Plumbing has been added as a new category to the 2011 AHR Expo Innovation Awards. The awards recognize innovative and useful products on display at the AHR Expo. About 150 entries submitted by exhibitors each year are judged on the basis of design, unique performance, market impact, and value to the HVACR industry. Now in their ninth year, the awards are meant to promote and encourage new product development in 10 categories:
• Building automation
• Cooling
• Green building
• Heating
• Indoor-air quality
• Refrigeration
• Software
• Tools/instruments
• Ventilation
• Plumbing
Sponsored by International Exposition Co.; the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers; and the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, all entries are reviewed and evaluated by a panel of industry judges based on the competition criteria. Winners of the Innovation Awards will be recognized at an awards ceremony during the AHR Expo in Las Vegas and will receive special placards to place in their booths as well as an etched crystal award to be displayed in their company headquarters. Additionally, one of the 10 winning entries will be selected as the 2011 AHR Expo Product of the Year.
All entry fees from the 2011 AHR Innovation Awards will be presented to a Las Vegas-area charity or community organization
Exhibitors can submit one product per category, but Innovation Awards winners from the previous year cannot resubmit the same product. For complete rules as well as the Innovation Award Exhibitor Entry Form, visit www.ahrexpo.com/innovation. Entries are due by Sept. 15.
The 2011 AHR Expo will take place Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and will feature more than 1,800 exhibitors from around the world showcasing hundreds of new products to more than 45,000 attendees and exhibitor personnel.