The 37th China Refrigeration Expo (CRH 2026) ran 8–10 April 2026 at the Beijing Capital International Exhibition & Convention Center. With roughly 115,000 m² of halls, 1,041 exhibitors from 30 countries and more than 80,000 professional visitors, it remains the single best window into China’s HVAC&R supply chain. The official theme — “Digital intelligence shapes cooling & heating; Zero-carbon starts a new journey” (数智塑冷暖 零碳启新程) — set the tone: efficiency and electrification, not just volume.
Why CRH matters to overseas buyers
CRH is where Chinese manufacturers debut the products that show up in export catalogues 6–12 months later. If you specify air-to-air heat recovery, the expo floor is a free preview of what your suppliers will be quoting next season — and at what performance level.
Heat-recovery trends on the floor
Enthalpy rotary wheels, larger and tighter
Total-energy (sensible + latent) rotary wheels dominated the air-handling displays: bigger diameters, better seals, dedicated purge sectors to cut carryover, and molecular-sieve coatings for humid climates. Large AHUs for malls, airports and plants are standardising on wheels rated 75–85% effectiveness.
Fixed-plate ERV for hygiene-sensitive spaces
Counterflow plate air-to-air recuperators — aluminium and polymer-coated — were pitched hard for hospitals, schools, labs and cleanrooms, where zero cross-contamination matters more than absolute peak efficiency. Counterflow plates now reach 80–90% sensible and 70–80% with enthalpy (ERV) cores.
High-temperature heat pumps
A recurring keynote theme (including work from Shanghai Jiao Tong University) was high-temperature heat pumps delivering 80–90 °C supply for industry and district heating — the demand side that makes waste-heat recovery pay back.
Heat-pipe and run-around coils for data centers
Passive heat-pipe and run-around loops reappeared for server rooms and laboratory fume hoods, where you want recovery without moving contaminated air between streams.
Smarter controls
EC fans, Modbus/BACnet interfacing and AI-driven demand control were on nearly every premium unit. Recovery is increasingly sold as a controlled system, not a passive core.
What it means for specifiers
Efficiency thresholds keep rising, and buyers are now expected to ask for EN 308 or AHRI 1060 test data and Eurovent certification rather than accepting nameplate claims. That is good news: the Chinese market is maturing toward documented performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When and where is CRH 2026 held?
A: 8–10 April 2026 at the Beijing Capital International Exhibition & Convention Center (首都国际会展中心), with 1,041 exhibitors from 30 countries.
Q: Is CRH relevant if I only buy from Chinese suppliers online?
A: Yes. It previews the products and performance levels that reach export markets 6–12 months later, so it is a useful trend check before you request quotes.
Need a recovery core specified for your project? Our Shandong engineering team can walk you through wheel vs plate trade-offs — contact us or email kuns913@gmail.com / WhatsApp +86 1575335505.