[Edaily Reporter JAEMIN SONG ] SamsungElectronics will invest 240 billion won in its Gwangju complex to establish production lines for cooling and air conditioning equipment needed for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and advanced manufacturing facilities. The company plans to cultivate its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) business as a future growth engine to meet the surging demand for AI infrastructure.

SamsungElectronics announced on the 21st that it held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Flakt Group’s HVAC production line at its Gwangju Complex in Gwangju, Jeollanam-do. The event was attended by Roh Tae-moon, President and CEO of SamsungElectronics’ Device Experience (DX) Division; Tobias Ketele, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Flakt Group; and Min Hyung-bae, Mayor of Gwangju, Jeollanam-do.

SamsungElectronics will construct a production line with a total floor area of 21,800 square meters (approximately 6,600 pyeong) at the Gwangju Complex’s Third Campus. The new line is scheduled to begin full-scale operations in early 2028.

This facility will serve as the Flakt Group’s 15th global production hub. It will play a key role in meeting the growing demand for cooling and air conditioning solutions in AI data centers, semiconductor and battery factories, and large-scale commercial facilities, primarily in Korea and East Asia.

Products to be manufactured include chilled water distribution units (CDUs), fan wall units (FWUs), computer room air handling units (CRAHs), and air handling units (AHUs) for large buildings.

A CDU is a system that delivers chilled water—supplied from a data center’s central cooling unit—to cooling plates in contact with the semiconductors inside servers and then recirculates it. As high-performance AI semiconductors generate more heat, liquid cooling—which utilizes chilled water—is becoming increasingly important compared to traditional methods that rely solely on air for cooling.

FWUs and CRAHs are systems that efficiently supply cold air to server rooms and recover and cool the heated air. AHUs comprehensively manage temperature, humidity, and airflow in large buildings.

SamsungElectronics plans to expand its production capacity for advanced cooling equipment and central air conditioning solutions based on these new production lines. The company aims to respond swiftly to customer needs by establishing an integrated business system that spans from product development to production, installation, and maintenance.

The company also aims to recruit and nurture local talent and promote shared growth with its partner companies. It plans to strengthen its safety management system throughout the entire process, from the start of construction to completion and the stabilization of mass production.

President Noh Tae-moon stated, “The groundbreaking of this production line marks another milestone in the leap forward of our HVAC business, a key growth engine,” adding, “We will develop the Gwangju facility into a cutting-edge manufacturing hub that produces both AI home appliances and next-generation HVAC solutions.”