Automotive Service & Repair Week (ASRW) 2010 will take place Oct. 11-13 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas as a stand-alone event, no longer during Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW), which includes the SEMA and AAPEX shows.

2010 marks the third annual ASRW, which features the International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) for collision repairers; the Congress of Automotive Repair & Service (CARS) for auto service professionals; and Auto Glass Week for automotive glass professionals. All three shows are sponsored by the Automotive Service Association (ASA), which made the decision to cut ties with AAIW and the SEMA show. ASA said more industry segments might join under the ASRW umbrella.

“ASA is very pleased that our plans to produce a dedicated event for all automotive service and repair professionals, regardless of their industry affiliations, business models, specialties, or disciplines, have finally come to fruition,” says Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief staff executive. “At ASRW, the shop owner and the technician are welcomed, respected and listened to, because they are the decision-makers.

“Regardless of which segment of the service and repair market they serve, they are the front-line troops that install the parts, utilize the tools and equipment, and take advantage of the information and training that the industry provides. Our mission is to make ASRW the only destination necessary to address the needs of the professional service and repair community.”

The relationship between ASRW and the SEMA show has been on the decline for several years and reached a new low this year when SEMA launched a paint, body and equipment section to its show, which runs during the NACE show. The two shows have run concurrently for five years. Paint and body exhibitors are a pillar at the NACE show. The financial strength of a trade show is primarily determined by the number of exhibitors, who pay steep fees to show their products and services.

The new SEMA section was created to feature manufacturers of vehicle paint, prep stations, paint booths, body work, frame machines, spray guns and safety/filtration/breathing apparatus. It also had related accessories, equipment, systems, coating/refinishing products, services and publications.

“When SEMA said they wanted to partner with NACE we didn’t realize it meant they wanted to steal our exhibitors,” Pyle said during an interview at the end of the NACE Show. “The PB&E section at SEMA was unacceptable. How would SEMA like it if we were to create a tire and wheel section at NACE?”

The relationship between NACE and SEMA was in decline before this year, according to Pyle. Badges purchased by attendees years ago for either show were supposed to be good for admission at both shows, but SEMA stopped honoring the NACE badges, he said. Also, a bus that was to transport show attendees between the two shows ran only one way – to SEMA.

ASRW 2009 finished with a total of 21,227 industry professionals representing the collision, mechanical and auto glass segments of the industry. Attendance was down about 8 percent from ASRW 2008, according to information provided during a press conference at the end of NACE. ASRW 2009 exhibits finished at 90,300 total net square feet, including NACE, CARS and auto glass — plus an additional 37,200 net square feet of demo, theater and attraction space – totaling 127,500 net square feet. Show managers said booth space was down 15 percent at ASRW 2009 from ASRW 2008.

ASRW 2010 educational programs are scheduled Oct. 10-13, Sunday through Wednesday, and exhibits will be open from Oct. 11-13, Monday through Wednesday.

NACE, the international collision repair event, annually draws about 20,000-plus industry professionals from around the globe, featuring a comprehensive educational conference and exposition of 300-plus exhibiting companies. For more information, visit www.NACEexpo.com.

CARS, the automotive service professionals event, projects an estimated attendance of 2,000-plus industry professionals, features a comprehensive educational conference and exposition of 40-plus exhibiting companies. For more information, visit www.CARSevent.com.

Auto Glass Week, an event featuring four host groups dedicated to delivering education and exhibits intent on advancing the growth and recognition of automotive glass service and repair professionals. For more information, visit www.autoglassweek.com.

ASRW, NACE and CARS are produced by Hanley Wood Exhibitions.