Record number of companies enter the competition

The winners of the 2012 AHR Expo Innovation Awards have been chosen and will be honoured at a special ceremony during the HVACR exposition and conference in Chicago on January 24, 2012, said a communiqué from the producers and managers of the Expo, the International Exposition Company (IEC). Representing a broad cross-section of the HVACR marketplace, the winning entries were selected in 10 categories and represent the most innovative new products among the thousands that will be displayed at the show, the communiqué added. A panel of judges, made up of ASHRAE members evaluated the products submitted, based on innovation, application, value to the user and market impact.

Revealing that one of the 10 category winners will also be selected as the winner of the 2012 AHR Expo Product of the Year Award, the event organisers listed the winners of the Innovation Awards in the 10 categories:

Building Automation

Company: Geofinity
Manufacturing Product: ORB Heat Pump Controller

Cooling

Company: Emerson Climate Technologies
Product: Copeland Scroll Variable Speed Compressor

Green Building

Company: ClimaCool Corp
Product: SHC onDEMAND Simultaneous Heating and Cooling Heat Pump System

Heating

Company: Enerconcept Technologies
Product: The Lubi Wall Wall-mounted Solar Air Heater

Indoor Air Quality

Company: E+E Elektronik Ges
Product: EE245 Wireless Transmitter

Plumbing

Company: Rheem Manufacturing Company
Product: The Rheem XR90 Extreme Recovery Gas Water Heater

Refrigeration

Company: Emerson Climate Technologies
Product: Copeland Scroll K5 Refrigeration Compressor

Software

Company: Emerson Climate Technologies
Product: Emerson Climate Technologies HVACR Mobile Toolbox for Contractors

Tools & Instruments

Company: Fluke Corporation
Product: Fluke TiR1 Thermal Imager

Ventilation

Company: Melink Corporation
Product: Intelli-Hood Kitchen Ventilation Control

Winners will receive placards to display at their booths during the Show, as well as an etched crystal award, to be displayed at their company headquarters, the announcement said. In addition, 31 other products will be recognised with Honourable Mentions in the same categories.

According to the organisers, a record number of companies entered the competition this year, and the nearly $12,000 generated by the entry fees will be donated to a charitable organisation in the Chicago area. Since the inception of the Innovation Award Competition in 2003, more than $100,000 has been donated to charity and educational institutions in the cities where the Expo was held, the organisers added.

Expressing his delight at the response the Awards elicited this year, Clay Stevens, President of International Exposition Company, the producer of the AHR Expo, said: “We are honoured to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Innovation Awards, because it is so meaningful to the HVACR industry. It encourages innovation, recognises excellence and enables us to help charitable organisations.”

The Innovation Awards are jointly sponsored by ASHRAE, AHRI and IEC.

The list of Honourable Mentions

Building Automation

Company: American Auto-Matrix
Product: AspectFT Product Family Energy Management and BAS Solution

Cooling

Company: ClimateMaster
Product: Tranquility 22 Digital Series Geothermal Heat Pump

Company: Danfoss Turbocor Compressors
Product: TT400 380V High-efficiency Compressor

Company: Enertech Global
Product: GeoComfort Compass GXT Series Vertical Geothermal Heat Pump

Company: McQuay International
Product: Daikin McQuay Rebel Commercial Rooftop Unit

Company: Seeley International (Americas)
Product: Breezair Icon Series evaporative air Conditioner

Green building

Company: Columbus Industries
Product: Micro Shield Mini Pleat Filter

Company: Enertech Global
Product: Tetco Geothermal ES4 Series TXT Vertical Heat Pump

Company: Lochinvar
Product: Strato-Therm+ Solar Thermal Storage Tank

Heating

Company: Lochinvar
Product: Crest Condensing Boiler

Company: Mestek
Product: HeatNet Integrated Control Platform Condensing Hydronic Heating Boiler

Company: Uponor
Product: Radiant Ready 30E Mechanical

Indoor Air Quality

Company: Building Automation Products
Product: CO2 Sensor

Company: Panasonic Home & Environment Company
Product: WhisperSense-Lite Ventilation Fan-light

Company: Sanuvox Technologies Inc.
Product: Sanuvox R+ In-Duct UV System

Plumbing

Company: CAN2GO (SCL Elements)
Product: CAN2GO DA2 Intelligent Wireless Valve Actuator

Company: Webstone Company
Product: Hyrdo-Core Hydronic Manifold System

Refrigeration

Company: Alfa Laval
Product: AXP Brazed Heat Exchanger

Company: Testo
Product: Testo 570 Refrigeration System Analyzer

Software

Company: Alerton
Products: Alerton Building Suite 3 Automation/Energy Management Software

Company: Data-Basics
Product: TechAnywhere Mobile Field Service Software

Company: J2 Innovations
Product: FIN Builder Building Automation Software

Company: Service Automation
Product: Sawin Mobile Wireless Service Software

Instruments

Company: Appion
Product: Tez Speed System HVAC System Evacuator

Company: Fieldpiece Instruments
Product: LT17AW Digital Multimeter

Company: Goodway Technologies
Product: RAM Pro Tube Cleaner

Ventilation

Company: American Louver Company
Product: EP Diffuser

Company: DuctSox
Product: SkeleCore In-duct Cylindrical Tensioning Device

Company: Ruskin Company
Product: HPG3845 FEMA Grille