The home heating oil industry has a long and proud history, and Fuel Oil News has been there supporting it since 1935. It is an industry that has faced many challenges during that time. In its 77th year, Fuel Oil News is doing more than just holding
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NEWS & T RE ND S 2012 AHR EXPO: Largest event in the show's 82-year history Nearly 2,000 companies to display latest technologies Over 1,700 companies have already reserved more than 414,500 square feet of exhibit space for the 2012 AHR Expo at McCormick Place, in Chicago, January 23-25, making it the largest HVACR exposition of all-time. The 2012 event has already surpassed the previous all-time record of 410,415 square feet set at the 2006 exposition in Chicago. "We are very pleased about achieving this new all- time record, especially as this is our company's 100th Anniversary," said Clay Stevens, president of International Exposition Company, which produces and manages the AHR Expo. "Historically, the number of attendees tends to increase proportionately with the increase in square footage." Stevens attributes much of this growth to more companies introducing new energy efficient equipment, as well as the anticipation that their customers will need to replace out- dated equipment that they have been nursing through an uncertain economy. Included among the more than 1,700 exhibiting companies from 34 countries are more than 130 first time exhibitors and over 300 non-U.S. exhibitors. As the largest AHR Expo of all time, the 2012 show may also be on track to establish new records for total attendees (59,079) and registered visitors (38,534), excluding exhibitor personnel. Stevens said that another reason for the record exhibit space is that AHR Expo covers all segments of the HVACR industry, including the new solar and sustainable technologies that are experiencing strong growth. A comprehensive educational program featuring more than 100 sessions and special show features also attracts a significant number of HVACR profes- sionals from around the world. "Based on these early indicators, we expect Chicago to be a very strong event," Stevens added. As noted, a variety of valuable educational sessions, work- shops and certification programs designed to provide HVACR professionals with information and insights to perform their jobs more effectively will be offered. Sponsored by nearly two-dozen of the leading industry associations and trade publications, 43 free educational sessions 10 JANUARY 2012 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www.fueloilnews.com covering a variety of critical topics will be offered during the first two days of the show. Ranging from such technical topics as "New Open Source Technologies" to more general/business topics as "Selling Energy Efficiency in Today's Marketplace," these sessions are targeted to a broad range of industry profes- sionals attending the show. In addition to the free educational sessions, ASHRAE will be presenting 18 sessions at McCormick Place beginning on Sunday, Jan. 22 through Tuesday, Jan. 24. Covering a wide range of topics, most of these sessions do have a small registration fee. These sessions are also sepa- rate from the ASHRAE education program being offered during the association's Winter Conference at the Palmer House hotel. Rounding out the AHR Expo Educational Program are a series of four workshops and panel discussions on Monday and Tuesday featuring such well-known industry favorites as Dan Holohan, John Siegenthaler and Bob 'hot rod' Rohr. In conjunction with AHR Expo, there will also be various certification programs and exams available to show attendees. The four exams include the ASHRAE Certification Programs, CxA Workshop and Exam (AABC Commissioning Group), HVAC Review and Nate Testing, and the AFE Certified Plant Maintenance Manager (CPMM) Review Course and Exam. The certification programs and exams start on the Friday before the show and continue until the last day of the show. In addition to all of the educational sessions, the 50,000 plus AHR Expo attendees will also have the opportunity to get a sneak preview of some of the latest HVACR products and technologies at the New Product Technology Theaters. There will be a variety of presentations in three theaters ranging from such topics as Micro Thermo Technologies to Non-Chemical Water Treatment in HVAC Applications. These sessions are free and will take place during all three days of the show. For more information, current schedule and registration information visit the show's website at www.ahrexpo.com.