SEMA Show Nov 1 -4, 2005 :Las Vegas
It was a great show with tons of vendors and new products.
For those who do not know SEMA is the Specialty Equipment Manufactures Association. Their show is not only their big event of the year but is one of the premier shows to hit Vegas each year. It is not open to the general public. Only exhibitors, buyers and the media are allowed to attend. Even so, thousands of people attend from all over the world. It is so large that it takes the Main, North and South hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center plus 3 or 4 more buildings across the street as well as outside exhibits of section after section of specially modified vehicle displays. The show is broken into 11 categories and the exhibitors are grouped, just so you can get your mind around it. The 11 chunks are: Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road; Tools & Equipment, Hot Rods, Racing & Performance; Mobile Electronics, Performance Tires & Wheels; Restoration; Restyling & Accesorieses; Car Care, Business Services; & Original Equipment Manufactures.
When I signed up, a SEMA representative called me to verify my business. We had a difficult time figuring out my role in the industry until they decided I could fit into the Educator billet.
I spent a day and a half just on the off-Road floor which occupies the entire 2nd floor of the South wing. Even at that I didn’t do it justice, but other pressing commitments (annual Deer hunting trip to North Dakota) cut my time short.
I was impressed with how well organized the show is run. It is designed to efficiently register and move the hordes of participants that attend. There where multiple lines to pick up your credentials and not just at one location. Just about any entrance to the entire complex had check in stations. All the new products were showcased in one section. It was not necessary to roam throughout the convention center in the hope of finding who had a new product introduction. Throughout the center were stacks and stacks of directory guides and maps of the exhibitors. Despite their organization, it took me until the second morning to figure out how to find the booth numbers which were hanging over my head not on the ground where I was looking.
BTW, no one is allowed to sell products during the show. Of course they can give away stuff. There was a cornucopia of literature. Some companies gave away large shopping bags to haul around your stash of literature in the hope you would be indebted to them and think good thoughts about their products. Or maybe they where just using me as a personal billboard with their logo on the side of this huge bag. Next time I will remember to bring my backpack.
I saw some cool new products. Superior Axle & Gear has released a full floating axle replacement kit for the Dana 44 on the Jeep Rubicon. You can get 30, 33, or 35 spine axles with the kit. JC Fab in Sylmar did the design work. http://superioraxle.com
Advance Adapter plans to release a 4 speed transfer case in January 2006 which weighs about 100 pounds. You get your choice of 2 units one with a final combination of the four speed at about 5:1 and the second at about 10:1. Can you imagine these 3 selections: 1:1, 2:72:1, & 3.8:1 and then the ability to link the 2:72 and the 3.8 for the multiplier effect of 10.3?
http://www.advanceadapters.com/
Hi-lift has redesigned their jack and brought out their own accessories for the top clamp (like the jack mate) and the handle isolator block. Their new product is the Hi-Lift X-treme that includes charcoal metallic power coat finish on their top of the line cast jack with gold zinc coated hardware. It includes the new winch-clamp-spreader attachment which replaces the weak top clamp. The new winch-clamp-spreader attachment is rated at 5,000 lbs. The handle isolator block is improved over the competion with cutouts to clear the bolt (looks like a cross) so it can be removed without removing the old style top clamp. http://hi-lift.com
There is a new Land Rover Magazine on the block - LRL the Land Rover Lifestyle. The first issue is Jan/ Feb 2006 with over 80 pages and costs 5.95 per copy. Their web site is http://thelrl.com. The founder and publisher is Doug Evilsizor.
Attendance at the SEMA show was a great educational experience. If you ever have a chance, sign up. It is well worth it.
Regards,
Tom
For those who do not know SEMA is the Specialty Equipment Manufactures Association. Their show is not only their big event of the year but is one of the premier shows to hit Vegas each year. It is not open to the general public. Only exhibitors, buyers and the media are allowed to attend. Even so, thousands of people attend from all over the world. It is so large that it takes the Main, North and South hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center plus 3 or 4 more buildings across the street as well as outside exhibits of section after section of specially modified vehicle displays. The show is broken into 11 categories and the exhibitors are grouped, just so you can get your mind around it. The 11 chunks are: Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road; Tools & Equipment, Hot Rods, Racing & Performance; Mobile Electronics, Performance Tires & Wheels; Restoration; Restyling & Accesorieses; Car Care, Business Services; & Original Equipment Manufactures.
When I signed up, a SEMA representative called me to verify my business. We had a difficult time figuring out my role in the industry until they decided I could fit into the Educator billet.
I spent a day and a half just on the off-Road floor which occupies the entire 2nd floor of the South wing. Even at that I didn’t do it justice, but other pressing commitments (annual Deer hunting trip to North Dakota) cut my time short.
I was impressed with how well organized the show is run. It is designed to efficiently register and move the hordes of participants that attend. There where multiple lines to pick up your credentials and not just at one location. Just about any entrance to the entire complex had check in stations. All the new products were showcased in one section. It was not necessary to roam throughout the convention center in the hope of finding who had a new product introduction. Throughout the center were stacks and stacks of directory guides and maps of the exhibitors. Despite their organization, it took me until the second morning to figure out how to find the booth numbers which were hanging over my head not on the ground where I was looking.
BTW, no one is allowed to sell products during the show. Of course they can give away stuff. There was a cornucopia of literature. Some companies gave away large shopping bags to haul around your stash of literature in the hope you would be indebted to them and think good thoughts about their products. Or maybe they where just using me as a personal billboard with their logo on the side of this huge bag. Next time I will remember to bring my backpack.
I saw some cool new products. Superior Axle & Gear has released a full floating axle replacement kit for the Dana 44 on the Jeep Rubicon. You can get 30, 33, or 35 spine axles with the kit. JC Fab in Sylmar did the design work. http://superioraxle.com
Advance Adapter plans to release a 4 speed transfer case in January 2006 which weighs about 100 pounds. You get your choice of 2 units one with a final combination of the four speed at about 5:1 and the second at about 10:1. Can you imagine these 3 selections: 1:1, 2:72:1, & 3.8:1 and then the ability to link the 2:72 and the 3.8 for the multiplier effect of 10.3?
http://www.advanceadapters.com/
Hi-lift has redesigned their jack and brought out their own accessories for the top clamp (like the jack mate) and the handle isolator block. Their new product is the Hi-Lift X-treme that includes charcoal metallic power coat finish on their top of the line cast jack with gold zinc coated hardware. It includes the new winch-clamp-spreader attachment which replaces the weak top clamp. The new winch-clamp-spreader attachment is rated at 5,000 lbs. The handle isolator block is improved over the competion with cutouts to clear the bolt (looks like a cross) so it can be removed without removing the old style top clamp. http://hi-lift.com
There is a new Land Rover Magazine on the block - LRL the Land Rover Lifestyle. The first issue is Jan/ Feb 2006 with over 80 pages and costs 5.95 per copy. Their web site is http://thelrl.com. The founder and publisher is Doug Evilsizor.
Attendance at the SEMA show was a great educational experience. If you ever have a chance, sign up. It is well worth it.
Regards,
Tom
posted by Tom Severin at 11:37 AM
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