At One of the HVAC/R Industry’s Largest Trade Shows, GF Building Flow Solutions Americas (Uponor) Builds Media Momentum
Turning AHR Expo Media Engagement Into Measurable Visibility for GF Building Flow Solutions
Industry
Plumbing
Manufacturing
Capabilities
Trade Show Media Relations
Public Relations
Outcomes
Trade Media Publicity
Overview
GF is a global leader in Flow Solutions for Buildings, Industry and Infrastructure, delivering essential products that ensure the safe and sustainable transport of fluids worldwide. With a history of industrial innovation dating back to 1802, GF continues to evolve to support customers, communities, and industries with high-quality, sustainable solutions.
In 2023, GF acquired Uponor, a leading global provider of smart water and energy solutions trusted by plumbing and HVAC professionals for over 100 years, now known as the GF Building Flow Solutions division and home of the Uponor brand.
GreenHouse Digital + PR has supported Uponor (now GF) for 25 years. This long-standing partnership is built on trust, technical expertise, and strong media relations.
GreenHouse supported GF Building Flow Solutions Americas at AHR Expo 2026 with a targeted trade media relations program designed to introduce the OneGF story and build awareness for the launch of Uponor Prefabricated PEX Water Risers.
Through pre-show outreach, coordinated editor meetings, an executive media briefing and post-show follow-up, GreenHouse connected GF experts with key plumbing, HVAC and engineering media. The program secured 10 in-person editor booth visits, resulting in 13 directly related publicity placements and more than 925,000 impressions.
The Goals:
GreenHouse Digital + PR supported GF at the 2026 AHR Expo with a trade show media relations program designed to:
Introduce the industry to OneGF, bringing GF and Uponor together at AHR for the first time following GF's acquisition of Uponor.
Generate awareness for the launch of Uponor Prefabricated PEX Water Risers, a new addition to the Uponor Prefabrication Services offering.
Build visibility for GF and Uponor among plumbing, HVAC, engineering, and building trade audiences.
Connect trade media directly with GF product and application experts to provide a deeper technical context around the new offering.
Position GF subject matter experts as resources for industry trends.
Showcase how GF solutions can help contractors and engineers address challenges related to labor, rework, installation efficiency, and project scheduling.
The Approach:
Pre-Show Media Outreach
Ahead of AHR Expo 2026, GreenHouse Digital + PR developed a targeted media outreach campaign to drive trade editors to the GF Booth C7925.
The agency distributed e-invitations to 133 registered media contacts, offering editors the opportunity to schedule one-on-one booth appointments with GF product specialists and learn about new products and services being introduced at the show.
A major focus of the outreach was the launch of Uponor Prefabricated PEX Water Risers for domestic water and hydronic distribution systems in commercial construction. The new offering combines design assistance, off-site fabrication, and coordinated shipments to help contractors improve labor productivity and installation accuracy. According to GF, the prefabricated risers can reduce field connections by up to 75%.
GreenHouse also promoted other Uponor solutions on display, including Uponor Kitting Services, engineering and specification resources, CPVC piping systems, and radiant heating applications.
Product Launch at AHR Expo
On the opening day of AHR Expo, GF formally announced the launch of Uponor Prefabricated PEX Water Risers.
The media launch gave GreenHouse a timely news hook for conversations with attending editors. It provided GF experts with an opportunity to discuss the industry challenges driving greater interest in off-site construction.
Editors could learn how the risers are fabricated to customer specifications using established quality-control procedures and delivered to support construction schedules. The product story centered on practical contractor concerns, such as reducing field connections, improving installation consistency, limiting jobsite waste, and helping projects remain on schedule.
OneGF Media Briefing
GreenHouse also coordinated an executive media briefing in the GF booth to introduce the broader OneGF story.
For the first time since GF's acquisition of Uponor, the two brands appeared together in a single AHR booth. GF leadership used the briefing to provide industry media with a perspective on the combined portfolio and the company's direction across Buildings, Industry and Infrastructure.
A targeted group of editors attended the briefing, creating an opportunity for more direct conversation between GF leadership and key trade media.
On the Show Floor
Throughout the AHR Expo, GreenHouse coordinated scheduled booth tours and editor meetings with media covering plumbing, HVAC, and engineering.
Editors were paired with GF specialists based on their areas of interest, allowing conversations to move beyond general product introductions and into specific applications, market challenges, and technical topics.
GreenHouse also used these discussions to identify potential follow-up opportunities for product coverage, interviews, technical articles, and future thought-leadership content.
Extending the Media Reach
GreenHouse continued media outreach throughout and following the show to ensure editors had access to launch information and supporting resources.
Media contacts received links to GF's online press materials, allowing attending editors to revisit product information after their meetings while extending the AHR news to relevant industry journalists who were unable to attend the show.
This approach gave the Prefabricated PEX Water Risers launch a life beyond the show floor, while the in-person meetings helped build relationships that could support future editorial opportunities.
"Trade show media relations are exceptionally valuable because it allows our subject matter experts to get in front of key editors and showcase the latest innovations from GF and Uponor. Meeting with editors at events is the first step. The coverage that comes afterward, along with follow-up pitching executed by Greenhouse, helps us tell our story even further and fuel our thought leadership arsenal.
Courtney Hieb ● Corporate Communications Manager, GF Building Flow Solutions/ Uponor
The Results:
GreenHouse Digital PR secured 10 in-person editor booth visits at AHR, resulting in 13 directly related publicity placements and over 925K impressions.
Booth visitors included some of the industry’s largest trade publications, such as Consulting-Specifying Engineer, Mechanical Hub, Plumbing & HVAC, ASHRAE Journal, Contractor, Contracting Business, Plumbing & Mechanical, and Supply House Times.
