Joanna Turpin is a Senior Editor at The ACHR NEWS. She can be contacted at 248-786-1707 or joannaturpin@achrnews.com. Joanna has been with BNP Media since 1991, first heading up the company’s technical book division before moving over to The ACHR NEWS, where she frequently writes about refrigerants and commercial refrigeration. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Washington and worked on her master’s degree in technical communication at Eastern Michigan University.
Randy Boyd of Heating, Airconditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) has little patience for those who complain that distributor sales in 2007 weren’t that great. “As of November 2007, distributors were collectively up 1.7 percent. Considering 2006, which was probably the best year ever, it ain’t bad,” said Boyd.
Manufacturers are not deterred by slower equipment sales in 2007; instead, they are eager to address all the opportunities in 2008, which include showcasing new, efficient product lines and embracing greener ways of doing business.
When it comes to IAQ, Charlie Martin is an expert. As a Certified Indoor Environmentalist and Indoor Air Quality Specialist at Woodfin Heating in Mechanicsville, Va., he has spent the last 14 years educating customers about IAQ.
Dwarfing most other products on display, cooling tower manufacturers proudly displayed their wares at the 2008 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo). More efficient controls, corrosion-resistant materials, and water conservation features were the highlighted items on many of the new towers.
Exhibitors at the 2008 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) offered several new forced-air gas furnaces that featured high efficiency and superior comfort in compact sizes.
Products featuring higher SEER ratings and improved comfort levels were highlighted, as were totally new heat pump designs that haven’t been seen at the 2008 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition before.
Based on the ongoing volatility in the oil market, it’s probably safe to predict that gas prices will remain high for the near future, which isn’t good news to contractors. Higher gas prices mean lower profit margins, and many dealers are looking for ways to reduce fuel consumption to remain competitive.
Nine companies have been named as winners of the sixth annual AHR Expo Innovation Awards. All nine companies will be recognized at the awards ceremony at the Javits Convention Center on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 1 p.m. in the New Product Technology Theater A.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 17 years since New York City last hosted the International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo). This year’s event will definitely be bigger than when it was here in 1991, with more than 1,800 exhibiting companies from over 34 countries, including over 370 international exhibitors.