For the first time in the 75-year history of theAHR Expo,the show is being held in Orlando, FL and 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 sq ft of exhibit space, the 2005 event is already one of the most successful ever.

Clay Stevens, president of International Exposition Company, which produces and manages the AHR Expo, attributes much of the show's enthusiastic industry support to the fact that the industry's leading event allows companies from all over the world to showcase their products and that attendees have a chance to see the latest HVACR products and technologies all in one location.

"The Southeast represents one of the strongest HVACR markets in the United States," Stevens pointed out. "Due to climate diversity, the normal demand for heating, refrigeration and ventilation products is accentuated by the intense use of air-conditioning. AHR Expo is this year's only opportunity HVACR professionals will have to see such a vast array of products and technologies from leading suppliers around the world."

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. 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. 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."

The 2005 expo is again expected to be a major event for international exhibitors and attendees. The number of exhibitors headquartered outside of the United States has been on the increase with 300 international companies from 31 countries signed up to display hundreds of new and innovative products. Solid representation from around the globe includes more than 34 companies from Europe and 86 from Pacific Rim countries with the majority of international support coming from more than 123 Canadian companies.

AHR Expo generally attracts some 20% of its attendance from over 100 countries outside the U.S. Many HVACR professionals travel thousands of miles to see the best the industry's manufacturers have to offer.

The companies that have won the third annual AHR Expo Innovation Awards will be honored at a special ceremony during the expo. The award presentations will take place on February 8 in the New Product Technology Theater on the show floor.