A recent survey of HVACR product manufacturers by AHR Expo organizers finds 70% of manufacturers expect a stronger economy to start to emerge during the first quarter of 2010.

Nearly 72% of respondents predicted that their customers will start buying more products in the first quarter. In keeping with the optimistic outlook, 69% of the AHR Expo exhibitors believe their customers have been delaying purchases of new products and that this pent-up demand will result in more sales during the first quarter of 2010. Twenty-four percent of exhibitors expect sales to increase by more than 10%. Nearly 30% expect sales increases of 5-10% in the first quarter of 2010. 

Approximately 25% of respondents expect a smaller first quarter increase of between 1 and 4%. Less than 5% of manufacturers predict a decline in sales.

The HVACR industry should benefit from having two of its best and biggest shows — the AHR Expo in January 25-27, 2010 in Orlando, FL, and ContractingBusiness.com's HVAC Comfortech in Nashville, TN, Sept. 23-26, 2009— occur only four months apart. HVAC Comfortech is expecting solid attendance, and the ripple effects from that show, combined with a strong AHR Expo could be just what the HVAC industry needs to shake off the blues caused by economic woes.

“The timing of the 2010 AHR Expo should be very beneficial to the HVACR industry,” says Clay Stevens, president, International Exposition Company, the show organizer. “We’re expecting thousands and thousands of industry professionals from around the world to converge on Orlando in January to find the newest and most efficient products available anywhere,” Stevens says.

Stevens says the Southeast is one of fastest-growing areas of the country and a leading marketplace for the many green products and technologies that will be on display at the world’s largest exclusively HVACR exposition and conference.

AHR Expo 2010 will feature more than 1,600 exhibitors, and more than 45,000 attendees and exhibitor personnel from nearly 100 countries.  AHR Expo educational sessions will include building automation control, specialized climate control, radiant hyrdonic heating, solar and geothermal systems, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality (IAQ).

More than 30 technical sessions and short courses will be presented by ASHRAE, many of which earn continuing education credits.

ahrexpo.com