Taking place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, the AHR Expo will feature more than 1,700 exhibitors from around the world.

ORLANDO, Fla. - For those already tired of winter’s chill, Florida has it all: sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, palm trees, and the opportunity to attend the 62nd Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration (AHR) Expo, one of the most prominent events in the HVACR industry.

The AHR Expo will return to Orlando this year with new educational sessions and countless new products for the HVACR industry. Taking place Jan. 25-27 at the Orange County Convention Center, the AHR Expo will feature more than 1,700 exhibitors from around the world, showcasing hundreds of innovative new products to over 50,000 attendees and exhibitor personnel. HVACR professionals from more than 120 countries will have the opportunity to experience the latest products, technologies, solutions, and services from every segment of the industry.

For more information about the expo or to register online, visit www.ahrexpo.com.

IMPORTANT INDUSTRY EVENT

The AHR Expo is one of the most anticipated events in the HVACR industry each year, with manufacturers and contractors alike looking forward to all the opportunities it brings. For manufacturers, the AHR Expo provides the ability to meet directly with new and existing customers to discuss products and specific applications. For contractors, the AHR Expo is a veritable smorgasbord of cutting edge equipment and technologies that have direct application in the HVACR industry.

Robert Wilkos, business leader, Peaden Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing, Panama City, Fla., estimates he has attended more than 20 AHR Expos during his 37 years in the industry. Sometimes he attends the AHR Expo with a particular goal in mind - to find something to satisfy an existing need - other times, he just likes to see the latest products that companies have to offer.

“I like to browse the aisles to see what’s new in regard to technology, tools, and software,” he said. “If you don’t walk the expo, you will never learn about many of the innovative products that are available in the industry. I like going to see what’s there. If something tickles my fancy, I’ll make the connection with the manufacturer and then schedule a meeting at a later date to discuss the product in greater detail.”

Wilkos will be attending the AHR Expo in Orlando, and he urges other contractors to do the same. “It always pays to stay plugged into the industry and this is one conference that has it all. And if you’re a northern contractor in January, this is a good opportunity to thaw out for awhile, and while you’re thawing out, you can pick up something useful to take back to work.”

The Orange County Convention Center has 2.1 million square feet of exhibit space, which will be needed to house the AHR Expo exhibitors and attendees. [Photo courtesy of Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. (Orlando CVB)]

Greg McAfee, McAfee Heating and Air Conditioning Co. Inc., Kettering, Ohio, also enjoys attending the AHR Expo. “I like the variety of having so many vendors in one place. When I’ve attended previously, I have looked at several new items on the market and found a few that we could use. In fact, if I recall correctly, when the low voltage ultraviolet lamp came out, I saw that at the expo and brought that idea back to the team.”

McAfee also enjoys the educational sessions available. “I believe in constant improvement and continuing education, so this is beneficial for me. I think, if possible, every contractor should try to attend at least one AHR Expo for the education, as well as to see the new products in our field.”

The AHR Expo is also beneficial to contractors, as it provides them with an excellent opportunity to connect with their peers and suppliers, said Richard Rawal, president, Rawal Devices Inc., Woburn, Mass. “In addition, they can learn about new products and applications that will help them create long-term relationships with their clients.”

Rawal Devices Inc.(www.rawal.com) will once again exhibit at the expo this year in order to meet new customers, as well as maintain relationships with existing customers who have purchased from the company for many years, said Rawal.

“The AHR Expo helps us retain the connections we have made with show attendees, our reps and distributors, as well as the engineers and contractors who recommend our APR Control products to their clients. As such, we get to hear great feedback that we might not otherwise have the chance to hear. We also have the opportunity to discuss - in more detail - the opportunities and applications upon which customers have used the APR Control.”

Returning to Orlando, Fla., for the first time in five years, AHR Expo 2010 will bring together industry organizations, manufacturers, and visitors from around the world. (Photo courtesy of Orlando CVB)

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

As the economy recovers, the pace of new technology coming to market and the push for green buildings will increase, bringing a need to be more knowledgeable on the latest industry best practices. To address these critical issues, the AHR Expo will have over 100 educational sessions, workshops, and product presentations, including the following:

• Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES) will present a seminar on hydrocarbon refrigerants that will involve experienced panelists sharing their views on the realities and myths of flammable refrigerants.

• The American Boiler Manufacturers will lead a session on the benefits of retrofitting or replacing an existing boiler system to save energy while lowering the carbon footprint and reducing capital expense.

• U.S. EPA’s Energy Star® Program will host Your Customer’s Path to Green, Sustainable Buildings, which will help attendees put their customers on the road to green, sustainable buildings.

Over 50,000 attendees and exhibitor personnel are expected to crowd the halls at the AHR Expo.

• Heating, Airconditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) will present Airflow Measurement for Today’s Green Buildings, a seminar designed to answer questions such as why is airflow measurement needed and what sensor technologies are available.

• The Radiant Panel Association will host a presentation on the many ways to integrate radiant heating into a project.

Many exhibitors will showcase advancements in green technologies as well as emerging segments of the HVACR marketplace. In addition, expanded pavilions - including the Building Automation and Control Showcase and the Zero Energy Building Display by the Department of Energy - will provide professionals important insights into the constantly changing industry. The New Product Technology Theaters - located in the Exhibit Halls - will allow more than four-dozen companies to preview their product innovations to show attendees.

For a full listing of educational opportunities at the AHR Expo, visit www.ahrexpo.com.

Publication date:01/11/2010