04.24.2009 — In a move that will benefit custom electronics professionals attending the 2010 Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas, EHX@CES has shifted its location to the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).

The original plan when EHX announced a 10-year contract with the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) to provide a custom installation-centric exhibition area was for it to be at the nearby Sands Expo and Convention Center.

Moving the inaugural EHX@CES to South 2 Hall means that attendees won’t have to travel off site from the main CES exhibit halls in order to check out custom and high-performance companies.

"Essentially, integrators can do all their shopping in one location," says Jim Wagner, general manager of EH Events.

In general, 2010 CES will be more centralized than in previous years, according to CES. The LVCC halls (North, Central and South) and the adjacent Hilton will house a majority of the exhibitors, although some exhibitors will remain in the Venetian suites and meeting rooms.

“This will enable smaller retailers, integrators and attendees who have business interest in multiple product categories at CES to more easily conduct business,” writes CEA in an e-mail to its TechHome Division board.

Custom Takes Center Stage

Wagner speculates that attendees, especially integrators, will like the more centralized 2010 CES. One of the criticisms of CES over the years, he points out, is that exhibits have been spread out too much.

"This will be easier to manage," he says.

EHX’s presence at CES is designed to reinforce the show’s significance for custom installation companies, according to Wagner. The fact that CES has moved EHX@CES from the Sands to the South hall "reflects confidence in the custom market," Wagner says, adding that it shows that CEA views the custom market as very sustainable.

There is a perception that the CES is consumer-centric and that efforts to reach custom solutions providers are “diluted,” Wagner said when EHX@CES was originally announced.

“There used to be a density [at CES] for our audience [custom installers]. That’s moved away. Installers weren’t finding the right people and sort of stopped going.”

The original goal that Wagner highlighted for EHX@CES was for it to be a CES “destination for installers.”

That “destination” will now be centrally located on the show floor.

EHX@CES show planners say custom manufacturer exhibitor registration is brisk: Companies who have already signed up to participate in EHX@CES 2010 include:

• ADI
• Air King
• Arlington Industries
• CALRAD Electronics
• Coleman Cable
• Elk Products
• Erico
• Generac
• Holovision
• Honeywell
• Labor Saving Devices
• LBI/Boyd
• Lifeware by Exceptional Innovation
• Lowell Manufacturing
• Middle Atlantic Products
• OCI
• Onkyo
• PDR Mounts
• Powerline Control Systems
• Soundcast Systems
• Total Protection Solutions
• Vanco International
• Visual Solution Distributing
• Volutone Distributing
• Vutec
• Worthington Distribution