What is the historical background of the show?
How is this exhibit and conference different from SEMA?
What types of companies should consider exhibiting at this kind of a show?
Who is the typical attendee for this event?
What are the networking opportunities?
Why Cleveland?
Why hold the event in September?
What does it cost to attend the event?
How often will this event be held?

What is the historical background of the show?
In 1994, Rubber & Plastics News set out to create a conference and exhibition that was focused on what happens in the manufacture of tires…what’s the science, the technology, and the manufacturing involved in producing a tire.  That segment of the tire industry wasn’t being served. The vision was to eventually evolve into an all-encompassing show embracing all aspects of the tire industry from cradle to grave. The 2010 event will include the aftermarket part of the business:  tire retailers, tire dealers, OTR and the commercial parts of the business.  

How is this exhibit and conference different from SEMA?
We believe the independent tire dealer is now ready for a show that is all their own and not a part of a much bigger environment and not just as a high-performance tire show.  ITEC is different.  It’s a working tire show and all focused on one thing: TIRES.  ITEC is a commercial tire show encompassing some of the retread business, the industrial tire business, the OTR tire business, etc.  These are parts of the market that SEMA does not address. 

What types of companies will be exhibiting at ITEC?
ITEC’s exhibitors will be companies supplying anyone in the tire industry from the tire manufacturers to the tire retailers to the commercial dealers and even to some of the big users.  In the past, ITEC has had between 100 and 125 exhibitors.  By expanding ITEC in 2010, we expect to far exceed that number.  Anyone selling to the independent tire dealer and the commercial dealer are now great prospects as exhibitors.

Who is the typical attendee for this event?
The primary target is really two-fold: 
► It is the tire dealer, the tire retailer and the commercial dealers.  The conference programs
    we are putting together will be targeted toward them. 
► We will still be appealing to and putting together programs for the tire manufacturers:
    the compounder, the chemist, the mathematician, the manufacturer and the plant manager. 

What are the networking opportunities?
ITEC presents a great opportunity for attendees to talk to their peers from other companies and in other areas of the industry.  There will be many opportunities provided for independent tire dealers not only to meet with their peers but in some cases to mix, mingle, and talk to some of the manufacturers and technical people as well.

Why Cleveland?
Cleveland has been selected for a number of great reasons:
► Some of the best tire technology centers in the world are centered in northeastern Ohio
    and specifically the Akron area. 
► When it comes to the aftermarket part of the business, there are scores of tires being sold at retail
    establishments within 500 miles of Cleveland.  While Cleveland may not be in the hub of all of it, it is probably
    in the neighborhood of some 60% of all the tires that are sold in the U.S.
► Cleveland Hopkins Airport is an international facility allowing people to visit the area and attend ITEC easily
    without the inconvenience of two or three connecting flights.
► Cleveland is not as expensive as many other common show sites such as Orlando, Chicago,
    Southern California or Las Vegas.
► The ITEC facility, Cleveland’s I-X Center, compares excellently with any other exhibit hall
    anyplace in North America.

Why hold the event in September?
Historically, ITEC has been held in September.  Additionally, this month has more “free time” for tire dealers/retailers to be able to spend a couple days away from their business, September being one of the least busy times of their year before the busy winter months.

What does it cost to attend the event?
The nominal fee of $50 for tire dealers/distributors and tire manufacturers (or $200 for suppliers and others) covers all three days of exhibits and includes all the paper presentations and the opening night networking cocktail reception and other ITEC-sponsored activities.

How often will this event be held?
At this time, our plan is to continue the tradition of holding ITEC every other year.  Such a schedule would possibly enable the exhibitor and the attendee to go one year to SEMA and the following year to this very focused, all-centered-around-tire event. 

Come share your passion for tires at ITEC 2010.
We welcome your input into making this dynamic event a success for your company.

We are here to help in any way we can. To contact us with any questions click here - ITEC Staff