According to organizers of the Global Tire Expo – Powered by TIA (the Tire Industry Association), tire professionals are embracing the newly enhanced event, which takes place Nov. 2-5 as part of the Specialty Equipment Market (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas.
The exhibitor list compiled thus far shows a number of leading tire manufacturers along with first-time exhibitors already confirmed for booth space to display their wares.
“The strong exhibitor presence is proof positive that TIA’s and SEMA’s efforts are reaping positive results,” says TIA Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield. “We appreciate the support these manufacturers are showing and are especially pleased to know that the new expo is resonating with them.”
The TIA and SEMA collaborated to create the Global Tire Expo to serve the unique needs of the tire industry and provide it with a greater level of prominence at the SEMA Show, he notes.
“By partnering with TIA and creating the Global Tire Expo, we are providing the tire industry with a high-value industry event,” says Chris Kersting, SEMA’s president and CEO. “The Global Tire Expo ensures that the tire industry has a show that caters to its needs, while allowing attendees to take part in the first-class services and international appeal of the SEMA Show.”
Featuring unique layout features, the Global Tire Expo will serve as a convenient stop for the 50,000-plus buyers that attend the SEMA Show each year, he adds. More than 26 percent of the buyers came to the 2009 SEMA Show specifically seeking tires and related equipment.
“The SEMA Show attracts professionals from all segments of the automotive industry; many of whom are looking to expand their business,” says Kersting. “Tires are a natural expansion for many businesses, since the product is relevant to any car or truck.”
More than 135 seminars will be conducted. The list includes 70 free sessions that address general business and management issues, and four educational session tracks being held by the TIA: TPMS at 10, Truck Tires at 10, Tires at 2, and Management at 4.
“The educational sessions offered at the Expo provide tire industry attendees with the best of both worlds – they can get to up-to-the-minute, relevant and entertaining information from some of the world’s leading experts in the tire industry, and still have enough time to make important business contacts, meet plenty of potential buyers, and enjoy the great hotels, restaurants and nightlife that only Las Vegas can provide,” Littlefield points out.
The TIA is hosting its Wine & Cheese Social, Tire Industry Honors and Welcome Reception at the Paris Hotel (the TIA’s host lodgings) on Monday, Nov. 1. The events provide attendees with an “unparalleled opportunity to socialize and network with other leaders and decision makers in the tire industry,” he reports.
“And, in a sign that the Expo is having success in attracting interest from all sectors of the tire industry, both the Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIB) and Tread Rubber & Repair Materials Manufacturers Group (TRMG) will be holding meetings in conjunction with the show,” Littlefield continues.
“The Global Tire Expo is about doing business – whether it’s improving an existing business skill or discovering a new profit center,” he says. “No matter what sector of the tire industry you are in, the Global Tire Expo has all of the components you need to get business done effectively.”
The exhibitor list can be viewed at www.expocad.com/host/fx/convexx/sema10/southhalllowerlevel.html.
To learn more about the Global Tire Expo and how to participate, go to www.semashow.com/globaltireexpo.
For more information, visit www.tireindustry.org.
