The AHR Expo returned Jan 31. - Feb. 2 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!”

• “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.”