In the News
What is the IHME?
Sep 25, 2002
By Jon C.A. DeKeles |
Author
Bio
Everyyear they gather to show the indystry the latest in new toys. Trains too!
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So what is The International Model & Hobby Expo? It is almost 400 exhibitors packed into 250,000 square feet of a Chicago Convention Center. It is an industry show for radio control products, trains, rockets, plastics, die-cast, games, kites, miniatures, tools, accessories, publications, science/ educational, specialty toys and much more!
The Radio Control Hobby Trade Association, owner of the show, was formed in 1984 as a not-for-profit trade association. It represents professionals actively engaged in manufacturing, importing, packaging or publishing of radio-controlled merchandise. They work with co-sponsor The Model Railroad Industry Association to produce the International Model and Hobby Expo, (IMHE). It is in it's 18th year.
Last year some of the products debuted were innovative and fun, such as r/c robots, cars, planes and boats, train sets and displays, interactive computer games, die cast, accessories, plastic kits and collectibles.
Show Details
| Date: | September 5 - 8, 2002 |
Venue: |
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
5555 N. River Road, Rosemont, IL USA |
Hours: |
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (trade only)
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Public Sunday) |
I know that we "is" train people, but many of these other items are just too fun to pass up. Plus, some of them just might be the right scale to put on our layout.
When it comes to Large Scale there is good representation of the major players; Accucraft Trains, Aristo-Craft Trains, Badger Air-Brush Co., Bachmann Trains, Berlyn Locomotive Works, Digitrax, Inc., and the list goes on and on.
We will be taking pictures and will post them to the site this weekend. So remember to stop by to check them out. This is the only place on the web that you can see them first.
We will get the first "live" look at Aristo-Craft's painted sample of the 2-8-2 Mikado Steam locomotive. The sample is painted Rio Grande and features the new 4 axle motor block.
So who goes to this show?
This is a trade show, with Sunday open to the public. It is retailers, buyers, distributors, manufacturer reps and media personnel in the industry. Last year over 3,500 attendees came from 36 countries looking to buy the newest and best products to resell.
The exhibitors are from 32 countries. International companies include: Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong (ROC), Israel, Italy, Japan, Poland, Spain, Taiwan (ROC), United Kingdom.
The doors open to the public Sunday, September 8th, 2002, allowing you a sneak peak at many innovative products. Teachers who provide a school I.D. will be admitted to the International Model and Hobby Expo for free.
The industry likes this show as a great way to show off their new products. "Bachmann found the International Model and Hobby Expo an excellent opportunity to showcase our new products and talk to our distributors and retail customers", said Doug Blaine, Vice President Marketing of Bachmann Industries, Inc.
Hope to see you there on Sunday.
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