Aluminum Technology to be Featured at the Midwest Autobody Trade Show

Feb. 11, 2015—The fifth annual Midwest Autobody Trade Show will focus on new technology and equipment in the collision repair industry, according to an announcement from the Iowa Collision Repair Association (ICRA) on Wednesday.

The official theme of the show, which will take place Feb. 19 at the Sheraton West Des Moines in West Des Moines, Iowa, is “Training—New Equipment—New Technology.”

“This is everything you need for the future in one place,” ICRA President Dick Merron said in a release. “This is a great opportunity for our industry.”  

The show opens with the “There Is No Free Lunch” luncheon. Iowa State Sen. Brad Zaun will lead the luncheon for the third year. He is joined by ICRA lobbyist Scott Weiser and national I-CAR chairman Bob Keith.

Ken Boylan, global training manager of Chief Automotive Technologies, will present a lecture, entitled "Introduction to Aluminum." Boylan will be on the showroom floor to visit with attendees throughout the trade show, and have a 2015 Ford F-150 aluminum truck on hand.

The show floor opens its doors directly after the luncheon to over 65 vendor display booths.   Show specials, gift certificates, special show discounts and door prizes will be offered throughout, along with a display of new car models.

This year the Midwest show will host a refinish competition between seven Iowa community colleges. These colleges will compete in the first Midwest Autobody Trade Show - Community College partnership effort, in part, due to donations from 3M, the Collision Repair Education Foundation, and Keystone Automotive. Students will be tasked with refinishing a 2005 Cobalt hood using their own creative custom design work. Hoods will be judged by custom motorcycle builder Steve Bruggenwirth.

“We are very excited to integrate this competition into the trade show,” Janet Chaney, ICRA executive director, said in a release. “We will embrace these students and welcome them to this great industry.”  

The fifth Annual Midwest Auto Body Trade Show is a free inter-industry event, inviting collision repairers, insurers, manufacturers, vendors, recyclers, OEMs and students from the Midwest to participate.

For a schedule, and to register for “There Is No Free Lunch," visit iowacra.com.