Johnson Controls–Hitachi and Elsewedy Machinery Secure Landmark Contract for Egypt’s Largest VRF System in High-Speed Rail Project

Business

Johnson Controls–Hitachi and Elsewedy Machinery Secure Landmark Contract for Egypt’s Largest VRF System in High-Speed Rail Project

In a major stride toward modernizing Egypt’s national transport infrastructure, Johnson Controls–Hitachi Air Conditioning Middle East and Africa (MEA), in collaboration with Elsewedy Machinery, has won a high-profile contract to supply and install Egypt’s largest Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) air conditioning system for the country’s flagship High-Speed Rail (HSR) project.

This strategic partnership will see the deployment of over 3,000 high-efficiency Hitachi indoor VRF units across 21 stations along Egypt’s transformative 660-kilometer HSR corridor, which connects key cities such as Ain Sokhna, Alamein, Cairo, Alexandria, and 6th of October City. The massive project is expected to transport over 1 million passengers and 8,500 tons of cargo daily, significantly enhancing regional connectivity and logistics efficiency.

The announcement was formalized during an official signing ceremony attended by senior executives from both companies, reaffirming their shared commitment to supporting Egypt’s vision of sustainable infrastructure growth and energy efficiency.

The VRF units, designed for high ambient performance and manufactured at Hitachi’s facility in Barcelona, Spain, will provide a total cooling capacity of over 11,000 Refrigeration Tons (RT). These systems are Eurovent-certified, ensuring superior energy performance tailored for Egypt’s demanding climatic and operational conditions.

“This mega project represents a pivotal advancement in Egypt’s national infrastructure agenda. It reflects the country’s vision for modern, efficient, and climate-conscious transportation,” said Ahmed Aqel, General Manager, Johnson Controls–Hitachi Air Conditioning MEA.

“We are proud to deliver our advanced HVAC systems to a development of this scale and significance, working alongside Elsewedy Machinery to ensure technical precision, operational excellence, and long-term impact.”

Elsewedy Machinery, a subsidiary of Elsewedy Electric Group, will lead the complete delivery scope, covering supply, installation, copper piping infrastructure, system start-up, commissioning, and after-sales support. Their involvement ensures seamless local execution and service continuity throughout the lifecycle of the HVAC systems.

Aqel emphasized the power of global-local synergy:

“Our partnership with Elsewedy Electric brings together global HVAC innovation and local execution expertise. By integrating high-performance, European-manufactured VRF systems into Egypt’s high-speed rail infrastructure, we are setting a new benchmark in sustainable, large-scale transport solutions.”

This VRF deployment is more than a technical milestone—it is emblematic of Egypt’s broader goals to enhance sustainability, reduce energy consumption, and improve national logistics and mobility networks. The project is expected to have a long-lasting economic and social impact, contributing to Egypt’s leadership in smart infrastructure and climate-resilient development.