2024 AHR Expo Pre-Planner

SESSIONS TO SEE | INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS

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2024 AHR EXPO PRE-PLANNER

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WINDY CITY RETURN AHR Expo trade show and conference sets up in Chicago for the first time since 2018. BY HPAC STAFF

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fter a six year absence the AirConditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Exposition (AHR Expo), the largest annual North American gathering of HVAC/R industry professionals, returns to the McCormick Center in Chicago for three-days, January 22 to 24, 2024. Like every edition of the Expo since 1930, manufacturers and suppliers from around the world will be on hand to showcase their new product line-ups, feature innovations and provide technical support for attendees.

The AHR Expo is co-sponsored by ASHRAE (the global society of heating, re-

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DATES AND TIMES Monday, January 22, 2024 Hours: 10 am – 6 pm Tuesday, January 23, 2024 Hours: 10 am – 6 pm Wednesday, January 24, 2024 Hours: 10 am – 4 pm McCormick Place, Chicago

frigeration and air conditioning engineers) and the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute of America (AHRI).

EDUCATION PROGRAM This is the show’s first time in the Windy City since 2018, after the planned 2021 edition was cancelled due to the pandemic. A lot has changed, and this year the AHR Expo will feature over 110 free seminars for attendees, including a special series of panel discussions.

“The education program has grown into a true complementary asset to the show floor experience,” said show man-

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ager, Mark Stevens in a pre-show press release. “Inside exhibitor booths, manufacturers are displaying real solutions to improve the health of the industry, the professional work experience and to address the shifts in our wider society. As a bridge to the robust activity on the floor and attendee understanding, the education program will offer real discussions about real problems that are shared across the industry.”

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The vast free industry sessions can be searched online and filtered by day, topic and session category.

Some seminars targeting contractor businesses include: Marketing Do’s and Don’ts; A2Ls are Here; The Disruption

of AI in the Trades; Price Increases, Inflation, the Economy and What Your Customer Experience Can Do About It. The AHR Expo Panel Series includes four one-hour sessions, all taking place on Tuesday, January 23, that should be

SESSIONS TO SEE With hundreds of free sessions on offer for AHR Expo attendees, we’ve picked out a few of our top picks:

MONDAY, JANUARY 22 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

S405b (South Building)

A2Ls Are Here; What Happened to A3s?

Arthur Miller, president of Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES), explains today’s refrigerants and issues around flammability, regulations, installation and service practices.

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

S405b (South Building)

Building Tomorrow’s Cooling Workforce: Navigating New Technologies and Challenges Canada’s own Trevor Matthews will lead a discussion covering new green and energy-efficient solutions in refrigeration along with practical strategies for building a knowledgeable workforce.

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

S401a (South Building)

The Disruption of AI in the Trades This seminar covers emerging artificial intelligence (AI) trends, how AI is revolutionizing the trades, and practical tips for integrating AI into business strategies.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

E350 (East Building)

HVACR State of the Industry Leadership Panel Discussion: Today’s Market, Challenges, Opportunities and What’s Ahead In this panel discussion, leaders from ASHRAE, AHRI, HARDI, NCI, and ASHB come together to discuss the current challenges, opportunities, and forecasts for the year ahead in HVAC/R.

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

E350 (East Building)

Heat Pumps, Electrification, and the Grid Part of the AHR panel series, this discussion with experts will cover the future of decarbonization and upcoming heat pump technologies and systems that will move into the market in the near future.

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

E350 (East Building)

AI, Controls and the Future of Technology in HVAC This group of experts will discuss the current and future roles of controls technology and artificial intelligence as they relate to HVAC and buildings management.

Please note, for these free sessions, seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

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AHR EXPO 2024 PRE-PLANNER

With over 110 free educational sessions there is something for everyone.

of interest to Canadian attendees. Yes, there are regional, code and legislative differences between the U.S. and Canada, but a lot of the everyday concerns of the HVAC/R profession are very cross border.

The show organized its first State of the Industry panel discussion in 2022, immediately post-pandemic. A group of association leaders addressed economic uncertainty and supply chain struggles and offered insights on a path forward. The session attracted a very engaged and standing room only crowd.

This year, another State of the Industry panel (10 am) will include leaders from ASHRAE, AHRI, HARDI, NCI, ASHB, talking about current challenges, opportunities, green initiatives, and forecasts for the year ahead.

Another panel of interest, that will be taking place at 1 pm, is ‘Heat Pumps, Electrification, and the Grid’, addressing how best to deploy heat pumps in retrofit projects. AI, Controls and the Future of Technology in HVAC’ (happening at 3 pm) will discuss the current and future roles of controls technology and artificial intelligence as they relate to HVAC and buildings management.

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Gain industry insights at the Podcast Pavilion

And finally, ‘Addressing the Workforce Talent Gap through Educational Partnerships’ (11:30 am) will share strategies to establish partnerships between education and industry that make an impact on improving HVAC/R, as well as hiring challenges, financial performance, and new hire retention.

In addition to the free seminars, attendees are encouraged to sit in on free exhibitor presentations in the New Product Theater located directly on the trade show floor.

More than 145 presentations, each lasting about 20 minutes, will provide expert-led overviews of product announcements and technologies. No fee or registration is required.

PODCAST PAVILION Industry podcasters and social media regulars are headed to AHR Expo once again for the fourth edition of the Podcast Pavilion. Witness in-person interviews with movers and shakers from across the industry. You'll have a chance to network and ask questions in realtime, hang with the crew and maybe even score some swag.

Canada’s own Trevor Matthews, the The popular State of the Industry panel discussion is part of the AHR panel series.

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Refrigeration Mentor, will be among the personalities speaking and sharing knowledge.

INDUSTRY SHOWCASE Chicago’s McCormick place will be hosting 520,000 sq. ft. of HVAC exhibits, that’s 10 football fields of trade show floor in the building that’s just down the road from Soldier Field, the home of the Chicago Bears.

In total there are expected to be over 1,600 exhibitors, from the largest manufacturers around the world to niche players and start-ups, and of course over 50,000 HVAC/R professionals in attendance hungry to learn, network and take their business to the next level.

Attendees who pre-register for AHR Expo can skip the on-site registration lines, and by downloading the 2024 AHR Expo App, for iOS and Android, and using the MyShow Planner at the show's website, visitors are able to preplan, map out and manage their show floor visits and education schedule in advance.

Information loaded into the MyShow Planner account on the website online will automatically sync with the AHR Expo App on your mobile device.

Instructions for show registration and downloading the AHR Expo App is all available at ahrexpo.com. <>

AHR Expo brings together the HVAC/R industry from across North America and around the globe.

Expect to see the latest and greatest from over 1,600 exhibitors on the trade show floor.

AHR EXPO 2024 EXHIBITORS Company

Booth #

website

Company

(AS ADVERTISED IN HPAC DECEMBER 2023) Booth #

website

Bradford White.................... N2131...................bradfordwhite.com

Laars..................................... N2131..................................laars.com

Dettson................................ N3060............................. dettson.com

Lochinvar............................. S7155............................ lochinvar.com

Franklin Electric................. S6534........................... littlegiant.com

Navien................................... S7591................................... navien.ca

Google Nest Pro................. N1549.............................g.co/nestpro

Olimpia Splendid................. S9279.......... olimpiasplendidusa.com

Gree...................................... N2143......................................gree.ca

Patterson-Kelley................. S6923................. pattersonkelley.com

IBC........................................ S7569................................ ibcboiler.ca

Rheem.................................. S7569................................... rheem.ca

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AHR EXPO 2024 PRE-PLANNER

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INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS >

2024 AHR Innovation Awards The category winners in the 2024 AHR Expo Innovation Awards were announced in mid-October, a list of products across 10 industry categories representing all sectors of the HVAC/R and plumbing industry.

The 10 category winners are selected by a panel of third-party ASHRAE judges who evaluate entries based on innovative design, creativity, application, value, and future market impact.

The innovation awards program helps serve as a metric to see the year-toyear growth across the industry and showcases good examples of how manufacturers are affecting the industry in unique ways.

From the 10 category award winners one product will be selected as the Product of the Year, an honour which is announced during the AHR Expo, being held January 22-24, in Chicago.

HEATING

Ephoca‘s Nextac introduces a new generation of packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC) units. The unit’s features include: R32 refrigerant, twin rotary inverter compressor, heat pump performance to -10F (-23C), integrated ERV, MERV13, zero air leakage, self-cleaning coils, 27 dB(A) operation, and all in a paintable metal cabinet. No drain is required for cooling or heating. Installers have favoured PTACs for affordability and ease of installation, leaving users with poor performance and no upgrade option. Nextac aims to disrupt the industry with high-efficiency and quality, making the units more efficient, aesthetically pleasing and quieter. ephoca.com

BUILDING AUTOMATION

The 75F HyperStat Split is a control that enables contractors to easily upgrade roof top units (RTUs) using only two existing wires from the RTU to the thermostat. The HyperStat Split provides dual enthalpy economizer, demand-control ventilation and VFD control. The stat tracks occupancy, temperature, VOC, CO2, humidity, light, sound, and optional particulate matter measurements every 60 seconds for integration into a builtin analytics package. Its eight onboard sensors and native cloud connectivity for realtime analytics show how demand for IAQ management can be met in a modern and user-centric manner. 75f.io

PLUMBING

COOLING

The DSG compressor from Danfoss is designed for low pressure refrigerants with low global warming potential (GWP). These refrigerants would usually require a larger compressor size to have the same capacity as high pressure (R410A) refrigerants. Applications include chiller systems, with a wide range of compressor capacities available to support unit design requirements. The transition to lower GWP refrigerants means medium and low-density refrigerants, and the DSG will enable the transition without a significant increase in physical compressor size. It is qualified for R1234ze, a replacement for R134a and can also be used with other similar refrigerants. danfoss.com

Rheem‘s Triton Light Duty (50- and 75-gallon) water heater is an intelligent high efficiency commercial gas water heater with built-in smart monitoring and leak detection, preventing downtime and managing water heater issues. A patented combustion system and helical coil heat exchanger ensure efficiency and durability. The latest Triton offers up to 97% thermal efficiency. Its LeakGuard feature limits water leakage outside the tank, and with porcelain/glass-coated steel, corrosion is minimized, extending tank life while its minimum weld joint construction increases durability. It also has a built-in condensate neutralizer. rheem.ca

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INDOOR AIR QUALITY

WellStat is an indoor air quality and energy management software platform for building owners to assure healthy air quality, lower operating costs, and increased operating revenue. It also provides data beneficial for achieving sustainability certifications (LEED, WELL). WellStat is integrated and provides a single unified hardware, software and mobile platform experience, and it uses high caliber sensors and maintains accuracy through overthe-air calibration. The range of sensors monitor temperature, RH, particulate matter, CO2, ozone, VOCs, formaldehyde, dew point, wet bulb, light level, CO, occupancy, pressure, sound DB, and duct flow. wellstat.io

REFRIGERATION

The AirGreen-BMIL brine-based DX refrigerant system creates a low dewpoint “heat pump” for cold room/storage applications – providing <26F (-3C) dewpoint supply air in a single process step. The packaged unit provides up to 50% energy savings.

Solid desiccant products can achieve supply air at 55F(12.8C) with a 40-45F (4-7C) dew point, and to lower the dry bulb temperature requires multiple pieces of equipment. This technology’s low temperature brine solution simultaneously cools and dehumidifies and eliminates downtime related to multiple defrost cycles. It also needs low regeneration temperatures (110F/43C), compared to solid desiccants. airgreeninc.com

SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

Midea’s packaged window heat pump is a window-mounted cold climate air source heat pump. Developed to support multi-family buildings’ transitioning towards electrification, the Midea PWHP provides a cost-effective solution. Unit performance is 9,000 Btu/h heating and cooling, with a CEER of 16, a 2.35 COP at 17F (-8C), up to SEER2 21.8 and HSPF2 11.6. It operates on a 120V/15A circuit, and its saddle design allows window view and functionality while reducing indoor noise levels.

A telescoping centre section adjusts to various wall depths, and a hinged outdoor section allows for rotation during installation. mideaevox.com

SOFTWARE

The SAM (Skill Advisor and Mentor) from Interplay Learning is an AIpowered advisor for the skilled trades.

SAM gives teams instant, personalized, guidance to gain skills faster.

Technicians can ask SAM questions and get immediate assistance. The system guides learners towards “aha” moments and helps develop problemsolving skills. Allowing SAM to assist/mentor newer techs can free up senior techs and managers and give them more time to grow the business. interplaylearning.com

VENTILATION

The SAV-Smart Air Valve from HVAC Manufacturing and Technology is an economical self-commissioning air control solution. Featuring a 100-1 turndown and airflow accuracy to within a few CFM operating as low as .03-in. WG, it matches the ventilation rate to the risk of hazard using advanced demand control ventilation and low EUI. The SAV’s variable orifice plate technology solves a complex fluid dynamic problem of measuring a fluid accurately over a wide dynamic range allowing controls companies/system integrators to supply and warranty the zone level devices. hvacmfg.com

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AHR EXPO 2024 PRE-PLANNER

TOOLS & INSTRUMENTS

The Inficon FLUE-Mate combustion analyzer has an integrated manometer, thermometer, CO test, cracked heat exchanger test and provides draft analysis. It can generate a QR code to scan with a smart device for a quick analysis report. It also has a visible water trap and filter, automatic pump shut-off, and ambient CO monitoring. A mobile app allows users to save and share reports. It also can display efficiency, O2, CO2, CO and flue gas temperature all on one screen. Its automatic pump shut-off stops flow when a high level of CO is detected, protecting the sensor. inficon.com

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR

SEPT 12, 2024 WE’RE BACK - BIGGER & BETTER AT PARAMOUNT EVENTSPACE IN VAUGHAN!

As always, the Summit will include our full slate of excellent speakers, 50+ exhibitors demonstrating the latest technologies, and unparalleled networking with hydronics professionals from all sectors of the trade.

Summit 2024 will also feature our Hydronics 101 sessions for newer technicians with “hands-on training” added this year! The food will be top-notch and lots of prizes, including Blue Jays tickets, will be won!

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CANADA’S HYDRONIC INSTALLATION CONTEST

WIN ONE OF THREE $2000 BUYING SPREES FROM EMCO! Get your cameras ready. Be a part of Canada’s hydronic installation contest.

Proud of your work? Better than the rest? It’s time to bring it on!

THERE WILL BE A WINNER IN EACH CATEGORY: COMMERICAL, RESIDENTIAL NEW-BUILD & RESIDENTIAL RETROFIT ENTRY IS SIMPLE - send us pics of your installation. Include a brief description of the particular challenges that you faced with this installation and how you overcame the obstacles. Submissions are limited to one per contractor. Deadline to enter is July 31, 2024. All submissions will be shown at the Modern Hydronics Summit 2024. The three winners will also be announced by John Siegenthaler at the Summit. In addition to having your winning entry shared across our social media channels you’ll also be interviewed by HPAC’s editor and featured on the cover of the October edition of HPAC – SEND ENTRIES OR QUESTIONS TO DPICKLYK@HPACMAG.COM WITH THE SUBJECT LINE “SWEET HEAT CONTEST”