5 Reasons you won't want to miss ITEC

AKRON—The International Tire Exhibition and Conference—the largest tire manufacturing exhibition and conference in the U.S.—will return to Akron Sept. 13-15. The biennial event provides tire industry professionals with the latest research and data, while providing opportunities for networking and professional growth.

ITEC, hosted at the John S. Knight Center in downtown Akron, will be presented this year under the theme of sustainability. Presentations given throughout the three-day event will cover topics ranging from sustainable materials to circular economies.

Technology also will be a focus for conference presentations, with topics such as autonomous tire production, nano cellulose-based reinforcing fillers, carbon black, next generation RFID, high-speed uniformity testing, tire monitoring, trends in winter tire materials and innovations in elastomers on the agenda.

Here are five reasons you won't want to miss ITEC 2022.

This year's ITEC program features two keynote presentations, both focused on sustainability.

Ellis Jones, Goodyear's vice president and chief sustainability officer, will deliver the first keynote presentation at 2:45 p.m. Sept. 13. During the program, he will discuss Goodyear's sustainability journey and the tire maker's vision for the future.

Anne Forristall Luke, president and CEO of the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, will headline the presentations on Sept. 14. Her keynote, "At the Intersection of Technology and Politics, Sustainability Finds its Stride," will provide an economic outlook and explore how the industry is prioritizing sustainability.

This year's ITEC program offers a new opportunity for women throughout the tire industry to network and find support as they grow in their professional careers.

Terry DeLapa, the first female to serve as chair of the ACS Rubber Division, will give a keynote presentation at the breakfast, discussing her career in the rubber industry and the number of firsts she achieved along the way.

A panel discussion will follow DeLapa's presentation.

The ITEC Women's Breakfast and Seminar is set for 8 to 9:30 a.m. Sept. 15. Tickets for the event are $45 each and include a continental breakfast.

In conjunction with the University of Akron, ITEC will offer a five-day Mechanics Short Course that will provide engineers and scientists with an in-depth, intense study of developments surrounding tire and polymer engineering.

The course is ideal for practicing engineers, chemists and scientists concerned with tires and vehicles and those who have an engineering or science background at the bachelor of science level. Those completing the course will receive a certificate from The University of Akron.

ITEC organizers will present the Harold Herzlich Award to William Mars, founder and president of Endurica L.L.C.

The Herzlich Award, which recognizes innovators in tire manufacturing, tire reliability and performance, this year pays tribute to the impacts that Mars' work—in the fields of development testing and simulation methods—have had on the tire industry.

The award is named in honor of Harold Herzlich, the longtime technical editor of Rubber News.

Mars will receive his award on Sept. 14 and provide a keynote presentation the next day.

Those who register for ITEC before Aug. 12 will receive free admission into the exhibition space, which includes dozens of tire industry suppliers. Participating companies include VMI Group, L&T Rubber Processing Machinery, Aerocom Systems, Cimcorp Automation, DRI Rubber and UMD Automated Systems.

For those registering after Aug. 13, a $50 exhibition admission fee will be applied.

ITEC registration is open and can be made at itec-tireshow.com.

Companies interested in exhibit space or sponsorship opportunities should contact Sales Director Christine Zernick at [email protected].