NEW ORLEANS (April 18, 2016) — Retreading, China and federal regulations will take center stage on the opening day of the North American Tire & Retread Expo (NATRE), which opens tomorrow, April 19, in New Orleans.
The second annual NATRE is taking place April 19-21 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in downtown New Orleans, with a full trade show floor and three days of seminars and technical presentations.
The NATRE educational program — organized by Tire Business — will start at 11:30 a.m. each day and run to 2 p.m. on the 19th and until 1:30 p.m. on the 20th and 21st.
The education program will be highlighted by a “Tireside Chat” on Wednesday afternoon with Kurt Danielson, president of Bridgestone Commercial Group. Tire Business Editor and VP/Publisher Dave Zielasko will moderate the discussion posing questions about the commercial tire and retread business to Mr. Danielson, as well as taking questions from the audience.
Leading off the educational program on Tuesday will be a Retreaders' Panel, moderated by David Stevens, managing director of the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (TRIB). It's scheduled to run from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
The panel will be followed by:
- “Reaching Today's Connected Consumers with Effective Internet Marketing,” by Matt Winslow, senior instructor, Automotive Training Institute (ATI) from 12:20 to 12:50 p.m.;
- “China's Tire Industry — Latest Developments and Possible Futures,” by David Shaw, head of research, Tire Industry Research, 12:55 to 1:30 p.m.; and
- “Current Issues in Tire Safety and Information Regulations,” by George Gillespie, formerly with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and founder of Gillespie Automotive Services, 1:35 to 2:05 pm.
The entire program can be viewed at usatireexpo.com.
The show is organized by Latin Expo Group L.L.C. of Miami, which also organizes the Latin Tyre Expo in Panama, and is co-sponsored by Tire Business.
An exhibitors' list can be viewed at the expo's website as well.