What’s New at the ASHRAE Show

By Richard H. Yaun Jr. C.E.O

I had the opportunity to attend the AHR EXPO sponsored by ASHRAE at the Orlando Convention Center in Florida on the 25th and 26th of January. The show is the premier show of the Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning industry. I would like to share my impressions with you.

This show was considered an off year (every other year from Chicago). The attendance was good to fair. Monday was crowded and Tuesday was a little slower. Those who were in attendance Wed. said the crowd was sparse. Even though some of the National manufacturers of heating and air conditioning equipment were not in attendance e.g. Carrier, Trane, Rheem/Ruud, Lennox, there were a total of 1,822 exhibitors.

I saw an increased number of Mini Split manufacturers which could indicate a continuing change away from traditional types of central air conditioning and heating systems to more economical point-of-use systems.

Point-of-use water heating manufacturers were in abundance. According to the show guide there were 56 of them showing their equipment. Many of our domestic storage heater manufacturers showed similar equipment indicating a strength and change in the demand for point-of-use equipment.

There were several manufacturers of Chinese air conditioning equipment present. It looks like they are attempting to enter the market directly and looking for representatives and distributors for their lines.

I was very surprised with the amount of Chilled Water and Reverse Cycle air conditioning equipment shown. Yaun Company has promoted the efficiency of this equipment in load shedding applications. It looks like the industry is showing much interest in solution/water based heating and air conditioning systems.

Solar manufactures continue to show product. I found a few manufacturers with flat plate collectors and quite a few evacuated tube type manufacturers in attendance. A few of our DHW manufacturers were showing solar systems as well.

Rheem introduced their DHW heat pump and there was quite a bit of interest in Heat Pump Domestic Water Heating.

In summery I would call this show fair to good. Many of our domestic manufactures failed to show because of the economy or perhaps other good reasons. If anything, one would have thought that Orlando would have been a great place for this show because of location and low priced air fares, but the prevailing sentiment was that the economy didn’t warrant the effort. I personally think that you always pick up something at these shows and wasn’t disappointed this year. Innovations still abound and there is always the opportunity to acquire more knowledge of our industry.