Johnson Controls unveils trailer‑transportable YORK YDAM 3.5MW chiller for vertical AI data centres

Johnson Controls unveils trailer‑transportable YORK YDAM for vertical AI data centres

A compact, high‑capacity chiller tailored for multistory sites

Johnson Controls introduces the YORK YDAM, an air‑cooled magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller that delivers up to 3.5 MW of cooling and targets space‑constrained, multistory data centres and AI factories. Built on the award‑winning YORK YVAM platform, the YDAM retains the platform’s zero‑water consumption and high efficiency while increasing capacity density by as much as 20% versus competing solutions. The unit’s compact footprint allows it to fit on a standard 53‑foot flatbed trailer, reducing transportation, rigging and lifting costs that often delay urban and vertical deployments.

The YDAM is purpose‑built to address rising white‑space densities and shrinking rooflines in modern computing facilities, where rack power and thermal loads escalate with AI and high‑performance computing. Johnson Controls says the chiller can halve the number of chillers required on site in some installations, accelerating project timelines and lowering onsite labour needs at a time when skilled rigging crews are scarce. The magnetic bearing centrifugal technology also supports quieter operation and reduced mechanical maintenance compared with oil‑lubricated systems, helping operators cut operating impediments associated with traditional large chillers.

Johnson Controls schedules shipments to begin in late 2026, positioning the YDAM as a drop‑in option for operators seeking faster, more efficient rollouts without consuming water. Austin Domenici, vice president and general manager of Global Data Center Solutions at Johnson Controls, says the product’s combination of capacity and reduced footprint “could materially change how operators design and populate multistory data centre infrastructure,” enabling high‑capacity cooling where land is limited while maintaining sustainability goals.

Shipments, logistics and customer impact

By enabling transport on standard flatbed trailers, the YDAM reduces project logistics and on‑site complexity, which can lower capital and installation timelines for customers building in dense urban footprints or on capped roof areas.

Industry pressures: density, water and energy

The launch responds to accelerating thermal demands from AI and HPC and growing scrutiny of water use in cooling; Johnson Controls leans on its YORK YVAM heritage and awards recognition to pitch the YDAM as a scalable, water‑free cooling choice for data centre operators.