ARLINGTON, Va. - The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) and the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (GAMA) announced yesterday that their members have voted to approve the merger of the two trade associations to represent the interests of cooling, heating, and commercial refrigeration equipment manufacturers. The merger was approved by the members of GAMA and ARI on Dec. 10 and Dec. 17, respectively.

The merged association will become the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) on Jan. 1, 2008. It will be headquartered in Arlington, Va.

According to the organization, the merger will benefit the 370 AHRI members by creating a single entity to more effectively represent their interests, while continuing the work of both associations in establishing industry standards and certifying the performance of heating, cooling, and commercial refrigeration equipment.

The AHRI board of directors has appointed Johnson Controls Vice President C. David Myers as chairman of the combined organization. The AHRI board consists of the current directors of the two constituent associations and is representative of the membership and its different product areas.

“The merger will create a more efficient and influential organization to serve the needs of cooling, heating, and commercial refrigeration equipment manufacturers and their customers,” said Myers. “The interests of the memberships of the two associations are so closely aligned that we expect a seamless integration.”

AHRI has established an Integration Committee to work out the details of the structure and the governance of the new association. Decisions have already been made to maintain a product section structure that equally represents all AHRI members’ interests and to merge the standing committees of the two associations.

“By coming together in one organization, the manufacturers of heating and cooling equipment will increase their collective power and significantly increase the effectiveness of our advocacy domestically and abroad,” said AHRI Immediate Past Chairman Robert Wilkins. “We are convinced that one association can accomplish even more than two working separately.”

“We envision a single organization representing HVACR manufacturers,” said AHRI Immediate Past Chairman Patrick Quilty. “AHRI will speak with one voice and one message while providing manufacturers with a strong advocate to address issues important to the industry with its membership of 370 manufacturers.”

Publication date: 12/17/2007