Innovation Awards

The MEET Innovation Awards regogize innovative products in the industry. One award is given out by each of MEET’s Sponsoring Associations:

‘ACME’ Innovation Award – presented by the Atlantic Canada Mechanical Exhibitors
‘CIPH’ Innovation Award – presented by the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating
‘Electro-Federation Canada’ Innovation Award – presented by Electro-Federation Canada
‘IES’ Innovation Award – presented by the Illuminating Engineering Society

2026 Innovation Award Winners

We are pleased to announce our 2026 Innovation Award Winners!

Thermal Force One by CIMCO

Thermal Force One replaces multiple traditional heating and cooling systems with a single, intelligent solution that can heat and cool different areas of a facility at the same time.

Award Presented By

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It replaces multiple traditional heating and cooling systems with a single, intelligent

solution that can heat and cool different areas of a facility at the same time. This allows

arenas to maintain perfect ice conditions, comfortable spectator spaces, and efficient

building temperatures - all from one integrated system.

Designed with sustainability and performance at its core, TF1 represents a major

breakthrough in helping ice rinks achieve net‑zero emission goals. It significantly reduces or eliminates the need for water consumption, natural gas, and high‑global warming refrigerants, dramatically lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Beyond environmental benefits, TF1 delivers real financial value. By simplifying infrastructure and maximizing energy efficiency, it reduces capital costs, operating expenses, and long‑term maintenance compared to conventional rink systems. The result is a smarter, cleaner, and more economical way to build and operate the next generation of sustainable ice rinks.

Estim.ai by Explor.ai

Award Presented By

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Estim.ai is an AI takeoff assistant built for construction estimating. It combines computer vision for symbol detection with domain-specific interpretation to identify, count, and organize items the way estimators actually need them for pricing and bid preparation. Instead of producing vague “AI insights,” it outputs something operational: a usable quantity takeoff that can feed an estimate.

This turns estimating from a bottleneck into a competitive advantage. Contractors and estimators can produce more bids without adding headcount, reduce omissions and rework, and submit proposals with higher confidence and accuracy. In practice, that means winning more tenders because the numbers are tighter, the process is faster, and the team spends its time validating and pricing—not manually counting symbols until their eyes melt.

Bend-It™ by Beta-Calco

Bend-It™ is a highly adaptable lighting system built around a flexible joiner that bends up to 360 degrees in any horizontal direction, enabling smooth transitions and continuous, flowing layouts.

Award Presented By

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Bend-It™ is a highly adaptable lighting system built around a flexible joiner that bends up to 360 degrees in any horizontal direction, enabling smooth transitions and continuous, flowing layouts. This flexibility allows the fixture to respond naturally to architectural conditions, supporting expressive runs and organic compositions without breaking visual continuity. Bend-It™ can also be configured into closed-loop shapes to create geometric layouts in a wide range of sizes. Each mounting point can be adjusted for further flexibility and to respond intuitively to difficult site conditions.

Composed of lit sectional lengths from 2’ to 50’ on a single driver, the system supports a wide range of configurations while maintaining a consistent dimensional profile with curved end caps to complete the run with a smooth, integrated finish. BEND-IT has a wide range of configurations including direct and indirect lumen packages, CCTs and open-standard control systems to align with project requirements. BEND-IT boasts lumen efficacy up to 94 LPW, enabling uniform lighting while lowering energy demand.

Cyclone™ FLEX™ with AiQ™ Adaptive Gas Technology by A.O. Smith

The A. O. Smith Cyclone™ FLEX™with AIQ™ Adaptive Gas Control automatically senses and adjusts to variations in gas quality and demand, ensuring consistent performance, improved light-off reliability, and thermal efficiencies of 95% or greater across a wide range of inputs.

Award Presented By

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At the core of the Cyclone™ FLEX™ is a submerged combustion chamber paired with a helical heat exchanger coil, a proven yet innovative design that maximizes heat transfer through centrifugal gas flow while minimizing lime scale buildup. Combined with maintenance-free powered anodes and advanced glass lining protection, the unit sets a new standard for durability in commercial water heating.

Features such as Intelligent Demand Response, integrated leak detection, and remote alerts enable proactive system management, reduced downtime, and smarter energy use.