AKRON (April 8, 2009)—After agreeing to organize the aftermarket educational portion of the 2010 International Tire Exhibition & Conference and being named the aftermarket conference chair, the Tire Industry Association has decided to withdraw from participation in ITEC.
While TIA and Crain Communications Inc., publisher of Tire Business and Rubber & Plastics News, were in preliminary talks regarding ITEC, no formal contract had been signed by either party, TIA said in a statement. The association said it “has a pre-existing arrangement with the Specialty Equipment Market Association and its annual trade show in Las Vegas, and it has reaffirmed its commitment to this show.”
“We regret that TIA will no longer be participating in our conference, but we certainly understand why it arrived at this decision,” said Bob Simmons, ITEC executive director and a Crain vice president. “That being said, this in no way lessens our efforts or enthusiasm to put forth a world-class trade show and conference that will bring together the entire tire industry for the first time in North America.”
Planning for ITEC 2010 continues at full pace, Simmons said, adding, “We plan to have a new aftermarket conference chair in place shortly.”