Kleen-Rite sets free 2026 training expo and car wash tour in Columbia, PA
The distributor's two-day event pairs a no-cost training expo with more than 60 vendors and a paid car wash tour featuring the ICA's CEO.
By The Car Wash News Staff
3 min read
Kleen-Rite has scheduled its 2026 "Learn More, Earn More" training expo for November 11 in Columbia, Pennsylvania, and will pair it with a separate car wash tour and seminar day on November 10. According to reporting from Car Wash Business Center, the expo is free to attend and is billed as the only free car wash training event in the industry.
The distributor, which describes itself as the largest family-owned car wash supplier in the country, is opening registration for both days now. Operators can sign up for either event or both through Eventbrite.
What each day offers
The main expo runs November 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 129 South 9th Street. It includes manufacturer exhibits from more than 60 vendors, breakout educational seminars, equipment displays, and networking time. A catered barbecue lunch is provided, and the day closes with door prize drawings. There is no cost to attend.
The companion event, called The Car Wash Experience, takes place November 10 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 257 South 9th Street. It centers on a bus tour of local car washes and a keynote presentation from Eric Wulf, CEO of the International Carwash Association. The day also features an expert panel discussion with a reserved question and answer session, plus a light lunch. Registration for that day costs $40 per person, with a small Eventbrite fee added.
Kleen-Rite has run versions of these events in prior years and is bringing the tour experience back after operator interest, according to the source. Both events are based out of the company's home region in Columbia, where it has operated as a car wash and pressure washing supplier for more than 60 years.
Why it matters for operators
Free, vendor-neutral education is scarce in the car wash sector, and a no-cost expo removes one of the biggest barriers to staff development: budget. Owners running self-serve and in-bay sites often cannot justify the travel and registration costs of a major national trade show, so a regional event with more than 60 vendors and hands-on equipment displays can deliver comparable value at a fraction of the expense.
The paired tour day is where operators may find the most concentrated learning. Walking real sites and hearing directly from an expert panel offers practical detail that a show floor cannot, and the $40 price point is low enough to bring along a manager or lead employee. Attending as a team can turn a single day into a shared reference point for later decisions on equipment, chemistry, and layout.
The presence of the ICA's CEO as keynote signals the tour is aimed at business strategy and industry direction, not just product demos. Operators weighing expansion, retooling, or a shift toward express models should treat these sessions as a chance to pressure-test their plans against peers and industry leadership.
For washes within driving distance of central Pennsylvania, the combination of a free training day and a modestly priced tour is worth putting on the calendar early, since seating for the tour and its lunch is likely limited.
