Big Show, Big City
For the first time in 17 years, the AHR Expo will be held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City Tuesday, Jan. 22 until Thursday, Jan. 24. The AHR Expo is celebrating its 60th year of attracting the highest concentration of HVAC/R contractors, engineers and other professionals in the business.
As of December, over 1,800 companies have reserved exhibitor space, which puts it just above the number of exhibitors at last year’s expo held in Dallas. In fact, the 2008 AHR Expo is on its way to becoming the largest HVAC/R exposition ever held on the East Coast with more than 375,000 net square feet of exhibit space and an estimated 55,000 total attendees expected. By comparison, the 2007 AHR Expo attracted over 46,000 industry professionals from over 100 countries in an area of 350,000 square feet of display space.
Thousands in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry will be able to see new products, new ideas and new services. Being in the Empire State region is significant not only because the area is the biggest residential and commercial HVAC/R market in the U.S., but also because it is undergoing a development boom. A newer exhibitor base is expected at this year’s AHR Expo because of the New York location and its largest concentration of Fortune 100 companies in the nation.
A recent study by The Freedonia Group reported the demand for HVAC equipment is expected to grow to $14.5 billion by 2009 ‘ and the growth will be fueled by the increase in non-residential construction and residential remodeling.
‘We are delighted to be back in New York because it is a very strong marketplace for HVAC/R products,” said Clay Stevens, president of International Exposition Company, which manages and produces the show. He said the demand had been so high before the AHR Expo, the IEC had to make plans to expand it to accommodate additional exhibitors.
Another advantage of being in New York is the expected increase in international participation from both the exhibitors and the attendees. Typically, East and West Coast expositions draw a large European and Asian/Pacific Rim attendance.
‘We are extremely pleased that the 2008 show is off to such a strong and impressive start,” said Stevens. ‘This enthusiastic response from the previous exhibitors and active interest from new companies bodes well for an outstanding event.”
ASHRAE and ARI both helped to select New York as the location of this year’s event based on the size of the regional, industrial, residential and commercial markets as well as the concentration of HVAC/R professionals and suppliers.
Among the offerings at the AHR Expo, a number of features are being expanded and enhanced, including 60 short presentations on new product technology. Special sections of the exhibit floor will be dedicated to software as well as the Building Automation and Control Showcase. Special educational sessions will also be offered by 28 different endorsing associations and industry organizations such as the ZigBee Alliance, CABA and AutomatedBuildings.com. Attendees and exhibitors will both be able to stay on top of hot topics in the industry such as building controls, automation and integration; energy efficiency, energy savings and energy recovery; green building issues and green technology; indoor air quality; and solar and other alternative energy sources.
New this year, on Tuesday the 2008 AHR Expo Plumbing/Hydronics Symposium will be offered to attendees for a registration fee, held by PM Magazine. The conference will offer a chance for plumbing and heating contractors, specifying engineers as well as wholesalers, representatives and manufacturers to network and meet industry experts.
ASHRAE’s winter meeting will again be held concurrently with the AHR Expo, as it is each year. The organization will offer over 30 technical and short courses, designed to fit into the AHR Expo schedule. Attendees can choose from sessions scheduled in six-hour, three-hour and 90 minute time slots where the focus will be put on learning new skills, staying current with industry practices and trends and earning PDHs and CEUs (including New York state).
The exposition would not be the same without its standard highlight’the AHR Expo Innovation Awards. The sixth annual competition held at the show is designed to promote and encourage product innovation by recognizing exceptional achievements. The Innovation Awards are sponsored by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers, the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute and the International Exposition Company. For more information about the 2008 AHR Expo or to register, go to www.ahrexpo.com.
