Daikin launches iCM PRO, a new control platform for HVAC plant management

Product news / Vienna, 12 November 2026 – Daikin’s new generation of the intelligent Chiller Manager (iCM PRO) expands plant integration and control capabilities, including support for third-party equipment. Designed to meet the requirements of modern HVAC plants, the new platform expands the possibilities for managing, configuring and optimising HVAC systems.

An open platform for managing the entire plant

One of the key developments introduced with iCM PRO is its ability to integrate and coordinate, within a single control strategy, Daikin equipment as well as compatible chillers and heat pumps from other manufacturers, supporting up to 16 units per controller. This flexibility facilitates the management of hybrid installations and progressive refurbishment projects, allowing existing equipment to remain integrated as plant requirements evolve.

This can be particularly useful in retrofit projects where complete system replacement may be complex or impractical. iCM PRO is also designed to simplify configuration and commissioning. The control architecture is pre-configured using proprietary Daikin software, allowing commissioning to begin from a validated setup and reducing the configuration required on site.

Modular configuration for different plant requirements

iCM PRO is available in four configurations, designed to suit plants of varying sizes and complexity levels. The platform can manage up to 4, 8, 12 or 16 chillers and heat pumps within a single control architecture, enabling users to select the solution best suited to their specific application requirements.

For each configuration, different datapoint management capacities are also available, ranging from 500 to 5,000 datapoints. This allows the system to be sized not only according to the number of units to be controlled but also according to the quantity of signals, parameters, devices and information that need to be monitored and managed. Thanks to this modular structure, iCM PRO offers a high level of design flexibility, enabling customers to optimise investment costs and adopt a solution proportionate to the actual requirements of the plant. Daikin’s approach allows the system to be configured precisely, avoiding unnecessary costs while maintaining the possibility of future expansion should installation requirements evolve.

Designed for complex applications

iCM PRO has been developed to manage a wide range of plant configurations, including installations with both air-cooled and water-cooled chillers and heat pumps, as well as multifunctional units. The platform supports two-pipe and four-pipe systems for simultaneous heating and cooling production, as well as seasonal changeover applications and systems dedicated exclusively to either heating or cooling. In addition, it coordinates all major plant auxiliaries, including pumps, cooling towers and control valves, allowing the entire system to operate as a single optimised ecosystem.

Broad compatibility for new and existing applications

iCM PRO is designed to provide application flexibility and integration with a range of Daikin and compatible third-party chillers and heat pumps. The platform is compatible with air-cooled chillers, including the EWYTCZ, EWYE-CZ, EWAT-CZ, EWYT-B and EWYK-QZ series, as well as water-cooled chillers such as the VZ series and centrifugal chillers including the DWSC, DWDC and EWW(D)(H)(S)-DZ ranges. This broad compatibility makes iCM PRO suitable for a variety of plant configurations, ranging from commercial applications to the most complex industrial installations.

Daikin reliability and customization

At the core of the platform is a new two-level software architecture, entirely developed by Daikin Applied Europe to combine reliability, standardisation and flexibility. Alongside validated Daikin control algorithms, a second layer based on Niagara technology provides additional customization possibilities, allowing configurations, operating logic and functionality to be adapted to individual project requirements while retaining the validated Daikin control layer. Thanks to this modular approach, the platform can be adapted to a wide range of plant sizes and levels of complexity.

A new flow-based sequencing logic

iCM PRO manages multiple-unit systems by continuously monitoring parameters including unit availability, alarm status, operating priorities, running hours, start frequency and the thermal demand of the plant. Based on these parameters, the platform adjusts the operating strategy according to plant load conditions, with the aim of improving operational efficiency and reducing unnecessary equipment operation.

A key new feature is flow-based sequencing, which complements traditional temperature-based control strategies by taking the plant's hydraulic demand into account when managing individual units. This approach is particularly suited to variable-flow systems, primary-secondary configurations, multi-zone buildings and industrial processes with dynamic loads, allowing control to respond more closely to changing plant conditions.