Description of TURBOCOR & AUCHIEVE Founding Experience

The Turbocor oil-free magnetic bearing centrifugal compressor was first conceived in Melbourne, Australia in the early 1990s. After nearly a decade of research and development, the technology was successfully commercialized in the early 2000s, marking the birth of the Turbocor oil-free magnetic levitation centrifugal compressor.

When first introduced, Turbocor faced several challenges—technical barriers, limited R&D funding, and other constraints typical of emerging technologies. The early compressor models had high rotor speeds and complex control requirements, while the available range of models was narrow. For example, only the TT300 model was in production at the time, offering around 80RT of cooling capacity under standard conditions, limiting its competitiveness against traditional large capacity single-compressor centrifugal machines.

During the same period, the giants of the American refrigeration and air conditioning industry already offered large-scale centrifugal compressors with single-unit capacities of 800RT to over 1000RT. In comparison, Turbocor’s early units were unable to match the performance or cost-effectiveness of traditional chillers. To achieve the same cooling output as a single 800RT traditional chiller, roughly ten TT300 compressors would have been required — a costly and impractical solution at that time.

A turning point came in 2006, when Danfoss, a global leader in refrigeration technology, acquired a 50% stake in Turbocor. Now with financial backing, Turbocor's original R&D team turned its attention to the development, production, and manufacturing of oil-free magnetic bearing centrifugal chillers, using Turbocor compressors as a core component. In 2012, Danfoss had acquired full ownership and established its main manufacturing base in Tallahassee, USA, followed by a second global production facility in Haiyan, Zhejiang Province, China. Since then, Turbocor’s global production capacity and market reach have continued to expand rapidly. 

Between 2010 and 2020, Turbocor technology evolved from its Australian roots into a truly global platform. Its competitive advantage expanded beyond “minimum refrigeration energy loss” to include a wider range of capacities—now up to 2500RT per chiller—as well as compatibility with multiple environmentally friendly refrigerants such as R134a, R515B, and R1234ze. The technology has proven particularly effective in Data Centre cooling, where efficiency and load flexibility are critical.

Today, all major global manufacturers of oil-free magnetic bearing centrifugal chillers using Turbocor oil-free magnetic compressors have purchased these compressors from Danfoss. Through innovative assembly designs and advanced control strategies, these manufacturers have achieved exceptional performance, with leading production centres now located in Australia, North America, and Europe. The design philosophy of the original Australian Turbocor team continues to shape the industry’s progress.

Core members of the APVEEK Australian team have been engaged in Turbocor oil-free magnetic bearing chiller R&D and production since around 2005, while members of APVEEK’s Chinese team began collaborating with top global Turbocor design and manufacturing teams from 2010 onward. This dual-market foundation has enabled APVEEK to fully understand and serve both the Australian and Chinese markets.

APVEEK officially entered the Australian market in 2019, and in 2023 established a dedicated Australian oil-free magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller design and development team. In early 2024, the company produced its first Auchieve oil-free magnetic centrifugal chiller in China, equipped with a Danfoss Turbocor compressor. By June 2025, APVEEK had completed a fully independent design, R&D, production, and sales system at its new factory in Jiangmen, GD, China.

The introduction of the Turbocor oil-free magnetic bearing chiller represents a fundamental shift in refrigeration industry design — from traditional large single-compressor systems to modular, multi-compressor configurations. Instead of developing multiple compressor models ranging from 300RT to 1500RT, manufacturers can now achieve a wide range of capacities through parallel modular integration using a few standardized compressors such as the TT300, TT350, TT400, TT700, and VTX1600.

This modular philosophy mirrors advanced engineering approaches used in other industries—for example, SpaceX’s Raptor engine design, which combines multiple smaller engines to achieve scalable total output. Similarly, chillers built using Turbocor technology can connect 7 to 8 compressors in parallel, enabling redundancy, part-load efficiency, and operational flexibility. If one compressor fails, the remaining units continue to operate, minimizing downtime and maintaining cooling output. 

This approach also allows a single chiller to achieve variable cooling capacities previously attainable only through multiple machines, offering significant advantages in energy savings, system control, and initial investment costs.

AUCHIEVE, a brand developed by the APVEEK team in Melbourne, was created to advance the next generation of oil-free magnetic bearing centrifugal chillers built on Turbocor technology. AUCHIEVE embodies APVEEK’s mission to deliver world-class chiller solutions that combine technical excellence, environmental responsibility, and manufacturing innovation. As Turbocor production increases, and the number of models remains small (other more advanced compressors of refrigerants environmentally friendly are developed and can be used in high-end developed country markets), the manufacturing model of multiple compressors in parallel will further gain commercial output advantages.

APVEEK’s goal is to become one of the world’s leading manufacturers of Turbocor-based chillers, driving global progress in sustainable, energy-efficient HVAC systems. Through a deep understanding of Turbocor compressor technology and its applications, APVEEK is committed to expanding into broader energy-saving and environmental protection sectors, delivering value to end users and contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable future.