This episode kicks off HVAC R&D's live show recordings from the AHR Expo as the first of four in the coming series of episodes.

Recorded on the show floor from Podcast Pavilion 1 on Monday February 2nd, 2026. this conversation with Jessica Slaughter, Marketing Manager at Rapid Locking System (RLS), dives into one of the most relevant shifts happening in our industry right now — the evolution of press technology and its role in the A2L transition.

In this episode, we cover:

Why press fittings are no longer just “alternative” solutions

How RLS supports installs from ¼″ to 2-1/8″

Real-world applications in tight spaces and mission-critical environments

Why training and continued education matter more than ever

How events like AHR still play a critical role in workforce development

This episode isn’t about replacing brazing — it’s about expanding the toolbox and increasing technician confidence as refrigerants, regulations, and jobsite realities evolve.

Live from the floor. Real conversation. Real application.

If you’re navigating A2L, large commercial installs, or looking to stay ahead of where the trade is headed — this one’s for you.

Follow, subscribe, and share with someone in the trades who needs to hear it.

#TradeCrew #HVACR #AHRExpo #RLS #PRESSGANG #PRESS

🎧 Listen now and subscribe so you never miss a drop.

DiversiTech • LiveSwitch • JPL Flex • RLS – Rapid Locking System • Resideo • Mann + Hummel • True Nature Meats Co.

🎵 Music credit: Alex Grohl