Latin American & Caribbean Tire Expo increases space by 60%

The Latin American & Caribbean Tyre Expo 2012 has reported an increase in its exhibitor list by 60 per cent, with the addition of two new halls to the existing space at the Atlapa Convention Center in Panama. The four-day show and conference will celebrate its third anniversary when it opens on July 25, 2012, with over 160 exhibitors signed up thus far, including Bridgestone, Triangle, Double Coin, JK Tornel, Titan International, CEAT, and “platinum sponsor”, Sailun Tire. “Our vision is to bring global manufacturers and suppliers directly to the Latin markets and to get the Latin dealers to those manufacturers in a familiar venue,” said show director, Linda Bassitt.

Bassitt says the Panama location is a venue strategically suited to presenting products to the Latin markets, as well as being comfortable and economical. It is accessible to tyre distributors from Central America, South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and the Expo describes the country as business friendly, with many tourist destinations.

The Expo has also attracted a variety of speakers, including Alliance Tires president Manny Cicero from the US; Heriberto Romero, director general of Hules Banda from Mexico; Sylvia Alfaro environmental manager at Bridgestone, based in Costa Rica; Robert Sherkin, president of Dynamic Tire, Canada; executive director of Rubber Asia, John Powath; and David Stevens, managing director of the Tire Retread and Repair Information Bureau, Canada. 

More than 2,100 tyre dealers from over 50 countries visited the 2011 edition of the show, and Bassitt is confidently predicting a substantial increase this year, having increased exhibitor space on additional demand. Registration to the show is free, while COPA Airlines is providing airfare discounts. Area hotels, including Trump Ocean and the Sheraton, have also partnered with the Expo.