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| Dallas Post Show Reporter |
The news is out. AHR Expo in Dallas set new Southwest records for the number of exhibitors and visitor attendance.
With more than 47,000 HVAC&R professionals in attendance including 28,000+ visitors and 19,000 personnel from 1,789
exhibiting companies, the Show was a powerful reminder of how important AHR Expo is to the industry. However, the
numbers tell only part of the story.
We'd like to share a few other facts and brief stories that were seen and heard on the Show floor. Just click on the
ones you want to know more about.
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The Global HVAC&R Marketplace. Delivered.
The numbers speak for themselves. 5,270 International Visitors from over 100 countries; 313 International Exhibitors
from 31 countries; Nine International Pavilions including six from China, plus pavilions from Brazil, Korea and Thailand.
It seemed the Show was a United Nations of HVAC&R professionals. First-time exhibitor Jamie Agee of Wilspec Technologies,
a manufacturer of electronic controls, switches and transducers summed it up best: "We have employees here in the booth who
combined speak eight languages. Yesterday we used them all."
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Educational Sessions Set On-site Record
With more than 62 educational sessions presented by the Show, endorsing associations, ASHRAE Continuing
Education Short Courses and Technical Seminars, visitors and exhibitor personnel had the opportunity to
choose from the largest number of offerings ever held on-site at the Show. Thanks to these groups for
participating in the educational program that made this year one for the record books: ABMA, AMCA, ARI,
ASHRAE, BPI, CABA, CTI, Energy Star, GAMA, GridWise, HARDI, HRAI, LMA, NAFA, NEBB, RPA. TABB, USGBC, ZigBee.
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Congratulations to Copeland/Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
At the AHR Expo Innovation Awards ceremony held on the second day of the Show, Copeland/Emerson Climate
Technologies, Inc. took home the Product of the Year Award for The Copeland Scroll Digital™ for commercial
air conditioning that uses axial-scroll-compliance capability to unload the compressor without shutting
down. In all, nine companies were honored as winners in various categories. For a list of winners and
companies receiving honorable mention visit the AHR Expo website:
AHR Expo Innovation Awards
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AHR Expo Innovation Awards Funds HVAC Scholarship
Not only were some of the most innovative products recognized at this year's Show,
but deserving students in the HVAC program at Vernon College in Vernon, Texas
will be the beneficiaries of over $9,000 in scholarship money. Funded by the entry
fees from the 125 participating companies, the AHR Expo Innovation Awards Scholarship
is one more way the Show is working to develop the next generation of HVAC professionals.
For more information on Vernon College's HVAC Program contact Scott McClure at: smcclure@vernoncollege.edu
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Building Automation & Control Showcase Takes Center Stage
117 companies strong, this year's BAC Showcase really impressed. "Creating the section was a
good invention by the show because it really concentrates controls people into one neighborhood,"
noted a very pleased Blake Bonnabeau of Elodrive USA, Inc. Chris Gleason of Reliable
Controls Corporation concurred. "The section makes it easy for people to come to one location
to see all the building automation suppliers. Our greatest interest is in talking to contractors
as potential authorized dealers. We've seen quite a few come through and made a lot of new relationships."
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Software Center Exhibitors Team Up
With more than 50 exhibitors in the Software Center, visitors had a central location to find the latest software programs.
For participating exhibitors there were other benefits for being in the section including new business partnerships with
neighboring companies. Case in point: East Coast CAD/CAM a provider of software for sheet metal and piping fabrication,
and Autodesk. David Derocher, President of East Coast CAD/CAM reflected "It started here at the show about three years ago.
We were right next to Autodesk and they were demonstrating a building systems product and we walked over there and said
that's a really great product. Can you use it for fabrication? They said it's funny you should ask because we're looking
for people to bring that component to the building systems model. It just started to roll from there." It just goes to
show, that for many exhibitors opportunity knocks in the next booth.
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First-time Exhibitor Flies High at Show
Jim Robinson had already been to AHR Expo before as a visitor. However, as President of St. Louis Helicopter, LLC of Chesterfield,
MO, he knew this year was the time to get on board as an exhibitor. So what's a helicopter company doing at the Show? "We lift a lot
of the equipment that is displayed at the show, rooftop equipment of any kind that is difficult for cranes to get to. Our clients are
typically the HVAC or mechanical contractors, some cases the engineers who do replacements on large building." Did he make the right call?
"Clearly our clientele is here and I'm pleasantly surprised at the turnout we received. I think we already have gotten business and a lot
of good contacts."
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Speaking of Easy Move-in and Move-out...
You may have noticed that 36 foot trailer in booth 2015. AxAir Nortec, Inc. of Riverside, CA tried something
new this year and brought their mobile display to the Show. "It was easy. It's our Show booth this year and
we just drove it in and parked it," stated Brent Field, Western Regional Sales Manager. "It's normally on the
road from coast to coast and Canada visiting mechanical engineering firms and contractors that we made appointments with,
but here we get people that we wouldn’t otherwise see to come inside and see our humidification products. It's been busy
and worked out well. After the Show, Brent says they'll be taking it down the coast from Seattle to San Diego.
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AHR Expo Goes Green
This year's hot color was GREEN. No wonder: more discussions on the Show floor gravitated to the virtues of sustainability,
energy efficiency and environmentally friendly technology than ever. One company in particular took green to heart. The Green
People, making their exhibiting debut at the Show, introduced a new product, Green Vents™. "It's a new kind of register that
can open and close using a handheld remote control," stated Judah Holland, Managing Director. "It's easy to install and operate
and so far the reaction has been phenomenal. We’ve been very, very busy." The registers were supplied by Air Guide Manufacturing,
a co-locating exhibitor.
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Beverage Bottle Giveaway Keeps Booth Traffic Hot
With a line of motors, pumps and other HVAC products Dayton's booth always seemed busy. Did they do anything special?
The answer: yes. "We did a postcard mailing to 7,000 people using a list we rented from the Show." The offer: bring
the postcard to the booth and get a free beverage bottle. "We got at least a thousand of them to bring them in. And
we’re still counting," beamed Tanya Dornik, Associate Brand Manager. "We've gotten a lot of traffic coming through
that are interested in our product offerings. We’ve gotten some very good quality leads."
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Next Stop: New York, New York
With the Dallas Show behind us, it’s time to set your sights for the 2008 AHR Expo. Held Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, January 22-24, 2008. AHR Expo returns to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in NYC. If you have
not submitted your Space Application, don’t delay. For information visit the AHR Expo Website: www.ahrexpo.com or contact Show
Management: info@ahrexpo.com.
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