Goodway’s Coverage of The AHR 2017 Expo

The AHR Expo is a massive trade show where every year, thousands of industry insiders, manufacturers and distributors converge on a Convention Center to show off the latest and greatest in the world of HVACR. This year’s Las Vegas event is particularly exciting, with new technologies such as split cassette systems from @Samsung, VRF systems and Internet of Things-enabled technologies promising to revolutionize the field.

Samsung’s development sparked interest due to its aesthetic appeal. The HVACR industry is starting to design its products not just from the perspective of what works best, but also what customers will want to look at, year in and year out. New VRF systems mean lower costs, but also less wear and tear on the system in general. @Rinnai America debuted a tankless system with 96 percent thermal efficiency. Some companies, such as @JohnsManville even used technology to display old wares, like their tower showing differences in sound attenuation.  

And, of course, there’s the Internet of Things. Smart thermostats are just the beginning. @BellGossett updated its intelligent pump and variable frequency drive. On-site setup and configuration is estimated to have been cut in half by this updated pump. @Victaulic debuted the world’s first grooved, installation-ready copper fittings. One subject that continues to be left out of the innovation conversation, however, is maintenance.

Maintenance is often an afterthought in the world of HVACR, despite the fact that companies might be losing hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in a year due to poorly running machines. Maintenance relates directly to efficiency and efficiency is synonymous with profitability in the field of HVACR. Take for example, microchannel coils. These coils are frequently cleaned using caustic hydroxides, which corrode and dissolve the aluminum within the coils. Improperly maintained machines means a shorter lifespan for basic equipment, higher cost of ownership and lower efficiency over the life of the cooler.

In fact, efficiency, tightly tied to maintenance is one of the strongest indicators of profitability. The investment, facility management and maintenance side of HVACR is aware of this. The manufacturing sector, however, seems less interested.

Goodway is proud to own innovation in the field of HVACR maintenance. We remain keyed into the industry, looking not only for new ways to clean equipment, but also constantly improving the mechanical and chemical solutions used. This means lower cost of ownership, less downtime and increased efficiency. Maintenance might not be the most exciting area of the HVACR world, but @GoodwayMachines is working hard ensuring maintenance doesn’t get left behind as HVACR becomes increasingly high tech.