Copeland Named 2026 AHR Innovation Awards Double Category Winner
Recognized in the refrigeration and heating categories for two new products designed to enable decarbonization in the HVACR industry
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 28, 2025 – Copeland, a global leader in sustainable climate solutions, announced today that they have been named a winner in two categories of the 2026 AHR (Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration) Innovation Awards competition. This contest will recognize the most inventive heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) products, systems and technologies at the AHR 2026 Expo in February.
Copeland was named a winner in the refrigeration category for its transcritical CO2 scroll compressor with dynamic vapor injection (DVI) technology, and also named a winner in the heating category for its heating-optimized modulating vapor injection portfolio. Both products support the energy and refrigerant transition across heating, cooling and refrigeration applications.
To date, CO2 refrigeration applications in North America have been primarily centralized booster systems in supermarkets. With the introduction of the transcritical CO2 scroll compressor with DVI, Copeland is expanding its technological leadership in fully integrated CO2 refrigeration solutions and unlocking the potential for smaller-footprint, distributed CO2 booster system architectures. From convenience stores to supermarkets and hypermarkets, distributed CO2 systems can now be applied across various retail sectors and store sizes, including new store installations, remodels and phased retrofits of aging hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) systems.
“We are pleased to be recognized as a category winner,” said Kurt Knapke, vice president/general manager, cold chain at Copeland. “This product features Copeland’s innovative DVI technology, which revolutionizes the process of managing CO2 vapor in the compression cycle. This breakthrough delivers significant enhancements in system efficiency, performance and design. This solution offers smaller system footprints, reduced design complexities and lower applied costs — which collectively contribute to a favorable total cost of ownership.”
The Copeland heating-optimized modulating vapor injection portfolio helps original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of residential heat pumps, commercial rooftop units (RTUs) and applied chillers overcome comfort limitations in cold climate applications, with the ultimate goal of decarbonizing gas-fired heating applications. By combining Copeland’s expertise in modulating compression with its pioneering work in vapor injection, this platform sets new benchmarks for system capacity, efficiency and scalability. Depending on their specific capacity and/or efficiency targets, OEMs can align the modulating compressor technology — from two-stage to variable-speed to tandem configurations — with the application requirements. Increasing capacity modulation ultimately delivers proportionate gains in efficiency and seasonal part-load performance, while enhanced vapor injection (EVI) optimization expands comfort into previously unattainable cold climate scenarios.
“The heating-optimized modulating vapor injection portfolio reflects Copeland’s commitment to technological advancements that redefines what’s possible in commercial and residential heating,” said Mark Bills, vice president/general manager, commercial HVAC at Copeland. “By expanding heat pump applications into cold climates and delivering next-generation efficiencies, we’re helping to enable the decarbonization of legacy heating technologies.”
The AHR Innovation Awards encourage exhibitors to submit new products and technologies for recognition via review and selection by a panel of industry third-party judges. Each year, one of the category winners is selected as the prestigious Product of the Year winner, which will be announced during the show.
Learn more about Copeland’s sustainable solutions at Copeland.com.
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About the Innovation Awards
The AHR Innovation Awards is an annual competition co-sponsored by the AHR Expo, ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers) and AHRI (Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute). It honors the most inventive products, systems and technologies showcased at each year’s AHR Expo. Products compete in the following categories: building automation, cooling, heating, indoor air quality, plumbing, refrigeration, software, tools and instruments, ventilation and sustainable solutions. Winners are selected by a panel of third-party member judges who evaluate all award entries based on innovative design, creativity, application, value and market impact. Companies will be honored during an awards ceremony held at the AHR Expo in Las Vegas on February 2, 2026, where one of the 10 category winners will be named Product of the Year.
About Copeland
Copeland is a global leader in sustainable heating, cooling, cold chain and industrial solutions. We provide mission-critical compression technologies and controls solutions for a broad range of commercial, industrial, refrigeration and residential customers. We address issues like climate change, growing populations, electricity demands and a complex global supply chain with innovations that advance the energy transition, accelerate the adoption of climate-friendly, low-GWP (global warming potential) and natural refrigerants, and safeguard the world’s most critical goods through an efficient and sustainable cold chain. We have over 18,000 colleagues with feet on the ground in more than 40 countries — a global presence that makes it possible to serve customers wherever they are in the world and meet challenges with scale and speed. Our industry-leading brands and diversified portfolio deliver innovation and technology proven in over 200 million installations worldwide. Together, we create sustainable solutions that improve lives and protect the planet today and for future generations. For more information, visit copeland.com.
