Leading global AC giant confirms major Middle East business drive through presence at The Big 5 2008

Indicative of the international importance of the region, one of the world leaders in air conditioning, Carrier, has already confirmed its presence at The Big 5 2008, which takes place in Dubai in November this year.

'We're clearly delighted to have such a big name confirmed at such an early stage - this reconfirms the international significance of both the region and the role that The Big 5 plays in building the Middle East,' said Bernard Walsh, Managing Director of dmg world media Dubai, organisers of the event which is recognised as one of the world's most important for the building and construction industry, and has built its reputation on the high quality of exhibitors that pack the show each year.

The award-winning Carrier Corporation, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, already has an extensive presence in the countries of the Middle East and surrounding region.

The company is a global leader in providing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) systems, components, controls and services for residential, commercial, industrial and transportation applications and food service equipment and had a turnover of $13.5bn in 2006.

Carrier's history is full of major benchmarks - it was the founder of the company, Wills Carrier, who invented the world's first mechanical air conditioner in 1902, and in 1936 they went on to invent a system for air conditioning skyscrapers.

In 1922, they developed a new coolant and a centrifugal refrigerating machine that enabled the cooling of public spaces, and changed the face of urban architecture forever.

More recently, 1996 saw Carrier introduce its first product line of high efficiency residential air conditioners and heat pumps using the environmentally sound, non-ozone-depleting Puron refrigerant.

Today, the company has a network of research and development centres and 71 manufacturing facilities and 18 design centres around the world.

Carrier distributes to, and services its customers via a worldwide network of owned and independent distributors and dealers in more than 170 countries on six continents. Major recent business wins include the award of nearly 70% of all HVAC contracts (to date) for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Central to Carrier's business is preservation of the environment and the protection of the world's finite natural resources.

Recognising that heating, cooling, ventilation and refrigeration are much more than issues of comfort and process, and that there is an urgent need to maintain a responsible balance between the comfort and preservation we provide today and the world we live in tomorrow.

Throughout its long history, Carrier has demonstrated this commitment by creating environmentally sound products that consume less energy and incorporate innovative materials that minimise their impact on our planet.

This operating philosophy is assurance that, while Carrier products deliver unmatched comfort and safely transport and preserve our global food supply today, the company is hard at work protecting the outdoor environment for generations to come.

'2007 saw The Big 5 deliver the biggest and best ever showcase of construction related products and services ever seen in the region, featuring 2,839 companies from 52 countries and 30 national pavilions, including the largest ever official German representation at any exhibition anywhere in the world,' added Walsh. 'It also attracted an all-time record number of professional trade visitors - 50,420 - up 22.8% on 2006, and 2008 also looks like being a massive year for the show'.

'As we look forward to what will undoubtedly be yet another long hot summer right across the region, the AC sector is set for even further growth, and industry professionals will be able to see the very best that the world has to offer at The Big 5 2008,' concluded Walsh.

The Big 5 2008 takes place from November 23-27 at Dubai International Exhibition Centre.