According to a recent AHR Expo survey sent to more than 1,000 HVAC manufacturers worldwide, 70% of the respondents expect the economy to be better in 2013 than in 2012. In fact, 15% of the manufacturers expect a “much better year,” while only 3% expect it to be worse than 2012.
In keeping with this optimistic outlook, 86% of the HVAC manufacturers believe sales will increase next year, with 35% of respondents expecting sales increases of more than 10%. Thirty-two percent forecast sales increases between 5 and 10%, and 19% expect increases of less than 5%. Eleven percent of respondents believe sales will remain the same, while only 3% expect sales to decrease.
Many respondents (41%) said the residential sector would account for the strongest demand for new products, followed by institutional (30%), industrial (19%), light commercial (7%), and heavy commercial (3%). The industry categories expected to show the strongest growth are renovation/upgrade (42%), new construction (34%), and replacement (24%).
More than two-thirds of the respondents (67%) predicted that the greatest demand for new products would come from domestic markets and 33% from international markets. Of these respondents, 52% said the greatest demand for new products would come from the healthcare segment, 45% from industrial plants, 43% from the educational marketplace, and 42 % from government/civil.
Positive Expo Outlook
To meet this demand, 75% of AHR Expo exhibitors said they would introduce new products or services at the upcoming 2013 show. The expo is wrapping up it’s third and final day in Dallas today, January 30th.
The 2013 AHR Expo featured more than 1,800 manufacturers and suppliers from around the world, showcasing hundreds of innovative new products to nearly 45,000 industry professionals. The 2013 AHR Expo wass co-sponsored by ASHRAE and the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). The Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) is an honorary sponsor. ASHRAE’s Winter Conference is held concurrently with the AHR Expo each year.
Source: www.achrnews.com; December 3, 2013.
