Samsung builds Hokkaido lab for extreme cold tests

Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics has established an advanced research lab in one of Japan’s coldest regions, where winter temperatures drop below minus 20°C and monthly snowfall can reach 127 centimeters, to develop next-generation heating technologies optimized for extreme climates.

The company said Wednesday it has opened the Samsung HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) Test Lab in Asahikawa, located in Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido. The area’s subzero temperatures and heavy snowfalls provide ideal conditions to test and refine high-efficiency heating solutions.

Samsung plans to verify the reliability of its defrosting systems and heat pump solutions, which are core to maintaining stable performance in freezing conditions. Defrosting systems remove frost buildup on heat exchangers — a critical component of HVAC systems — to prevent performance degradation.

When moisture condenses and freezes on the heat exchanger during heating operations, efficiency drops sharply. Samsung’s system autonomously detects frost levels and activates defrosting at optimal times, ensuring both consistent heating performance and energy efficiency.

The company already offers products equipped with this intelligent defrosting technology in Korea, North America, and Europe, and plans to enhance performance further through testing and research at the new Hokkaido lab.

Samsung is also collaborating with the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Sweden, Luleå University of Technology, and local test institutes to strengthen its position in Europe’s rapidly expanding residential heat pump market. Research findings from these partnerships will be validated at the HVAC Test Lab to accelerate the development of more powerful and efficient heating systems.

In addition, the lab will work with Samsung R&D Institute Japan (SRJ) and Hokkaido University to adapt HVAC technologies to local climates and real-life residential environments. Efforts will focus on improving the performance of key components such as compressors and heat exchangers, as well as advancing control and cycle optimization for higher energy efficiency.

“By establishing a test facility in Hokkaido, a region known for its extreme cold, we aim to develop high-efficiency HVAC solutions that ensure stable performance in diverse climate conditions,” said Moon Jong-seung, executive vice president, head of Development, Samsung Digital Appliances (DA) Division. “We will continue to expand our presence in the global HVAC market by securing new growth drivers.”

Samsung has been strengthening its premium HVAC business globally, recently supplying advanced air solutions to projects in Manila, the Philippines, and Bali, Indonesia.