IBEX wrap challenge attracts All Marine Spares 'hot gun'

by Jeni Bone on 17 Aug 2010 Premium international shrink wrap supplier Dr Shrink's first Shrink-Off is drawing major competition. Held during the 2010 International Boatbuilder Exhibition (IBEX), participants are coming from around the globe to show off their wrapping skills.

All Marine Spares is bringing the heat all the way from Australia. Its salesman and marine engineer Brett 'Hot Gun' Hurlstone is ready to showcase his talent. Interest in the Shrink-Off has also come from all across the United States to as far as Estonia and Croatia.

'We encourage contestants from all over the world to join in our Shrink-Off,' said Dr Shrink president Mike Stenberg. 'All Marine Spares is supporting this challenge by providing Brett with an all-expenses paid trip to IBEX. It will be great for him to demonstrate his talent at this art form. He's one of the best shrink wrappers in the Southern Hemisphere.'

Leigh Francis from All Marine Spares says that aside from being 'a bit of fun', there's a serious side to the trip. 'We go to see clients and find product. We don't look for anything in particular, but we do bump in to interesting things.'

MAATS (Marine Accessories and After Market Trade Show) was an annual pilgrimage for Francis as well as METS in Amsterdam each year for the past 20 years.

'MAATS has been rolled in to IBEX so we are lucky to be able to do both at the same venue.'

A lot of things happen by 'accident' or serendipity. 'We just had a US company visit looking for a distributor for Wise Co pistons, who have a specific marine product range. We are now the exclusive distributor for all marine applications.'

The Wise Co product range is due to arrive early October. 'We will visit them in Ohio following IBEX,' says Francis.

The inaugural Shrink-Off will take place daily at noon during IBEX, September 28-30, at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.

Participants can sign up individually or as a team by emailing sales@dr-shrink.com with their name, company name and phone number or at booth #1334 during the show.