Advanced Training Programs and Customer Engagement Are Driving LG's Expansion and Strong Performance in the Global HVAC Market
SEOUL, South Korea, June 13, 2024 LG Electronics reported today that its Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Academy is reinforcing the company's human resources infrastructure by training over 30,000 HVAC professionals annually. By building such a large network of skilled installation and service engineers, the academy is playing an important role in supporting the company's global B2B expansion strategy, sources said.
Commitment to training at this level represents a vast responsibility, given the continued development of, and efficiency requirements imposed upon heating and cooling products, and the many applications of those residential and commercial comfort products, which includes LG's high-efficiency chillers.
The academy enhances the skill-and knowledge-base of local technicians, equipping them with the ability to ensure the optimal set-up and performance of the company's advanced HVAC solutions – which is crucial in delivering the differentiated customer experiences LG seeks to uphold.
Sources for the LG HVAC Academy estimate it will provide training to approximately 37,000 individuals in 2024. Each branch of the academy features integrated showrooms and training rooms where attendees can gain hands-on experience with the company's business-to-consumer and business-to-business products. Along with product installation and maintenance training, LG's academy introduces the company's new HVAC solutions and offers specialized regional training programs, technical forums and customized on-site classes at clients' offices.
LG is addressing the need to fill any resource gaps that could adversely affect its training outreach. For example, in May, 2023, LG Electronics dedicated a new, state-of-the-art training academy in Englewood Cliffs, NJ at LG Electronics North American Headquarters.
More recently, in May of this year, LG Air Conditioning Technologies USA opened the doors of its newest HVAC Training Academy outside of Boston. The new facility underscores LG's commitment to increasing adoption of more sustainable HVAC products across the residential and commercial sectors (SEE SIDEBAR BELOW).
LG Academy training goes beyond teaching basic "step 1, 2, 3" processes. LG’s comprehensive training program offers practical instruction for LG's inventive, all-electric, energy-efficient comfort solutions for residential and commercial applications.
Academy courses include classroom lectures and a hands-on laboratory designed to educate HVAC professionals about LG’s HVAC products, including technical training on installation and service.
Expert LG instructors, with extensive experience installing and troubleshooting an array of air-conditioning products, teach classes across a variety of subject areas, including duct-free, VRF, and controls solutions, with topics covering everything from installation to service best practices for the full range of LG air solutions products.
The new academy will help educate experienced third-party contractors about the environmental and economic benefits of heat pump technology, including LG’s popular cold-climate heat-pump home comfort systems.
Training Around the Globe
On an international level, in April, the LG HVAC Academy hosted a five-day "Train The Trainer" program at LG headquarters in Seoul, South Korea. The program was designed to further HVAC trainers' capabilities, giving them the tools to adapt to changes in customer engagement, as well as the valuable opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences with their peers from different regions and subsidiaries.
LG is also expanding its region-specific programs with events such as last month's LG HVAC Consultant Leaders' Summit in Seoul for technical consultants from across Asia. The company is continuously adding to its existing HVAC Academy infrastructure, and is set to open a new branch in Lyon (France) by the end of this year. Notable recent additions to the network include sites in Boston (USA), Taipei (Taiwan), Chennai (India) and Kolkata (India).
AI an Added Element
LG sources report that, with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), there is a growing need for high-efficiency, high-performance cooling systems, especially in data centers and semiconductor plants where effective heat management is essential for maintaining server efficiency. LG is targeting continuing growth in the global HVAC market – which had an estimated value of approximately USD 58.4 billion in 2023* – with its high-efficiency heat pump HVAC systems, which have been designed with the latest electrification and environmental trends in mind. Moreover, the company aims to more than double the revenue generated by its residential and commercial HVAC business by 2030 and reinforce its position as a worldwide leader in air conditioning.
"The LG HVAC Academy plays a key role in enhancing the capabilities of engineers in each region," said James Lee, head of the Air Solution Business Unit at LG Electronics Home Appliance & Air Solution Company. "We will continue to increase customer engagement to deliver more value and drive our global HVAC business forward."
*According to market research company IBIS World, the estimated value of the global HVAC market as of 2023 was approximately USD 58.4 billion.