Heartland Carwash Association sets 2027 trade show for Chicago area
The HCA Product & Equipment Show moves to Tinley Park, Illinois, on March 23 and 24, 2027, with room for about 80 exhibitors.
By The Car Wash News Staff
3 min read
The Heartland Carwash Association has scheduled its 2027 Product & Equipment Show for March 23 and 24, 2027, at the Tinley Park Convention Center in Tinley Park, Illinois, roughly 30 minutes from Chicago. According to reporting from Auto Laundry News, the two-day event will draw car wash owners, operators, suppliers, and manufacturers from across the Midwest.
The show carries the theme "Driving the Future of Car Washing" and will organize its programming around three focus areas: intelligent equipment, operational excellence, and customer retention. Organizers describe the event as a chance for attendees to see new products, meet industry experts, and take practical ideas back to their businesses.
What to expect at the show
The 2027 event marks a move to the Chicago area, a location the association says makes the show more accessible to car wash professionals throughout the region. The Tinley Park Convention Center offers modern exhibit space and convenient travel access for both attendees and exhibitors coming from across the Midwest.
The floor will have space for approximately 80 exhibitors. HCA is encouraging companies interested in reaching Heartland-area owners and operators to reserve exhibit space early, and a range of sponsorship options will be available for businesses seeking additional visibility.
Kristen Corbisiero, executive director and publisher of the Heartland Carwash Association, said the aim is to make the event worthwhile from the outset. "We want attendees to discover new products and technology," she said, adding that the goal is for professionals to build relationships and leave with usable ideas.
Why it matters for operators
Regional trade shows remain one of the most efficient ways for operators to compare equipment, chemistry, and technology side by side without committing to travel across the country. A Chicago-area location lowers the barrier for Midwest washes to send owners, general managers, and even key hourly staff, which can turn a show visit into practical team development rather than just an executive outing.
The three stated pillars of the show map directly to the pressures most operators face right now. Intelligent equipment points to automation and monitoring tools that reduce labor demands and downtime. Operational excellence speaks to margin protection through better throughput and maintenance. Customer retention reflects the industry's continued shift toward unlimited membership models, where keeping subscribers is often more valuable than acquiring new single-wash customers.
For operators weighing a capital purchase in 2027, an in-person show offers a chance to question vendors directly, see equipment run, and compare financing and support terms before signing. With space limited to about 80 exhibitors, the floor should be manageable enough to cover in two days while still surfacing meaningful choices.
Operators who plan to attend should mark the March 23 and 24 dates now and build a short list of the equipment categories and vendor questions they want to address before arriving. Suppliers considering a booth should note the early-reservation guidance, since a smaller floor means space is more likely to fill.
