Malaysia’s leading air conditioning brand Daikin commemorates 100 years of continuous innovation and reliable service for comfortable life
This year marks a monumental milestone for Daikin as it celebrates its 100th anniversary, marking a century of innovation, quality and dedication to sustainable living.
Over the past century, Daikin has established itself as a house- hold name, synonymous with reliability and excellence in air solutions.
As part of its centennial celebrations, Daikin not only honours its rich heritage but also highlights its unwavering commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements, prioritising customer satisfaction and championing sustainable initiatives.
100 Years of Daikin Air Solutions
Daikin Malaysia Sales & Service Sdn Bhd managing director Lawrence Song said that the past century has been eventful for the company, with plans already underway for the next 100 years.
Song, who has dedicated over 35 years of service to Daikin, in a variety of roles starting from an entry-level position to managing director today, attributes the company’s success, in Malaysia and globally, to its focus on providing holistic air solutions.
“As an air conditioning company, we prioritise provisioning air solutions to any kind of application, whether it be for households, hotels, shopping centres or government buildings,” he says.
“We are the only company that concentrates solely on air conditioning, since the company’s inception. This has been our goal, in the past and moving into the future, to provide air comfort for generations, as we have done for the past 100 years.”
Continuous Innovation
Song adds that Daikin Malaysia has been successful in the country, thanks to its numerous contributions to the air conditioning industry.
He says that Daikin Malaysia continues to “set the standard” for air conditioning units, and their installation, by establishing rigorous guidelines and specifications for its local installers and external contractors.
“In Malaysia, there are many air conditioning companies. But in terms of companies that try to uplift the standard of air conditioning services in the country, I believe Daikin is leading the way,” says Song.
“The most critical part of purchasing air conditioning units or systems is the installation. This is why we emphasise a lot on good installation quality. We are trying to create a platform for everyone to learn how to conduct good installations, to ‘set the standard’ for every company to follow. If installation is done well, you can have a long-lasting product.”
He adds that the company has set up its own Daikin Academy and actively collaborates with government bodies to improve installer’s knowledge and upgrade their capabilities in handling various types of installations.
Daikin Malaysia has also introduced innovative low-carbon refrigerants and inverter motors into their products, to continue pioneering new methods and practices for the industry.
It is the only company to win The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Award twice for the contribution to Engineering Industry in Malaysia for innovation, sustainability and engineering excellence.
Customer-first Approach
Daikin Malaysia Sales & Service Sdn Bhd general manager Lee Wai Kok shares that the company has been able to adapt to market changes over the past century, thanks to its customer-centric approach, with products and services that make people’s lives easier and more comfortable.
“Times have changed in recent years since the Covid-19 pandemic. In this time, we have seen many technological advancements and changes, especially in electrical and electronic products. This is why we now ensure that every Daikin air conditioning unit has built-in WiFi capabilities. This feature paves the way for future innovations, allowing us to provide numerous useful features and integrate with Internet of Things (IoT) and smart home systems.”
Lee adds that Daikin Malaysia is also working on making its Go Daikin application a one-stop solution to address all customer needs and queries.
“We want to make our app the perfect solution for our customers so that they can control their air conditioning units remotely and monitor their energy usage,” he says.
“We don’t just sell products, we also sell solutions, and this is how we continue to evolve over the years.”
He points out that the company will be integrating numerous features to support customers into the Go Daikin app, including a diagnostics tool for installers and contractors.
One such feature is the Daikin Air Conditioning Service, Go Clean feature which allows customers to conveniently book next- day air conditioner cleaning services via the app.
The cleaning will be conducted by certified technicians under the Daikin Academy, with customers being offered a 60-day workmanship warranty.
Lee shares that Daikin Malaysia also places a great emphasis on its after-sales service, with 10 branches and three service centres across the country, to support its entire customer base.
Pioneering Sustainability
Lee says that Daikin Malaysia has been successful over the years, thanks to its efforts in championing sustainable initiatives and practices.
“We have a long-term goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Not just in product development, but also in our manufacturing processes,” he says.
“To achieve this goal, we have already implemented the use of electric vehicles (EV) in our factories nationwide. Even in terms of procurement, we get our external suppliers to comply with these types of initiatives.”
He adds that the company also employs a heat-reclamation system to recycle hot air produced from air conditioning units, for use in water heating systems.
“Instead of using extra energy to heat water, we have found a way to channel the generated heat, so there is no waste of energy. This acts as a sustainable system for water heating, where the heated water can then be used for showering, cleaning or washing.”
Lee shares that the company also aims to start a refrigerant recycling initiative, to reduce the carbon emissions created by releasing refrigerants into the air.
By Mark Ryan Raj (The Star)
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