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LCD Blog

2018 Automotive Testing Expo Recap

November 5, 2018

In my career, I have attended more exhibitions and tradeshows than I would like to remember.  However, the Novi, Michigan event that took place during the week of October 22 in Michigan was very memorable for me.  Perhaps it was because it was the first time I had ever attended (and exhibited at) at an automotive focused show.  I have worked in a number of different industries prior to joining TOYOTech including consumer electronics, enterprise data storage, networking and computing.  But the Automotive Testing Expo was a new experience for me and some of my colleagues. 

There were over 300 exhibiting companies and the event was held at a venue called the Suburban Collection Showplace.  The organizers billed the event as “offering attendees the opportunity to meet hundreds of the world’s most innovative automotive test, evaluation and quality engineering technology developers.”  This was an understatement.  Exhibiting companies showcased products that span that full array of development, test and measurement solutions for electric, hybrid and autonomous vehicles.    It was difficult to walk the floor and not see things that you had ever seen before or products that warranted a further, closer look.  Take a look at some of the pictures we took at the event on Google Photos.

At the TOYO booth, we focused our efforts on the Rototest dynamometers, a more cost-effective and easier way to perform traditional powertrain testing and measurements.   Although we did not bring actual production versions of the dynamometer to the show, we brought the next best thing: scaled down fully operating models.  It was an instant hit.  And our booth area was constantly filled with visitors.  Many came by to watch our model car execute turns on the dynamometers that were attached to them.  You can find a video of our model dynamometers at this link.

We also previewed our Rototest X Simulator.  This solution is integrated with Rototest dynamometers allowing one to not only simulate true road conditions but also to visualize them in real time.  The following link takes you to a linkedin post which contains a video showing how this work. 

In addition to support from the US TOYOTech team, we also had support from our colleagues from TOYO Japan and a key member of the Rototest team.  And through the three days of exhibitions, we collectively talked to many hundreds of folks that passed by our booth area about our automotive test solutions.

There were multiple occasions where a visitor would come by our booth, reviewed our offerings, talked to our staff and then return several hours or a day later with a colleague or their manager to show them what they have seen or heard.  I do not recall this happening often at the tradeshows I have staffed in the past. 

Thank you to everyone that stopped by the TOYO booth.  We and we look forward to seeing you again at this event next year.

Steve Wong

VP of Marketing & Product Management
steve.wong@toyotechus.com

Display Week 2018 – It’s a Wrap

May 29, 2018

During the week of May 23, TOYO, TOYOTech and other exhibiting sponsors participated in the Display Week event held in Los Angeles, California.  I am still waiting to find out the official number of people who attended but all told, there were over 250 exhibitors spread out over the 210,000 square foot area of the Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall.

There was so much excitement in the TOYO booth as we proudly announced the new LT1000 Ion Impurity Measurement System at the show and to the world.  In case you missed it, you can read the announcement on our website.  You can also watch a short 3-minute video highlighting the product including a technical deep dive on how it works.  Here’s a snippet from the release which summarizes what makes the LT1000 so special.

The LT1000 provides measurement performance, testing accuracy and material type support that far exceeds any other solution available in the marketplace.

For example, the LT1000 has high sensitivity – with resolution in the parts per trillion range.  The traditional approach can resolve at the parts per million range.  Yes, you read that correctly.  The LT1000 has a resolution that’s one million times better than the traditional approach.

On hand in our booth were the engineering leads of the LT1000, Masaru Inoue, and Noriaki Oyabu.  We were also joined by our marketing and sales colleagues from Japan, Osamu Tomita, and Yoko Nonaka and from TOYO China, Jerhyn Chen.  Good thing we had a full team on board because during the three days of the exhibit, there was almost a non-stop stream of folks that came by to visit and learn about the LT1000 and/or participate in our raffle where we gave away not one, not two, but five different prizes.  Congratulations to all of the winners.  For me personally, I had the privilege of meeting and speaking to at least 100 booth visitors.  Take a look at some of the pictures that we took of the event.

On, Thursday, during the last afternoon of the exhibit, the head of marketing for the Society for Information Display (SID) passed by and praised the design of our booth display.  Apparently, during one of his marketing sessions, he specifically cited our booth and graphics as a great example of how to effectively convey a message to the show’s participants.   Needless to say, we were ecstatic.   So much so that we started talking about how to make next year’s show even better.

Well, enough about our booth.  I also had the opportunity to walk the floor and check out the emerging electronic display technologies that were being showcased.  No surprise, there was a dizzying array of products and perhaps soon to be products.  My colleague Jerhyn took pictures of some amazing technologies and products which we are sharing with you.  Take a look.

Next year Display Week will be taking place in our backyard in San Jose.  We look forward to it and we look forward to seeing many of you again at the event.

Steve Wong

VP of Marketing & Product Management
steve.wong@toyotechus.com