| The 2014 SEMA Show ran Nov. 4 to Nov. 7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. See more photos below. | ||
By CRM Staff
Las Vegas, Nevada — November 10, 2014 — The 2014 SEMA Show offered industry professionals a variety of collision repair catered events, including educational seminars and training, product demonstrations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities galore.
Marking its 47th year, the Specialty Equipment Market Association’s annual automotive trade show ran Nov. 4 to Nov. 7 and was once again held at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV.
There was much to see and do, with over 2,500 covetable gadgets and gear covering the 35,000 sq. ft. space as part of the New Products Showcase and close to 200 exhibitors set up in the North Hall’s Collision Repair and Refinish section. Live product demonstrations were also held in the area by the likes of Miller Electric Manufacturing and Eastwood Company.
The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) returned with their Repairer Driven Education Series (RDE), providing attending collision repairer community members a chance to build on their industry knowledge and skills, touching on both the technical and business-minded aspects of the ever-evolving field.
Unsurprisingly, highlights of this year’s RDE roster included several courses running through the duration of the event centered around the hot topic of aluminum repair—concerning proper processes, the material’s future in the industry as well as a wealth of F-150 specific information provided by Ford. A wide range of seminars covered subjects of interest such as: the connection between vehicle design, materials and equipment, how automotive manufacturing is driving change in the industry, the differences between modern and traditional repair and the necessity to invest in training, equipment and resources, the importance of reputation management online, customer service manager training, and how to build an effective brand strategy for your collision repair shop.
In addition to the offered courses were a number of panel discussions, notably Marketplace Development: How Specialization is Shifting Collision Repair Practices, employing U.S. collision repair professionals from across the U.S. to address the industry’s commitment to embracing certified collision repair programs and advancing technologies in contemporary collision repair facilities.
The most anticipated addition to the SCRS SEMA offerings proved to be the inaugural Nov. 5 debut of the OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit—an innovative, full day agenda of panel discussions revolving around the changing industry as it directly relates to collision repair. Among the inter-industry representatives in attendance were OEMS—such as Ford, GM, BMW, Toyota, Mercedes, Audi, and Tesla—equipment suppliers, training facilitators, shop owners and engineers.
With the 2014 event wrapped, next year’s SEMA Show is currently scheduled to return to the Las Vegas, NV. venue, kicking off on Nov. 3, 2015. To learn more, visit semashow.com.
For more 2014 SEMA Show coverage, please see the latest issue of Bodyworx Professional magazine.
