Performance Products: News

Eaton Products Displayed at SEMA Show

Eaton products designed to help car and truck enthusiasts go full throttle were displayed at the 2005 SEMA Show—the world’s largest automotive specialty trade event—November 1-4, in Las Vegas.

Eaton Hydraulics, Eaton Automotive, and Eaton’s Inoac joined forces at the show to demonstrate the impact of Eaton in this rapidly expanding market.

Two exhibits reinforced the role of Eaton as a high-performance partner in the automotive aftermarket for cars, trucks, SUVs and other custom vehicles. Products on display included Aeroquip Perfomance hose and fittings, Eaton superchargers, Eaton engine valves, Eaton locking differentials, and Inoac rear spoilers. Vehicles on display in Eaton’s booths were a customized street rod, an “extreme” rock crawler vehicle, a customized pickup truck, and a customized Saturn coupe.

Eaton Product-Equipped 1937 Ford Is Big Draw
A main attraction in the Eaton booth was a restored 1937 Ford that was equipped with a variety of Eaton products, including an Eaton supercharger and Aeroquip hose and fittings.

Celebrity custom car builder Troy Trepanier and his crew from Rad Rides by Troy (www.radrides.com) built the glitzy Ford convertible. The car, owned by Craig Sommerfeld, president of Kreg Tool Company (www.kregtool.com), specified the use of Eaton products in the creation process for added appeal under the hood. Eaton teamed up with Sommerfeld to unveil the car at SEMA in the Eaton display. The show was an unveiling for Sommerfeld as well—it was the first time he saw the restored beauty in all its shining glory after turning it over to the Rad Rides crew two years ago.

The results proved positive as the eye-catching, brown-on-brown color-schemed roadster won SEMA’s prestigious Mother’s Show and Shine Award. The custom creation helped generate heavy traffic—including celebrity guests—to the Eaton booth, and also helped to “boost” interest in Eaton products. Among those spotted were Michael Anthony, bass guitarist for Van Halen, and James Brown, FOX Sports analyst.

Two New Aeroquip Performance Products Introduced

Eaton also used the SEMA show to introduce two new Aeroquip Performance Products, including DOT brake lines and cabinet assortment kits that contain a starter inventory of Aeroquip hose and fitting products.

The show was a powerful sales opportunity for Eaton, a SEMA exhibitor for more than 10 years, said Mike Manos, sales manager — Aeroquip Performance Products.

“SEMA is one of our primary means to attract new distribution outlets,” Manos said.

“With more than 100,000 attendees from around the world, this year’s show gave everyone in the Eaton family a powerful opportunity to network in one place with potential national and international buyers and distributors.”