SEMA 2026 for PPF shops: demos, software and a workable hall plan

The November 3–6 SEMA Show gives PPF shops a chance to compare materials, installation methods and production tools in one trip. A useful itinerary needs several halls and a few fixed education appointments. The stops below are selected public announcements checked October 17, 2026, not a complete exhibitor roster or a guarantee that every demonstration will run at a particular time.

Start with access and the current map

The show is at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with exhibit hours of 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Friday, all Las Vegas local time. Standard trade attendance requires qualifying industry credentials; public Friday access has its own ticket arrangements. SEMA’s October notice lists attendee badges at US$100 and says U.S. registrants after October 9 should collect badges on site. Show information · Current attendee notice

SEMA’s current section guide spans restyling and car care across West and North Halls. Search suppliers by name in the 2026 directory, then confirm the hall and booth on the official floorplan. A section name alone is not a reliable routing instruction. SEMA section guide

Selected demonstration stops

West Hall: Ceramic Pro, booth 52101

Ceramic Pro’s 2026 page advertises live installation work covering clear and color PPF, windshield film and coatings. It says trainers will work at the booth throughout show week, but does not publish a timed installation-class schedule. Use the visit to watch handling and finishing, then ask where formal training, qualification and warranty requirements begin. Company’s 2026 show page

North Hall: CovrGard, booth 12651

The 2026 organizer directory lists CovrGard at North Hall booth 12651. The company says it will demonstrate its GRAFX pattern software and film range there. The planned software demonstrations offer a reason to ask for a complete job workflow, from locating the correct vehicle pattern to editing and cutting it. CovrGard’s announcement

UPPF, booth 50257

The organizer’s UPPF record lists booth 50257 in its West Hall with Diamond Lot area. UPPF’s own preview includes ULTRAFILMCUT pattern software alongside its film products. The notice establishes a planned software presentation, but not a timed live-cutting session. Confirm whether an operator can demonstrate a job comparable to the vehicles your shop installs. UPPF’s preview

South Hall Upper: Zünd, booth 36205

Zünd plans live work on its G3-L2500 cutter and discussion of its Zünd Cut Center workflow software. The announcement includes vinyl-film cutting, foam and other fabrication materials. It does not specifically promise a PPF pattern-library demonstration. This is a useful additional stop for a shop evaluating broader graphics or fabrication production, rather than a substitute for checking its exact PPF workflow. Zünd’s 2026 preview

Three more verified supplier locations

The current directory also places Avery Dennison Graphics at 52171, Maxpro Window Films at 50205 and STEK-USA at 52237, all under its West Hall with Diamond Lot area. These are confirmed locations, not promises of a particular class or demonstration time. Check each supplier’s current program before scheduling a timed visit.

Choose business sessions before filling every hour with booths

The organizer’s October 16 schedule includes these options, in Las Vegas local time:

• Tuesday, November 3, 11 a.m.–noon, N259: Davy Tyburski’s session on profit, pricing and service packaging for detailers and installers.
• Wednesday, November 4, 9–10 a.m., N257: a hiring and retention discussion with Lukasz Konior and Mike Cioffi.
• Wednesday, November 4, 11 a.m.–noon, N253: Jeni Bukolt’s session on customer experience and sales in an AI-influenced market.
• Thursday, November 5, 3–4 p.m., N257: the Professional Restylers Organization’s market panel, whose listed participants include Eastman’s Chris Ierardi.

Current schedule

SEMA-produced education is free to credentialed attendees, with first-come seating. The organizer recommends arriving early. Check separate terms for paid partner programming. These are business-learning options; attendance does not establish installer certification. SEMA’s 2026 education guide

The Auto Film Mastery Conference is scheduled separately for Monday, November 2, in North Hall. Its General Admission and VIP passes should be checked separately from the Show badge. Our events page already lists that conference.

Make a software demonstration answer a real shop question

Bring a short test brief rather than asking only how many patterns a library contains:

1. Choose a vehicle, model year and trim your shop actually sees. Ask the operator to identify the matching pattern and explain how recently it was checked.
2. Request the edge treatment you would sell: visible edges, wrapped edges or a specific coverage change. Watch how the operator changes and saves the pattern.
3. Ask about your plotter model, roll width, nesting, cut allowances and how a failed cut is handled. Compare the whole workflow, including material used and operator time.
4. Get the commercial terms in writing: subscription, cut credits, required film purchases, equipment compatibility, training, support and what happens to saved edits if you leave.

These are editorial comparison questions, not claims that every exhibitor supports every feature. Use a dummy job rather than uploading customer records or vehicle-identifying information during a public demonstration.

Give yourself a workable route

Group supplier visits by hall, with a buffer before fixed classroom times. Keep two or three priority questions for each supplier, photograph the exact product label with permission and record the matching technical sheet, region-specific warranty and follow-up contact.

The 2026 SEMA Show app offers exhibitor search, maps, saved schedules and New Products Showcase scanning. Use the current app and directory rather than carrying last year’s booth screenshot. Recheck times and booths close to travel; this is a preview of an event that has not yet taken place.