American distribution network, and late last year completed the acquisition of Flakt, described as Europe’s largest HVAC company, to strengthen its global presence.
At AHR Expo, Samsung is expected to highlight high-efficiency hybrid products and energy-saving solutions linked to its SmartThings AI platform.
LG, by contrast, is emphasizing what it calls its technological edge in core components such as motors and compressors.
The company has established heat-pump research centers in Alaska and Norway to develop high-efficiency systems capable of operating in extreme climates. LG is also regarded as particularly competitive in chillers, a key technology for data center thermal management.
LG has recently held talks with major technology companies, including Microsoft, on supplying cooling solutions for data centers, while expanding its reach beyond North America into markets such as the Middle East and the Global South, industry sources said.
Analysts said 2026 could mark a turning point as Samsung and LG accelerate their shift from being primarily consumer appliance makers to positioning themselves as broader energy-solution providers.
reporter
Seon Jae-kwan
seon@economidaily.com
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
