Brityrex organiser ECI International has thanked exhibitors and visitors for their support in hosting a highly successful exhibition at EventCity Manchester last week.
ECI managing director Paul Farrant says: “We were delighted with the positive feedback received from the show, particularly comments relating to the quality of visitors and the facilities at our new venue, EventCity. “We are very grateful for the support and backing of all our exhibitors and the many members of the UK and international trade that took the time to visit the show. With their continued encouragement and involvement we look forward to building on the success of Brityrex 2012 when the show returns to EventCity, Manchester in two years’ time.”
Commenting on visitor figures which showed a healthy 5% increase to 2435 visitors compared to the 2010 exhibition, Farrant says: “The fact that more people came to Brityrex this year is extremely encouraging, especially at a time when days spent away from the business have to be carefully considered. We are confident that the investment made by exhibitors will be rewarded by new business contacts, a better understanding of subjects like tyre labelling and TPMS legislation and the benefits of networking with like-minded professionals.”
Richard Edy, director of show sponsor the NTDA, commented: “Brityrex is a well-established focal point for the tyre industry and proved to be a real success for the association. The move to a new venue in EventCity worked extremely well and our annual dinner and TAFF Awards were a sell-out event, attracting over 500 guests and raising over £10,000 for BEN. “We were delighted that the TyreTalk seminars, trialled for the first time at the show, proved to be so popular and well attended, which I’m sure will set a precedent for future events.”
Selected highlights from the three-day exhibition included:
• The NTDA annual dinner, which raised more than £10,000 for motor industry charity BEN, a figure which includes an auction bid of £6,000 for a luxury trip to Dubai sponsored by the Al Dobowi Group.
• First-time Brityrex exhibitor Michelin Training Centre, used the show to promote its wide range of technical and management training courses, which are available to all tyre businesses, irrespective of whether they hold a Michelin account. “We work with all levels of the industry from one-man start-ups to major national companies,” says MTC training manager Charly Bailey. Courses cover all aspects of practical technical training through to telephone selling, business to business and management development modules.
• David Wilson, director of the Retread Manufacturers Association, pointing to signs of a recovery in the UK car retread market. Speaking at the TyreTalk seminar on retreading, Wilson identified an improved climate of opportunities for passenger retreads. “A combination of economic and market factors means there is a more optimistic outlook for the sector than there has been for some time. It’s also extremely encouraging to see such a healthy presence of retreaders exhibiting at this year’s Brityrex.”
• Creating a talking point in the EventCity foyer was Acorn Motorsport’s new 2013 season Drift car, sponsored by Infinity. The custom made 550HP engine car aims to follow up a highly successful 2012 season for the team in which its drivers finished second and third in their classes and fourth in the constructors championship.
• Chinese tyre maker Aeolus, which launched two new retreadable truck tyres at Brityrex. The ASR 69 steer axle and ADR 69 drive axle tyre in 295/80 R 22.5 and 315/80 R22.5 for regional fleets, have wider tread areas offering improved regrooving and retreading opportunities. Aeolus TBR tyres are distributed exclusively in the UK by Kings Road Tyres.
• Graham Willson of the Tyre Industry Federation told delegates that meeting the requirements of the new tyre labelling legislation had been a burden for tyre manufacturers, but also offers opportunities for retailers to have an ‘extended dialogue with their customers.’ Presenting a tyre labelling module at Brityrex, Willson said: “Tyre labelling will help retailers move their dialogue with customers on from a price-based conversation to added value opportunities.” Visit www.tyreindustryfederation.co.uk to view the TIF leaflet explaining the changes.
• On the Infinity stand, the new Ecosis and Ecomax car tyres made their debut while the Eternity private brand was previewed ahead of its launch next year. 50 passenger car sizes and a truck range will be included.
• Bond International, the UK distributor of Infinty and Marshall, featured new marketing and loyalty programmes for both brands, while its Grand Prix simulators proved to be extremely popular with show visitors.
About ECI International: ECI International is a privately owned exhibition business. In addition to Brityrex International 2012 the company is the owner and organiser of Tyrexpo Asia, Singapore (March 2013), Tyrexpo India, Chennai (July 2013) and Tyrexpo Africa in Johannesburg (March 2014). For more information, go to www.eci-international.com.
Media contacts:
Rowena Suthers
Sales Director
ECI International Ltd
T: + 44 (0) 1892 863888
E: eci.intl@btconnect.com
Or
Mark Harrison
Harrisons PR
T: + 44 (0) 1295 690 003
M: + 44 (0) 7776 182 506
E: harrisons@ndirect.co.uk