ADVERTORIAL

errari. . . according to the International Organization to increase as more tire dealers and garage These names are synonymous with of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers — placing owners outside of Europe learn that Italian- F world-class quality, technology and it well ahead of companies like BMW, Daim- made garage equipment offers unsurpassed craftsmanship — specifi cally Italian quality, ler, , Mazda, Suzuki, Kia and others. sophistication and unparalleled ease-of-use technology and craftsmanship. All of this would be impossible without for tire and service techs. ’s reputation for innovation and de- a thriving sup- Tire service equipment distributor Mc- sign dates back thousands of years Court Industries Inc. has carried products to Roman times. Aqueducts, made by Correggio, Italy-based Corghi arched bridges, concrete, for more than 20 years. Italian qual- the radio, batteries, the ity “was a major consideration” in the telephone, tire changers, Akron, Ohio-based company’s decision even books — all were to carry Corghi tire changers, wheel invented (and perfected) balancers and other machines, says in Italy. owner Chuck McCourt. The Italian capacity “They don’t do anything second rate,” for high-tech inven- an observation commonly echoed by tiveness continues to distributors and users of tire service fl ourish in the 21st cen- equipment produced by other Italian tury. Nowhere is this manufacturers. displayed more promi- “We have companies such as , nently than in Italy’s Lamborghini, even (motorcycle manu- automotive sector, most of which is facturer) Ducati,” says Corghi Sales and situated in the northern part of the Marketing Director Claudio Spiritelli. country, in cities like , Tu- “There are many automotive compa- rin and various towns in between, nies in Italy that are leaders in the which together comprise what has world. But in order for there to be been dubbed “The Italian Motor a Ferrari, there must be indus- Valley.” (Bologna will host the tries and com- next edition of Autopromotec, the port industry to panies around world’s leading trade show for supply service equip- to allow Fer- the tire and garage equip- ment like tire changers, rari to be ment industries, which will wheel balancers, vehicle be held May 20-24, 2009.) aligners, lifts and other de- Italy’s reputation as a vices, as well as replacement auto center for automobile manu- parts. facturing is well-established. As with , Italy has long been a It’s the fi fth largest automo- worldwide leader in the design, develop- what it bile producing nation in ment, production and distribution of is.” Europe. Turin-based service equipment and components. In Snap-on Group, Italy’s dominant fact, more than 50% of all tire changers, Inc., one of the automotive manufacturer, wheel balancers and aligners sold world- world’s largest is the eighth largest motor ve- wide are manufactured in Italy, garage hicle manufacturing company in the world, and that percentage is expected

The Italian Trade Commission (ITC) presents this special advertising section. The ITC is the government agency entrusted with promoting trade, business opportunities and industrial cooperation between Italian and foreign companies. Headquartered in Rome, where it is known as Istituto nazionale per il Commercio Estero (ICE), it operates through 115 Continued on page 41 branch offi ces in over 86 countries.www.italtrade.com/usa

MTD NOVEMBER 2008 41

NNOV_41-49.inddOV_41-49.indd 4141 110/9/080/9/08 3:32:103:32:10 PPMM Continued from page 41 regions. Instead, the company chose Italy to Rosa, manager for business analysis for equipment suppliers, has the reach and host research, development and manufac- Snap-on’s European unit, simply says. economies of scale to set up manufacturing turing operations for its tire changers and In northern Italy, “it’s easier to find operations anywhere in the world, and could wheel balancers. Why? “The reputation of expertise in this business.” That includes easily concentrate its production in low-cost the area,” Christian Della not only engineers, scientists and soft- ware writers, but also highly skilled tradesmen, experi- enced production workers and world- class logistics professionals. “How can you improve your prod- uct if you don’t have a background in the business?” asks Fabio Boni, The automobile is part of Italian cul- ture (pictured, a Fiat dealership). sales director for FASEP, an Italian garage equipment manufacturer with offi ces and a plant near Florence. “When I started in this business 20 years ago, there were three big countries in tire equipment manufacturing: the United States, Germany and Italy.” France and Japan had pieces of the market as well. “If you look at the market today, there is no garage equipment production in France. In Japan, you have maybe one or two compa- nies left. German production has moved to Italy; those companies have been bought by other fi rms. Who’s left? The U.S. and Italy. If you want something good, you have to buy either a premium American product or a good Italian-made machine.” When it comes to tire changers, wheel balancers and other garage equipment, as well as replacement auto parts, the technical expertise of Italian companies and the qual- ity of their products are second-to-none. The same can be said for their business acumen. Italian fi rms understand the diverse fi nancial and business parameters of American tire dealers and garage owners and are willing to work with them to achieve their shop equipment objectives. “” isn’t just a slogan; it’s a guarantee of quality, service and at the end of the day, profi tability. This special section takes a look at a num- ber of companies that have staked their reputations and entire business models on “Made in Italy,” but also are ready to do Bologna, in the heart of “The Italian Motor Val- business with tire dealers and auto repair ley,” will host Autopromotec 2009. facilities across the Atlantic.

www.moderntiredealer.com

NNOV_41-49.inddOV_41-49.indd 4242 110/9/080/9/08 3:32:183:32:18 PPMM Artiglio Master can handle assemblies of up to 26 inches in diameter.) “We start by assessing the needs of the tire manufacturer, who asks us to develop the equipment. Without service equipment, new tire technology is basically worth nothing. We have full-time people at each level who communicate with the tire manufacturers. We know of technology improvements well in advance.” Corghi invests no less than 18% of its an- nual sales in R&D. (Ten percent of Corghi’s entire workforce is concentrated in research and development.) All four of Corghi’s manufacturing plants are based in Italy. “We have a specialized plant for tire changers, a specialized plant for wheel balancers, a specialized plant for aligners and we have a plant devoted to the manufacture of parts,” says Vezzani. The company will soon begin construction on a new plant that will build steel parts and frames for its machines. A company with a truly international reach, Corghi ships to more than 140 “Without“Without service equipment, new tire technology is basi-basi- countries, and has subsidiaries in Germany, cally worth nothing,” says Corghi’s Rolando Vezzani. “We have full-time peo- Mexico and China. In the United States, ple at each level who communicate with the tire manufacturers.” Akron, Ohio-based McCourt Industries Inc. Corghi May 20-24 in Bologna, Italy — are particu- is Corghi’s exclusive distributor. McCourt Few companies in any sector of the au- larly well-suited for servicing sophisticated offers comprehensive training courses on tomotive industry approach the high level tire and wheel packages designed for elite- all Corghi equipment. of craftsmanship and technology achieved level automobiles. Corghi has the distinction Company offi cials claim that innovation by Corghi. of being the sole equipment supplier to Fer- is Corghi’s “main product” and believe that Nestled in the heart of Italy’s automotive rari workshops, as well as Ferrari’s Formula a constant fl ow of new products will ensure equipment manufacturing center, Corghi One team, through its Ferrari Workshop its leadership position. has been the world’s largest producer of Equipment line. “What we’ve learned from Corghi recently introduced a new bal- wheel servicing equipment for more than Ferrari we have applied to our research ancer, the EM8470 Blue Light, which will 50 years. and development,” says make its North American The company’s go-to-market approach Vezzani. debut this month at the Spe- is based on trademark product quality and Corghi engineers cialty Equipment Market technological innovation found in its exten- also work closely Association Show in Las sive line of tire changers, wheel balancers, with tire manufactur- Vegas, Nev. The machine lifts, diagnostic equipment and other devices, ers like Bridgestone lights up the inside of the including the Artiglio Master tire changer, Corp., Goodyear Tire rim and uses Corghi’s “arti- the world’s fi rst truly super-automatic tire & Rubber Co., Groupe fi cial vision” technology to machine, which has become a staple in tire Michelin and & locate balancing planes and shops throughout the world. Cie SpA to develop tire position measuring sensors. Corghi’s full range of products has won changers and wheel It’s equipped with a high- Corghi ships its products to the approval of the globe’s largest automo- balancers. more than 140 countries, in- resolution touch screen tive groups, including Fiat, Ford, Toyota, Collaboration begins cluding the United States. monitor and a user inter- Renault, and others. “Every at the design stage and face that gives “real time” single automaker has its own specifi cations,” continues through the manufacturing pro- perception to the operator. says Rolando Vezzani, Corghi’s business cess and even beyond. Upon tiremakers’ “Everyone’s standards are higher than in development director. “Each piece of requests, Corghi has created machines to the past,” says Vezzani. equipment must meet what their engineers handle run-fl ats and other advanced tech- “You have to cover the complete range. specify.” nology products, such as ultra-low profi le/ You must offer a complete solution for the The company’s machines — which will ultra-wide rim diameter tire and wheel shop.” be displayed at Autopromotec 2009 on packages. (The current generation of the Continued on page 44

MTD NOVEMBER 2008 ADVERTORIAL 43

NNOV_41-49.inddOV_41-49.indd 4343 110/9/080/9/08 3:32:333:32:33 PPMM Continued from page 43 customers’ needs faster. We also are fully and development has resulted in a remark- involved in our Rapid Continuous Improve- able 800 active and pending patents within Snap-on Inc. ment (RCI) program,” which is similar to the U.S. and nearly 1,600 active and pending Snap-on Inc.’s world-class expertise in tire the “kaizen” programs employed by Toyota patents outside the U.S. changers, wheel balancers and other garage and other Japanese industrial leaders. “We New products from Snap-on include the equipment propelled the company to $2.8 have a fully engaged team that is responsible Prism, the world’s fi rst alignment system to billion in worldwide sales in 2007. for this program. RCI has increased our combine imaging alignment technology in Critical to Snap-on’s success and global productivity.” a portable package. Introduced to both the reputation as a technology leader is its Eu- The Correggio plant produces 12,000 U.S. and European markets this past sum- ropean Division, based in Correggio, Italy, tire changers, 6,000 wheel balancers and mer, the Prism contains cordless pods pow- in the heart of the country’s equipment 2,500 alignment machines each year. (About ered by lithium ion batteries, components manufacturing sector. 3,500 of those machines are shipped to the made of space-age lightweight magnesium Correggio hosts Snap-on Europe’s largest U.S. annually.) and wireless communication capabilities via research and development center, which Snap-on has long been an innovator in Bluetooth technology. serves as the launching pad for new Snap-on garage equipment. “We were the fi rst to The machine is assembled in Correggio technologies and products that are exported introduce 3-D technology on wheel align- and “has been extremely well-received. We to more than 80 countries, including Japan, ments and the fi rst to introduce lasers on are fi nding a lot of interest in shops currently France, the United Kingdom and the United wheel balancers,” says Della Rosa. “We try to using conventional alignment systems, as States, where Snap-on maintains a North differentiate our products through research the Prism can show dramatic time savings American sales and distribution offi ce in and development. For wheel balancers, elec- and can increase the types of vehicles they Conway, Ark. tronics are 80% of the operation.” can align.” The development of Snap-on’s core tech- The company’s garage equipment meets Snap-on will show off the Prism and other nology of tire changers and wheel balancers the ultra-stringent specifications of the cutting-edge equipment at Autopromotec — including electronics, measuring systems, world’s leading automobile manufactur- 2009, which will be held May 20-24 in Bo- transmission modules and turning plates — ers, including Mercedes, Ford, Volkswagen, logna, Italy. takes place in Correggio, where Snap-on also , Renault, Nissan, Daewoo, Honda and Snap-on believes that the supplier-cus- has a manufacturing plant that contains the others. Snap-on also collaborates with tire tomer relationship does not end at the point latest in production equipment and operates manufacturers like Groupe Michelin, Pirelli of sale. In the U.S., the company has its within a lean manufacturing framework to & Cie SpA, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. own service network that provides direct ensure maximum productivity. and others in the development and design support to clients in need. After-purchase “We try to minimize our working capital of its tire and wheel machines. “If there service “ensures productivity,” according to increase the speed of production while is a new tire technology, they make that to Della Rosa. “You can buy a low-cost being fl exible,” says Christian Della Rosa, technology available to us so we can work tire changer and save 50%, but if it breaks manager for business analysis for Snap- with them to fi nd a solution.” down and you don’t have service support, on’s European unit. “This helps us react to Snap-on’s relentless dedication to research you may lose valuable business.”

Development of Snap-on Inc.’s core technology of tire changers and Snap-on will display its new Prism align- wheel balancers — including electronics, measuring systems, transmis- ment system at Autopromotec 2009, which sion modules and turning plates — takes place in Correggio, Italy. will be held May 20-24 in Bologna, Italy. 44 ADVERTORIAL www.moderntiredealer.com

NNOV_41-49.inddOV_41-49.indd 4444 110/9/080/9/08 3:32:433:32:43 PPMM Ravaglioli SpA 1972, it developed the industry’s fi rst opti- Silvano Santi, is a former engineer, which At Ravaglioli SpA, one of the world’s cal wheel aligner, followed by four-post lifts makes him unique among garage equipment top-ranking garage equipment manu- for industrial vehicles, mobile column lifts, manufacturers. “He meets with customers facturers, quality is the most important pantograph lifts (which led to the develop- and he listens to customers,” says Moro. consideration. ment of scissor lifts), piston lifts and other “The man listening is the man who’s mak- “We believe the only way to win the game groundbreaking products. ing the decisions. This allows us to satisfy is to focus on quality,” says Ferdinando our customers’ needs and it translates into Moro, general sales director for the fi rm, competitive, intelligent products.” which has been manufacturing tire chang- Down the ladder, engineers and scientists ers, wheel balancers, vehicle lifts, wheel are grouped by product focus. “We have alignment systems and other machines an engineering department only for lift for discerning garage owners since 1958. equipment, we have engineers who only (Ravaglioli is recognized as Europe’s leading work on wheel balancers and tire changers, vehicle lift supplier with 55% of its total and we have a third department that only production dedicated to lifts.) works on electronics for balancers and other Ravaglioli manufactures all of its prod- machines.” ucts in Italy at four state-of-the-art plants Ravaglioli exports 80% of its production located in Bologna, Reggio Emilia, Ferrara to 130 countries and wants to strengthen and Turin. “Everything is made in-house,” its presence in the United States. Typically, says Moro. “We are a full-line producer.” Ravaglioli sells The company’s world-class production through strate- process is highly automated with machines gic distribution specifi cally designed for precision manufac- partners, an ap- turing. “This means low labor costs and proach that’s perfect production. Once you set a program, tailor-made the parts come out identical.” for the U.S. Ravaglioli designs all of its products at “The only way to win the game is to market. “We its own research and development centers. focus on quality,” says Moro. want to sell to Engineers work closely with wholesalers — tire manufacturers to design people we can machines that will match their train and sup- sophisticated specifi cations. port and who “We work hand-in-hand with can cover the tire manufacturers. We call Ravaglioli SpA’s produc- market.” them to check on what they tion process is highly au- The com- tomated with machines are producing and work with pany offers specifically engineered them to come up with a solu- for precision manufac- a wide range tion. They are the people who turing. The company de- of English make the orders so we listen signs all of its products language cus- to their needs.” at its own research and tomer support development facilities. The company also designs services and specifi c machines and devices products, in- for auto manufacturers. Made- cluding Internet-based modules, training to-order products include fi lms, pocket catalogs, brochures and other special lifting hoists for BMW and Mer- In 1995, Ravaglioli introduced its revo- items. Technicians and customer support cedes models. “BMW and Mercedes have lutionary “test lane” for checking brakes, staff speak fl uent English. the highest standards in the marketplace,” suspensions and other vehicle systems. In Ravaglioli understands what’s required to Moro notes. 1999, it rolled out its Total Drive portfolio do business in a large, diverse market like the Innovation and a focus on future technol- of wheel aligners, which use infrared and U.S. “Dimensionally, the U.S. is huge, but we ogy have been Ravaglioli trademarks since Bluetooth technology. also sell in the former Soviet Union, which is the company introduced the industry’s fi rst Ravaglioli invests a signifi cant portion of not that much smaller, and China.” Due to rotating bench for engines and transmissions its $200 million in yearly sales in research the growing complexity of tires, wheels and 50 years ago. and development. Last year, the company vehicles, “there is a great need for dedicated In the 1960s, the fi rm unveiled the world’s spent $16.5 million on R&D, an increase equipment.” Ravaglioli’s industry-leading fi rst four-post hydraulic lift, which was soon of nearly $8 million over its R&D invest- tire machines and other equipment will be followed by a two-post model. In the late ment in 2006. on display at the next Autopromotec, May 1960s, Ravaglioli launched an “electro- Ravaglioli’s commitment to research and 20-24 in Bologna, Italy. pneumatic” passenger tire changer. In technology starts at the top. Its president, Continued on page 46

MTD NOVEMBER 2008 ADVERTORIAL 45

NNOV_41-49.inddOV_41-49.indd 4545 110/9/080/9/08 3:32:503:32:50 PPMM Continued from page 45 fi nish, using parts made at its state-of-the-art tion about their machines, and other data. manufacturing facility in Florence, as well as Then there is another Web-based service, in FASEP components produced by carefully chosen, which the customer can insert what we call From humble beginnings, FASEP has industry-leading sub-suppliers. “We fully a ‘ticket’ and tell us his problem. Normally, evolved into a major global player in the design our machines’ mechanics, electronics this service offers an automated answer, so garage equipment industry, offering a and software.” most problems are solved immediately. If full line of tire changers, wheel balancers, FASEP produces up to 2,000 machines this doesn’t work, our service personnel aligners and other high-tech equipment to annually, fewer than some of its larger will step in and take the customer through tire dealers and garages in more than 50 competitors, but the company more than the process. We also have hotlines for our countries. holds its own in terms of technology and customers and our own traveling service innovation. “We work on fi ne-tuning our engineers who take care of end users and products every day.” others who look after education/training of In fact, FASEP’s technology is so highly service engineers at our distributors.” regarded within the garage equipment indus- Earlier this year, FASEP introduced two try that other companies have sought it out new balancers, the V585 and the V643 G2 for partnerships and off-take agreements. Maxima. The V585 contains a 17-inch “We have been manufacturing or simply LCD monitor, an eight-button key pad licensing our technology for companies in with icons, seven compartments for weights, Italy, Germany, Japan and Singapore for a a PC control unit with a USB port, and other long time.” (Since 2000, FASEP has been features. The V643 comes with many of the an ISO9000:2000 manufacturer.) same features, in addition to a pneumati- The company also has distinguished itself cally locked shaft with pedal control, six in terms of after-purchase service, offering fl ange holders, and a lower wheel guard. a myriad of options for customers. “We Both machines feature a safety cover with have a number of levels automatic start-stop functions. of service,” says Fabio. FASEP exports throughout FASEP’s tradition of innovation goes Europe, Asia, Africa and the back to 1969, when it was established Middle East, and recently made by Fulvio Boni (left, with Fabio Boni). its fi rst foray into the Western Hemisphere, selling in South FASEP’s tradition of innovation stretches America. “We’ve been talking back to 1969, when it was established by to a few companies in North Fulvio Boni, who currently runs the fi rm America and would like to talk along with his son, Fabio Boni. to more,” says Fabio. “We are FASEP’s fi rst product was an on- wheel looking for partners. balancer, which was completely unique for “I have seen a lot of products its time and represented the fi rst of many in the U.S. There is a huge range technological leaps for the for- of machines from a price point of ward-thinking company. In view and a quality point of view.” 1974, FASEP developed He believes FASEP’s selection is Italy’s first electronic a good match for such a highly wheel alignment ma- diverse market. “We have a wide chine and several years range of machines, starting from later, introduced the fi rst economy models up to models that wheel alignment system to can be sold for much more.” use a video monitor. In today’s complex, ever-chang- Today, FASEP’s catalog ing marketplace, FASEP recognizes that shows six different aligners “The fi rst for being a supplier simply isn’t suffi cient. The and nine balancing machines, non-Italian company prides itself on being a solutions- plus a variety of tire changers, customers provider for dealers and garage owners who lift tables and other items. The is Web-based. function under a wide range of operational company will display its wares The V643 G2 Maxima is one of two We have a and fi nancial parameters, and is eager to at Autopromotec 2009, which new, high-tech balancers introduced Web site re- work with customers on pricing and distri- earlier this year by FASEP. will take place May 20-24 in served for bution. “Despite the current exchange rate, Bologna, Italy. our custom- we have products that are very competitive Fabio says FASEP is one of only five ers, where they can fi nd software and data with (products made by) the premium mar- garage equipment companies in Italy that upgrades, manuals, tables of spare parts, ket leaders in the U.S. with top features at assembles all of its machines from start to exploded diagrams, technical informa- reasonable — even better — prices.”

46 ADVERTORIAL www.moderntiredealer.com

NNOV_41-49.inddOV_41-49.indd 4646 110/9/080/9/08 3:33:063:33:06 PPMM Other leaders many cases, by hand — at the company’s ers in different regions. It also maintains Italian technology and craftsmanship ex- ultra-modern plant in Maranello. Compo- top-level motorsports connections with the tend beyond manufacturers of tire changers, nents are crafted out of three metal alloys: Indy Car Series and other circuits. wheel balancers, aligners and other garage titanium, stainless steel and Inconel, a stain- Another major player in the racing/tuning equipment. Other companies — including less steel nickel alloy originally developed equipment market is , which is based parts fabricators and accessory suppliers for the aircraft industry. near Turin, Italy. Sabelt — which signed — also conform to the highest standards Tubi Style has an office in Pompano a joint venture agreement with of Italian workmanship. Beach, Fla., under the name Tubi Style Performance at the beginning of 2008 — Due to European Union regulations, “all North America. “If you don’t have a good manufactures harnesses, fi reproof suits and companies are required to defi ne the qual- name and product range, it’s impossible many other products related to the racing ity of the parts they offer to the European to sell in the U.S.,” says President Fausto fi eld, including carbon fi ber for Fer- aftermarket,” says Riccardo Buttafarro, Lettieri. The company wants new points of rari. (Its seats are standard on the Ferrari coordinator of the aftermarket components sale in the U.S. “In the high-end niche, we Scuderia model and will be original equip- group for ANFIA (the Italian Association are the industry leader.” ment on all new Ferrari models, including of the ). A number of Italian companies have risen the Ferrari California, which hits the U.S. Italian auto parts and accessory manu- to international prominence in the racing in 2009.) “All of our seats conform to U.S. facturers take quality very seriously, he and tuning accessory industries. OMP, which quality standards,” says Sales and Marketing notes. “After all, the European automotive is located in Ronco Scrivia (near Genoa), Manager Federico d’Ormea. Sabelt has an component industry was born in Italy.” manufactures and distributes tuning and offi ce in Mooresville, N.C., and is thinking One such fi rm that has built its remark- race car products like roll bars, seats, fi re- about establishing its own manufacturing able success on quality is exhaust system proof clothing, pedals and other items. center in the U.S. manufacturer Tubi Style Srl, which is based Most of OMP’s products are made in Vehicle telematics is a relatively young in- in Maranello, just down the road from the Italy. “This is our selling point,” says Ex- dustry, but Reggio Emilia, Italy-based Meta Ferrari factory. Tubi Style is the world’s ternal Relations Director Luigi Rossi. “Our System Group has been a segment leader leading provider of ultra-high performance wholesalers use it when they are selling to since the very start. Through its companies exhaust systems for Ferrari, Maserati, Lam- their customers. In all of our advertising Octo Telematics and Meta System, the group borghini, , , , and programs, it’s ‘Made in Italy.’” supplies telematic solutions to BMW. Audi RS Series, BMW M Series and other OMP exports 80% of its production, Meta System Group also produces the elite-level vehicles. It also has systems for including a sizeable amount to the U.S., Clear Box Telematic System, a device similar the Ford GT40 and the Corvette Z06. where it maintains a sales offi ce in Miami, to the black boxes found on commercial “We work with OEMs in special applica- Fla. “We’ve decided to invest more in the jets that can track vehicle operation and tions, designing and developing products to U.S.,” says Gabriele Pedone, who manages even provide drivers with real-time graphic their request.” the U.S. branch. In the U.S., OMP tailors its representations of traffi c conditions. Tubi Style products are fabricated — in distribution to the unique needs of custom- Continued on page 48

Tubi Style Srl (left) pro- vides high-performance exhaust systems. Many of the company’s ex- haust products are fabri- cated by hand. OMP (at right), manufactures and distributes racing and tuning accessory prod- ucts, including racing suits. It has a sales offi ce in Miami, Fla. MetaSys- tem Group — which supplies telematics solutions, se- curity alarms, door locking systems and other prod- ucts — is a leader in its fi eld and epit- omizes Italian technology.

MTD NOVEMBER 2008 ADVERTORIAL 47

NNOV_41-49.inddOV_41-49.indd 4747 110/9/080/9/08 3:33:173:33:17 PPMM Continued from page 47 sibilities of doing business in Italy. A lot not be deterred by the present value of the of people say, ‘If I decide to do business dollar versus the euro, Italy’s currency. Autopromotec 2009 in Europe, I’ll do business in France, Ger- “In Italy, there is a saying: ‘Spend less For an up-close look at Italian garage many or the United Kingdom.’ But when today, spend more tomorrow.’ If you choose equipment manufacturers and their galaxy you talk about equipment, when you talk to buy equipment from an Italian company, of industry-leading products, no venue is about automotive parts, you have to talk you’re not just buying the machine. You’re more ideal than Autopromotec, a biennial about Italy.” buying reliability, training and support. event that over the last 23 years has grown Tire dealers and garage owners who are You’re buying innovation and expertise. into the premier business-to-business inter- interested in doing business with Italian At the end of the day, quality is money,” national automotive trade show in the world. equipment and parts manufacturers should and quality is what Autopromotec 2009 (Autopromotec has achieved United promises to deliver. States trade fair certifi cation from the For more information about Autopro- U.S. Chamber of Commerce.) motec 2009, including how you can maxi- The 2009 edition of Autopromotec mize your investment in this exciting event, will take place May 20-24 in Bologna, contact The Italian Trade Commission’s Italy, in the heart of “The Italian Motor Chicago, Ill., offi ce at (312) 670-4360 or Valley” and promises to be a must-attend [email protected]. ■ event for any tire dealer or garage owner looking to equip his or her shop with the world’s most advanced tire changing and wheel balancing machinery. Nearly 100,000 attendees and exhibi- tors attended the most recent edition of Autopromotec, which was held in 2007. That number included nearly 17,000 non-Italian attendees representing 110 countries. On the supplier side, more than 1,400 companies — including fi rms from Europe, Asia and elsewhere — ex- hibited their wares at the 2007 show. Unlike other trade shows, Autopro- motec is designed by businesspeople for businesspeople, and is only open to tire “Autopromotec is strictly business-to-busi- and automotive industry professionals. ness,” says Servadei, the show’s director. The ultimate goal of the event is to bring buyers and sellers together in an environ- ment that’s easy to navigate and conducive to business transactions. “Autopromotec is highly organized,” says Renzo Servadei, the show’s managing director. “Our exhibitors are organized by busi- ness and product categories,” including tire changers, wheel balancers, vehicle lifts, tire repair materials, tire retread equipment and molds, pneumatic and power tools, alignment systems, and others. “If you want to look at other sections, you can, but our method of organization guarantees that you won’t waste your time. Autopromotec is strictly business- to-business.” More than 50% of all tire changers, wheel balancers and wheel aligners sold worldwide are manufactured in Italy, notes Servadei, and the manufacturers of those machines are eager to increase their business with American tire dealers and garage owners. NNearlyearly 100,000 visitors and exhibitors fromfrom 110 countries attended the most “A lot of people aren’t aware of the pos- recent edition of Autopromotec, which was held in 2007.

48 Quik-link: 800-687-1557 ext. 22126 www.moderntiredealer.com

NNOV_41-49.inddOV_41-49.indd 4848 110/9/080/9/08 3:33:333:33:33 PPMM Quik-link: 800-687-1557 ext. 22127

NNOV_41-49.inddOV_41-49.indd 4949 110/9/080/9/08 3:33:433:33:43 PPMM