Westport, Connecticut — Close to 50,000 HVAC&R professionals, including more than 27,400 registered attendees and more than 22,300 exhibitor personnel, participated in AHR Expo 2001 in Atlanta, January 29-31.

The final tally of 27,470 attendees represents a significant increase (15%) over the last show held in Atlanta in 1996, which attracted 23,838 visitors and 19,922 exhibitor personnel.

The 2001 Show, which had 1,297 exhibitors and 385,900 square feet of exhibit space, also ranks as the 2nd largest AHR Expo ever, just behind Chicago ’99.

"We're pleased to offer the industry a wealth of new products and solutions at our second largest show ever," said Clay Stevens, president of International Exposition Company. "And we are very pleased to announce AHR Expo will now be held in Chicago every three years, starting in 2003."

Long recognized as a global industry event, this year's Exposition included 181 International companies from 25 different countries and attracted 5,385 visitors from 110 countries outside the U.S. In addition, 217 companies exhibited for the first time, and 207 exhibitors displayed Indoor Air Quality equipment.

Show Highlights

A new line-up of free educational sessions offered by AHR Expo and several new Endorsing Associations were offered to engineers, contractors, wholesalers, and other HVAC&R professionals in attendance. Presented by leading industry authorities, the nine unique sessions delivered objective content that informed and educated AHR Expo attendees. The format allowed attendees to obtain a better understanding of the newest trends and technologies impacting the industry, while also providing them with the opportunity to find practical solutions to the challenges they face.

The sold-out show attracted attendees from all facets of the industry, including contractors, engineers, dealers, distributors, wholesalers, OEM’s, architects and builders, industrial plant operators, facility owners and managers, agents, and representatives.

The Exposition, which is co-sponsored by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI), is held in conjunction with ASHRAE’s Winter Meeting. Their concurrent conference program featured in-depth sessions on HVAC&R systems and applications, deregulation of the power industry, indoor air quality, ventilation, energy efficiency of buildings, and new developments in ASHRAE standards.

AHR Expo 2002 will be held in the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, NJ, January 14-16.