Midea CAC Works with Toshiba Carrier Again to deepen Technological Cooperation

With the concept of energy conservation and environmental protection becoming more and more popular, high efficiency has become a keyword in the central air-conditioning industry. On November 20 at its headquarters in Shunde, Midea Electric Appliances Company, one of China's major manufacturers of central air-conditioners, signed an agreement on technological cooperation with Japanese-based Toshiba Carrier Co., Ltd., marking Midea's comprehensive introduction of Toshiba's world-leading new generation R410A environment-friendly cooling media and highly efficient direct-current inverter technology. This is another technology oriented cooperation of Midea Central Air-conditioner Division after similar initiatives in 1999 and 2004, so as to complete its overall upgrade in terms of core technologies of central air-conditioners.
According to Mr. Zhang Quan, President of Midea's Central Air-conditioner Division and Mr. Kaoru Okoma, Business Executive Director of Toshiba Carrier Co., Ltd. at the signing ceremony, the two companies have a very good foundation of cooperation, and their joint efforts this time will greatly enhance the upgrade of core technologies of Midea's central air-conditioners, in addition to promoting the application and development of the world-leading technology of highly efficient direct-current inverter with new cooling media in the Chinese market.
According to Mr. Tian Mingli, R&D Director of Midea Central Air-conditioner Division, the direct-current inverter technology is currently the most advanced in the central air-conditioning industry, with unique advantages in energy conservation and environmental protection, and has become the mainstream technology in Japan, Europe and other developed countries. Always closely following related R&D progress in the industry, Midea launched direct-current inverter central air-conditioners with independent intellectual property rights in 2006 and had managed to export the products to Europe. Speaking of this cooperation, Tian Mingli remarks, "It is not only about technology introduction. Better still, Toshiba Carrier will provide a complete technological guarantee system from product R&D, manufacturing to quality management, so as to provide Midea with support in producing highly efficient direct-current inverter central air-conditioners. Toshiba Carrier Company, famous for its technological innovation, is a world leader in direct-current inverter technology, with advanced experience in R&D, manufacturing and quality management, which is valuable for Midea to learn from and refer to. With this cooperation, the overall technological capacity of Midea Central Air-conditioner Division will be further enhanced and its global competitiveness will be improved."
In recent years, the local market has witnessed the rapid development of central air-conditioners. However, as domestic manufacturers have had a late start, many core technologies are controlled by Japanese and American enterprises. Therefore, Midea has been following the path of combining technology introduction and independent development in the case of central air-conditioners. As early as in 1999, Midea Electric Appliances Company had already initiated its presence in the central air-conditioning sector by means of technological cooperation with Toshiba Carrier, and on that basis, launched the first inverter multi-split air-conditioner in China. In 2002, Midea Electric Appliances Company cooperated with the US Emerson Optimization Technology to launch the first MDV digital scroll multi-split air-conditioner. In 2004, Midea Electric Appliances Company introduced Toshiba Carrier as its strategic shareholder by means of stock right transfer, which further enhanced its core competencies in the central air-conditioning industry. Thanks to the international funds and technologies, Midea Central Air-conditioner Division has completed a number of technological upgrades in recent years and has become the central air-conditioner manufacturer with the most diversified production lines in China. Now its products include centrifuges, screw machines and multi-connected units, single units and other small and medium central air-conditioners, as well as air energy central water heaters, which are the augmented products of air-conditioners.
Mr. Zhang Quan, President of Midea's Central Air-conditioner Division, tells the reporter, "In terms of technological and product innovation, we cooperate with leading international companies and learn from their strong points, which has not only allowed Midea Central Air-conditioner Division to greatly enhance its own R&D strength, but more importantly, has made it possible to identify a road for the rapid development of domestic brands as well. With the joint efforts of Midea Central Air-conditioner Division and Toshiba Carrier for many years, this technological and strategic cooperation will hopefully continue and strengthen the cooperative benefits of both parties for the sake of a win-win result."
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Midea Electric Appliances Company initiated its presence in the central air-conditioning sector in 1999 and has witnessed rapid development in recent years, with its sales revenue growing from 30 million yuan to a total of 4.2 billion yuan covering both domestic and overseas markets in 2007.And its market competitiveness and industrial reputation have been greatly enhanced after winning the bids for the associated project for the T3 Terminal Building of the Capital International Airport, the 2010 World Exposition Venue in Shanghai and many other large projects.
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Dr. Carrier, founder of the US company named after him, invented the first air-conditioner in the world. Carrier is a parent company of Toshiba Carrier and the largest enterprise of air-conditioner around the globe. As for Toshiba, the sales volume of its air-conditioners has long been among the top three in the high-end Japanese market. In 1999, Toshiba had its air-conditioning business separated from the company and united with the US Carrier Company to establish the joint venture of Toshiba Carrier Co., Ltd., in which Toshiba has 60% of the stocks and Carrier has 40%
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Midea and Toshiba has been cooperating with each other for a long time. As early as in 1993, the two parties had started cooperation in terms of air-conditioning technologies and launched a number of popular products of Toshiba style. In April 1999, Midea started working with the new joint venture of Toshiba Carrier, which was established in the same month, in the domain of central air-conditioning technologies, and subsequently developed Midea's commercial and central air-conditioning products. In July 2008, Midea Electric Appliances Company and the international refrigerating giant Carrier announced their joint efforts to establish a joint venture for manufacturing Carrier branded air-conditioners and small commercial air-conditioners.