The 2010 Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) convention was presented in Orlando, Fla., the week of August 1-8. Individual full-day classes were conducted from Sunday August 1st through Wednesday August 4th. Classes resumed on Friday August 6th, with half day classes featured on both Friday and Saturday. More full-day classes were offered on Sunday August 8th. Class subjects ranged from traditional locksmith servicing techniques to emerging electronic technology subjects. ALOA reported that their classes were well attended. This reporter did not hear one word of complaint about class learning experiences.
The ALOA convention floor was open Thursday August 5th through Saturday August 7th. Approximately 100 booths lined the convention floor. Factory representatives were available to answer any questions. Although attendance on the convention floor could have been better, many booths reported a brisk business all three days of the convention. The 2010 ALOA convention had something for everybody. Whether locksmiths were interested in automotive lock products, safes, high security locks or the latest electronic locksets, there something of interest on display.
Highlights of the ALOA convention included a lock picking contest at the Kwikset booth and a display of Ford commercial vehicles. Because of their diversity of products, extra large booths were chosen by Ingersoll Rand, Assa Abloy and Kaba-Ilco. Vendors such as Lockmasters and H.L. Flake had experts available to demonstrate their wide variety of merchandise. The international security community was well represented as vendors from Australia, the Far East and Europe introduced new types of products.
The following photos show some of the action on the floor of the convention. The ALOA 2010 convention is now just a memory, but Father Time never slows down and the next ALOA convention August 6-14 in Nashville, Tenn., will be here before you know it. Be the first one to spot Elvis.
