Johnson Controls launches YORK YDAM: the ultimate high-density chiller for multistory data centers and AI factories

Rhea-AI Summary

Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) launched the YORK YDAM, an air-cooled magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller delivering up to 3.5 MW of cooling and up to 20% increased capacity density versus competing solutions. The compact unit fits on a 53-foot flatbed trailer and targets multistory data centers and AI factories. Shipments begin in late 2026, and the design supports warm-water cooling up to 45°C, aiming to reduce pump size, energy use, and on-site chiller counts.

Positive

• 3.5 MW cooling capacity in a single unit
• 20% higher capacity density versus competitors
• Fits on a 53-foot flatbed trailer for simpler transport
• Supports 45°C warm-water cooling for modern GPUs

Negative

• Shipments begin in late 2026, delaying near-term revenue impact
• Key performance claims are company-reported and not independently verified

Key Figures

Share price: $122.98 Daily move: 3.12% Market cap: $72,995,015,728 +5 more

8 metrics

Share price $122.98 Pre-news level, Feb 3, 2026

Daily move 3.12% Price change over prior 24 hours

Market cap $72,995,015,728 Equity value before article

200-day MA $107.36 Long-term moving average level

Cooling capacity 3.5MW Maximum cooling of YORK YDAM chiller

Capacity density gain 20% Increased capacity density vs other solutions

White space density 10 times Potential increase in multistory data center white space density

Warm-water cooling 45°C Chilled-fluid setpoint for GPUs

Market Reality Check

Price: $122.98 Vol: Volume 5,400,212 vs 20-da...

normal vol

$122.98 Last Close

Volume Volume 5,400,212 vs 20-day average 6,368,533 (relative volume 0.85) suggests subdued activity pre‑announcement. normal

Technical Price 122.98 is trading above the 200-day MA at 107.36, indicating an established upward trend before this AI-focused product news.

Peers on Argus

JCI was up 3.12% while key peers CARR, TT, LII, CSL and MAS rose between 0.41% a...

JCI was up 3.12% while key peers CARR, TT, LII, CSL and MAS rose between 0.41% and 1.56%, indicating company-specific strength on top of a generally positive group tone.

Previous AI Reports

3 past events · Latest: Dec 09 (Positive)

Same Type Pattern 3 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 09	Retail AI analytics	Positive	+0.7%	Launch of AI-powered in-store shopper behavior analytics for Sensormatic Solutions.
Jul 08	Re-ID AI launch	Positive	-0.5%	Enhanced retail traffic analytics using Re-ID and deep learning AI capabilities.
Nov 12	OpenBlue AI upgrades	Positive	-1.7%	Expanded AI features in OpenBlue, targeting energy, maintenance and space optimization.

Pattern Detected

AI-tagged announcements have produced modest mixed reactions, with more divergences than clean positive alignments.

Recent Company History

Over the past year, Johnson Controls has released several AI-themed updates across its portfolio. These include new AI-powered shopper analytics for Sensormatic Solutions, Re-ID deep learning capabilities for retail traffic, and expanded AI features in the OpenBlue digital ecosystem, which reported up to 30% lower energy spend and 20% lower maintenance costs. Market reactions to these AI announcements have been relatively muted, with an average move of about 0.93%. The current AI-focused chiller launch extends this ongoing digitization and analytics theme into data center infrastructure.

Historical Comparison

AI

+0.9 %

Average Historical Move

Historical Analysis

In the past year, JCI reported 3 AI-tagged updates with an average move of 0.93%. Today’s 3.12% gain on an AI-focused data center chiller represents a stronger-than-usual reaction versus prior AI news.

Typical Pattern

AI initiatives have evolved from software and analytics (OpenBlue, Sensormatic traffic insights) toward enabling AI workloads in physical infrastructure, now including high-density data center cooling and support for GPU warm-water systems.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights Johnson Controls’ push into high-density data center and AI infrastruct...

Analysis

This announcement highlights Johnson Controls’ push into high-density data center and AI infrastructure with the YORK YDAM chiller, offering up to 3.5MW of cooling and around 20% higher capacity density. It builds on prior AI efforts in OpenBlue and Sensormatic analytics, extending AI enablement into physical cooling for GPU workloads. Investors may watch how this product competes in multistory data centers, its adoption pace, and how it complements broader AI and building-efficiency initiatives.

Key Terms

magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller, AI factories, GPUs, CapEx, +3 more

7 terms

magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller technical

"the YORK YDAM air-cooled magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller."

A magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller is a large refrigeration unit that cools buildings or industrial processes by using a high-speed, spinning compressor held in place by magnetic fields instead of traditional oil-lubricated bearings. Like a levitating top, the magnetic support cuts friction and wear, so the machine uses less electricity, needs less maintenance, and runs quieter—factors that can lower operating costs, reduce shutdown risk and improve long-term asset value for investors.

AI factories technical

"multistory data centers and AI factories are becoming more common"

AI factories are organized platforms and processes that turn raw data and computing power into finished AI products and services at scale — think of them as automated assembly lines for machine intelligence. For investors, they matter because they concentrate the tools, data and infrastructure that speed up development, lower unit costs and make it easier to roll out new AI features, which can translate into faster revenue growth or cost savings for companies that operate them.

GPUs technical

"support 45°C warm-water cooling of the latest generation of inference and training GPUs."

GPUs are specialized computer chips originally designed to draw images on screens but now widely used to speed up tasks like artificial intelligence, scientific calculations, and data analysis. For investors, GPU demand is a signal about where computing power is being deployed — rising GPU sales can boost makers of chips and the datacenters that use them, influence supply chains and prices, and indicate which companies have a performance edge, much like a restaurant gaining an advantage by hiring many fast, skilled cooks.

CapEx financial

"helping to reduce pump size and energy consumption – delivering CapEx and OpEx savings."

Capex, short for capital expenditures, refers to the money a company spends to buy, upgrade, or maintain physical assets such as buildings, equipment, or technology. It matters to investors because these investments can help a company grow and improve its long-term performance, but they also represent significant costs that can impact profitability and cash flow.

OpEx financial

"helping to reduce pump size and energy consumption – delivering CapEx and OpEx savings."

Operating expenses (often abbreviated opex) are the day-to-day costs a company incurs to run its business, such as employee pay, rent, utilities, and routine marketing. For investors, opex matters because higher or rising operating costs reduce profits and cash available for growth or dividends, while lower or well-controlled opex can indicate better efficiency—think of it as a household’s monthly bills that determine how much is left to save or invest.

magnetic bearing compressors technical

"YDAM chillers utilize YORK magnetic bearing compressors, allowing high chilled-fluid setpoints"

Magnetic bearing compressors are machines that compress gases while the spinning shaft is held in place by magnetic fields instead of physical contact, like a levitating puck on an air hockey table or a maglev train. That contact-free support cuts friction and wear, making the compressor more efficient, quieter, and less prone to breakdowns, which can lower operating costs and downtime — factors that affect a company’s margins, capital needs and reliability for investors.

data center thermal management technical

"its newest innovation in data center thermal management, the YORK YDAM"

Systems and practices that control temperature, humidity and airflow inside facilities that house computer servers, ensuring equipment stays cool and operates reliably. Effective thermal management lowers energy and repair costs, reduces the risk of outages, and extends the life of expensive hardware—much like a building’s heating and air-conditioning system keeps occupants comfortable while cutting utility bills—which directly affects a data center operator’s profitability and operational risk profile.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

• With up to 3.5MW of cooling, the YORK YDAM delivers up to 20% increased capacity density than other available solutions.
• The compact design is ideal for multistory data centers with high density workloads.
• The YDAM is built on the industry-leading YORK YVAM platform, recognized by ABI Research and named to Fortune's Change the World list for efficiency and zero water consumption.

MILWAUKEE, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, today announced its newest innovation in data center thermal management, the YORK YDAM air-cooled magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller. The innovative chiller is purpose-built to overcome the complex space and site challenges in high-density, multistory data centers. Built around the company's award-winning YORK YVAM chiller technology, YDAM delivers best-in-class cooling capacity within a compact footprint, helping data centers scale faster and more efficiently without consuming water.

Due to increasing land constraints, multistory data centers and AI factories are becoming more common, increasing the density of the white space (where the racks live) by up to 10 times. Data center leaders therefore need higher density thermal management solutions to fit a shrinking roofline. With 3.5MW of cooling, YDAM delivers up to 20% increased capacity density in a more compact footprint than competing solutions. It fits on a 53-foot, standard flatbed trailer, making it easy to ship and minimizing transportation, rigging and lifting costs. Johnson Controls will begin shipments in late 2026.

"AI and high-performance computing are pushing data centers beyond traditional limits. Vertical sites can unlock new growth opportunities, but they demand thermal management solutions that deliver maximum cooling outputs in minimum space," said Austin Domenici, vice president and general manager, Johnson Controls Global Data Center Solutions. "The impressive capacity and reduced footprint of YDAM could allow operators to cut the number of chillers on site by up to half, accelerating deployments and helping meet skilled onsite labor needs."

YDAM chillers utilize YORK magnetic bearing compressors, allowing high chilled-fluid setpoints to support 45°C warm-water cooling of the latest generation of inference and training GPUs. They are also capable of operating with wide temperature differences, helping to reduce pump size and energy consumption – delivering CapEx and OpEx savings.  

Developed in the state-of-the-art Johnson Controls Advanced Development and Engineering Center (JADEC), YDAM chillers are tested against the most extreme real-world conditions, ensuring unmatched performance and reliability. YORK YDAM chillers are backed by a robust network of resources, including dedicated support teams and fast service and parts delivery.

To learn more, visit https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/events/ahr-2026.   

MEDIA CONTACTS: 

Louise Colledge
Direct: +41 79 414 4996 
Email: louise.colledge@jci.com

Kari Pfisterer
Direct: +1 414-217-1488
Email: kari.b.pfisterer@jci.com

About Johnson Controls: 

At Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI), we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. As the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet.  

Building on 140 years of innovation, we deliver the blueprint for the future across industries such as healthcare, schools, data centers, airports, stadiums, manufacturing, and beyond through OpenBlue, our comprehensive digital offering.  

Today, Johnson Controls offers the world`s largest portfolio of building technology and software as well as service solutions from some of the most trusted names in the industry.  

Visit johnsoncontrols.com for more information and follow @Johnsoncontrols on social platforms. 

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SOURCE Johnson Controls International plc

FAQ

What cooling capacity does the YORK YDAM chiller (JCI) offer?

The YORK YDAM offers up to 3.5 MW of cooling capacity. According to Johnson Controls, this supports high-density multistory data centers and AI facilities with compact footprints.

How much denser is the YORK YDAM compared with competing chillers (JCI)?

Johnson Controls says YDAM delivers up to 20% increased capacity density versus other solutions. According to the company, that density helps reduce onsite chiller counts and floor/roof space needs.

When will Johnson Controls ship YORK YDAM chillers and how does timing affect deployment?

Shipments of YORK YDAM are scheduled to begin in late 2026. According to Johnson Controls, that timing targets larger deployment cycles and logistics planning for data center projects.

Can YORK YDAM support warm-water cooling for modern AI GPUs (JCI)?

Yes. According to Johnson Controls, YDAM supports chilled-fluid setpoints that enable up to 45°C warm-water cooling, designed for the latest inference and training GPUs.

How does the YORK YDAM design reduce installation and transport costs for data centers (JCI)?

The compact YDAM fits on a 53-foot standard flatbed trailer, simplifying shipping, rigging, and lifting. According to Johnson Controls, this lowers transportation and on-site installation costs.