WESTPORT, Conn. — Show management announced that the 2012 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) has established a new all-time attendance record with nearly 40,000 registered visitors for the Chicago expo. Together with exhibitor personnel and other attendees, more than 57,000 professionals participated in the event.

Based on preliminary registration numbers, the 2012 show will surpass the previous record of 38,534 visitors established at the 2008 show in New York City. As previously reported, this year’s show was also the largest AHR Expo in the event’s 82-year history in terms of size at nearly 430,000 square feet, making it almost 5 percent bigger than the 2006 Chicago show.

“We are delighted that we have established new all-time records for both the size of the event and the best visitor attendance,” said Clay Stevens, president of International Exposition Co., which produces and manages the AHR Expo. “We hope this is an indication that the economy is on the upswing and will continue to improve.” Stevens also attributed the new records to the many new technologies and products introduced to the market, as well as pent-up demand for new equipment.