Dunham-Bush, a 130-year-old American brand, has established itself as a key player in the global Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry, owing to its long-standing reputation and exceptional product quality.
According to Yu Baoshuang, Managing Director of Dunham-Bush Malaysia, the company has remained at the forefront of innovation, energy efficiency, and reliable performance. In the 1960s, Dunham-Bush became the first company to develop and implement screw compressor technology for HVAC systems. This competitive advantage is something the company continues to maintain today.
Yu Baoshuang, managing director, Dunham-Bush Malaysia
Currently, Dunham-Bush operates 15 sales offices and three manufacturing plants globally, employing over 3,000 people. A recent report by Research and Markets forecasts a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.73% for Malaysia's air conditioning market over the next five years. As an industry leader, Dunham-Bush recognizes that strengthening independent innovation and continuously enhancing overall quality, efficiency, and competitiveness are essential to maintaining its market edge.
Dunham-Bush Malaysia headquarters
Cross-Cultural Integration: The Convergence of Brand Wisdom
Dunham-Bush's global footprint includes a key facility in Malaysia, covering 12-acre (48,500 square meters). This Malaysian plant employs over 800 employees and plays a critical role in the company's operations, manufacturing not only conventional air conditioning products like centrifugal chillers, water-cooled and air-cooled magnetic bearing chillers, screw chillers, air handling units (AHUs), fan coil units (FCUs), packaged units, variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems, and unitary products, but also specialized systems such as "Data Centre Solution (DCS) system", "Computer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC) System" and "Thermal Energy Storage (TES) Integrated System". These advanced solutions are designed to provide reliable high efficiency products to significantly reduce energy consumption, addressing the pressing energy challenges businesses face globally.
This success is largely attributed to Dunham-Bush's robust focus on research and development. In the 1990s, the company introduced a series of centrifugal compressors offering a broad capacity range, reliable performance, and exceptional efficiency. The demand for more efficient products with lower maintenance costs led to the development of its magnetic bearing chiller series, which utilize magnetic field technology to suspend the compressor shaft, eliminating the need for lubricating oil, which results in smoother operation, higher efficiency, greater reliability, and reduced maintenance. The magnetic bearing chillers are the main product for data centre with stringent specifications, field safety requirements, and more.
Dunham-Bush ACM-AE series air-cooled magnetic bearing chiller
Innovation and Sustainability: A Foundation for Long-Term Success
Dunham-Bush also adapts its product portfolio to meet evolving refrigerant demands. Its range of environmentally friendly hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerants, such as R513A, R1234ze, and R1233zd, boast low ozone depletion potential (ODP) and low global warming potential (GWP), aligning with the industry's sustainability goals.
The company's robust foundation has led to impressive results. According to Yu Baoshuang, Dunham-Bush has maintained its profitability throughout the years. "Even during the challenging pandemic years of 2020-2022, when many businesses in Malaysia were laying off employees, we not only avoided layoffs but also raised salaries and issued bonuses," he said. Today, Dunham-Bush Malaysia has grown to become one of the largest manufacturers of HVAC applied products in Southeast Asia, in terms of sales revenue and profit.
Dunham-Bush Malaysia factory's AHRI-certified test stand
Southeast Asia: The Strategic Growth Market
Dunham-Bush Malaysia serves a diverse range of markets, both within Malaysia and internationally, including the USA, Australia, the Middle East & North Africa (MENA), India, Singapore, and other Asian countries. Notably, the company exports 80% of its manufactured products to these regions, highlighting its significant global presence and the strong demand for its offerings across multiple international markets.
Yu Baoshuang further emphasized that Southeast Asia remains the most promising market for Dunham-Bush Malaysia. Proximity to key markets, shorter delivery times, and shared technical requirements provide a distinct competitive advantage over regional rivals.
"Our after-sales service market has also seen significant improvements," Yu added. "With our strong local technical expertise and dedicated service teams, we ensure product reliability and customer satisfaction. We also plan to establish local manufacturing or assembly facilities in these countries through joint ventures (JVs) or original equipment manufacturing (OEM) arrangements with local manufacturers."
