The theme of the 4th Annual Midwest Auto Body Trade Show is "The Future is Now." The show will be held Thursday, March 20 at Prairie Meadows, 1 Prairie Meadows Drive, Altoona, Iowa.
The highlight of the show will be a video presentation webinar of the new Ford F-150 pickup with a body that is 95 percent high-strength aluminum while the frame is 77 percent high-strength steel. Ford Motor Company's powertrain and collision product marketing manager, Paul Massie, will be presenting information on the high-strength, military grade aluminum alloy included in the 2015 F-150, and conducting a Q & A session following the presentation.
A cornerstone of this event is the popular, "There is No Free Lunch" program with several guests presenting. Iowa Senator Brad Zaun and ICRA lobbyist Scott Weiser, will bring the collision industry up to date on this year’s legislative activities. Pete Tagliapietra of NuGen IT, will moderate an "Insurer Mandate – Parts Procurement" panel discussion and will close the luncheon with a presentation, "Information Technology and the Future of Collision Repair". "This critical information is something our colleagues will only receive in this forum," John Arnold of Arnold's Body Shop in Davenport, Iowa and Vice President of the ICRA states. "There is tremendous value in what is happening here."
The trade show floor opens directly after the luncheon to over 65 vendor display booths and "Training in the Round" where free education will take place on the trade show floor. In addition, I-CAR’s New Technology
2014 starts the day at 8:30. Show specials, gift certificates, special show discounts and door prizes will be offered during the show, along with a display of new car models.
The 4th Annual Midwest Auto Body Trade Show is a free inter-industry event, inviting collision repairers, insurers, manufacturers, vendors, recyclers, OEM’s and students from the Midwest to participate.
"This is the largest and best Midwest show yet," says trade show chairman, Dick Merron of Iowa Auto Rebuilders in Waterloo, Iowa. "We are proud to bring this high-level education, training and networking to the collision industry. We have to be prepared for what is coming, and now is the time to do it."
For a schedule and register for “There Is No Free Lunch," please go to www.iowacra.com. Prairie Meadows is offering attendees a special discount on accommodations until March 10th, simply mention code 031920141W when booking your reservation. For further information, call Janet Chaney at 480.720.2565.
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