Consolidated event
featured educational seminars, special programs, and hundreds of industry-leading
exhibitors.
The ISH North America trade show
for the plumbing, commercial/industrial pipes, valves & fittings (PVF),
HVAC and kitchen & bath industries marked its fifth edition with its Oct.
1-3 event at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Reflective of the
trend toward cleaner building and environmentally conscious construction, the
2008 show highlighted the growing demand in renewable energies.
Thousands of
contractors, wholesalers, manufacturers’ reps and other attendees were
able to see the latest product innovations from leading manufacturers in the
exhibit hall, learn from industry leaders at the
seminar
program and network with peers during the many special events at the show.
“While the current economic downturn has impacted
the industry, exhibitors and visitors remained upbeat about their future
business development and strategies,” said
Daniel McKinnon, executive
vice president of Messe Frankfurt, the show’s organizer. “ISH North America
continues to provide a unique experience through the show’s variety and quality
of exhibiting companies, new and innovative products, strong industry
partnerships and endorsers, as well as extensive technical training,
educational opportunities and featured product showcases.”
As the only consolidated show in the industry, Messe
Frankfurt reported that exhibitors were excited to connect with a broad range
of professionals, from contractors and wholesalers, to builders, manufacturers’
reps and others.
“I am glad that our industry has one major show, and this is
it,” said
Andre Bergeron of M.A. Stewart & Sons Ltd. In
addition, an impressive design and show floor layout was highly regarded by
exhibitors and attendees alike.
Rob Zurita of Hubbard
Enterprises/HOLDRITE® told organizers
that, “ISH North America was a great show – easily accessible and
well-organized.”
The ISH North America Seminar Program featured a
diverse selection of educational opportunities. Popular business-oriented programs
included
Kirk Alter’s “Recession-Proofing Your Business,”
which focused on making the right moves in tough times; and
Adams
Hudson’s “How to Put High Performance Plumbing Marketing in Your
Company Instantly,” which offered tips and tools for results-oriented marketing.
Green technologies were covered in “Two Real Sharp
P’s in a Bright Green Pod,” presented by
Dave Yates and
Mark
Eatherton, two recipients of the Carlson-Holohan Industry Award of
Excellence. “Ten Trends That Will Shape the Future of
Hydronic Heating” with
John Siegenthaler explored new hardware
and design concepts keeping hydronics at the cutting edge of energy efficiency.
Special events included the 2008 Plumbing Apprentice
Contest, held on the ISH North America exhibit floor in conjunction
with the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association’s annual
convention. The winner of the contest was
Kyle Holcomb of
Pasadena Plumbing in St. Petersburg, Fla., a fourth-year apprentice.
ISH North America ran concurrently with “Network,” the annual
convention for the American Supply Association and PHCC. Other association
events included the annual convention for the International Association of
Plumbing and Mechanical Officials and the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and
Heating’s famous Maple Leaf Reception.
“Looking forward, we anticipate a solid return of the innovation and
productivity that has made this industry so strong in the past,” McKinnon said.
“We are confident that ISH North America 2010 will continue to provide exciting
new opportunities and a proven business platform for both attendees and
exhibitors.”
For further information,
please visit
www.ish-na.com.
Other upcoming ISH
events worldwide:
- ISH (March 10-14,
2009) Frankfurt, Germany
- ISH China (winter of 2010),
Shanghai, China
