From left, Lisa Richardson, Ed Jones, Scot Holloway and Mark Pfleeger enjoy the Miami weather at the ETI welcome reception.
The
TechShop team recently traveled to Miami Beach, FL, to attend
the Equipment and Tool Institute’s ToolTech conference at The Gansevoort Hotel
May 3-5. More than 110 industry professionals representing 55 companies were in
attendance.
ToolTech gave attendees a chance to learn about
changing industry trends and standards and how they’ll affect the Shop of
Tomorrow from industry experts such as Dave Hobbs, senior trainer for Delphi; Mike Hasinec, vice president of operations, Penske Truck
Leasing; Tom Kotenko, general manager, Snap-on Business Solutions; Bob Armstrong, manager, Automotive Equipment &
Supplies, Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC; George Hoffman, manager,
Automotive Assets, Buyer and Facilities Manager, Sears Automotive; Chip Keen,
president, Garage Operator, Inc.; Nick Cosimano, president/CEO, Carma Systems,
Inc.; and John Jenkins, Automotive Consultant, CAS New England.
“This year, new technology has
permeated into most aspects of our business from Heavy Duty Diesel (OBD II,
A/C, emissions standards) to Air Conditioning (new refrigerant, HYCF 1234, new
leak detection requirements) to Collision and Wheel Service,” said ETI’s
outgoing president Mike Cable (vice president sales at RTI Technologies). “For
years, ETI has stayed on the cutting edge of new technologies, bringing our
members the latest information and market research, and pursuing the OEMs for
information.”
During ETI’s Business Meeting,
Cable introduced new president Alan Tecmire (senior account executive, ETAS –
Bosch). In his first speech as president, Tecmire said, “We’ve navigated a
tough economic time and I feel we’re coming out strong.”
ToolTech is a great opportunity
for industry professionals to network and meet with OEMs, tool and equipment
companies, distributors and manufacturer reps and gain valuable insight from
presentations by industry leaders. Tim Morgan, Elektron Inc.’s managing
director, Americas, said, “Being able to network with other companies and
finding the synergies has been great for our business.”
The Company Showcase at ToolTech
gave exhibitors the opportunity to display their products and services. Redline
Detection sponsored the Company Showcase and gave away an iPad; the winner was
Bradley Stott from Ferrari North America.
Alex Parker (center) and Zach Parker from Redline Detection (right) presented Bradley Stott from Ferrari North America (left) with a new iPad. Stott won the iPad in Redline Detection’s contest at ETI’s Company Showcase.
Joe Dease, president, JohnDow
Industries, found ToolTech a great place to speak with OEMs about potential
ideas for new products.
Among those seen at the Company
Showcase included Paul and Sherry Louwers of Automotive Video, Inc.; Jeffrey Murphy
of RTI Technologies; Harlan Siegel of Launch Tech USA, Inc.; Scot Holloway of
Bartec USA; Brian Herron of Drew Technologies; and Dan Brass and Garret Miller
of SPX Corporation.
ToolTech 2012 will be held April
17-19, in Palm Springs, CA.