After a forced cancellation in 2021, AHR Expo Vegas is one to remember for years to come

The AHR Expo returned last week to Vegas after a forced hiatus in 2021. After two years of uncertainty and a longing to reunite the industry, the event represented an eagerness to return to business drawing 30,678 attendees. What’s more, the success of the show signals a reignited energy for all things HVACR and the community’s readiness to take on the challenges and opportunities ahead with renewed optimism.

Energy to reignite large-scale events

“It was impossible to miss the energy in the halls this year,” said Mark Stevens, show manager. “There have been some heavy ups and downs across the industry in recent years and we, as a community, needed to feel the inspiration that happens when we gather together under one roof. The 2022 AHR Expo surpassed any expectation — our exhibitors, attendees, associations, speakers and everyone involved made this event one of the most special we’ve ever hosted. If you were there, the camaraderie was hard to miss. This industry is strong and we are back on track to tackle the challenges before us.”

Attendees were eager to be back in the booths experiencing new products and methods that support their work in the field. It was evident from every corner of the show floor that this industry is bursting with prospects.

“My main reason for attending the AHR Expo is the whole experience,” said Arizona tradesman and first time attendee Brendan Bowie (@profswagensweat). “You get to meet all the people who make the things that we buy and look up to and use everyday. It is a lot of the vendors that we spend money with because they make superior products. I talked to presidents and CEOs of companies that I buy products from every day, every week, every month. Instagram stories are not going to tell what AHR is, it’s the whole experience. Going to AHR matters because you have to see what’s going on out there. I had the opportunity to see so much new —we’re trapped in vans everyday on the job, you need to see what’s out there.”

A total of 1,573 exhibitors spread out over 443,769 sq ft in the Central and North halls, packing the floor with an explosion of innovation and new products. Given the time apart, there was plenty to take in as exhibitors launched new technology, products and ideas that came to life since we last gathered in Orlando.

“We and our [manufacturer] member companies that exhibited were very pleased with the quality of the Las Vegas Expo. We heard comment after comment about the quality and number of attendees and how grateful everyone was to get back together with their industry colleagues and customers,” said Stephen Yurek, president of AHRI. “ We are grateful to our [manufacturer] members for moving ahead with what turned out to be a really good show, and we look forward to seeing some of them in Guadalajara in September and more of them next year in Atlanta.”

Back to business in a big way in the Exhibitor’s Booths

Inside the exhibitor booths this year company reps and attendees were busy catching up on lost time. The challenges in the supply chain and other COVID delays have opened the door for new ways of thinking about partnerships.

“Emerson has always valued the customer engagement opportunities provided by the AHR Expo and the forum to showcase our sustainable solutions that are helping to reduce global impact while improving comfort, efficiency, performance and food safety in the HVACR industry,” said John Schneider, president, HVACR Technologies Americas for Emerson. “After last year’s pause, the Expo provided a much-needed in-person touchpoint and we were thrilled to have our valued customers join us in celebrating our Copeland brand’s 100-year milestone during our pre-show customer event. This year, we also sponsored the Podcast Pavilion, which was a great opportunity for us to align with industry influencers as their role in this industry continues to expand. Ultimately, all our businesses and brands experienced a great turnout, and we are looking forward to even more attendance in 2023.”

“It does not matter where you come from or where in the industry you’re involved in, the AHR Expo is the most remarkable yearly event where we all share our passion and expertise in the HVAC industry,” said Sarah Beyerlein, Everwell Parts, Inc. “It cannot be missed out!”

Innovation sets the course

On Monday afternoon, the show celebrated the 2022 Innovation Award Winners with a private reception. Members from each winning company were invited to share food and drink and be among industry cohorts also being recognized as leaders in shaping the future of HVACR. The 2022 AHR Expo Innovation Award Product of the Year Award went to Danfoss, for their Danfoss Turbocor® VTCA400 Compressor, a winner in the Cooling category.

“Danfoss is honored to be recognized with the product of the year award for our VTCA400 oil-free compressor. Our industry is at the forefront of many critical trends and innovation is vital to meet the challenges ahead. The AHR expo is a great way to showcase these latest technologies,” stated Lisa Tryson, market communications director, Danfoss.

“We were honored to celebrate our 2022 winners with a more intimate celebration,” noted Mark Stevens. “The pace they each are setting for the future of HVACR is astounding and collectively in each of the sectors they are raising the bar on how we are shaping the industry. Congratulations to all our 2022 winners, and to Danfoss for their leadership in innovation.”

As the industry looks ahead to changes on the horizon for HVACR, innovation from our exhibiting companies continues to push to new levels. Partnerships born through crucial in-person networking help to propel new ideas into the marketplace.

“The AHR Expo is an environment uniquely suited to making high-level connections and business partnerships, as well as finding the latest state-of-the-art appliance product technology as well as supply chain and distribution channels,” said Jacques Beaudry-Losique, CEO, Enginuity Power Systems. “We were honored to be awarded the 2022 Sustainable Solutions Innovation Award further validating our products to help homes and businesses save energy and achieve their sustainability goals.”

Education Program brings something for everyone

In the Education Program, attendees were invited to sit in on more than 80 free sessions, covering topics from a range of industry experts. Added to the roster this year was an industry panel discussion led by leaders representing all sectors of the industry, including Mick Schwedler, President of ASHRAE; Stephen Yurek, President and CEO of Air Conditioning Heating Refrigeration Institute (AHRI); Talbot Gee, CEO of Heating, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration Distributors (HARDI); Roberta MacGillivray, President of National Air Filtration Association (NAFA); and Dominick Guarino, CEO of National Comfort Institute (NCI). The panel was moderated by industry podcaster and well-known training advocate Bryan Orr, of HVAC School for Techs by Techs. The panel included a discussion of the current state of HVACR as well as threats and opportunities as we recalibrate to a new normal post-pandemic. A few highlights from the discussion include:

• “Our focus used to be on the box, on the equipment and the installation of it,” said Stephen Yurek, AHRI. “Now, we need to address the entire HVAC system to provide efficiency and comfort. The change we will see over the next few years will be nothing we’ve seen before.”
• “Our industry has never been more essential,” noted Mick Schwedler of ASHRAE. “The public became aware of what our industry does. We are fully connected as a world, with more people involved in problem-solving.”
• “Before COVID-19, there was a tradeoff between energy efficiency and human health,” said Roberta MacGillivray of NAFA. “As we solve the pandemic issue, we must continue our focus on how IAQ affects human health and productivity.”

Additional education program highlights include an overview of intellectual property in HVACR given by Wil Rao, an IP and Patent attorney in the greater Chicago area; a breakdown of warranty and callbacks from Bryan Orr; lessons learned from the supply chain, a panel discussion hosted by HARDI and moderated by the HVAC Jerks; and many more targeted discussions highlighting current opportunities, threats and methods across the industry.

“It is absolutely fantastic to see the AHR Expo make such a strong comeback in Las Vegas,” said ASHRAE Executive Vice President Jeff Littleton. “Bringing professionals from around the world back together to learn and share new technologies, with health and safety as a top priority, affords us the opportunity to continue moving the critical work of our industry forward.”

Strength in community

Perhaps one of the most inspiring sentiments shared throughout the floor this year was the sense of community that HVACR embraces. Many of the industry’s workforce remained on the front lines throughout the pandemic and relied on the daily connection with professionals through social media and other points of communication. There was an overwhelming sense of relief and contentment to be gathering again face to face at the industry’s largest event.

“My first AHR was amazing, I really enjoyed meeting my social media community in person,” said Texas tradeswoman Ashley Lynds (@hvac_ash). “Everyone was so welcoming and I was able to network and make additional connections for future business. I can’t wait for Atlanta!”

The Podcast Pavilion returned for its second year as a show feature. It was a clear fan favorite as attendees packed the pavilions each day for live recordings from their favorite industry talents.

“We’ve been attending this show for over a decade. This year was different, there was a new connection with social media and a great podcast lineup. I like the direction they are taking things,” Eric Aune with Mechanical Hub (@mechanicalhub).

Until we meet again

AHR Expo will head back to Atlanta for the 2023 show, bringing with it the positive energy established in Vegas. Eager exhibitors have already reserved booths and discussions of travel plans among attendees are underway. It’s safe to say we are back to business!

“Vegas is one for the books,” concluded Mark Stevens. “We’ve been hosting this show for many years and while it is always a great showing of our industry, this year felt like a new chapter for HVACR. We are a strong community and we now have the attention this industry deserves to thrive on the global stage.”

“We look forward to hosting many of our international attendees who couldn’t make it this year because of travel restrictions and supply chain issues. We have big problems to solve and hefty aspirations to meet as our industry touches literally every part of society and our everyday lives. The success of the 2022 AHR Expo is proof that we are poised to take on anything together. We are all excited to be a part of such a vibrant community and we look forward to planning a stellar show for you in Atlanta. We’ll see you soon!”

The 2023 AHR Expo will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. Registration will open in summer 2022. Sign up for the AHR Expo newsletter to receive updates and news as it happens at ahrexpo.com.

About The AHR Expo

The AHR Expo is the world’s essential HVACR event, attracting the most comprehensive gathering of industry professionals from around the globe each year. The show provides a unique forum where manufacturers of all sizes and specialties, whether a major industry brand or innovative start-up, can come together to share ideas and showcase the future of HVACR technology under one roof. Since 1930, the AHR Expo has remained the industry’s best place for OEMs, engineers, contractors, facility operators, architects, educators, and other industry professionals to explore the latest trends and applications and to cultivate mutually beneficial business relationships. The next show, co-sponsored by ASHRAE and AHRI, will be held Feb.6 – Feb. 8, 2023, in Atlanta, GA, and is held concurrently with ASHRAE’s Winter Conference.

For more information, visit ahrexpo.com and follow @ahrexpo on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.