Top 10 Water Cooled Chiller Manufacturers in China

A reliable water cooled chiller supplier does more than deliver a machine at an attractive price. It must size the equipment for the buyer’s operating conditions, document what was built, test it consistently, and support the system after installation.

China offers buyers a broad choice: large manufacturers of central-plant chillers, specialists in industrial process cooling, and factories willing to adapt equipment for private-label projects. Its established refrigeration and air-conditioning supply base is a practical reason to source there, but it is not a substitute for checking an individual factory. The China Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Industry Association publishes industry statistics, while China Customs provides trade data; neither source, on its own, establishes a particular supplier’s chiller quality or export volume.

How Suppliers Were Selected

The shortlist favors China-based manufacturers with identifiable water cooled chiller offerings and enough public information to begin a technical review. Four questions matter most before a buyer commits to a long-term relationship:

Factory capability: Can the supplier identify where the quoted unit will be assembled and show the equipment, personnel, and test facilities relevant to that model?
Engineering depth: Can its team explain compressor selection, heat-exchanger design, water-side pressure drop, controls, and performance at the specified conditions?
Quality control: Can it provide component traceability, inspection records, pressure and leak-test procedures, and a factory acceptance test plan?
Delivery consistency: Can it commit to an approved drawing, component list, production schedule, packing method, and spare-parts arrangement?

A company’s founding date is not necessarily the founding date of its current legal entity or chiller operation. Likewise, a stated factory size or product range does not reveal annual output. The table therefore distinguishes published product capacity from manufacturing throughput. Unless otherwise noted, certification references are public claims or product-page descriptions that still require verification against the exact legal entity and model.

For market context, a 2025 industry-year review reported by the China Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Industry Association said the sales output value of centrifugal water-chilling and heat-pump units rose 5% year on year. That is a product-category indicator, not a growth rate for all water cooled chillers or for any company in this list.

Ten Manufacturers to Shortlist

Manufacturer	Water cooled chiller focus or published model capacity	Manufacturing throughput	Public order-size information	Certification evidence to request
Zhejiang Kingfit Environment	Scroll and screw units; a published screw range of 40–583 RT	Annual units not publicly verified; company reports eight production lines	Selected product pages list one set	Current ISO 9001 certificate, model-specific EU documents, and test records
Midea Building Technologies	Water-cooled screw and centrifugal chillers	Not established here	Confirm by model and project	Applicable model’s performance and conformity documents
Gree Electric Appliances	Water-cooled screw and centrifugal chillers	Not established here	Confirm by model and project	Applicable model’s performance and conformity documents
TICA	Water-cooled flooded screw chillers and larger plant solutions	Not established here	Confirm by model and project	Model-specific AHRI/CRAA listing where claimed
Haier	Commercial chiller and cooling-plant portfolio	Not established here	Confirm by model and project	Model-specific performance and conformity documents
H.Stars Group	Water-cooled scroll, screw, centrifugal, and specialized units	Not established here	Confirm by specification	Current ISO and applicable CE-related documents where claimed
Dunham-Bush (Yantai)	Water-cooled screw and centrifugal chillers	Not established here	Confirm through the sales channel	Documents identifying the actual manufacturing entity and model
TopChiller	Industrial water-cooled units; company advertises a broader chiller range of 1–500 tons	Not established here	Confirm by configuration	Current ISO and applicable CE-related documents where claimed
Kaydeli	Water-cooled process and screw chillers	Not established here	Confirm by model	Current ISO and model-specific CE-related documents where claimed
GESON Chiller	Industrial and commercial water-cooled systems	Not established here	Confirm by model	Model-specific test and conformity documents

Published capacity ranges are product information, not annual production capacity. “Confirm” means no dependable, comparable MOQ or throughput figure was established for this guide. A company-level certificate is not proof that every configuration or destination-market requirement is covered.

1. Zhejiang Kingfit Environment Co., Ltd.

Kingfit is a relevant starting point for buyers who need a specification-led OEM discussion rather than only a standard catalogue unit. Its history traces to a refrigeration repair operation established in 1998, chiller production under a predecessor business in 2003, and registration under the Zhejiang Kingfit Environment name in 2014. Kingfit reports a 40,000 m² workshop, eight production lines, 27 domestic offices, and exports to more than 60 countries. These are company-reported figures; buyers should confirm current plant capacity and export experience during due diligence.

Its published range includes water-cooled scroll and screw chillers. A screw-chiller page lists selected models at 40–583 RT, a one-set MOQ, and a stated delivery window of 45–60 working days. Those figures provide a useful opening for smaller brands or project buyers, but they should not be assumed to apply to every custom order. Kingfit also states that it accepts OEM and ODM work.

Kingfit’s strongest prospective fit is a buyer who wants direct engineering communication about the load, voltage, controls, branding, or process application. Its company history describes industrial temperature solutions alongside agricultural climate equipment, grain coolers, and cold-room cooling units. That breadth may help with integrated projects, provided the buyer approves a detailed scope of supply rather than relying on a general “turnkey” description.

For a first inquiry, send Kingfit the required cooling load, chilled-water temperatures, condenser-water design conditions, power supply, destination country, and intended operating hours. Ask for a model-specific drawing, component list, performance sheet, test plan, and firm production slot before treating flexibility or lead time as confirmed.

2. Midea Building Technologies

Midea Group dates to 1968. Its building-technology catalogue includes water-cooled screw chillers, and published projects demonstrate experience with water-cooled screw and centrifugal equipment in sizable installations. That makes Midea a sensible shortlist candidate for commercial plants where coordinated system selection matters.

Its principal strength for this comparison is documented product breadth rather than a presumed willingness to private-label small orders. Buyers seeking an OEM arrangement should ask their regional Midea contact whether branding, controls, or electrical changes are available for the named model. Midea serves international markets, but the sales territory, servicing entity, and manufacturing location for a specific order should be established in the contract.

3. Gree Electric Appliances

Founded in 1991, Gree reports exports to more than 160 countries and regions. Its published project information includes water-cooled screw chiller installations as well as centrifugal equipment, giving buyers concrete applications to discuss rather than only a generic product claim.

Gree is worth considering for engineered building or industrial cooling projects with substantial capacity requirements. A purchasing team should still ask which unit series supports the proposed condenser-water conditions, who performs commissioning in the destination market, and whether any requested branding or controls change is permissible. Do not infer OEM availability from the size of its manufacturing operation.

4. TICA

Established in 1991, TICA describes a global manufacturing and R&D network and lists a water-cooled flooded screw chiller. Its product page states that a particular unit is AHRI- and CRAA-certified. This is useful evidence to investigate, but buyers should check the exact model and current listing, not transfer that claim to another unit in the range.

TICA is a strong candidate when a project calls for detailed plant engineering, part-load analysis, and integration with a larger HVAC system. Its public company information shows international operations; the buyer should confirm which factory, sales office, and service team will support the purchase. Project-specific configuration appears more relevant to investigate than assuming small-batch private labeling.

5. Haier

Haier Group was established in 1984 in Qingdao. It presents a commercial chiller and cooling-plant portfolio and has an established international HVAC presence. The accessible portfolio page does not, however, give enough model-level detail to identify a particular water-cooled unit for this comparison.

Haier therefore belongs on a shortlist for buyers prepared to request a specific current water-cooled model, its technical submittal, and a local service proposal. Ask explicitly whether the offered unit is manufactured in China, which Haier entity will supply it, and what changes—if any—are possible under an OEM or project-customization agreement.

6. H.Stars Group

H.Stars says it was established in 1992 and lists water-cooled scroll, screw, centrifugal, magnetic-bearing, and glycol chiller types. Its published materials also describe customized equipment for demanding conditions, including corrosion-resistant and low-temperature applications. That makes it particularly relevant when a standard commercial chiller does not fully match the process.

H.Stars publicly invites OEM/ODM inquiries and describes overseas projects, including an Indonesian textile application. For a customized unit, the buyer should request the heat-exchanger material specification, corrosion assumptions, controls sequence, and a written boundary between factory-supplied equipment and site-installed auxiliaries. Its published certification claims should be checked against the actual model and current documents.

7. Dunham-Bush (Yantai)

Dunham-Bush originated in the United States in 1894 and says it opened a manufacturing plant in Yantai, China, in 1995. It offers water-cooled screw and centrifugal chillers for commercial and industrial applications. It is included here because it has a documented China manufacturing presence—not because the brand itself originated in China.

This distinction matters to importers. Request the legal name of the contracting and manufacturing entities, country-of-origin documents for the quoted machine, and confirmation of which regional team handles warranty work. Its broad international product offering makes it an option for established-project procurement; private-label availability should not be assumed.

8. TopChiller

TopChiller states that it was established in 1999 and began international marketing in 2003. It advertises industrial water- and air-cooled chillers, an overall chiller range of 1–500 tons, and OEM/ODM services covering customer branding and requested designs. That positions it as an option for distributors who need to discuss both catalogue products and adaptations.

Because its own description refers to different locations for smaller-unit production and larger-capacity fabrication, buyers should determine which facility will build their exact model. Request a live or recorded factory review tied to the purchase order, plus a test sheet showing the agreed operating points. Do not read the advertised range as proof that every capacity is made at one site.

9. Kaydeli

Kaydeli says it opened a China factory in 2002 and describes manufacturing operations in Shenzhen and Dongguan. Its listings include water-cooled industrial and screw chillers for factory-process applications, while its service description discusses designing equipment around customer requirements.

It is a plausible candidate for a process-cooling buyer who needs to specify unusual operating temperatures, controls, or supporting equipment. The company also publishes ISO- and CE-related claims; buyers should request the current certificate, issuing body, scope, and applicable model documents. For any quote, verify which site will assemble the machine and who is responsible for the complete cooling system.

10. GESON Chiller

GESON describes water-cooled industrial and commercial systems and reports exports to markets including North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Its public materials present a wide range of capacities, but those claims need to be narrowed to a current model with a defined rating point before comparison.

GESON may suit buyers considering a custom plant configuration or private-label discussions; its site refers to OEM branding. A buyer should request evidence for the exact proposed machine: drawings, a bill of materials, factory-test capability at the specified duty, and destination-market documents. Its founding year and annual factory output are not treated as verified figures here.

Buyer’s Guide: Verify the Unit

A water cooled chiller quotation can look precise while omitting the conditions that determine its actual performance. Ask every shortlisted manufacturer to quote against one shared duty sheet: net cooling capacity, entering and leaving chilled-water temperatures, condenser-water temperatures, flow rates, allowable pressure drops, fluid composition, power supply, operating schedule, and design fouling assumptions.

Performance comparisons also need a common method. AHRI explains that its water-chilling-package standards standardize ratings such as capacity, efficiency, pressure drop, and part-load performance. A claim that a product was rated using an AHRI standard is different from a claim that the specific model is AHRI-certified; request the relevant listing when certification is material to the purchase.

Five checks before a deposit

Verify the business and certificate holder. Match the quotation, business registration, factory address, bank beneficiary, and quality-system certificate. For an ISO claim, check its current status and scope with the issuing certification body or an appropriate certificate database—not from a scan alone.
Freeze the technical schedule. Name the compressor model, heat-exchanger construction, tube material, controls, electrical components, refrigerant, and acceptable substitutions in an approved bill of materials.
Witness the right tests. Agree in advance on pressure and leak tests, electrical safety checks, controller functions, and a performance test at attainable, documented water conditions. A video of the machine running is not a substitute for measured capacity.
Treat the sample as a pilot unit. For a one-set order, approve drawings and documents first, witness factory acceptance testing, then release shipment only after resolving deviations. Keep the pilot configuration as the reference for later batches.
Specify the delivered boundary. State whether the cooling tower, pumps, water-treatment equipment, strainers, buffer tank, controls integration, refrigerant charge, and commissioning are included. Agree on packing, lifting points, shipment terms, and responsibility for transport damage.

The often-missed performance trap

One procurement mistake deserves more attention than it usually receives online: comparing two “500 kW” quotations that assume different condenser-water conditions. A supplier may present an attractive capacity or efficiency figure at favorable entering-water temperatures, while the buyer’s cooling tower will deliver warmer water during the hottest operating period. The unit can then meet its published rating yet disappoint at the site.

The remedy is to require a selection sheet showing both the standard rating point and the site’s design-day point, including condenser-water inlet temperature, both water flows, pressure drops, compressor input, and available capacity. Have the supplier state what happens if tower performance deteriorates or water-side fouling increases. This is a procurement control, not an allegation about any company above.

Material substitutions create a second avoidable risk. “Copper tubes” does not settle tube grade, wall thickness, corrosion suitability, or whether a proposed alternative has equal service life in the site’s water. For food-process or corrosive applications, specify the wetted materials and water-treatment assumptions in writing. Inspect component markings and manufacturing records against the approved bill of materials before shipment.

For an EU-bound order, ask the supplier to identify the legislation applicable to the actual configuration and provide the technical documentation and EU declaration of conformity. A CE logo on a brochure does not establish that these steps are complete. Assess RoHS applicability rather than assuming every chiller has the same obligations, and check the refrigerant against destination-market F-gas rules.

Freight and commissioning

Large water-cooled units may require a shipping split, protective packing, or site reassembly. Obtain dimensioned shipping drawings and the gross weight of each package before booking transport. Specify whether the condenser and evaporator leave the factory capped, how openings are protected from moisture, and what inspection must happen on arrival.

A reliable supplier should also make commissioning responsibilities explicit. Ask who checks water quality, verifies flow and interlocks, records the first operating conditions, and trains the local operator. A factory warranty is less useful if the contract does not say who diagnoses faults in the buyer’s country.

Conclusion

The right Chinese manufacturer depends on the application and the buyer’s operating model. Large central plants may favor a supplier with an established chiller and project-service portfolio. Process users may need tighter attention to fluid temperature, corrosion, and controls. Smaller brands may place more weight on a workable pilot order and direct OEM communication.

Start with a common duty sheet, then verify the exact factory, model, components, documents, and test results. If your project needs a customized water cooled chiller for industrial, agricultural, food-processing, or cold-chain use, send Zhejiang Kingfit Environment Co., Ltd. your cooling load, water conditions, voltage, destination, and target delivery date. Request a model-specific proposal and compare it against the same written requirements used for every shortlisted supplier.

Procurement FAQ

How can I tell whether an ISO 9001 certificate has expired or been suspended?

Request the full certificate, not just its logo. Check the legal entity, site address, standard, issue and expiry dates, and scope of certification. Then verify its live status through the issuing certification body or IAF CertSearch where available. If a record cannot be found, ask the issuer directly; absence from one database alone does not establish that a certificate is invalid.

Is an AHRI-compliant rating the same as AHRI certification?

No. A manufacturer can calculate or present performance using an AHRI rating standard without the particular model participating in an AHRI certification program. Ask for the certified model identifier and check the relevant directory when certified performance is a contract requirement. For a non-certified custom unit, agree instead on a clear witnessed test method and acceptance tolerances.

What should I do if the proposed compressor changes after approval?

Do not approve a verbal “equivalent.” Ask for a revised component list, performance selection, electrical data, service-parts information, and any affected conformity documents. Compare the substitution at both full and part load under the original site conditions. Record approval in a signed change order before assembly continues.

How do I compare MOQ when one supplier offers one set and another offers a project quote?

Compare the whole commercial commitment, not just the minimum number of machines. Ask each supplier for the price of one approved pilot unit, the price and lead time for repeat orders, engineering charges, branding costs, spare-parts minimums, and what happens if annual volume falls below forecast. A one-set MOQ is valuable only if the specification, support, and repeat-order terms remain workable.

Who is responsible if the chiller passes factory testing but fails to reach capacity on site?

Your contract should separate machine performance from site-system conditions. Agree on the test point, measurement instruments, allowable tolerances, and documentation before production. At commissioning, record chilled- and condenser-water temperatures and flows, fluid composition, electrical input, and tower operation. These records help determine whether the issue lies with the chiller, an installation defect, or conditions outside the agreed design.

References

1. Zhejiang Kingfit Environment – Company history and facilities. https://kingfitgroup.com/about-kingfit/

2. Kingfit – Published screw-chiller specifications. https://kingfitgroup.com/screw-chiller/

3. Kingfit – Product range and OEM/ODM information. https://kingfitgroup.com/main-product/

4. Midea Building Technologies – Chiller products. https://mbt.midea.com/global/hvac-goods/midea-products-category/chillers/chillers

5. Gree – Company profile. https://global.gree.com/channels/101.html

6. Gree – Published project applications. https://global.gree.com/contents/806/901.html

7. TICA – Company profile. https://global.tica.com/index/about/about.html

8. TICA – Water-cooled screw-chiller product. https://global.tica.com/index/goods/pro/cid/244.html

9. Haier – Chiller and cooling-plant portfolio. https://www.haier.com/business/build/global-solutions/product-display/chiller/

10. H.Stars – Products and company information. https://hstarsglobal.com/products/

11. Dunham-Bush – Company history and Yantai factory. https://dbamericas.com/about-us/

12. TopChiller – Company and OEM/ODM information. https://www.topchillers.com/faqs/

13. Kaydeli – Company and water-cooled chiller information. https://www.sinokaydeli.com/product/manufacturer-200hp-customized-30ton-200-ton-screw-industrial-water-cooling-chiller.html

14. GESON – Water-cooled chiller information. https://www.gesonchiller.com/industrial-chiller-manufacturers/

15. China Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Industry Association – 2025 product review. http://chinacraa.org.cn/statistics_show.aspx?id=308553

16. China Customs – Official trade statistics. http://english.customs.gov.cn/Statistics/Statistics?ColumnId=1

17. AHRI – Water-chilling-package performance standard. https://www.ahrinet.org/search-standards/ahri-550590-i-p-and-551591-si-performance-rating-water-chilling-and-heat-pump-water-heating-packages

18. AHRI – Liquid-chiller ratings and certification explanation. https://www.ahrinet.org/scholarships-education/education/contractors-and-specifiers/hvacr-equipmentcomponents/liquid-chillers

19. IAF CertSearch – Accredited certificate verification. https://www.iaf-certsearch.org/

20. European Commission – Manufacturer responsibilities for CE marking. https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/single-market/goods/ce-marking/manufacturers_en

21. European Commission – F-gas stakeholder obligations. https://climate.ec.europa.eu/areas-action/fluorinated-greenhouse-gases/stakeholder-obligations_en

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