Gathered in healthy competition, manufacturers each offer new and unique marketing programs in their quests for market dominance.

Like a pit crew working together, Emerson Climate Technologies has created a new strategy to help contractors grow their businesses. By providing communication, education, and the tools to be a success, these strategies are putting contractors in the driver’s seat and setting them on the fast track.

Green refrigerant topped the list of features heralded by geothermal manufacturers atthis year's AHR Expo.

Bio products, leakage, and IAQ were top concerns for duct product manufacturers at the 2007 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition.

Many new tool products were shown at the 2007 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo), but manufacturers concentrated this year’s tool offerings on dependability, safety, and technician comfort.

A changing of the guard has occurred at the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI). Stephen Yurek, former COO and general counsel for ARI, was named president of the association and Mark Menzer, formerly senior vice president of ARI, was named executive vice president.

Before the 13 SEER mandate went into effect last January, multiple predictions were made as to where the shipment numbers would end up in 2006. Many expected a correction to occur. Currently, shipments are threatening to interrupt HVAC’s four-year, record-breaking streak.

“We needed a way to find cracked heat exchangers,” said Steve Miles, general manager of Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning. “We needed a way to show that crack to the customer.” So, Miles started working on the Crack Finder project four years ago.

Persistence brought Mark Todd to HVAC instruction and hard work earned him an honorable mention in the Best Instructor contest.

HVAC is not exempt from the energy crunch. Efficiency mandates and lower utility bills are just the beginning of environmental and end user demands. To remain competitive, inventive HVAC units are being successfully marketed.