APRA to Host European Symposium & Exhibition in Hungary

September 8, 2009


CHANTILLY, VIRGINIA and COLOGNE, GERMANY – Fernand Weiland, European Chairman of the Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA), announced that Budapest, Hungary would be the location for APRA’s Second Exhibition in Eastern Europe on April 26, 2010. The expo will be followed by the 22nd annual APRA Symposium on April 27, 2010 at the Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal in Budapest, Hungary. Plans are being explored to have plant visits on April 28th.

Mr. Weiland stated, “Central and Eastern Europe are new automotive markets which are steadily growing. Due to this growth, remanufacturing is gradually becoming a very important part of the service and installation market.” In the past, APRA’s European Division has held their expos in up and coming markets such as Prague (2004), Warsaw (2006, 2008) and Kiev (2009). “In 2010 Budapest will be the place where remanufacturers and their suppliers, from Eastern and Western Europe can meet to engage vital dialogues on issues that affect our industry,” concluded Weiland.

APRA President Bill Gager, commented, “Our goal has always been to offer networking opportunities at our European Symposium for members from all over European as well as North America. This is the objective APRA has been following for the past 22 years. The exhibition we had in Warsaw in 2008 was so successful that we have prepared for an even bigger event in the Spring of 2010. The interest in remanufacturing is growing and there are many opportunities going forward for people to interact in a business-to-business environment.”

Soren Toft Jensen, Director of Borg Automotive (with production sites in Poland and Slovakia) stated, “Getting together and networking will be even more important in the future. The remanufacturing industry will need to stick together and develop our businesses to balance the growing power of the buying groups, and to develop a high quality remanufacturing culture. The APRA European Symposium and Exposition is a great place to do just that.”

Jarek Gora, Sales Director of ERA S.p.a (Italy) added, “The success of APRA’s past symposiums indicate that there is considerable interest in the remanufacturing business in these emerging markets. To have APRA introduce a one-day exhibition is a testament to these new found opportunities. There is a tremendous thirst for product and technical knowledge in Central and Eastern Europe. Our company plans to be a major supporter of the event.”

Companies interested in exhibiting should contact Jeanie Magathan for a copy of the floor plan and exhibitor application form. She may be reached by phone at APRA Headquarters USA: 001-703-968-2772, ext. 104 or by email at Magathan@buyreman.com.