ARBS 2022, Australia’s premier international air conditioning, refrigeration and building services trade exhibition, is slated for August 2022 in Melbourne.
By Matthew Dillon
It’s the Australian HVAC&R and building services industry’s jamboree. A celebration of ventilation and refrigeration for the nation. A festival of ducts that’s all chiller/no filler. The great air conditioning muster, cooling cluster, and HVAC hoedown.
One of the most influential events for Australasian HVAC&R and building services, ARBS 2022 has made a welcome return to the industry calendar.
“It’s the opportunity to bring together the HVAC&R industry,” says Testo’s Laszlo Csernatony, “and really give technicians a touch-and-feel experience of what’s new on the market to support them in their day-to-day work.”
It’s history now that the event originally slated for May 2020 was
delayed by the impacts of COVID. ARBS 2022 will be the first time in four years the collective industry has met in one place. It has been missed.
Ahead of the event, Ecolibrium touched base with several exhibitors to see what they have planned for their ARBS campaign …
The opportunities for product suppliers to meet potential customers and vice versa are immense.
Reliably present
“There is no better way to build strong long-lasting relationships than face‑to‑face interaction,” says Jason Duncan, M.AIRAH, from Reliable Controls. “ARBS gives an opportunity for all of Australia’s industry professionals to come together in one place at the same time to learn new things and forge relationships that are no doubt a positive contribution to any business and industry professional.”
What are you most looking forward to about ARBS?
Seeing the latest innovative industry‑related products, meeting new people and catching up with a few people I haven’t seen for a while.
Anything special planned?
Reliable Controls has designed a fantastic stand where visitors can take a tour of our headquarters and manufacturing facility through a VR experience.
A large footprint
Daikin’s GM of marketing & ecommerce Dan Tosh says ARBS is an excellent opportunity for the HVAC industry to showcase the latest in technical innovation and to discuss the critical topics that are impacting HVAC&R’s future.
What are you most looking forward to about ARBS?
Aside from launching various new products, I am really looking forward to catching up with our customers and industry colleagues, and also making new connections.
Anything special planned?
The Daikin stand will span a fairly large footprint this year, so that we are able to exhibit numerous new products across our domestic, commercial and applied ranges. Key highlights will include the launch of a new series of our flagship VRV range – packed with new features; and also a range of new indoor air quality product solutions. As the principal sponsor, Daikin will also continue to support the ARBS 2022 Industry Awards.
The ultimate test
Testo’s Laszlo Csernatony says ARBS provides an opportunity for conversations that might not normally happen.
“It’s also an opportunity to get an insight from casual discussions at the expo,” he says, “and get a real pulse on what’s happening out in the field.”
What are you most looking forward to about ARBS?
Testo has been a regular exhibitor sponsor of the event and has always had the opportunity to showcase our latest innovations and interact with customers and distributor partners alike.
Anything special planned?
We have a product launch planned for the event . It has been a busy year with product innovations and upgrades.
ARBS provides a touch-and-feel experience through specialist events and activities, such as IBTech@ARBS.
A fantastic opportunity
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Air‑Conditioners Australia (MHIAA) marketing coordinator (B2B) Rebecca Viletta says ARBS gives all areas of the industry the opportunity to gather, display new products and technologies, along with getting the latest updates on industry standards and changes.
“From a manufacturing perspective ARBS is particularly important,” she says, “as it gives each of us the opportunity to meet customers and potential business partners, giving each visitor an overview of not only their brand but their latest offerings.”
What are you most looking forward to about ARBS?
For MHIAA we are increasingly looking forward to being able to meet with all attendees and the larger HVAC market in person for the first time in over two years. Given that the last ARBS was unfortunately cancelled due to COVID lockdowns and the longevity of border closures and lockdowns in each state, ARBS will be a fantastic opportunity to view and experience the latest trends, changes and updates in the wider HVAC market.
We are excited to be able to interact and engage with all attendees over the three days.
Anything special planned?
MHIAA will be featuring our largest display ever, with several new and innovative products on display. Our stand will feature a mix of display and working models, with several interactive experiences to give visitors at ARBS an up-close look at MHI products. MHIAA will also be offering visitors a unique Japanese experience, with a special food and drink event to be held on the stand.
We look forward to welcoming all visitors to our stand and presenting to them the essence of the MHI brand.
Ducts in a row
“ARBS is the biggest national exhibition event in Australia for the HVAC sector,” says Ductus managing director Jim Malek, M.AIRAH.
“It gives us an opportunity to meet and greet other HVAC specialists, engineers, suppliers, and distributors, and keep up with the latest news, designs and regulatory information. ARBS is also a great opportunity for anyone looking to compare products, having many under the one roof.”
What are you most looking forward to about ARBS?
Having the opportunity to promote our products and connect with other people and businesses who we can assist and work with as well as discussing innovating ideas.
It’s also the first ARBS since 2018, so we are excited to catch up with everyone again as well as discussing all that’s happened including some major changes, which have led to some great innovating solutions throughout the sector.
Anything special planned?
This will be the first time we get to showcase both ALP and Kingspan duct systems, two of the biggest names in ductwork and the highest accredited pre-insulated duct systems in Australia.
We are also planning to launch our latest line of advanced duct systems, RegalDuct. It’s Australian made and designed specifically for Australian climates and regulations.
In the zone
“ARBS attracts a diverse audience of HVAC and facilities professionals providing a platform to promote our extensive
range of products and services,” says Temperzone group brand manager Damien Walsh. “With one of the largest product ranges in the industry, it’s great to be able to have plenty of products on both the Temperzone and Hitachi stands that people can see and experience.”
What are you most looking forward to about ARBS?
“It’s been a while thanks to COVID, so for one it will be great to see many people from the industry come together again. We are looking forward to showcasing many of the new innovative products from both Temperzone and Hitachi, which many people might not have seen.
I’m also looking forward to the ARBS Industry Awards, especially as the Temperzone EcoNex-R32 inverter air‑cooled package units are a finalist for the Product Excellence Award.
Anything special planned?
We are showcasing new Temperzone products such as the R32 inverter package units, hot water heat pumps and a new range of Temperzone manufactured air‑handling units.
On the Hitachi stand will be our side smart VRF, which has won many awards, and the range of new air home split systems we will be launching later this year.
The seminar program
Running in conjunction with the exhibition is the ARBS Seminar Program. These sessions explore the latest advances and best practice methodologies within the HVAC&R industry.
“The seminars run across all three days of ARBS and are a key component of the exhibition, providing leading‑edge education and networking for HVAC&R and building services trade and professionals,” says ARBS organiser Sue Falcke.
The 2022 series will host a broad range of topics and industry issues focusing on best practice, innovation and emerging technologies in the built environment.
The ARBS Seminar Program has added a new dimension to the exhibition.
Seminar highlights
Dr Dominque Hes, M.AIRAH, Zero Carbon Buildings Lead City of Melbourne
BREATH – Improving health and energy outcomes through various retrofit options (column-based displacement and inceiling filtration)
The BREATH (Building Retrofit for Efficiency, Air quality, Thermal comfort and Health) project is a research pilot led by the City of Melbourne in partnership with Cbus Property, the University of Melbourne, A.G. Coombs, SEED engineering, Aurecon and Westaflex.
It is a rapid retrofit project that tests various air conditioning and ventilation retrofit options, with the express purpose of reducing airborne particulates and infection transfer, but also considering the energy and cost consequences.
The work was undertaken within an existing building. ASHRAE recommendations, conventional mixedair conditioning, ceiling-mounted HEPA filters and displacement ventilation were included in this initial pilot.
Personal air was also showcased but not integrated into the overall research because its air-change and energy aspects were the same as the existing HVAC system.
Joel Seagren, M.AIRAH, Fantech
The application of HVAC equipment in commercial Passive House projects
This presentation will provide attendees with a simple understanding of Passive House design and construction, and examine how this impacts HVAC equipment selection. It will discuss the importance of equipment test data for acceptance, and outline some typical examples. Handy installation considerations for contractors will be on offer.
Jeff Robinson, M.AIRAH, Principal, Buildings, Aurecon
Woodside Building Case Study
This case study will explore the design principles behind the impressive Monash University edifice, which is built to the Passivhaus standard. The case study will explore challenges overcome and lessons learned en route to constructing the ground-breaking structure.
A full list of seminars is available on the ARBS website.
ARBS 2022 Awards
For more than 12 years, ARBS has recognised and celebrated talent from within the HVAC&R and building services industry with its Industry Awards program. A panel of industry experts evaluate and select the finalists based on various criteria such as leadership, sustainability, performance, and origin.
The winners will be announced and honoured at a gala dinner on August 17 at the Crown Palladium.
Young Achiever Award
- Grace Foo, M.AIRAH – DeltaQ
- Myles Bradley – Outback Tradies
- Richard Phillips – Exergenics
Product Excellence Award
- Danfoss Turbocor + Smardt Chillers – High-lift oil-free magneticbearing centrifugal chiller
- EVO MEP – 21m vertical riser with ducting and refrigerant gas services
- Temperzone – Econex
Project Excellence Award
- Glaciem Cooling – Advancing renewables with PCM thermal energy storage
- A.G. Coombs and Aurecon – 25 King St, Brisbane
- McClintock Engineering – Gatton Central Energy Plant
Outstanding Education and Training Award
- AMCA Australia – Building Ventilation Summit
- Superior Training Centre – Flammable refrigerants training
- AMCA Australia – AMCA Australia
Software/Digital Excellence Award
- Exergenics – exOptima
- Crowley Carbon – Clarity
- CopperTree Analytics – Kaizen
Hall of Fame
- AIRAH – Gwen Gray, L.AIRAH
- AMCA – Chris Wright, M.AIRAH
- CIBSE – Ian Small
- AREMA – Ken Ball
- RACCA – Noel Munkman, M.AIRAH
- AIRAH – Simon Hill, L.AIRAH
The ARBS Awards dinner is a soirée not to be missed.
Registration information
Registration is now open, free, and grants entry into the exhibition across all three days. The organisers say that registering in advance is the smart way to avoid the queues because the ticket is sent directly to your mobile phone or email.
For more information and to register visit www.arbs.com.au
