Las Vegas, Nevada — This year’s SEMA event has had a few glitches here and there but has overall provided a more accessible way for the global automotive industry to connect.
Car-O-Liner® is one of the leading global manufacturers of collision repair and wheel alignment systems. The group brands include Car-O-Liner®, Josam®, TruckCam™ and Car-O-Liner Academy.
“SEMA in the past has been very good for personal connection and a meeting point for everyone in the industry. Car-O-Liner has always found an incredible value in making those personal touchpoints with our customers and distribution in the industry,” explained Doug Bortz, sales manager for North America.
However, despite the lack of in-person connections, Bortz believes Car-O-Liner® is serving their customers better than ever, because there is no need for them to travel to SEMA and instead, their home continuing to do business as usual.
It also allows for customers who never heard of the SEMA Show to get assistance while the company still ‘attends’ SEMA360.
Car-O-Liner® plans to participate in the hybrid format next year if SEMA moves forward as they have indicated, meaning that they would have a virtual event and in-person event happening simultaneously.
“I think the benefit of the SEMA going virtual is that they want to make it available for everyone because lots of people can’t go to Vegas. And if we know how to make it available and accessible to them then, why not?” said Leia Morshedi, the marketing agent for Car-O-Liner®.
Next year’s event will run more seamlessly if SEMA uses a hybrid model, said Morshedi, who suggested SEMA has plans to make 2021 a hybrid event.
“The presentations can take place in real-time, so the person at home is experiencing the same thing that someone in the booth is experiencing,” said Morshedi.
Car-O-Liner® has been attending SEMA for more than 10 years now. This year, the company’s virtual booth is set up with direct access to their website and instructional videos on the right hand of the screen showing demos of their equipment. Car-O-Liner® also created partner specials for some of their products such as, if you buy a Car-O-Liner® CTR® 9 resistance spot welder, you get a free A-Tong kit, or if you purchase a Vision2™ X3 System you can choose a gift of your choice.
The last few days of SEMA are knocking and Bortz hopes to get more involved with attendees and other manufacturers by trying to make a personal connection. The feedback on the presentations from earlier in the week, said Bortz, was not great and is now unsure if said Bortz will continue to do them. Instead, they will work towards creating more one-on-one connections.
Aside, from their SEMA experience, Car-O-Liner has a big announcement.
On Oct. 20, Skills Canada was pleased to announce the partnership of Car-O-Liner and Skills Canada’s Collision Repair Program.
Along with the new partnership, Car-O-Liner donated a CTR-7 Spot Welder and to be awarded to a post-secondary college, polytechnic, or technical institute in Canada.
The initial application process started Oct. 20 and are due by Nov. 30, 2020. The school that’s selected to receive the free CTR-7 Spot Welder will be contacted by Mon. Nov. 30, 2020, and will have training and setup provided by Car-O-Liner in early 2021.
“We are delighted to partner with the Skills Canada Collision Repair Program. Engaging bright minds to take on challenges that equip them with the knowledge to repair modern vehicles fitted with greater levels of technology is of the utmost importance,” said David Bortz. “The foundation of proper repair procedures is paramount for the function of automobiles and the safety of their passengers. Combining the World’s greatest young collision repair talents with our cutting-edge technology will drive the skill in the coming years.”
