Italian trade show gets U.S. certification for 2009

At this year's AAPEX show the Italian Trade Commission demonstrated that it's never too early to plan ahead.

The group (also known as ICE) announced the 23rd biennial Autopromotec, which will take place May 20 to 24 in Bologna, Italy in 2009. Once again, the trade show has obtained U.S. Trade Fair Certification by the U.S. Department of Commerce, which show organizers have said increases the number of U.S. exhibitors significantly.

Mike Thompson, international trade specialist, global trade programs, for the Department of Commerce was on hand at an exclusive luncheon last week to pass along the certificate to Renzo Servadei, managing director of Autopromotec.

"This is more than a certificate for us," says Servadei, who adds that in the next show, attendees can expect even more items aimed at fuel efficiency and emissions reduction.

He also discussed how technology enables vehicles to transform into machines that can run on such alternative fuels as methane, liquid propane and hydrogen.

Technology was also a focal point of this year's exhibition. "Autopromotec is really becoming a showcase of new technology," says Patrick Capriati, senior marketing promotion officer for the Italian Trade Commission's Chicago office.

This year's show featured a record 1,400 exhibitors, who displayed everything from replacement auto parts and high-tech vehicle lifts and tire balancers to car wash equipment.

Visitors from foreign countries were up 18 percent, according to the show's organizers, who add that exhibitors have increased 27 percent since 2005, and foreign exhibitors represent a 44 percent increase.

There are 84,500 firms in the Italian auto repair industry, according to show management. Also at this year's Autopromotec, a number of memorandums were signed by leaders of the Automotive Service Association (ASA), the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) with the Italian Automotive Service Equipment Manufacturers Association (AICA), in hopes to increase trade, technology and cooperation between the two countries.

The Autopromotec show is owned by AICA.

For more information, visit the show's Web site.