Kyung Dong Navien builds tech hubs on US East and West coasts, eyes local production

Kyung Dong Navien has established technology development and professional training hubs on both the East and West coasts of the United States, as the company moves to expand its heating, ventilation and air conditioning business in North America beyond its core water heater and boiler lines. The company is also pursuing the construction of a local production facility in the country.

Kyung Dong Navien said Monday it had opened Innovation Centers and Training Academies in New Jersey and Irvine, California. Opening ceremonies held Tuesday in New Jersey and Friday in Irvine (local time) drew about 170 attendees, including representatives from Johnstone, a major North American distributor, and Indoor Weather, an installation and construction firm.

The new hubs come as Kyung Dong Navien undergoes a structural shift in its North American business. The company posted consolidated sales of 813.5 billion won ($608 million) in the first half of this year, with North America accounting for 504.9 billion won — roughly 62 percent of total revenue. The company plans to leverage the distribution network it has built through water heater and boiler sales to expand into heat pumps and water treatment systems.

The Innovation Centers will serve as technology bases for developing products suited to North American residential environments and installation conditions. Engineers will verify performance through product testing and on-site trials, analyze quality issues that arise after installation, and feed findings back into product and component improvements. The centers will also work with the research and development division at the Korean headquarters to support new product development and US certification processes.

The Training Academies will offer education programs for local installers, construction specialists, distributors and sales agents. The curriculum, previously focused on water heaters, boilers and combi systems, will expand to cover HVAC and water treatment systems. Training will span product demonstrations, hands-on installation practice, inspection and troubleshooting.

The company is also reviewing plans to build a production facility in the United States, aiming to extend its existing local footprint — currently focused on technology development and training — into manufacturing to strengthen supply stability and market responsiveness. However, the specific location, investment scale and operation schedule have not yet been disclosed.

"The centers and academies in New Jersey and Irvine are strategic bases for channeling feedback from North American customers into our products and technology, and translating that into customer value," a company official said. "Drawing on the data and technical capabilities accumulated at the centers, we will develop differentiated HVAC products such as hybrid systems, while also pursuing the establishment of a production base in the United States to create a new turning point."