Remember the Sci-Fi television programs of the ‘50s and ‘60s in which engineers of the future could stand in front of a computer device, order up practically any space sprocket or gizmo and watch it materialize in seconds, ready for use? Believe it or not, that future is here—and has been for some time. While not as instantaneous as their fictional counterparts, there are computerized machines that can replicate solid, intricate 3-D objects in a process now being dubbed “3-D printing.”

As the automotive specialty-equipment industry moves into 2012, SEMA News put out a call to the leaders of the association’s councils and networks to seek their views about what might be in store during the coming year. Their responses are instructive and should provide helpful insights for companies in every segment of the marketplace.

To our very good friends, family and extended family:

It’s almost impossible to believe, but this is the 45th time the SEMA Show has been the reason for this family to get together, celebrate the past year and take a glimpse into the future. I say “family” because this industry has grown stronger by banding together for the past few years. What you see at this year’s SEMA Show is an example of what a family can do when it pulls together and pushes through tough times.

For the first time in its history, the SEMA Show Directory has been combined with the Show issue of SEMA News magazine. The combination provides the benefit of having both publications reach more readers earlier. SEMA News readers now have the opportunity to preview the 2011 SEMA Show Directory, making Show planning easier and more productive. The SEMA Show Directory is a valuable resource to help plan and navigate the features of the SEMA Show and its 2,200 exhibitors.

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Made in the U.S.A.” has long been a powerful marketing proposition, especially for the automotive specialty-equipment market. Resurgent patriotism and concern over American job losses, along with outsourcing and foreign knockoffs, are currently inspiring consumers to “buy American.” Of course, there are plenty of manufacturers in this industry who, for numerous reasons, never left the good ol’ U.S.A. Has their decision to remain stateside helped or hindered them?

Faced with the uncertain U.S. recovery and a relatively soft market, many companies are looking to international markets to grow their businesses. This is particularly true in the automotive industry, as emerging global economies create new middle classes of consumers eager to purchase and modify cars, trucks and SUVs. Automotive specialty-equipment companies stand to benefit from entering these global markets—if they can successfully navigate the often-complex regulations and procedures involved in exporting goods overseas.

The collaboration between the automotive specialty-equipment industry and the collision repair segment continues to increase, a fact that is reflected in the growing footprint of the newly branded Collision Repair & Refinish section of the 2011 SEMA Show. The new section—an expansion of the previously established Paint, Body & Equipment area—is one of 12 sections that will house exhibitors during the event at the Las Vegas Convention Center over November 1–4, 2011. The name change more accurately reflects the growing presence of the collision repair market, and more companies had already committed to exhibiting in the new section at press time for this issue than were present in the Paint, Body & Equipment section in 2010.

The 2011 SEMA Market Report is now available on the association’s website here. This annual report—free to SEMA members and $149.95 to non-members—provides an overview of the specialty-equipment industry through the end of 2010. It also includes five years’ worth of historical information that allows year-over-year comparisons of where the various segments and niches stood as the industry entered 2011.