The 2005 AHR Expo®, being held in Orlando, FL, Feb. 7-9, is expected to attract a near-record number of industry professionals. According to show management, 1,814 companies have already reserved space for the 2005 Expo. In addition, with over 365,000 square feet of exhibit space, the 2005 event is already one of the most successful ever.

Highlights of the 2005 AHR Expo include a special photo gallery in the registration area illustrating how the show and the industry have progressed since the AHR Expo first started in 1930. Two special product sections, the Building Automation & Control Showcase and the Software Center, will make it easy for visitors looking for those types of products to find what they need.

For those who come to the show looking for educational opportunities, many of the AHR Expo Endorsing Associations will conduct free sessions that will present practical information ranging from principles of business management to a variety of current technical developments, including building automation.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will speak on how proper equipment operation and maintenance effects energy efficiency, and the U.S. finals of the SkillsUSA student competition will also be held during the show.

As always, ASHRAE is producing a large variety of sessions in conjunction with their annual Winter Meeting, which is held concurrently with the show. These will include numerous short courses with a nominal tuition charge and a free public session on "Battling Humidity in Southern Climates."

Innovation Award Winners Announced

In another show event, the companies that have won the third annual AHR Expo Innovation Awards will be honored at a special ceremony during Expo. The award presentations will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 11:00 a.m. in the New Product Technology Theater on the show floor.

The most innovative product submissions from among the thousands on display at the AHR Expo have been selected as winners in eight specific categories: Building Automation, Cooling, Heating, Indoor Air Quality, Refrigeration, Software, Tools and Ventilation.

The 2005 winners are:

BUILDING AUTOMATION

Company: Invisible Service Technicians, LLC

Product: IST Monitor

COOLING

Company: Copeland Corporation / Emerson Climate Technologies

Product: Next Generation Copeland Scroll™

HEATING

Company: TRS Systems, Inc.

Product: RC2100 Wireless Hydronic Controller

IAQ (INDOOR AIR QUALITY)

Company: Munters Corporation

Product: H2O LiquidAire

REFRIGERATION

Company: Danfoss, Inc.

Product: ICV Control Valve

SOFTWARE

Company: Wrightsoft Corporation

Product: Right-Radiant Plus™

TOOLS

Company: Goodway Technologies Corp.

Product: CTV-1500 Cooling Tower Vacuum

VENTILATION

Company: Hardcast, Carlisle Coatings & Waterproofing Inc.

Product: Flex-Grip 550

A panel of judges, made up of ASHRAE members selected for their exceptional knowledge of the industry and its products, reviewed and evaluated all submissions. Product entries were judged for innovation, application, value to user, and market impact. The winners will receive special placards to place in their booths as well as an etched crystal award to be displayed at their company headquarters.

The Innovation Awards are jointly sponsored by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE); the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI); and International Exposition Company (IEC), producers and organizers of the AHR Expo. For more information on the 2005 event and for a complete list of Innovation Award winners and honorable mentions, visit www.ahrexpo.com.