LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — Midea Residential Air Conditioning (Midea RAC) has expanded its North American product development and training capabilities with new HVAC and water solutions facilities at the Midea America Research Center (MARC) in Louisville, Kentucky.

The expansion includes a 16,000-square-foot laboratory for residential HVAC and water solutions development and testing. A new showroom will support product demonstrations and hands-on training for industry partners.

The investment expands MARC to 157,000 square feet. The research center brings together teams focused on market research, regulatory compliance, performance testing, structural engineering, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

The additional laboratory space will support development and testing of products for the North American market, including all-climate heat pump technologies and Midea’s EVOX platform. The facility also provides a dedicated environment for industry partners to learn about Midea equipment and Easy Upgrade solutions designed to simplify HVAC replacement and installation.

“Expanding our capabilities at MARC brings product development and industry education closer together,” said Chris Hoffmann, general manager and head of HVAC and water heating for North America at Midea America Corp.

The expanded facility will complement Midea’s existing training location in Dallas. Distributors can bring contractor partners to Louisville for instruction on inverter-driven heat pump technologies, including the EVOX platform.

Midea’s training team offers certified courses covering HVAC system application and installation. Instruction combines hands-on laboratory work and equipment demonstrations with live virtual classes. Some courses are certified by North American Technician Excellence (NATE).

Because the equipment is operational, instructors can simulate system issues and service scenarios in a controlled training environment.

The facility will also support Midea’s university and cooperative education partnerships. Engineering students from local institutions and schools across the country will gain experience working alongside Midea’s Louisville-based team in an active product development environment.

“Connecting market research directly with engineering and validation at MARC helps our teams move more efficiently from an identified market need to a product designed for North American conditions,” said Adam Schultz, executive director of the Midea America Research Center.

MARC opened in Louisville in 2015 and has since grown into a U.S. center for Midea’s engineering and product development work.