Las Vegas Charity Receives Nearly 130 Auto Toys from AAPEX Display

ORLAND PARK, IL – Dec. 19, 2011 – Nearly 130 automotive toys were donated to the Las Vegas Dream Center after being featured in the new “Where the Love Affair Begins” exhibit at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) 2011 held in November in Las Vegas. 

The Las Vegas Dream Center exists to bring hope to the unemployed, underemployed, homeless and destitute of Las Vegas.

The AAPEX “Where the Love Affair Begins” exhibit was organized by the Toy Industry Association™ Inc. (TIA) and included a wide variety of automotive toys, such as matchbox cars, remote-control (RC) vehicles, ride-ons and more. Attendees were able to stroll down memory lane and, at the same time, get a glimpse of today’s hottest car-related innovations in toys. The overall goal was to highlight the inspirational value of toys and recognize the tie-in between a favorite childhood toy or game and adult vocations or hobbies.

TIA represents the producers and importers of toys and youth entertainment products sold in North America.

AAPEX represents the $395 billion global motor vehicle aftermarket. 

AAPEX 2012 will take place Tuesday, Oct. 30 through Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nev. 

AAPEX represents the $395 billion global motor vehicle aftermarket and is jointly sponsored by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) and the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). For more information, please visit www.aapexshow.com or e-mail info@aapexshow.com.

Six Companies Win New Packaging Awards at AAPEX

ORLAND PARK, IL – Dec. 13, 2011 – Six companies won top honors for excellence in packaging design during the 2011 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) held in November in Las Vegas.

The AAPEX 2011 New Packaging Showcase entries were submitted in five categories and the winners are:

• Economics: Sylvania, SilverStar® zXe High Performance Headlights

• Innovation: Gates Corporation, Micro-V AT® with QR code

• Marketing (tie):

• Security Equipment Corp., SABRE pink key ring pepper spray supporting the National Breast Cancer Foundation
• Hopkins Manufacturing Corp., Hopkins Towing Solutions

• Performance: Spectra Premium Industries, The Premium Choice Radiator Box

• Protection: Airtex Products, LP, Airtex Air Cell

The Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) developed the standards for judging, and Ben Miyares of The Packaging Management Institute (PMI) led this year’s judging. Entries were evaluated for their ability to innovatively, cost effectively and sustainably protect, identify and merchandise products.



PMI and IoPP continue their partnership with AAPEX sponsoring organizations to ensure the AAPEX New Packaging Showcase reflects the highest standards of design. Extensive enhancements have been made to the New Packaging Showcase over the past two years as a result of the partnership, including adding category divisions to highlight features of the package, online judging and the expanded onsite showcase display.


AAPEX 2012 will take place Tuesday, Oct. 30, through Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nev.


AAPEX represents the $395 billion global motor vehicle aftermarket and is jointly sponsored by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) and the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). For more information, please visit www.aapexshow.com or e-mail info@aapexshow.com.

AAPEX Organizers See Growth in Participation from Target Buyers

ORLAND PARK, Ill. – Participation at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) 2011 in key target buyer categories – auto parts retailers, independent repair garages, program groups and warehouse distributors (WDs) – increased significantly compared to 2010, according to event owner associations Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) and Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). AAPEX 2011 was held Nov. 1-3 at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas.

Event organizers say auto parts retailer attendance increased 24 percent, while the number of independent repair garages was up 38.5 percent. Attendance by program groups increased 60 percent over last year, largely due to the pre-AAPEX marketing efforts of the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA). WDs participation was up 15.25 percent.

In addition to these AAPEX target buyer categories, participation also increased in many of the other 49 buyer categories tracked for the event, show owners reported.

Overall, buyer attendance during Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW), which includes both AAPEX and the SEMA show, increased by 17 percent over 2010.

AAPEX 2011 had 2,292 exhibitors, 230 more than in 2010. Both floors of the Sands Expo Center were filled with a total of 4,984 booths, 540 more than in 2010.

AAPEX 2012 will take place Tuesday, Oct. 30 through Thursday, Nov. 1 at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas. For more information, visit www.aapexshow.com.