Since 1947, The Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI) has been meeting with automakers in order to fulfill one of its most important goals: to provide ETI member companies an ongoing stream of current and advanced specialized technological information through planned, cooperative dialog with vehicle manufacturers.

For the past 36 years, one of the ways ETI has been meeting this goal is by conducting formal workshops held once a year with each automobile manufacturer. These meetings have been grouped together, where possible, into week-long sessions known as Tech Weeks.

Tech Week started as a joint venture between ETI and automakers in the early 1980s.  Automakers recognized the need for a forum to communicate new information and tool requirements to the manufacturers of tools and equipment that are used to service their vehicles. The main focus of Tech Week is to ensure that the proper tools, equipment and information are in the shops by the time the new models hit the streets.

ETI member engineers and product managers meet with key individuals from automakers to discuss new systems and the tools and equipment that will be needed to service them.

Many member companies maintain that these meetings are just as important as the data that is provided by ETI through the TEK-NET Library. Tech Weeks are the best time to ask the automakers questions about the data they provide and learn about new models and systems, according to the event organizers. It also is the venue to find out what new safety features and procedures as well as what ecological requirements are recommended by each automaker, so ETI members can implement these features into their tools and equipment when necessary.

This year, ETI’s summer Tech Week is meeting with FCA, Ford and VW Audi at their facilities.  Companies must be a full member of ETI to participate. Membership information can be found here.