Pictures courtesy of AHR Expo
The AHR Expo is a gathering of industry professionals from around the globe each year. The show provides a forum where manufacturers of all sizes and specialties, whether major industry brand or innovative start-up, can come together to share ideas and showcase the future of HVACR technology under one roof. Since 1930, the AHR Expo has served as a place for OEMs, engineers, contractors, facility operators, architects, edu-cators and other industry professionals to explore the latest trends and applications and to cultivate mutually beneficial business relationships. The show, co-sponsored by ASHRAE and AHRI, will be held Feb. 2-4, 2026 in Las Vegas, NV, and is held concurrently with ASHRAE’s Winter Conference.
For more information, visit ahrexpo.com and follow @ahrexpo on X, Instagram, Linkedin and Facebook.
The AHR Expo (International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition) announced the winners of the 2026 AHR Expo Innovation Awards. Winners in ten industry categories are chosen annually to represent the most innovative products and technologies in the market today.
“The achievement of an Innovation Award winner is a meaningful distinction in HVACR,” said Show Manager Mark Stevens. “We’re proud to showcase the commitment and recognize the hard work of these manufacturers and their collective teams who are putting in the work to bring new and inventive solutions to market. The Innovation Awards not only highlight these accomplishments, but also act as a benchmark for excellence, honoring the creativity and dedication shap-ing our industry’s future.”
Each year, the Innovation Awards receive hundreds of submissions from manufacturers putting forward their breakthrough designs for new and never before seen solutions or improvements upon existing products and technologies. Entries are then closely re-viewed by a panel of third-party judges made up of distinguished ASHRAE members. Evaluations are based on overall innovative design, creativity of the product or service offered, product or technology in real-world application,as well as overall potential market impact.
“It is a positive indicator that each year we see more and more manufacturers meeting industry challenges with creativity and innovation,” continued Stevens. “The winning products, along with all the finalists, demonstrate HVACR’s preparedness to respond to critical demands and challenges with innovative solutions to support energy efficiency, compliance, cost-efficiency and an overall improvement to equipment performance.”
An added benefit of flourishing innovation driving entries to the Innovation Awards is the ability to strengthen the industry through funding attributed to the AHR Expo Workforce
Development program. The program, celebrating its fourth year in Vegas, aims to trig-ger industry growth through experiences geared to inspire future members of the HVACR community. Funds collected from the entry fees are donated to programming at the student level, including field trips to the show, curated introductions to professionals and manufacturers, equipment for hands-on learning in school laboratories, and mone-tary donations to student programs in the hosting city. We invite you to learn more about workforce development on ahrexpo.com and encourage you to get involved.
Winners for the 2026 AHR Expo Innovations Awards include:
BUILDING AUTOMATION
Winner: Honeywell
Innovation: Honeywell
Connected Solutions
AHR Booth: C1840
Honeywell’s Connected Solutions suite empowers building owners and service providers with cloud-based tools for remote monitoring, predictive maintenance, energy optimiza-tion, and asset lifecycle management. These applications streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance sustainability, all through a unified, intuitive platform that trans-forms traditional building management into a connected, data-driven experience.
HEATING
Winner: Copeland
Innovation: Copeland heating-optimized modulating vapor
injection portfolio
AHR Booth: C3607
The Copeland heating-optimized modulating vapor injection portfolio combines innova-tive two- stage, tandem and variable-speed compression platforms with enhanced vapor injection (EVI) technologies to deliver maximum flexibility, scalability and performance in achieving the capacity
and efficiency requirements of next-generation commercial heat pumps for hot air and waterapplications.
Finalists include: Danfoss, PSG Heating Scroll Compressor; and Trane Trane 17 Multi-Speed Heat
Pump with WeatherGuard
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
Winner: Sharp Corporation
Innovation: Airest
AHR Booth: SL1919
Airest is the world’s first mini-split heat pump with built-in MERV 14 certified filters. It captures over 99.9% of dust before it enters the unit. With an airflow reach of 43 feet, Airest cools, heats, and purifies the air simultaneously, all made possible by its uniquely engineered internal structure.
SOFTWARE
Winner: Rebar
Innovation: Rebar
AHR Booth: SL2331
Rebar is the first AI-powered takeoff platform built for HVAC. It reads construction plans, identifies mechanical pages, marks equipment, and generates accurate takeoffs in minutes—cutting hours of manual work. Purpose-built by industry experts, Rebar helps reps move faster, win more jobs, and streamline the entire sales process.
TOOLS & INSTRUMENTS
Winner: CSG Compressors (Houston & American Hermetics)
Innovation: SAMMi
AHR Booth: SL3122
SAMMi is an AI-powered HVAC monitoring and dispatch system that detects issues be-fore they cause breakdowns. It autonomously alerts and dispatches technicians, saving time, money, and product loss. Easy to install and scalable, SAMMi turns reactive maintenance into smart, seamless prevention.
At the show in February, one overall 2026 Product of the Year winner will be announced. This prestigious honor, selected from the 10 category winners, is awarded based on exceptional leadership in HVACR innovation.
“As the industry continues to face workforce challenges alongside rising equipment demand, ever-changing regulations and the need for more innovative solutions, the AHR Expo Innovation Awards will continue to play a critical role in showcasing the pulse of industry advancement,” said Kim Pires, AHR Expo. “Participation in the Awards - and the distinction of being awarded a win – is a key indicator to the wider industry that your company is leading the way for the future of HVACR.”
For more information about the awards, AHR Expo, and to register for free, visit ahrex-po.com.