The 5th Annual Midwest Auto Body Trade Show, a free inter-industry event welcoming collision repairers, insurers, manufacturers, vendors, recyclers, OEMs and students, will take place on Feb. 19 at the Sheraton West in Des Moines, Iowa. Its primary focus will be aluminum repair, offering an in-depth introduction to new technology and new repair techniques.
“This critical information is something our colleagues will only receive in this forum,” said John Arnold of Arnold’s Body Shop in Davenport, Iowa and vice president of the Iowa Collision Repair Association (ICRA). “There is tremendous value in what is happening here.”
Added Midwest Auto Body Trade Show Chairman Dick Merron of the Iowa Auto Rebuilders, “The Midwest Auto Body Trade Show is in a new venue and a new month, promising to be better than ever. This is the largest and best show yet. We’re proud to bring this high-level education, training and networking to the collision industry. We have to be prepared for what is coming, and now is the time to do it.”
A “Cool Tools For Today’s Vehicles” presentation will kick off the show. Keynote speaker Ken Boylan, global training manager at Chief Automotive Technologies, will cover topics such as laser welding, friction stir welding, bonding and riveting. He will also drill into some techniques that are also applicable for steel, and explore the characteristics of aluminum, how it’s formed and how the manufacturers are using it. He has presented at the I-CAR Conference in Detroit, NACE, SEMA and the SCRS OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit. A 2015 Ford F-150 and other automobiles featuring new technology will be on the trade show floor.
An extra this year is Iowa Community College’s participation in a refinish competition that will be judged at the show.
“We are very excited to integrate this competition into the trade show,” said ICRA Executive Director Janet Chaney. “We have outstanding programs at the colleges in Iowa and want to support them. We will embrace these students and welcome them to this great industry.”
A cornerstone of this event is the “There is No Free Lunch” presentation which will feature Boylan, Iowa Senator Brad Zaun and ICRA lobbyist Scott Weiser bringing the collision industry up to date on this year’s legislative activities. You must register for this particular presentation at a cost of $40. To register, click HERE.
The show floor opens after lunch and will showcase more than 60 vendor display booths and free education titled, “Training in the Round.” I-CAR’s New Technology 2015 will start the day at 8:30 a.m.
Show specials, gift certificates, special discounts and door prizes will be offered during the show, along with a display of new car models.
More information:
To reserve a room, call the Sheraton West Des Moines at (515) 223-1800. Room rate for the show is $129. For more information, call Janet Chaney at (480) 720-2565.
