Twenty-fifth annual Infotherma Exhibition  Cooperation, new technology and visions for the future 342 domestic and foreign companies exhibited at the trade fair, which was attended by 25,400 visitors. The 25th annual Infotherma Exhibition kicked off at 9 am on Monday, January 22nd, 2018 at the Černá louka Exhibition Grounds in Ostrava. The exhibition ran from January 22nd-25th, 2018 and was open to the public daily from 9 am to 6 pm.   The exhibition was officially opened by: Ing. Evžen Tošenovský MEP of the European Parliament Ing. Petr Valdman Director of the of the State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic Jarmila Uvírová Deputy Governor of the Moravian-Silesian Region Ing. Vladimír Sochor Department of Energy Efficiency and Savings of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Ing. Vladislav Král Department of Gas and Liquid Fuels of the Ministry of Industry and Trade Ing. Pavel Bartoš Director of the Association for the Development of the Moravian-Silesian Region   We believe that Infotherma has once again proven to be a fruitful gathering of manufacturers, builders, designers, researchers, ecologists and numerous other professionals involved in the heating industry. The exhibition grounds were packed with 342 domestic and foreign exhibitors who presented their latest products, services and future vision for the ecological heating of small and medium-sized buildings Visitors to the jubilee exhibition were particularly interested in new heating systems, many of which were in operation in outdoor stands. Here they could get acquainted with various types of combustion systems, their basic characteristics, operation and proper maintenance. Homeowners are increasingly concerned with the initial purchase price and operating costs of modern heating systems. Exhibition visitors were therefore drawn to ideas of how to save on heating costs while staying nice and warm. Exhibits showcased innovation in measurement and regulation technology, building insulation, new construction technologies, renovations, new construction and insulation materials and other fields. The Infotherma Exhibition has earned a reputation for its critical view on many of the ways renewable resources are being used today. That is why nearly a third of the exhibits were dedicated to the efficient use of renewable resources. There was the traditional presence of companies with heat pumps and solar panels. Special attention was devoted to decentralized energy production from renewable resources, rooftop installation of solar panels, and ways to store surplus energy and cooperate with central energy producers and distributors. In the Czech Republic, the use of solar, wind, hydro and other renewable energies often encounter numerous bureaucratic obstacles, myths and absurd prices for many kinds of renewable energy. Despite all this, considerable investment has been made recently in this field. New wind power plants are up and running, a unique plant is under construction to produce new types of batteries that will be essential for the further development of renewable energies. A number of small charging stations are now in operation throughout the republic for electric cars that use electricity from renewable resources. Exploratory drilling has resumed to examine the possible use of geothermal energy. Island homes are under construction, designed to be energy self-sufficient with minimal water consumption. These are just a few examples of the many innovations that were on display at the exhibition. Visitors to the twenty-fifth annual Infotherma Exhibition could also learn of the many different ways energy is produced and stored in different countries. The world is not only addressing energy production, efficiency and storage, but also numerous environmental issues. For example, solar power plants are being built on landfills, wind turbines are being built at sea to enjoy the best wind conditions, and decentralized energy production is being subsidized. Slow-moving watercourses are beginning to be used to generate electricity, while electricity is being stored directly at power plants, etc. In keeping with tradition, Infotherma featured an extensive program of events which took place in two places, in the Congress Center on the 3rd floor and in the entrance area of pavilion A1.   The following interesting topics were explored in the Congress Center: Monday, 22.1. Smart energy in the home and smart energy for companies Tuesday, 23.1. Safe, economical and comfortable use of solid fuel heaters – Issues of operating solid fuel boilers in relation to flue gas exhaust and boiler inspections – New stationary solid fuel boilers – Practical demonstration of determining wood moisture at home – How long can a storage heater keep its heat – Chimneys and flammable materials, principles of safe design Wednesday, 24.1. Newest trends in heating, ventilation and home systems – Biomass as a promising energy for cities and towns – New trends in sanitary engineering – Eco-design in ventilation – Heat pumps can heat, cool, heat water and ventilate, but how to choose the right one without “getting burned” – Waste water treatment and purification for home re-use – New technical designs and new directions – New air/water heat pumps Thursday, 25.1. Environmental aspects of converting waste to energy – The circular economy, starting points, principles and legislation Discussions held in the entrance of the A1 pavilion included: Monday, January 22^nd Ventilation with heat recovery for apartment buildings and their reconstruction – Nanotechnologies that limit the formation and deposit of limescale in apartments and facilities – Intelligent floor heating and protective systems – Innovative heat pumps – Efficient air conditioning units with heating modes – New fireplace and tile stove technology – New trends in using renewables to power homes – Thermal energy storage in modern heating systems Tuesday, January 23^rd The exceptional variability of radiator units – Non-traditional ways to save for homes and businesses – What to look for when choosing a contractor for a new wooden building – Intelligent floor heating and protection systems – Heat pump ventilation – Using energy from alternative fuels and waste – Heat pumps, solar systems and boiler subsidies – chimneys for subsidized boilers Wednesday, January 24^th Modern ventilation systems with heat recovery – New heat pump technology – How to choose a good qualified chimneysweep – Stand-alone photovoltaic power plants – Photothermal systems, solar hot water heaters and auxiliary heating in homes – Efficient installations of solar thermal systems for public facilities – Ceramic “klima” floors – New green savings and “Dešťovka” Thursday, January 25^th Home photovoltaic power systems with battery storage – How to prevent fires and keep clean flues – New trends in using renewable resources to power homes – One house, one solution Several consulting stands were set up for visitors at Infotherma 2018. The Guild of Heating Engineers and Plumbers of the CZ set up a stand to provide advice on heating, ventilation, renewable resources and energy, the TZB stand (technical systems of buildings) provided information on the current prices of gas and electricity from individual suppliers for heating cost comparisons, the Moravian-Silesian Regional Office presented information on boiler subsidies while SFŽP (State Environmental Fund) presented information on New green savings and “Dešťovka”. Students from vocational schools could test their technical skills and compete in HVAC disciplines organized by the Guild of Heating Engineers and Plumbers. There was such a great response last year from exhibitors and visitors to our internet contest on the TZB website that we once again held this competition for the TOP exhibitor products of Infotherma 2018. The products entered in the contest were exhibited in the entrance area of the exhibition grounds.   Results of the TOP PRODUCTS of exhibitors at Infotherma 2018: 1^st place – Viadrus, a.s.

Exhibit: Automatic wood pellet boiler VIADRUS A0C Advanced 2017

2^nd place – Teco, a.s.

Deluxe “design free” S-touch thermostat with LCD display

3^rd place – Korado, a.s.

Universal RADIK VKM8 radiator with custom graphics printed on front panel

  The exhibition was organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of the Environment and the Chamber of Commerce of the Czech Republic. From the perspective of history, 25 years is a mere sliver of time, while for person it is roughly one-third of one’s lifetime. For Infotherma, the last 25 years have been a quest to present the newest and most advanced technology to provide the best possible heating for our homes in every way. It has not always been easy to eliminate or respond to various “concepts”, subsidies and trends often influenced by lobbyists and political pressure. We are glad to be surrounded by so many wise colleagues, exhibitors, researchers, schools, guilds, associations, societies and media partners who all have helped us prepare exhibitions with objective and realistic assessments of heating and possible savings. We would like to sincerely and cordially thank you all for making Infotherma 2018 another success.  

Agentura Inforpres, organizer of the Infotherma Exhibition

www.infotherma.cz