For many people, the end of the year represents family get-togethers, the holidays, and New Year's, all rolled into one. You may indulge in too many sweets or adult beverages during this time, and think about joining your local gym to work those extra pounds off afterward.
For the editors of Professional Tool & Equipment News/Professional Distributor, we finally got our tradeshow legs back after attending three shows in two cities. After a couple of years of light attendance for in-person events, 2022 marked a turning point of returning to normal (at least a new normal).
SEMA and AAPEX got the lion's share of attention in early November, with "Automotive Industry Week" running from Nov. 1 - 4. While attendance was not quite up to pre-pandemic levels, organizers estimated that it was more than 90 percent back to what it was before 2020.
SEMA is the big draw as the granddaddy of all automotive tradeshows, but AAPEX was also solid, with attendance being much better than the previous year. The addition of a garage atmosphere on the first floor was an improvement to the overall experience for showgoers who were there to see demos and learn from industry experts.
The prevailing theme of both shows was new technology, with ADAS getting a lot of attention and a dedicated area at SEMA, and plenty of demonstration and explanation in the garage at AAPEX. EVs were also a hot topic at both shows. SEMA expanded the EV area, and AAPEX also had highly visible EV displays and products.
Tools and new products were abundant and highlighted in special sections for showgoers to explore. Notably, tools for new technology vehicles were front and center in the displays.
The final show we attended was a new one for us. The Electrify Expo in Austin, Texas, held an Industry Day where we spoke about the challenges and opportunities for shops gearing up for servicing EVs.
It certainly seemed like the industry was back to normal this year. And our legs and feet confirmed it.
