Heat Exchanger World Americas 2024, held at the NRG Center, exceeded all expectations and emerged as a resounding success. With over 1,700 attendees, this year’s event provided the ideal platform for heat transfer enthusiasts to explore vendors, network, and stay updated on the latest industry developments and trends.
This was our first year at the NRG Center. We outgrew the previous space and had to find a way to adapt to the industry’s requirements. It was a fortunate problem to have. This year’s conference and expo was not only bigger; it was better. Houston is the energy capital of the world and home to the head offices of so many important companies. We were not leaving anyone behind.
Sponsored by Brask Inc., Cust-O-Fab, Dunn Heat Exchangers, Elliott Tool Technologies, Equipment Group International (EGI), Ohmstede Ltd., Superior Plant Rentals, and Teadit, the 5th annual event served as a remarkable opportunity for companies to showcase their value propositions to a diverse community. Attendees forged crucial end user connections across various industries, including oil & gas, chemical, petrochemical, water & wastewater, and more.
Manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors took center stage during the exhibition, presenting their cutting-edge products, technologies, services, and capabilities. Simultaneously, they leveraged this gathering to initiate new business relationships and strengthen existing ones.
Day One: Engaging Program
The technical conference ran parallel to the expo, featuring heat exchanger experts from diverse sectors who delved into a wide spectrum of topics relevant to the heat exchanger and heat transfer industries.
Day One of the conference kicked off with a keynote presentation by Conference Chairman Mark Ruffin from Teadit, on Bridging the Gap – Insights from the End User to Supplier. The Chairman’s welcome was followed by an informative presentation by Chris Cary from Dow (Retired), on Improving Reliability and Avoiding Trainwrecks through Operational Awareness.
The morning session then transitioned to an interactive and engaging panel of industry experts who discussed Best Practices and Lessons Learned, which examined the challenges heat transfer operators could encounter that are related to design, maintenance, thermal stress, or economic factors.
The afternoon sessions featured a panel discussion on how heat transfer equipment upgrades could be detrimental to overall performance and what operators must consider when implementing a potential upgrade. The last panel discussion of the day included the significant testing heat transfer equipment requires and the challenges associated with the costs of new equipment.
Day Two
Day Two enthusiastically began with a dynamic keynote address on the Changes to Skills Required in the Digital Information Era, by Conference Vice Chairman Bill Ashenhart, Engineering Consultant, followed seamlessly by the day’s second keynote, Heat Transfer & Sustainability, given by Naomi Jabbari from S&B Engineers & Constructors.
Rounding out the conference were six workshops: three concurrently running workshops in the morning and afternoon. The first workshops of the day featured presentations on Design, Fabrication & Testing; Emissions, Leak Prevention & Energy Transition; and Emerging Technologies. The afternoon cohort looked at Maintenance, Cleaning & Antifouling; Emerging Technologies; and Coatings, Materials & Corrosion. Each session provided attendees with the opportunity to interact and learn from the compelling presentations, as well as ask questions and network before the conclusion of the conference.
Networking on the Expo Floor
During the two-day event, attendees could walk the expo floor and visit numerous vendors showcasing their new technology and latest product developments, network, and forage connections.
Networking with industry peers is a vital reward of the Heat Exchanger World Americas experience. The diversity and thought involved in each feature of the expo ensured that each of the attendees who participated in the event enjoyed an unforgettable experience.
Looking Forward
The success of the Heat Exchanger World Americas Expo & Conference would not have been possible without the dedication and support of our sponsors, panelists, and presenters. We extend our heartfelt thanks to each one of them.
Looking ahead, mark your calendars for the next edition of the Heat Exchanger World Americas Conference & Expo, set to return on October 15th and 16th, 2025. We eagerly anticipate your presence and invite you to participate in what promises to be another milestone event in the heat exchanger industry.
If you would like to participate in the conference or submit an abstract for a presentation, please contact Shopia Ketheeswararajah at s.ketheeswararajah@kci-world.com.