Haier - Experts & Thought Leaders

Big 5 Construct Saudi marks its grand opening, returning for its 13th edition in a new and expanded format for two weeks, with the first week running from 15-18 February at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center at Roshn Front.  With anticipation at its peak, the event is the first-ever trade event in the Middle East to run for two weeks at a time when the Kingdom’s construction sector undergoes a transformation, fueled by the vast opportunities emerging from a trillion-dollar pipeline of mega and giga projects. Opening address The new two-week format will welcome insightful discussions and specialized co-located events Mohammed Abdulaziz Alajlan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA), will open the first week of the event, delivering a keynote address. As the gates open to the largest construction event in Saudi Arabia, the new two-week format will welcome insightful discussions and specialized co-located events, spotlighting the initial stages of construction. International Contracting Conference (ICC) Welcoming attendees and exhibitors on the 15-16 February is the 5th edition of the International Contracting Conference (ICC), hosted by the Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA) and dmg events. The conference will host discussions, spotlighting sustainability, cutting-edge technology, financial resilience, workforce innovation, and future growth opportunities.  Co-located events Big 5 Construct Saudi will host three co-located events during its first week, including Heavy Saudi Arabia Big 5 Construct Saudi will host three co-located events during its first week, including Heavy Saudi Arabia, Totally Concrete Saudi Arabia, and HVAC R Saudi Arabia. These events will showcase the essential elements of heavy construction, concrete, HVA,C and general construction, shaping the industry's future.  The first week of the event lays the foundation for Saudi Arabia’s construction future, bringing together products, services, systems, and solutions needed to build and innovate from the ground up. New country pavilions Nineteen country pavilions shine the spotlight on construction solutions from China, Egypt, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Poland, and Türkiye, among others, enabling visitors to explore a variety of products & services. These also include five new pavilions: New Zealand, South Korea, Canada, the US, and Uzbekistan, enhancing the diversity of international exhibitors at Big 5 Construct Saudi. Brands in the spotlight From Hussein & Alhassan G. Shaker Bros to Carrier, Haier, Al Zamil to Raimondi Group, Dimas Solar to Juffali Industrial Products Company, and Bazalto Türkiye, top exhibiting companies will showcase cutting-edge HVAC solutions, energy-efficient cooling technologies, advanced construction machinery, sustainable solar innovations, high-performance industrial products and premium building materials, highlighting the latest advancements shaping Saudi Arabia’s construction landscape at Big 5 Construct Saudi. Big 5 Talks Big 5 Construct Saudi will host CPD-certified sessions, offering attendees the chance to earn CPD points In its first week, Big 5 Construct Saudi will host CPD-certified sessions, offering attendees the opportunity to earn CPD points by participating in over 50 certified educational panels and discussions. Featuring more than 80 expert speakers, these sessions will cover eight key streams: concrete, HVAC R, project management, codes, standards & regulations, health & safety, modular construction, geotechnical, and technology, providing industry professionals with valuable insights and skill enhancement opportunities. Interactive Features  Starting now and throughout its first week, Big 5 Construct Saudi will feature interactive experiences highlighting innovation, inclusivity and sustainability. Attendees can challenge their endurance in Concrete Dash, testing their strength with a concrete block. Football enthusiasts can face off against an AI-powered goalie in the World Cup Zone, showcasing sustainable, smart stadium infrastructure. The Women in Construction Booth will honor the contributions of women in the industry, while the Eco Trail will guide visitors to sustainable solutions that align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.  Future of Saudi Arabia’s construction industry “As we open Big 5 Construct Saudi, each day will bring fresh innovations, networking opportunities and insights that will shape the future of Saudi Arabia’s construction industry,” said Muhammed Kazi, Senior Vice President – Construction, dmg events. “With a dynamic two-week format, we look forward to bringing Saudi Arabia's construction community together for double the engagement, networking, knowledge sharing and partnership opportunities.”

Big 5 Construct Saudi 2025, organized by dmg events and supported by the Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA), will return for its 13th edition in a groundbreaking two-week format, making it the first-ever construction event in the Middle East to do so. Running from 15–18 and 24–27 February at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center at Roshn Front, this expansion aligns with Saudi Arabia’s unprecedented construction boom, driven by Vision 2030 and a $1.7 trillion pipeline of mega and giga projects. Opportunities in the construction sector dmg events hosted a press conference to highlight how the extended format addresses the surging demand Ahead of the event, dmg events hosted a press conference to highlight how the extended format addresses the surging demand and growing opportunities in the construction sector. Commenting on the sidelines of a press conference, spotlighting the two weeks of Big 5 Construct Saudi, Abdulmajid Alrashoudi, Governor of the Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA), said: “The construction sector in Saudi Arabia stands at the heart of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. At Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA), we are committed to building an ecosystem that drives innovation, strengthens local capabilities, and attracts global expertise." Partnership with Big 5 Construct Saudi Alrashoudi added: "Our ongoing partnership with Big 5 Construct Saudi, the largest construction event in Saudi Arabia, is a testament to this vision." "It provides a world-class platform that connects public and private sector pioneers and industry experts, showcases cutting-edge solutions, and accelerates knowledge exchange, thus playing a significant role in building a future-ready construction sector.” Investments and cross-sector collaboration Also speaking at the press conference, Matt Denton, President, dmg events, said: “The construction industry in Saudi Arabia is experiencing significant growth, driven by a surge in mega and giga projects and Big 5 Construct Saudi serves as a key platform for facilitating trade, investments and cross-sector collaboration. By expanding the event into two dedicated weeks, we offer participants a deeper and more tailored experience, addressing the entire construction lifecycle.” He added: “While we’re bringing the world to Saudi Arabia, a significant share of the product base is already here, with 60% of exhibitors being local and regional companies. The event also drives partnerships and industry growth by introducing the right skills and technologies.” First week of Big 5 Construct Saudi Big 5 Construct Saudi will bring together over 2,000 exhibitors from more than 60 countries to showcase the latest products, services, systems, and solutions across two weeks, including Hussain & Al Hassan Shaker, Carrier, Haier, SKM, Al Zamil, Masdar, CPC, Binyah and Schüco, among others across two weeks.  The first week of Big 5 Construct Saudi (15–18 February) will lay the foundation for the Kingdom’s future construction projects. Focusing on critical sectors like building materials, plant machinery, concrete, offsite construction, HVAC R and MEP and technology. Evolving needs of the construction industry The second week of Big 5 Construct Saudi will shift its focus to finishing touches that building tasks Heavy Saudi Arabia, Totally Concrete Saudi Arabia and HVAC R Saudi will be the co-located events from February 24–27, 2025, the second week of Big 5 Construct Saudi will shift its focus to the finishing touches that complete construction projects. Key sectors such as building facades, windows, urban design, marble, stone, hospital design & build and facilities management will take center stage, with co-located events like Windows, Doors & Facades Saudi Arabia, Marble and Stone Saudi Arabia, Urban Design & Landscape Saudi Arabia, Saudi Hospital Design & Build Expo and Saudi FM & Clean providing specialized solutions for the evolving needs of the construction industry. Big 5 Construct Saudi 2025 edition  Big 5 Construct Saudi 2025 edition is supported by Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA), Supporting Partner; Teef Najd Contracting Company, Exclusive Strategic Sponsor; Carrier, HVAC R Partner; Hussein and Al-Hassan G. Shaker Bros. Company and Midea, HVAC R – Exclusive Diamond Sponsor; Al Yamamah Steel, Badge Sponsor; Aggreko, Official Power Partner; Schüco, Windows, Doors & Facades - Exclusive Diamond Sponsor; Alumil, Windows, Doors & Facades Exclusive Strategic Sponsor; Teef Najd Marble & Stone Factory, Marble & Stone Exclusive Strategic Sponsor; National Paints and Profitech, Silver Sponsor; Talco, Lanyard Sponsor; ESAD Services, Outdoor Area Sponsor.

GE Appliances, a Haier company, celebrated its fourth annual ‘Blue Wave,’ a global initiative inspiring employees to volunteer year-round in their communities. During its Global Day of Service on Friday, GE Appliances set a new volunteer record—achieving more than 15,000 service hours in the U.S. alone and surpassing last year’s milestone of 10,964 volunteer hours. “At GE Appliances, we’re deeply invested in the communities we’re a part of,” said Kevin Nolan, company president and CEO. Making meaningful impact “The Blue Wave reflects that commitment. It’s about giving our employees the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. I’m constantly inspired by how our teams show up, partnering with nonprofits to create solutions that really make a difference where it matters most—right at home. It’s a testament to their dedication and passion for helping to improve the lives of those around them.” 525 employees participated in more than 24 volunteer projects across the city on Friday The Blue Wave, which grew from GE Appliances’ annual fall community service project, has expanded into a year-round program—building and strengthening partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the globe. In Louisville, home of GE Appliances' corporate headquarters, 525 employees participated in more than 24 volunteer projects across the city on Friday. Assembling playground equipment These included organizing food banks, preparing meals for seniors, assisting with financial literacy programs, setting up fundraising events, assembling playground equipment, landscaping, and cleaning local parks. Similar volunteer efforts also took place across the U.S. and internationally. Employees at GE Appliances’ other U.S. manufacturing facilities added another 234 volunteers who helped make a difference in their cities and towns. Employees at satellite offices in India, Korea, and China also engaged in the Global Day of Service.

AHR Expo was back in a big way for 2022, reflecting a dynamic industry that not only survived the pandemic but has found new ways to thrive. Technical developments on display in Las Vegas spanned traditional product categories, which continued to display new levels of innovation in a mature market. Also reflecting progress were new digital offerings that increase control and efficiency of HVAC products and link them to the expanding world of data.  Omar Tabba, the Chief Product Officer at Brainbox AI, said “You see a lot of vendors at the show, who are software value-adds to equipment, to systems, to sensors, and there is a more genuine openness and acceptance that this is a valuable thing,” Connected cloud-based applications Omar Tabba adds, “An important driver in the market is the ability to have cloud-based applications connected to buildings. Another driver is an intense scrutiny to come up with environmentally friendly solutions and to reduce the carbon footprint.” Brainbox AI is among the companies leveraging the value of data in the building environment and applying it to increasing energy efficiency and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Brainbox cloud-based system At the AHR Expo 2022 show, Brainbox announced a distribution agreement with ABB The Brainbox cloud-based system leverages data from building systems, analyzes it in the Cloud using Artificial Intelligence (AI), and then guides the system to optimize building HVAC operations in real time. The company has three primary pathways into the market - strategic accounts for large end users, systems integrators/resellers, and through OEM partners. At the AHR Expo 2022 show, Brainbox announced a distribution agreement with ABB, to sell their cloud-based product around the world, thus taking advantage of a large global platform. “The show has been great,” said Omar Tabba, echoing the feedback heard throughout the show from multiple exhibitors, adding “We were kind of apprehensive, given the pandemic, about whether the attendance would be good. We have been blown away. We had a full booth the first two days, and the third day was good as well.” Transitioning to Heat Pumps Electrification is a driving trend in the market and Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US introduced a product that can help to smooth the transition from gas- and oil-fire furnaces to heat pump systems. Their intelli-HEAT Dual Fuel system is a heat pump that is installed on top of a furnace with an intelligent system that enables switch-over back and forth between the two systems to maximize efficiency. Mitsubishi Electric’s intelli-HEAT Dual Fuel system This intelli-HEAT system helps home owners who are comfortable with a furnace system make the transition to a heat pump that provides hyper-heating, down to minus 13 degrees F. Depending on the climate zone, the changeover temperature can be adjusted to ensure efficiency and every hour the heat pump operates, means no burning of fossil fuels, which is good for the environment. At 40% better efficiency, the system provides a return on investment (ROI) within 5 to 10 years. Also, the system creates a pathway for contractors into the home for future business, as the electrification transition continues.  Kumo cloud system At the AHR Expo 2022, Mitsubishi Electric also highlighted the Kumo cloud system At the AHR Expo 2022, Mitsubishi Electric also highlighted the Kumo cloud system, an app-based controller for residential systems that manages every indoor unit from a single app and connects with Google assistant and Alexa for voice control of each zone. Also previewed at AHR Expo was the Lossnay system from Mitsubishi Electric, a new wall-mounted residential ERV (energy recovery ventilator); a fan moves air through opposing channels, with a heat membrane that transfers the heat from one air stream to the other. In effect, incoming fresh air is preheated by the exhaust air going out. Hybrid VRF on display On the commercial side, Mitsubishi Electric offered a hybrid VRF that uses water as a hydronic energy exchange medium rather than refrigerant. A refrigerant loop connects the outdoor VRF unit to the BC controller, while a water loop is provided to each indoor unit. One cost benefit is to avoid the rising cost of refrigerant, while water also avoids the possibility of a refrigerant leak that could impact fire safety, especially in a setting such as a school. HEAT2O system using VRF technology The HEAT2O system from Mitsubishi Electric uses VRF technology to heat water in tanks from 175 to 500 gallons and using CO2 as a refrigerant. Heating water with heat-pump technology allows for just the capacity needed, can prepare for peak flows, or can phase down when demand is low. A shift to concerns about indoor air quality (IAQ) and healthy buildings was evident at the Carrier booth, which highlighted a new certification program called ‘Carrier Certified Quality Air Systems’. “It’s important to educate people about air quality,” said Holly Rhodes, Associate Director for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Products for Carrier Corporation. OptiClean Air Scrubber using long-life HEPA filter The booth highlighted the OptiClean Air Scrubber that uses a long-life HEPA filter for larger spaces The booth highlighted the OptiClean Air Scrubber that uses a long-life HEPA filter for larger spaces, such as school cafeterias; the unit is on wheels and plugs into an outlet for easy deployment. There was also a smaller Room Purifier, available as a consumer product, which can purify air in up to 550 square feet of a home, with prices ranging from US$ 350 to US$ 500. Carrier Corporation displayed at the AHR Expo for the first time as an independent company, since spinning off from United Technologies Corporation (UTC). The Carrier booth assembled all their brands under one footprint at the show, providing one face to the market. Also featured was the Abound cloud platform that unites air handling, air purifier systems and services to enable users to visualize indoor air quality with graphs and a dashboard that balances air quality and energy usage concerns. 19MV Water-Cooled Centrifugal chiller On the commercial side, Carrier displayed a smaller-footprint 19MV Water-Cooled Centrifugal chiller, at 300- to 700-ton capacities, with an EquiDrive compressor for better efficiency and small enough to pass through double doors. A higher-tier product, the 19DV chiller, at 300 to 1150 tons, uses low-pressure, low-GWP refrigerant and leverages “free cooling” (i.e., with the compressor off) to increase sustainability. Complementary Lines for Ducted and Ductless Air and Water Solutions is the new brand that combines the GE Appliances, Haier and Hotpoint brands under an umbrella that combines resources and renews their dedication to the professional side of the business. At the AHR Expo 2022, Air and Water Systems announced reentry into the ducted space for the first time in 40 years; with a full line of the Unitary brand residential products, including heat pumps, air handlers and other equipment. The new line is complementary to their mature ductless line and provides a more complete menu of options. SmartHQ Service diagnostics platform There is also a template that allows installers to pre-drill holes to simplify installation The emphasis is ease of installation and service. For example, a ‘kick-stand’ allows a unit to pull out from the wall to make connections and then pop back flush to the wall. There is also a template that allows installers to pre-drill holes to simplify installation. When changing a PCB, it is not necessary to take the unit apart. The SmartHQ Service diagnostics platform provides visibility into the internal parameters and operation of a system. A plug-in interface tool collects data to provide dealer-installers insights to help with troubleshooting and maintenance, and to analyze historical operation data. Performance, efficiency and enhanced ventilation LG displayed Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology, energy efficient heat pumps, and emphasized indoor air quality and building connectivity products. The LG Inverter Scroll Heat Pump Chiller uses inverter technology to provide hot and cold water for comfort and process applications with new levels of performance and efficiency. The LG Split Compact Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems (DOAS) helps to address ventilation concerns in the age of COVID-19.