NAHB- IBS Show 2017

National Association of Home Builders- International Builders’ Show – Orlando Jan 2017

I spent a few days last week at the IBS checking to see if there were any new products that may work in the Laundromat / Coin Laundry Industry. And it was in Orlando in January.

I’ll start by telling you that it’s a big show. It covered the West and South Buildings of the Orange County Convention Center as well as some of the parking lot.

Orange County Conference Center- Orlando FL

I arrived on Tuesday morning so I was able to head straight over and get started. I covered the South Building and had to speed through the last few aisles to finish up before it closed at 5.

Did I mention the parking? When I arrived around 11 I think they were almost out of spots. It took about an hour to actually get parked and that was after jumping a curb and finding a spot on the grass. So now at 5 everybody was leaving and it was jammed.

Total steps for the day.. about 17,000.

The next day was an early start and a trip through the main building. This was where the big names in bath, kitchen, and construction supplies were set up. I have never seen so many toilets, faucets and door handles in one location.

I’ll skip through all of the details but today’s total was a little over 21,000 steps.

Now out of all that did I find anything of value for the Laundromat Industry?

A new trend in toilets has the tank installed inside the wall with only a “Flush Panel” and the bowl exposed. The flush panel allows access to the tank valves.

Why would that be an option for a Laundromat? What if that 6″ you saved was the difference in getting the room ADA approved without having to move a wall?

They can be installed in new construction or renovations.

Another option is the Thetford WasteWater Transfer System. These are a great option if you need to move a toilet, restroom or install a new one and you don’t want to cut the concrete or maybe the sewer is not in the area.

This system uses a macerating pump to push the waste up or over to where you have a sewer connection.

There was a display that had an adjustable height sink as well. It can be used along with the in-wall tank toilet and allows the sink to be raised and lowered by pushing a button and using some slight force.

There was a number of the Water Heater Companies there as well including AO Smith, Rinnai, and American Standard.

As a mechanical- type guy I found the show pretty interesting. Doors, windows, taps and other flashy things didn’t really get my attention but the sections with building systems (ICF- Insulated Concrete Forms) always get my interest.

Time to rest my feet for the next big show.

Ken