Magazine for the professional tire industry
Issue link: https://mtd.epubxp.com/i/449261
MTD January 2015 Te center of the automotive universe Attendees fnd equipment innovations, professional development opportunities and demonstrations on the latest products, services and repair techniques at AAPEX By the MTD staff F or three days last November, 2,364 exhibitors and 5,343 booths transformed Las Vegas' Sands Expo Center into an international try-and-buy venue for automotive afermarket products. But the 2014 AAPEX (Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo) did more than bring buyers and sellers together. Te organizations that co-own AAPEX, the Auto Care Association and the Automotive Afermarket Suppliers Association, report 3,348 atendees participated in conferences and education sessions, up 8% versus 2013. Other AAPEX atendees got a heads-up on business trends from business leaders such as Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media. He predicted a new business- friendly environment for the afermarket in a keynote address atended by more than 1,200 people. "AAPEX 2014 was one of the best, if not the best, AAPEX ever, for so many reasons," says Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Auto Care Association. "From the quantity and quality of key atendees and record participation at education sessions to hiting a home run with the new general session featuring Steve Forbes and other successful activities, the AAPEX experience was an industry-wide win." Tere were more than 145,000 people in Las Vegas for AAPEX and the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show, which was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Exhibitors and buyers came from 141 countries. Te trade shows run simultaneously during Automotive Afermarket Industry Week. Te afermarket professionals who came to the Sands Expo Center for AAPEX Nov. 4-6 discovered products, tools and technologies designed to add efciency and proftability to their businesses. feature There were 580 new exhibitors at AAPEX 2014. 58