Exhibiting at the SEMA Show and entering at least one product in the New Products Showcase puts your latest products in front of thousands of qualified buyers from every segment of the specialty-equipment industry. The best part: the first product you enter is free!

The New Products Showcase is considered by many media and buyers to be the No. 1 destination to discover what’s new at the SEMA Show.

Entry Fees:

• The first product entered in one category in the New Products Showcase is FREE!
•  Additional $75 per product category before October 7.
•  After October 7, the cost is $150 per entry.
•  No refunds provided after October 7.
•  Entries submitted on-site will be accepted on a space availability basis.

The New Products Showcase is considered by many media and buyers to be the No. 1 destination to discover what’s new at the SEMA Show. Even if a product does not qualify as “new,” exhibitors are able to enter it as a featured product and still attract eyeballs to the item. All submissions are also professionally photographed in a mock studio on a white seamless background. The photos are shared and used by media in SEMA Show coverage and are also available to exhibitors to use for marketing purposes.

Exhibitors may enter as many products into the Showcase as they would like, and because every exhibitor qualifies to submit one entry at no cost, there is absolutely no reason for an exhibitor not to participate. The free product entry is one example of how exhibiting at the SEMA Show delivers great ROI. SEMA Show organizers offer many programs and services targeted to small businesses. Dedicated account reps are available to help exhibitors navigate the process, and the SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit is a free, two-day workshop designed to teach exhibitors how to get the most out of the SEMA Show.

Enter your new products now!

For more information on New Products Showcase display guidelines, visit www.semashow.com/esm.

  Registration for the 2022 SEMA Show, the premier gathering for the automotive specialty-equipment industry, is now open at www.semashow.com/register.

Taking place November 1–4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the 2022 SEMA Show will build upon the positive momentum following last year’s event, which successfully connected the $47.8 billion industry in person in what was the largest automotive trade show in North America since the pandemic shut everything down in 2020.

“The SEMA Show is where industry professionals go to grow existing relationships, create new ones, and push their businesses forward,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “Exhibitors are eager to showcase their products and services to the tens of thousands of qualified professionals in attendance.”

Anticipation for this year's SEMA Show ramped up in recent weeks as exhibitors prepared to select their booth locations during Priority Space Selection, a weeks-long process taking place May 2–18 that will lay the foundation for this year’s floorplan. Access to the Priority Space Selection process is available at www.semashow.com, with floorplan updates happening every 10–15 minutes.

“Enthusiasm for the 2022 Show continues to exceed last year’s, with more than 1 million sq. ft. of exhibitor space already committed for the 2022 SEMA Show and confirmed spaces running 25% above last year,” said Warren Kosikov, SEMA vice president of sales.

Attendees at the 2022 SEMA Show will learn about the latest products, trends and technology in the industry from manufacturers exhibiting throughout the entire Las Vegas Convention Center, including the surrounding parking lots. Educational seminars led by industry experts and networking events that bring market niches together will also be available during the four-day trade event.

“Our industry continues to thrive despite current challenges in the marketplace, and last year’s event proved that the value of conducting business and networking face-to-face can never be replaced,” said Gattuso. “Our mission is to help continue that momentum by providing an unparalleled experience that builds meaningful business relationships.”

Registration for the 2022 SEMA Show is offered in three categories—attendee, exhibitor and media—and everyone must qualify to attend. Attendees are encouraged to register early at www.semashow.com/register so they can secure their credentials and receive updates on breaking news from the 2022 SEMA Show.

Attendees are encouraged to check the floorplan to see where the companies they need to interact with will be located at the 2022 SEMA Show.

For more information about qualifying documents and the 2022 SEMA Show, log on to www.semashow.com.

By SEMA Editors

Dates and locations have been scheduled for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

By SEMA Editors

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.

Motorsports Technician
Canepa is seeking a motorsports technician who is quality minded, hardworking and dedicated to providing the highest level of service in the industry. Applicants must have a broad knowledge base of all mechanical aspects of a vehicle, from suspension and brakes to engine and transmission, and must be highly versatile with superior skills and be able to produce work of the highest quality. Candidates should have exceptional diagnostic ability along with race preparation experience and be able to work individually as well as part of a multifunctional team.

Marketing Coordinator
MAHLE Motorsport is hiring a marketing coordinator to define and execute the company’s marketing strategy and objectives to continually promote and build the MAHLE Motorsport brand. As a direct partner to sales, activities will be coordinated to facilitate the achievement of annual targets and goals. Candidates must have an associates degree from college or technical school and three to five years’ related experience and/or training or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Assistant Sales Manager
4 Wheel Parts is hiring an assistant sales manager to assist customers with product inquiries and sales, meet weekly and monthly sales objectives, pitch monthly sales promotions and assist in inventory control and stocking. Candidates must have consumer sales experience in a retail environment.

The Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF) has announced the passing of Don Schlenger, the co-founder of the AACF and Chairman Emeritus. He passed peacefully at his home in Palm Beach, Florida, on May, 15. Although retired, Schlenger stayed involved with the foundation right up until his 101st birthday on May 9 of this year.

“Don was the heart and soul of the Foundation,” said Larry Magee, president of AACF.  “He continued to check in by phone at our board meetings and with individuals on the board even after he was not able to travel.”

Schlenger served as a captain in the Air Force during WWII. After the war, he joined the family auto-parts business, eventually becoming president and CEO. Through several acquisitions, he grew it into one of the largest auto-parts retailers in the Northeast at that time. He sold the business in 1988.

AACF Executive Director Joel Ayres added, “Don would call me at least once a month to catch up with the operations and offer his advice. Though his body was starting to fail, his mind was as sharp as ever. We will miss his wisdom and dedication to this organization that he loved.”

For more information, contact Ayres at Joel@AftermarketCharity.org.

By Ashley Reyes

Some form of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) is included in every new vehicle today. It’s impossible to avoid. Aftermarket businesses, including product manufacturers, installers, engineers and restylers will need to know how modifications will affect the system’s original functionally.  

How ADAS and automated vehicles sense their environment.

Knowing what guidelines and procedures to take is critical to ensuring proper recalibration and test protocols. SEMA members are invited to join the webinar “Modding Vehicles With ADAS” on Wednesday, June 15, at 11:00 a.m. (PDT), to learn how to avoid the possibility of malfunctioning systems after upgrading a vehicle with aftermarket equipment.

Nick Dominato, senior vice president of product at asTech, will share:    

• Challenges and best practices when modifying ADAS-equipped vehicles.
• Types of modifications that require recalibration. 
• Calibration procedures for different make vehicles.
• The difference between dynamic vs. static calibrations.
• Resources and tools available. 

As ADAS expands its footprint, it is critical for aftermarket companies to stay ahead and be prepared for the future. Learn more and register here.  

By Ashley Reyes

Automotive aftermarket engineers and product developers are invited to join the SEMA Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN) for an upcoming webinar, where participants will improve their understanding of diesel aftertreatment and how it relates to product design, system development and environmental compliance.

“Diesel Engine Emissions and Aftertreatment Systems” takes place on May 31, at 1:00 p.m. (PDT), and includes a high-level system overview and deep dive into the details of component performance.

Attendees will hear Dr. Andrea Strzelec, Director Master of Engineering in Engine Systems (MEES) and Polymer Engineering (MEPE) programs, College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin, as she shares:

• Regulatory drivers for emissions control. 
• A description of emissions formation in diesel engines. 
• An overview of functions of the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC), Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) aftertreatment devices. 

Dr. Strzelec will answer participant questions live. Learn more and register here. 

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

U.S. Representative Darren Soto (D-FL) joined SEMA for the Formula DRIFT event in Orlando, Florida, last weekend. In addition to watching Pro Series drivers qualify, Ryan Sage, president of Formula DRIFT, led the congressman on a tour of the event that included meetings with racers, exhibiting businesses from Florida, and members of the U.S. Air Force. Rep. Soto met with representatives from BC Racing, Drift HQ, and LZMFG along with ProSpec driver Richard Advani and the race team for ProSeries driver Dan Burkett.

U.S. Representative Darren Soto (D-FL) [center] joined SEMA for the Formula DRIFT event in Orlando, Florida, last weekend.

Rep. Soto was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016 to represent Florida’s 9th Congressional District, which includes all of Osceola and parts of Orange and Polk Counties. The Congressman has been a strong advocate for the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act (RPM Act), using his positing on the powerful House Energy & Commerce Committee to advocate for the bill’s passage. Rep. Soto is the proud owner of an ’11 Ford Mustang. Prior to running for office, the congressman practiced family law, civil litigation and real-estate law in Central Florida. He served in the Florida House of Representatives (2006 to 2008) and the Florida Senate until he was elected to Congress in 2016. Rep. Soto is running for a fourth term in the House in November.

The RPM Act must be enacted into law to guarantee your right to modify street cars, trucks and motorcycles into dedicated race vehicles, and ensure that the industry can offer parts that enable racers to compete. Lawmakers must continue to be reminded of the importance of passing the RPM Act, as we need your help now more than ever.

Below is a list of things you can do right now to help to pass the RPM Act:

• Call or send a letter to your lawmakers at saveourracecars.com. A letter has already been drafted. It takes less than a minute.
• Invite your lawmakers to tour your business or attend a race—email erics@sema.org to coordinate the invitation.
• Post about the RPM Act on your company’s social media accounts using the toolkit of digital assets or pass out a flyer at your business of events.
• Become a member of SEMA and learn more about SEMA’s Political Action Committee (SEMA PAC). SEMA PAC allows SEMA members to support the lawmakers that stand up for our industry in Washington.

For additional information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) did not complete the regulatory process for its proposed amendments to the Proposition 65 short-form warning within the allotted time and has allowed the rulemaking to lapse.

OEHHA has stated it intends to start the regulatory process again with a new proposal to update the short-form warning label and will consider the comments on the previous proposal into this process. SEMA submitted comments opposing the initial proposal and the subsequent modifications, as the new regulations would have mandated that at least one chemical associated with cancer and/or one chemical known to be a carcinogen be identified on the short form.

Prop 65 was a ballot initiative enacted by California voters in 1986. It requires warning labels on products containing chemicals listed as known to cause cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm. There are more than 1,100 chemicals currently on the list. Prop 65 does not stop businesses from selling their products regardless of what chemicals they contain. It simply requires consumer warning labels under certain circumstances. The current short-form warning does not identify a specific chemical(s) while the long-form warning requires identification of a specific chemical(s).

The business community worked with OEHHA to develop the current 2018 short-form warning option as an acceptable alternative to the revised requirements for consumer product exposure warnings. Many companies use this option since the warning fits more easily on product packaging and in advertising materials and the company does not have to identify at least one chemical listed under Prop 65 that triggers the warning.

OEHHA had expressed concerns about an overuse of the short-form warning. The revisions OEHHA was pursuing would have required companies to update product labels, websites, and catalogs and instruct others downstream in the product chain about their Prop 65 obligations.

OEHHA’s notice can be found here.

Additional information on Prop 65 can be found here.

For more information, contact Caroline Fletcher at carolinef@sema.org.

ATC Breaks Ground on New HQ Facility

ATC has broken ground on its new 221,000 sq.-ft. facility in Nappanee, Indiana.

Aluminum Trailer Company (ATC), the trailer and RV manufacturer based in Nappanee, Indiana, has broken ground on its new 221,000 sq.-ft. facility. The building, still located in Nappanee, will serve as the company’s new headquarters and RV division. A ceremony for the new facility was attended by ATC CEO Robert Paden, Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, Nappanee Mayor Phil Jenkins and representatives from Yoder Construction, which will oversee construction.

With about 440 current employees, the new facility will create the need for 150 to 200 employees. The announcement aligns with the company’s plans to shift from all-custom to ready-made and configurable trailers and RVs. For more information, visit atctrailers.com.

Melling Acquires Sigma Engineering

Based in Jackson, Michigan, Melling Engine Parts has announced the acquisition of Sigma Engineering, a developer and manufacturer of rocker arms and shafts located in Pontiac, Michigan. The announcement marks Melling’s second acquisition of manufacturing companies in recent months, following its acquisition of Casalandra Metal Stamping in late April. Sigma has supplied key automotive aftermarket customers with private-label products for 26 years. Sigma Engineering owner Arshad Suri will remain with Melling to help design and develop new valvetrain products. For more information, visit melling.com.

Anita Sehgal Elected to Holley Board of Directors

Holley has announced that Anita Sehgal has been elected to the Holley board of directors at the company’s annual meeting of shareholders. Sehgal currently serves as the senior vice president of marketing and communications for Major League Baseball’s Houston Astros. She also serves on the boards of Escalade—a sporting-goods, fitness and recreation equipment manufacturer based in Evansville, Indiana, and Reitman’s Canada—a publicly traded Canadian retailing company specializing in women’s clothing. Sehgal replaces Gina Bianchini, who did not seek re-election to the board this year. 

Lincoln Electric Announces Executive Additions, Promotion

Lincoln Electric Holdings, based in Cleveland, has announced Steven B. Hedlund has been promoted to COO. He has served on the Lincoln Electric executive management team since 2008 and most recently was executive vice president/president of domestic and international welding segments. Hedlund will continue to lead the welding segments’ “Higher Standard 2025” sustainability initiative, designed to advance growth and enhance margin and return performance. He will also be responsible for Lincoln Electric’s Harris Products Group (HPG) segment.

In addition, Lisa A. Dietrich has been named as executive vice president/chief information officer. She will oversee the company’s information technology systems, cybersecurity, and global IT initiatives. She most recently held an executive role at American Greetings Corp., where she led initiatives to leverage new digital platforms and re-design processes and IT systems.

Michelle N. Butler, meantime, has been appointed vice president of Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) & Sustainability. In this new role, Butler will oversee EHS & Sustainability in an effort to advance safety, health, incident and accident prevention, regulatory compliance, and environmental management performance. She will also serve as a key member of Lincoln Electric’s Executive Sustainability Leadership Committee, which will oversee environmental, social, and governance initiatives. Butler most recently served as the director of Sustainability at Wabtec Corporation, where she led its EHS efforts in the US.

For more information, visit lincolnelectric.com. 

Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA News. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.