International Dealer News IDN 142 April/May 2018 | Page 24

Words by Robin Bradley
arts Europe’s Le Mans
Corporation sister company in
the United States, Parts
Unlimited, staged its latest
Dealer Expo at the
Indianapolis home of the original Dealer
Expo in February, and quite an event it
proved to be.
The company reported that it was the “most
successful NVP and Product Expo in 20
years” with a record dealer attendance and
impressive turn-out of exhibiting vendors.
Following two days of sales training from
several of the leading vendors in the
industry, the show opened to dealers and
reps on Saturday, February 10th. “The entire
event was fantastic,” reported Jeff Derge,
Vice President of Sales. “There was a
tremendous amount of enthusiasm from
vendors, reps and dealers from the minute
P
Pictures by Sara Viney
the show opened. It was a very positive way
to kick-start the 2018 season!”
Dealer attendance on both days at the
Product Expo was the highest of all past NVP
shows. The dealer seminars offered Saturday
and Sunday morning were crowded with
dealers interested in new products and in-
depth training from new vendors.
During the Expo hours, dealers were excited
to meet and talk with the knowledgeable
staff of the many companies represented.
Many famous racers were also in attendance
and mixed with the crowd.
Mike Collins, President and CEO, summed up
the success of the event saying: “This was a
great event. The quality and number of
vendors and dealers was impressive. Our
reps were ver y excited about our new
products and programmes. It’s the first step
to a successful year for us, our dealers and
hopefully for the entire industry.”
From an international perspective, the
number of European brands represented
there was more than we here at
International Dealer News had ever seen at a
Parts Unlimited Dealer Expo, with businesses
in attendance such as Supersprox,
Alpinestars, DP Brakes and Clutches,
TecMate/OptiMate, Avon Tyres, Acerbis,
Akrapovic, Sunstar/Braking, Continental Tire,
D.I.D., EBC Brakes, GIVI, HiFloFiltro, Magura,
Metzeler/Pirelli, Michelin, MotoMaster,
Motul, Muc-Off, Neken, Pro Grip, Regina
chain, S100, Twin Air, TMV and UFO Plast.
Here we present a selection of company and
product news from international vendors
who sell to dealers in America through Parts
Unlimited, some of which are available here
in Europe through ‘sister company’
Parts Europe …
DP Brakes: The British manufacturer is the pioneer
of sintered metal braking technology, and says that
extensive dyno, off-road and on-road testing have
proved that DP brake pads have shorter stopping
distances and improved overall performance
compared to most standard OE brake pads. “Today
more than 95% of all new motorcycles and ATVs -
from such manufacturers as Harley-Davidson,
Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and BMW - roll
off the assembly line with sintered metal brake
pads as original equipment. As the only
aftermarket manufacturer focusing exclusively on
developing and producing sintered metal brake
pads, DP Brakes is unique in the industry. Both as
replacements and performance upgrades for OE
sintered metal brake pads, DP Brakes’ complete
product line offers fitments for every riding
application, including racing, sport, touring,
cruising, off-road and ATV markets. Superior to
anything else available, DP Brakes ATV pads deliver
the kind of high mileage and exceptional braking in
mud, wet sand and worse that leaves other brake
pads far behind”; www.dp-brakes.com
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APRIL/MAY 2018