A new retreaders' trade show may be held in conjunction with The Technology and Maintenance Council's annual meeting in 2009.
In an attempt to gauge interest, the Tire Industry Association (TIA) has asked for help from the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB).
According to TRIB Managing Director Harvey Brodsky, TIA asked TRIB to send the following letter to its members. "We strongly support the return of a retread show to North America," says Brodksy. "We believe such a show is long overdue, and TRIB stands ready to offer our full support any way we can to ensure its success."
Here is the letter in its entirety.
Dear TRIB Retread Supplier/Manufacturer:
For the past two years, the Tire Industry Association (TIA) has held a retread and commercial conference in conjunction with the Annual Meeting for the Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) of the American Trucking Associations (ATA). A significant part of the TMC Annual Meeting is a trade show where the attendees can see the latest technology in commercial truck equipment and maintenance.
Next year's event is scheduled for Feb. 9-13, 2009, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
Since the conference's inception, the TIA conference has consisted solely of educational workshops that covered a variety of topics related to commercial truck tire retreading and service. While there were some exhibits of interest to the TIA attendees, the request for more retread exhibits has led us to explore the possibility of sponsoring a separate pavilion.
TMC is agreeable to giving us a portion of the trade show floor where our retread suppliers and manufacturers could display products and services. However, it is important to note that all aspects of exhibiting from the cost of the booth space to the electrical and compressed air requirements are under the complete control of TMC.
TMC has agreed to extend their member rates to TIA companies who are interested in exhibiting, and ensure that TIA retread members will be located in the TIA Retread Pavilion. TIA has also extended a free booth to TRIB, and TRIB has accepted the offer to exhibit so TRIB will have a presence in the TIA Retread Pavilion.
Our first step is to gauge interest from our retread suppliers and manufacturers in order to gauge how much space we will need on the trade show floor. The accompanying form should be returned to TIA by Friday, May 9, if you are interested in exhibiting. (Editor's note: the form can be found at the link below.)
http://www.retread.org/pdf/vor/08/Space_Reserve_Let_Form.pdf
The next step is to schedule a conference call or meeting so we can confirm participation and begin the process of marketing the conference with the new Retread Pavilion. TRIB agrees with TIA and we collectively feel it's absolutely necessary to include the company names of the TIA exhibitors in all of the pre-conference promotions, so please return the accompanying form as soon as possible. Please indicate on the form if you would prefer a conference call or face-to-face meeting in Baltimore with TIA and TMC representatives.
If you have any questions, please contact one of the TIA staff members listed below:
* Chris Bell, director of training -- (800) 876-8372, ext. 105, or at [email protected].
* Marvin Bozarth, senior technical consultant -- (502) 738-9176 or at [email protected].
* LaKisha Pindell, director of meetings -- (800) 876-8372, ext. 104, or at [email protected].
* Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of training -- (800) 876-8372, ext. 110, or at [email protected].
Thank you for your consideration. We hope to see you in Orlando!
Tire Industry Association
Brodsky asks that interested parties contact one of the TIA representatives listed above, and tell them that TRIB furnished this information.