AKRON—Tire production equipment maker VMI Americas Inc. has signed on as the first corporate sponsor of the 2014 International Tire Exhibition & Conference for tire manufacturing in Akron.
Stow, Ohio-based VMI Americas is a unit of VMI Group—headquartered in Epe, Netherlands—was one of the first sponsors of the initial ITEC in 1994 and also was the first sponsor at both the 2010 and 2012 shows.
Organized by Rubber & Plastics News, ITEC is returning to Akron for the 2014 event after being held in Cleveland in 2010 and 2012. The Akron show will be held Sept. 9-11, 2014, at the John S. Knight Center and focus on connecting tire manufacturing professions from around the world. A separate ITEC for tire dealers and automotive service is planned for Aug. 20-22, 2014, in Orlando.
"We have been involved in this conference since the beginning and it has always been extremely productive for us," said Arie Kroeze, VMI Americas president and CEO. No other show gives us the chance meet with as many decision makers as we routinely see at ITEC."
Kroeze added that ITEC organizers also are willing to try new things to make it a better experience for attendees and exhibitors.
"We are proud to have VMI, a company that sets high standards of excellence, partner once again with ITEC," said David Zielasko, publisher and vice president of ITEC organizer RPN. "ITEC embraces continuous improvement and innovation, not only in the programs and exhibits we present, but in how we bring information to the tire industry."
For more information on ITEC, visit www.itec-tireshow.com.