AKRON—The International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC) is splitting into two events for 2014, with the retail and commercial tire dealer portion of the event heading to Orlando, Fla., and the tire manufacturing end returning to Akron.
In 2010, ITEC expanded beyond its traditional tire manufacturing focus to encompass the entire tire industry, staging the event at the International Exposition Center in Cleveland. That event, and another in 2012, drew thousands of tire professionals to the trade show, educational program and networking opportunity. The trade show and conference is organized by Tire Business and sister publication Rubber & Plastics News (RPN).
In a move to attract even more attendees in 2014, ITEC is taking the tire dealer portion of the show to Orlando and the Caribe Royal All-Suite and Convention Center. That event, which will take place Aug. 21-22, 2014, will be focused on retail and commercial tire dealers, other tire sellers and distributors, retreaders, recyclers and automotive service providers.
A separate ITEC focused on tire manufacturing is returning to Akron and the heart of the North American tire industry. That conference and trade show will take place at Akron's John S. Knight Center Sept. 9-11, 2014.
Both shows will continue to offer a targeted trade show and exhibit, three-days of educational seminars, keynote speeches and networking opportunities.
Now, however, the ITEC shows will be even more focused on their targeted audiences, said David Zielasko, editor and vice president/publisher of Tire Business and publisher of RPN.
“We continue to develop ITEC as a trade show and conference series that meets the needs of everyone in the tire industry,” Mr. Zielasko said. “By separating the show into two events and taking them on the road, we aim to attract even more attendees and provide a more focused educational and technical program.”
ITEC is produced by Crain Communications Inc.