The AHR Expo (International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition) has announced the winners of the 2023 AHR Expo Innovation Awards. Each year, winners are chosen in 10 industry categories to represent the most innovative products and technologies set to hit the market in the year ahead.

“The awards program experiences growth year on year,” said Show Manager Mark Stevens. “This is a direct correlation to just how fast our industry is growing through innovation. The awards are a key indicator of how HVACR is being called upon to solve worldwide issues at a rapid pace. We aim to highlight this innovation trajectory and honor those that are pushing the bar to create real solutions to difficult problems.”

The Innovation Awards draw hundreds of manufacturers who are designing new and never-before-seen solutions or improvements upon existing products and technologies launching into the marketplace in the coming year. They encourage exhibitors to submit new products and technologies for recognition via review and selection by a panel of third-party judges comprised of distinguished ASHRAE members. Entrants are evaluated based on overall innovative design, creativity of the product or service offered, product or technology real-world application, as well as overall potential market impact.

“We are thrilled to celebrate this year’s winners as well as to continue to champion innovation among our industry professionals,” continued Stevens. “In the last few years, HVACR has taken on a wider audience outside of our direct industry stakeholders. It is refreshing to welcome an understanding of the value HVACR brings to the world in essentially every factor of daily life. Manufacturers on the AHR Expo show floor are challenged to continuously innovate and adapt as the built environment around us changes, and you’ll see them meeting this charge head-on in Atlanta.”

The Innovation Awards program serves as an annual metric for year-to-year industry development and growth, as well as a forecast of the marketplace in the upcoming year. While the Awards officially recognize only a select few, the show floor is a robust example of how manufacturers are growing the industry in exciting ways.

“AHR Expo would like to formally congratulate each of our 2023 AHR Expo Innovation Award winners, as well as our finalists and all our entrants, for their continued leadership and contribution to HVACR,” said Stevens. “We look forward to seeing each of you on the show floor in Atlanta, as well as where you’ll lead us in the future!”

The 2023 AHR Expo Innovation Award Winners and finalists were selected in 10 industry categories, including building automation, cooling, heating, indoor air quality, plumbing, refrigeration, software, sustainable solutions, tools and instruments, and ventilation.

• BUILDING AUTOMATION Winner: Cielo WiGle Inc., Booth #C6700
  • Innovation: Cielo Breez Max
• COOLING Winner: Chemours, Booth #C6425
  • Innovation: Opteon XL41 Refrigerant 
• HEATING Winner: Copeland Compressors and Condensing Units / Emerson, Booth #B1839, B1849
  • Innovation: Copeland ZPSK7 scroll compressor
• INDOOR AIR QUALITY Winner: BELIMO Americas, Booth #B315
  • Innovation: Room Sensor
• PLUMBING Winner: Caleffi Hydronic Solutions, Booth #B3317
  • Innovation: Caleffi 536 Series PresCal HP Piston-type Pressure Reducing Valve
• REFRIGERATION Winner: Retail Solutions / Emerson, Booth #B1839, B1849
  • Innovation: Copeland ZFW variable speed scroll solution for low-temperature refrigeration applications
• SOFTWARE Winner: cove.tool, Booth #B4561
  • Innovation: loadmodeling.tool
• SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS Winner: Taco Comfort Solutions, Booth #B1639
  • Innovation: System M
• TOOLS & INSTRUMENTS Winner: NAVAC Inc., Booth #C6364
  • Innovation: BREAKFREE POWER FLARING TOOL
• VENTILATION Winner: SmartD Technologies, Booth #C5948
  • Innovation: SmartD Clean Power VFD

Funds raised from the entry fees of the Innovation Awards competition will be donated to the Atlanta College and Career Academy (ACCA), an Atlanta-based technical high school.

The next AHR Expo will take place Feb. 6-8, 2023, in Atlanta. For more information on the 2023 AHR Expo Innovation Awards, visit www.ahrexpo.com/innovation-awards-2023-winners.