BOLOGNA, Italy — On a small sign in the corner of the counter at Seletron’s booth at Autopromotec is a small white sign that explains the goal of a number of show exhibitors.
“We are looking for retailers all over the world.”
A majority of the companies exhibiting at the show in Italy sell their parts and equipment in other countries. Many also are looking for new opportunities in both emerging and established markets, especially the United States.
Seletron, which manufactures the Chipbox, a performance module for diesel and gasoline enginges, currently does not export to the United States. But like other companies, there are opportunities for U.S. distributors to work with the Italian companies to bring in parts.
LPR is a brake manufacturer in Italy that has been in the U.S. market for 20 years. Silvia Bonatti, area sales manager, says the company provides private label hydraulic parts to U.S. manufacturers.
She explains that they use an agent to establish and solidify relationships. While the business has declined somewhat recently because of the U.S. economy, they still are looking for more options.
Global companies looking to come into the United States utilize the agents to help them target customers. Bonatti says LPR’s agent assisted the company in identifying the range of American vehicles for which they now make product.
Bridgeport SRL, an Italian maker of valves for mobile A/C components, is another example of a company that has been in the U.S. market. However its experience has been much shorter — just since last year.
But company representatives say the venture, also through an agent, has been a success.
And while there are companies at the show looking to meet up and export their parts to the United States, there also are plenty of buyers at the show interested in making the matches. For example, the Italian Trade Commission assisted buyers from the United States and other countries in the attending the show and setting up meetings.
The experiences the buyers have opened new opportunities for the U.S. aftermarket. With new technologies often debuting in Europe first, Autopromotec offers the companies — both U.S. and European — a chance to get the products into the U.S. market faster.
