NASHVILLE, TN — The National Automotive Radiator Service Association (NARSA) has forged an agreement with the sponsoring associations of Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) for the establishment of a new Heat Transfer & Mobile A/C Section at the 2004 AAPEX show.

Based in East Greenville, Pa., NARSA, is a worldwide, non-profit trade association providing educational, technical, safety and marketing programs for more than 20,000 individuals and firms employed in the engine cooling and heat transfer industry. The announcement was made today at the 51st Annual NARSA Convention & Tradeshow in Nashville, Tenn.

AAPEX will take place Tuesday, Nov. 2, through Friday, Nov. 5, 2004, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas. The new 15,000-square-foot section for exhibitors of heat transfer and mobile air conditioning products will be located on the lobby level of the Sands Expo Center.

Mike Dwyer, CAE, NARSA’s executive director, called this a historic day for NARSA members.

“In recent years, many industry groups have recognized the advantages of holding their annual meetings in conjunction with AAPEX, and NARSA is incredibly proud to now be included amongst this elite group,” said Dwyer. “NARSA’s volunteer leaders recognize the desire on the part of our Associate members to streamline many of their tradeshow related costs, and this partnership with AAPEX will help us to help them with this stated goal. At the same time, we have a critical need to preserve the culture of our Annual Convention and continue to provide the type of training, educational programs and outstanding networking opportunities for the heat transfer and mobile air conditioning service professional for which NARSA has been known over our 51-year history.”

NARSA will holds its annual convention over the weekend just prior to the opening of the AAPEX tradeshow.

“NARSA’s decision to join AAPEX this year will add value and energy to what has become North America’s largest trade-only show,” said Kathleen Schmatz, AAIA’s president and CEO. “This further demonstrates to the aftermarket industry the desire by trade associations to deliver on sensible trade show consolidation so companies will benefit from economies of scale.”

MEMA President and CEO Chris Bates called the agreement a “win-win” situation for NARSA members, AAPEX buyers and exhibitors, and Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week overall.”

“This agreement is the latest step in the consolidation of industry events which provides increased value for all attendees and opens the AAPEX Show to a broader audience of manufacturers, buyers and service professionals,” said Bates. “We will continue to look for ways to consolidate events and grow AAPEX which will increase the overall AAPEX value proposition.”

To learn more about NARSA, go to: www.narsa.org.

For more information about AAPEX, visit: www.AAPEXShow.com.

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