Daikin Applied Americas
Daikin Industries' commercial and industrial HVAC business in the Americas, formerly operated under the McQuay name.
Last updated September 23, 2026
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Overview
Daikin Applied Americas is the commercial and industrial heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning business of Daikin Industries in the Americas. The business designs, manufactures, distributes, and supports equipment and systems used in commercial buildings, institutional facilities, industrial sites, and other large or technically demanding applications. Its portfolio includes chillers, air-handling units, rooftop systems, coils, fan coils, condensing equipment, self-contained systems, unit ventilators, packaged terminal air conditioners, water-source heat pumps, modular central plants, replacement parts, and aftermarket services. The operation traces its history to McQuay Radiator, incorporated in Minneapolis in 1933. Early development centered on commercial air-conditioning components and systems, including unit ventilators and hermetic compressors. During the Second World War, McQuay's manufacturing facilities were redirected to defense production, making equipment such as self-sealing fuel tanks and bomb-release shackles for military aircraft. After the war, the company expanded as commercial air conditioning became increasingly common in offices, schools, hospitals, retail properties, and industrial buildings. It became a major producer of heat-transfer coils and gradually broadened its product range through international expansion, licensing, mergers, and acquisitions. McQuay established overseas sales and licensing activities during the 1960s, including operations connected with Canada, the United Kingdom, Scotland, Australia, and Italy. Its Italian operation, McQuay Europa, was created to manufacture equipment for 50-hertz markets. The business also included the American Automatic Ice Machine Company, whose products were marketed under the Crystal Tips name, although the core enterprise remained focused on commercial HVAC. The company changed ownership several times during the late twentieth century. In 1984 it was acquired by Snyder General in a hostile takeover, after which portions of the business and its assets were divested. McQuay later became known for refrigeration and HVAC engineering developments, including centrifugal and screw chillers, open-protocol controls, modular air handlers, and equipment using newer refrigerants. In 1992 it received a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award after becoming an early manufacturer of chillers using HFC-134a, a refrigerant without ozone-depletion potential. Daikin Industries acquired McQuay in 2006, integrating the business into its global air-conditioning group. The acquisition expanded Daikin's commercial applied-equipment presence in North America and complemented its existing residential and commercial HVAC activities. In 2010, the operation acquired HydroKool LLC, a Phoenix-based designer and manufacturer of packaged, pre-engineered custom HVAC solutions. The same year, the Daikin and McQuay Applied Development Center achieved LEED Gold certification. In late 2013, Daikin retired the McQuay name in favor of Daikin Applied, ending the McQuay brand's use after approximately eight decades. Today, Daikin Applied Americas is positioned around applied HVAC systems rather than consumer air-conditioning products. Its offering combines equipment, controls, indoor-air-quality capabilities, energy-efficiency engineering, parts, maintenance, repair, upgrades, and system-level support. Products are sold through a network of representatives and distributors, with the business serving building owners, engineers, contractors, facility managers, and institutional customers. Its principal competitive themes are equipment efficiency, reliability, lifecycle service, refrigerant transition, building integration, and solutions for large or customized installations.
History
Daikin Applied Americas originated as McQuay Radiator, incorporated in Minneapolis in 1933. The company initially developed commercial air-conditioning equipment and components, including an early classroom unit ventilator and a hermetic compressor designed for air-conditioning applications. Roy Jay Resch served as president from the company's incorporation until his death in 1957. Between 1941 and 1945, McQuay's manufacturing facilities were adapted to support the United States war effort. The company produced self-sealing fuel tanks and extended bomb-release shackles for B-25 aircraft used in the Doolittle Raid. After the war, McQuay expanded its manufacturing base and product sales as commercial air conditioning moved from a specialized installation to a standard requirement in many types of buildings. The company became a leading supplier of heat-transfer coils and broadened its systems portfolio. During the 1960s, McQuay began developing an international presence through sales and licensing arrangements in Canada, England, Scotland, and Australia. In 1965 it established McQuay Europa near Anzio, Italy, to manufacture equipment for 50-hertz electrical markets. The broader business also included American Automatic Ice Machine Company, whose ice products were sold as Crystal Tips. Mergers and acquisitions during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s expanded McQuay's range into additional commercial HVAC categories and larger-capacity equipment. In 1984 Snyder General acquired the company through a hostile takeover, followed by the sale of substantial assets. McQuay subsequently continued as a specialized commercial HVAC business, developing chillers, air handlers, controls, heat pumps, and related equipment. The company was associated with several technology milestones. These included packaged terminal air conditioners, positive-pressure centrifugal chillers, dual centrifugal compressor chillers, HFC-refrigerant equipment, open-protocol controls for building-automation integration, large-tonnage single-screw compressor chillers, custom modular air handlers, R-410A water-source heat pumps, large air-cooled screw chillers, and centrifugal chillers using frictionless magnetic-bearing technology. In 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized McQuay with a Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award for its early design and manufacture of chillers using HFC-134a. Daikin Industries acquired McQuay in 2006. The transaction combined Daikin's global air-conditioning business with McQuay's North American applied-equipment expertise and distribution network. In 2010, McQuay acquired HydroKool LLC, a Phoenix-based company focused on packaged and pre-engineered custom HVAC solutions. Also in 2010, the Daikin and McQuay Applied Development Center received LEED Gold certification. In late 2013, Daikin discontinued the McQuay name and adopted Daikin Applied for the business. The current operation serves commercial and industrial customers with applied HVAC equipment, systems, parts, service, indoor-air-quality offerings, and energy-related solutions. Sales are supported by representatives and distributors, while the business remains part of Daikin Industries' broader global HVAC group.
- 2013
McQuay brand replaced
[1]Daikin retires the McQuay name and adopts Daikin Applied for the commercial applied-equipment business.
- 2010
HydroKool acquisition and LEED certification
[1]McQuay acquires HydroKool and the Daikin-McQuay Applied Development Center receives LEED Gold certification.
- 2006
Daikin acquisition
[1]Daikin Industries acquires McQuay and integrates it into its global air-conditioning group.
- 1992
EPA ozone-protection recognition
[1]McQuay receives a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency award for early chillers using HFC-134a.
- 1984
Acquisition by Snyder General
[1]Snyder General acquires McQuay in a hostile takeover, after which significant business assets are sold.
- 1965
McQuay Europa is established
[1]The company establishes an Italian division near Anzio to manufacture equipment for 50-hertz markets.
- 1941
Manufacturing shifts to wartime production
[1]McQuay's facilities are converted to support the U.S. war effort, producing self-sealing fuel tanks and aircraft bomb-release hardware.
- 1933
McQuay Radiator is incorporated
[1]The Minneapolis-based company that later became Daikin Applied Americas is incorporated and begins developing commercial HVAC products.
Products and positioning
A commercial and industrial applied-HVAC specialist emphasizing energy efficiency, system reliability, engineering flexibility, building integration, indoor air quality, and lifecycle service.
Commercial cooling equipment
Chillers
Daikin Applied's chiller portfolio includes air-cooled and water-cooled systems serving commercial and industrial buildings. The historical McQuay business developed centrifugal, screw, single-screw, and magnetic-bearing chiller technologies, with products designed for large-capacity cooling, energy efficiency, building integration, and lifecycle service.
Air distribution and ventilation
Air-handling units
Air-handling equipment conditions and distributes air throughout commercial and institutional buildings. The range includes standard and custom configurations, modular designs, ventilation functions, filtration, heat-transfer components, and integration with broader building-control systems.
Packaged commercial HVAC
Packaged rooftop and makeup-air systems
Packaged rooftop systems combine heating, cooling, ventilation, and controls in equipment intended for roof-mounted or packaged installations. Makeup-air systems provide conditioned outdoor air for buildings requiring ventilation, pressurization, or replacement of exhausted air.
Heat-pump systems · 2002
Water-source heat pumps
Water-source heat pumps transfer heat through building water loops and can be used in commercial, institutional, and geothermal applications. The historical McQuay portfolio included an early commercial water-source heat pump using R-410A.
Aftermarket services
Commercial HVAC service and parts
The business supports installed equipment through replacement parts, maintenance, repair, upgrades, and related technical services. These offerings extend equipment life, support operating reliability, and help building owners improve system performance without replacing entire installations.
Brand decisions
2013
Rebranding from McQuay to Daikin AppliedStrategyBackground
Daikin sought to present its commercial applied-equipment activities under a unified global brand.
Action taken
The company discontinued the McQuay name and adopted Daikin Applied.
Aftermath
The business continued operating as Daikin Applied Americas, combining the McQuay heritage with Daikin's corporate identity.
2010
Acquisition of HydroKoolM&ABackground
HydroKool designed and manufactured packaged, pre-engineered custom HVAC solutions in Phoenix, Arizona.
Action taken
McQuay acquired HydroKool LLC.
Aftermath
The transaction added packaged custom-solution capabilities to McQuay's applied HVAC portfolio.
2006
Daikin acquires McQuayM&ABackground
McQuay had an established North American presence in commercial and industrial HVAC, while Daikin was expanding its global air-conditioning platform.
Action taken
Daikin Industries acquired McQuay and incorporated the business into its group.
Aftermath
The acquisition strengthened Daikin's applied commercial HVAC presence in North America and preceded the transition from the McQuay identity to Daikin Applied.
Recent events
- 2013
McQuay name retired in favor of Daikin Applied[1]
Leadership change · Other
Daikin ended use of the McQuay name and continued the commercial applied-equipment business under the Daikin Applied identity.
- 2010
McQuay acquires HydroKool[1]
M&A
McQuay acquired HydroKool LLC of Phoenix, Arizona, expanding its capabilities in packaged, pre-engineered custom HVAC solutions.
- 2006
Daikin Industries acquires McQuay[1]
M&A
Daikin Industries acquired McQuay, bringing the established North American commercial HVAC manufacturer into the Daikin Group.
Sources2 sources
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