Emerson celebrates the 100th anniversary of its Copeland™ brand this year, a name that has become synonymous with leadership in the design and manufacture of reliable and energy efficient compressors for powering air conditioning systems, heating and refrigeration that improve and protect the environments in which people live and work. It is a milestone that Emerson intends to emphasize in the coming months as the company continues to innovate with increasingly advanced Copeland products to solve critical industry challenges.

In an effort to strengthen Copeland’s commitment to continuous innovation and with a stubborn focus on solving critical customer problems, Emerson has completed a multi-million dollar expansion of its Copeland engineering facility in Sydney, Ohio. With this investment, more than 10,000m² of new engineering laboratory space has been created for product research, development and testing of the next generation of compressors, electronics and other critical technologies for the global HVAC&R

Much of the work in the Sydney laboratories focuses on innovative compressor technologies that enable the use of more environmentally friendly refrigerants with a lower global warming potential (GWP), in order to meet and even exceed standards and the regulations on efficiency, while managing to satisfy the design needs of customers. This investment represents the latest addition to Emerson's global network of R&D centers and customer solutions in Germany, the United States and China, driving innovation and digital transformation across a variety of industries and applications.

Headquartered in Aachen, Germany, the Emerson European Solutions Center develops integrated solutions to address market challenges. The engineering team has in-depth skills in key areas: From analytical engineering to system design optimization up to advanced electronics. Close collaboration with our customers and a worldwide design and test infrastructure are the key factors in the success of our ability to invent and develop revolutionary technologies. The 600-square-meter facility features a laboratory where multiple designs, technologies and components can be tested under real-world conditions.

The history of the Copeland brand began with inventor Edmund Copeland, who in 1921 founded a company in Detroit, Michigan aiming to transform the refrigeration industry through his unique inventions. Due to the difficulties that arose during the Great Depression, the assets were sold and the businesses moved in 1937 to Sidney, Ohio. In Sydney, four enterprising young engineers of the company acquired the business and the patent of the compressor, because they understood all its future potential. When Emerson bought Copeland in 1986, he continued to honor the spirit of resourcefulness and inventiveness embodied by its founder and those who had believed in the brand.

Emerson made significant investments in the development of a new scroll compressor that Copeland was working on at the time of the acquisition and, in 1987, released the first scroll compressor sold under the Copeland brand. The success of the product helped revolutionize the air conditioning and refrigeration industry around the world, thanks to highly efficient and reliable performance, leading to the introduction of a Copeland scroll compressor family for applications ranging from air conditioning to residential. and light industry, heating and refrigeration systems for the food and health sector and that of maritime containers.

Emerson has never backed down from its commitment to continually innovate the Copeland product portfolio and related technologies, becoming a leader in sustainable solutions that improve efficiency, reduce emissions and conserve resources. 

In addition to Copeland scroll compressors, Emerson designs, manufactures and markets a full range of semi-hermetic compressors and condensing units.