Hitachi Cooling & Heating is strengthening its commercial HVAC portfolio with the launch of the R32 version of the air365 Max (Pro) series, a new top-flow Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system.
The new solution is designed to complement the existing R410A range, operates with the R32 refrigerant (GWP 675), and delivers reliable performance, advanced safety features, enhanced comfort and easy installation.
The series has been developed in line with the requirements of European F-Gas regulations, supporting the industry’s transition towards refrigerants with a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP). With capacities from 14 to 150kW, the range is available in two models: the standard air365 Max and air365 Max Pro, designed for enhanced energy performance.
The system is equipped with a new generation Scroll Inverter Compressor with vapour injection technology. It delivers higher performance and expands operating ranges from -25°C in heating mode. The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) is up to 8.97 with a Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) of up to 5.01.
The air365 Max (Pro) is suited to a broad range of commercial projects. The system supports multiple configurations from single module to three module combinations, offers a total piping length of up to 1000m and up to 110m height, and provides connection ratios up to 200%, enabling greater design flexibility. Compatibility spans a variety of indoor unit types, including wall-mounted, cassette, and ducted units.
airSerenity: safety built in by design
air365 Max (Pro) is designed with the safety at its core. Operating with R32 refrigerant, rated as an A2L (mildly flammable) gas, the system incorporates airSerenity factory-integrated safety measures, which provide peace of mind for installers. As part of the concept, Hitachi’s air365 R32 indoor units are equipped with a 10-year-life sensor kit with two redundant sensors as standard. The new wired remote control integrates both audible and visual alarm alerts to ensure control of the installation in the event of a leak. Additionally, an optional shut-off valve unit equipped with a dual leak detector enhances safety by isolating the section affected by a leak. This allows the rest of the installation to be manually restarted and resume normal operation.
Enhanced customer experience
The series incorporates several of Hitachi’s technologies, including Smart Defrost, Gentle Cool and Smooth Drive Control 2.0, to deliver optimal comfort and efficiency in every season. In heating mode, the Smart Defrost technology intelligently detects when defrosting is required and automatically optimises the heat exchanger temperature to remove ice and frost efficiently. By initiating defrost cycles only when necessary, it helps to reduce unnecessary operation and improves overall system performance.
For enhanced occupant comfort, the Gentle Cool function, available through wired remote controls, maintains a minimum airflow temperature to prevent cold drafts. This helps create a consistently comfortable indoor environment, even during defrost cycles.
Hitachi’s Smooth Drive Control 2.0 technology continuously and directly adjusts indoor unit capacity to match the actual load, eliminating the need for indirect control through evaporating temperature changes. Combined with compressor frequency control as precise as 0.1 Hz and room temperature sensing accuracy to 0.1°C, it delivers rapid system response and a highly stable indoor temperature. By reducing compressor on/off cycling during partial-load operation, Smooth Drive Control 2.0 helps maintain smoother performance and more consistent room temperatures, enhancing occupant comfort across changing operating conditions.
Fast, simplified commissioning
air365 Max VRF outdoor units and the wired room controller feature built-in NFC technology, enabling installers and service technicians to configure systems more quickly and efficiently. Thanks to NFC connectivity and the airCloud Tap app, the parameters of both indoor and outdoor units can be configured or adjusted directly from a smartphone, and copied and pasted to any other units. This eliminates the need to navigate through wired remote controller menus or open the outdoor unit panel to configure switches.
This intuitive configuration process can reduce commissioning time considerably, making it particularly suitable for projects with multiple zones requiring similar settings such as hotels, office buildings or residential developments.
Mickael Glod, Director of Product Portfolio and Technologies, Bosch Home Comfort Group, said: “Our priority in developing this new series was to ensure that our customers continue to benefit from the same level of quality and technological excellence already recognised in the air365 Max range, while introducing advanced safety systems with this R32 version. The objective is to guarantee long term reliability of the installations and complete safety for occupants under all circumstances.”
Find out more at www.hitachiaircon.com/uk
Related Posts
/ September 14, 2026
