12VOLT CENTRAL STUDIOS (06.04.26) – Jammin’ N June… It’s Summer Time and time to ‘Crank It Up’! Your store’s followers can get Jammin’ N June with great gear for their rides. Let them know your store has the HiTech in-dash media, powerful amps, speakers and more to get their rides Jammin’ N June. LED vehicle lighting too! Invite consumers to Crank Up their rides, bikes, boats and UTVs.

That theme can grab the attention of social media followers and consumers to create store traffic for 12volt retailers. Utilize this Jammin’ N June graphic for your social media posts. Screenshot the graphic and use it for social media posts… for free!

Online sales have been on a steady rise for the past several years. Inventory shortages, plus inflation and gas prices have slowed business for many retailers. Jammin’ N June themed activities, by proactive 12volt retailers, can drive consumer awareness and traffic into stores… and very importantly drive sales.

It’s imperative that 12volt retailers create a powerful in-store experience for consumers in the showroom. An impressive demonstration in the showroom will bring a smile to the consumer’s face and can raise the hair on their arms… making the cash register ring also.

In-person retail events and Sound-Off are creating excitement again in the marketplace. These facts indicate 12volt enthusiasts and consumers are ready to Crank It Up and get Jammin’ N June!

From the 12volt Central Studios we will continue to showcase positives across the 12volt industry. The 12voltSTP Tool makes that easier than ever. Snap an image with your smartphone. Txt that image to 318-469-2526 PRESTO! Your positive activities could be in The 12volt News.

As an industry ‘Let’s Get Our Shine On.’ Let’s get Jammin’ N June! Much more to come from the 12volt Central Studios.

PELHAM, AL (06.03.26) – Radio Active hosted an IASCA Sound Quality Challenge on Saturday, May 30th in Pelham AL. Andy Otwell, a sound-off competition competitor and now somewhat retired from the lanes, was on site to the judge the event. Registration was at 9 AM and judging began at 10.

The Radio Active store sets up perfectly for a competition, with a large well-done showroom with adequate area for the judging. Plenty of space for a delicious lunch from the grill outside. Wesley Fields and Kevin Hill, and the staff, were terrific hosts for the event.

Andy relayed “It was great judging this competition to really get the season rolling. The vehicles judged were of high-quality and well designed. A special guest on site was Bryan Gary who was on his way to the Skills USA event happening this week in Atlanta, GA. Bryan is a serious competitor who had on his T-shirt from the recent KICKER SQ@HQ event in Stillwater OK.”

“It was super to engage in the IASCA competition in Pelham, to talk with other competitors plus talking with Andy about his history as a competitor. It was great to stop on Saturday as I was on my way to Atlanta to be involved with the Skills USA event which encourages young students and enthusiasts to get involved with mobile electronics” Bryan Gary related.

To wrap the day on Saturday the Radio Active staff provided a delicious lunch that included burgers from the grill. The lunch
time also provided an opportunity for all on site to connect about their next competition and possible system upgrades.

As the competition season is kicking off in 2026 it appears that all is lining up for a great season.

Radio Active has been serving the Pelham/Birmingham area since 1986.

For more see radioactivebirmingham.com

AUBURN HILLS, MI (06.02.26) – Alps Alpine North America, Inc. (“Alpine”) is excited to announce the integration into the DAS Companies distribution ecosystem. This new strategic partnership will assist in delivering exclusive Alpine products to DAS Companies’ Mid-Atlantic Territory.

“Alpine is thrilled to be partnering with DAS Companies; we are optimistic that this partnership will continue to strengthen our current distribution system for our dealers,” said Dan Sparks, National Sales Director at Alps Alpine North America. “As a former rep myself, I know firsthand how important it is to have reliable inventory access and logistical support for our dealers. We are confident that having DAS Companies as a resource will help day to day operations streamline exponentially.”

DAS Companies has been a leader in the supply chain sector for decades and specializes in a wide variety of industries such as travel equipment and auto products. Alpine is aligned with DAS Companies on their commitment to supporting on-the-go active lifestyles and a passion for the mobile electronics market. DAS Company sets the standard for customer satisfaction by offering same-day pick-up and next-day delivery as well as an acute knowledge of market trends and insights to help dealers succeed.

“DAS looks forward to representing Alpine as everything our dealers seek in a premium mobile electronics partner,” said Ken Litten, CE/HD Sales & Marketing Manager at DAS Companies, Inc. “This partnership kicks-off a new chapter for our dealer network and reinforces our commitment to bringing the right brands to the right markets at the right time. That’s always been the DAS way.”

For those interested in learning more about the onboarding process through DAS Companies, Alpine’s rep firm, OPUS Marketing, and DAS Companies will be exhibiting at Knowledge Fest Atlantic City 2026 and will have resources available to help facilitate the onboarding process. Details of this partnership were communicated earlier this month through internal channels.

Visit alpsalpine.com and dasinc.com for more.

SEATTLE, WA (06.01.26) – Lucas Lighting had a prominent position in the Team Progressive area on the show floor at the Pacific Northwest expo. Barry Lightfoot was very busy during the Expo spending time in the booth showing the Lucas product lineup and conducting two training sessions. “Connecting with dealers in-person at the Pacific Northwest Expo was a terrific opportunity to learn how consumers are engaging with aftermarket lighting upgrades.”

Lightfoot continued “Even though LED lights have been around for a long time, it’s even more important now to understand current market conditions, and succeed in this emerging category. Lucas Lighting has the tools to help all retailers find new opportunities without trading dollars for other products in their stores.”

Lightfoot conducted well attended Lucas lighting trainings on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. “At booth trainings dealers were engaged and asked how other retailers are driving business in the lighting category? We have in-store displays plus POP materials that show benefits of LED upgrades on the road at night. Having a booth in Seattle worked out very well for Lucas Lighting” Lightfoot concluded.

For more see lucas.lighting.com

12VOLT CENTRAL STUDIOS (06.01.26) – Jammin’ N June… It’s Summer Time and time to ‘Crank It Up’! Your store’s followers can get Jammin’ N June with great gear for their rides. Let them know your store has the HiTech in-dash media, powerful amps, speakers and more to get their rides Jammin’ N June. LED vehicle lighting too! Invite consumers to Crank Up their rides, bikes, boats and UTVs.

That theme can grab the attention of social media followers and consumers to create store traffic for 12volt retailers. Utilize this Jammin’ N June graphic for your social media posts. Screenshot the graphic and use it for social media posts… for free!

Online sales have been on a steady rise for the past several years. Inventory shortages, plus inflation and gas prices have slowed business for many retailers. Jammin’ N June themed activities, by proactive 12volt retailers, can drive consumer awareness and traffic into stores… and very importantly drive sales.

It’s imperative that 12volt retailers create a powerful in-store experience for consumers in the showroom. An impressive demonstration in the showroom will bring a smile to the consumer’s face and can raise the hair on their arms… making the cash register ring also.

In-person retail events and Sound-Off are creating excitement again in the marketplace. These facts indicate 12volt enthusiasts and consumers are ready to Crank It Up and get Jammin’ N June!

From the 12volt Central Studios we will continue to showcase positives across the 12volt industry. The 12voltSTP Tool makes that easier than ever. Snap an image with your smartphone. Txt that image to 318-469-2526 PRESTO! Your positive activities could be in The 12volt News.

As an industry ‘Let’s Get Our Shine On.’ Let’s get Jammin’ N June! Much more to come from the 12volt Central Studios.

SANTA FE SPRINGS, CA (05.28.26) – Accele Electronics was very busy from Sunday March May 17 through May 20. On Sunday it was the SSR Distributors show in Dallas followed by the Pacific Northwest Expo from the 18th through the 20th in Seattle WA.

Chris Way, Company VP and Joshua Conant, General Sales Manager traveled from the Santa Fe Springs CA office to Dallas to be on site with Tracy Farr and the crew for the SSR Sunday Show.

Joshua stated “The SSR show was packed with dealers checking out the latest products, making purchases and attending trainings. One of our hot products there was new our wireless Air Horn. Also on site with one of our commercial dealers Geary Palmer from Houston. We were very busy talking with dealers and answering questions about our products they could add
to their inventory. Stops at the food trucks with Tracy were fun too.”

Following the show Chris headed to Seattle to be in the booth at the Pacific Northwest Expo and Joshua headed back to LAX to be in his office on Monday to start the week.

At the Pacific Northwest Expo Accele had an expansive booth and showcased the company’s wide selection of products. The 2026 Pacific Northwest Expo was well attended with a very busy schedule starting Monday night and wrapping up on Wednesday. Stay tuned for much more from Accele in Seattle.

With two shows 1,500 miles apart its terrific to see Accele team members connecting at in-person events to showcase their products with their distributor partner SSR and retailers to drive sales.

For more see accele.com.

ORANIENBURG, GERMANY (05.27.26) – ORAFOL has announced the acquisition of Maxpro Manufacturing, LLC, headquartered in Whiteville, North Carolina. With this transaction, the Group is strategically expanding its international footprint while reinforcing its newly established Functional Films Business Unit as a key future growth driver.

Founded in 2010, Maxpro is a U.S.-based manufacturer of window and protective films, with an additional logistics center in Chandler, Arizona. The company develops and produces a broad portfolio of high-quality film solutions for automotive, architectural, and paint protection applications. In addition, Maxpro offers specialized tools and systems for professional film installation. Its products are distributed globally through an established dealer network. Maxpro is recognized for its innovative manufacturing processes, product durability, and a strong focus on application-driven solutions for professional markets.

Dr. Holger Loclair, Chairman & CEO ORAFOL Group commented, “We are very pleased to welcome Maxpro to the ORAFOL Group. This integration represents a significant strategic step for us, enabling us to further expand our technological capabilities in an important growth segment while also sustainably strengthening our presence and customer proximity in North America. I am convinced that our Business Unit Functional Films will benefit considerably from this partnership – through additional innovative strength, expanded capacity, and an even faster execution speed. At the same time, I am personally very much looking forward to our shared future.”

Joseph Cobbe, Founder & CEO Maxpro commented, “Joining the ORAFOL family marks an incredible new and exciting chapter for Maxpro. ORAFOL brings world-class technology and a global platform that will enable Maxpro to expand our ability to provide the most technically advanced products to the world-wide window film market. This capability along with ORAFOL’s commitment to customer relationships will enable Maxpro to continue providing the same unmatched customer service that has been Maxpro’s trademark for 15 years, while at the same time providing the most up-to-date products. I am excited about the future for Maxpro and for the products and services we can provide to our customers.”

The acquisition of Maxpro expands ORAFOL’s Functional Films Business Unit across the entire value chain – from the extrusion of advanced polymer films to highly specialized coating and laminating processes. Combined with ORAFOL’s recent investments in precision sputtering technologies, Maxpro’s capabilities further strengthen the company’s position in high-performance film innovation. This integration also enables ORAFOL to engineer customized films with precisely controlled physical, optical, and protective properties—meeting demanding standards across a broad range of applications.

Building on these expanded capabilities, the acquisition also supports ORAFOL’s long-term growth strategy, ORAFOL Roadmap 2030 – Shaping the Future. It reinforces the Group’s focus on targeted technology investments and disciplined portfolio expansion—scaling differentiated capabilities and further strengthening ORAFOL’s position in advanced functional materials markets.

To learn more about Maxpro’s product portfolio, visit maxprofilms.com.

SEATTLE, WA (05.26.26) – 5150 Audio is a very proactive retailer based in Kenai AK. Owner Dave Parrott understands the value of connecting across the industry and made his plans early to attend the Pacific Northwest Expo. On Sunday Dave flew to the US and connected with Dave Gates and the Falcon Sales and Marketing team as they prepared everything to head to Seattle for the event with Monday set up.

Falcon Sales and Marketing had a booth on the event floor and spotlighted a number of their brands. There at the event Dave worked closely with Kam Frisbee and Falcon as a key product source for his company shipping products from the US to his store in Alaska. Some times that requires shipping products across the water. A full pallet could cost a grand!

“Falcon is a great partner. This was the first time that I attended this event. I spent time connecting with brands on the show floor and seeing new products, attending trainings plus connecting with other retailers across the industry” Parrott commented.

The 12volt Central Studios staff connected with Dave once he got back to his store. Dave related attending the event in Seattle turned out very very well. He checked off everything on his list plus more.

“Having an opportunity to spend time with exhibitors and check out their new products and programs worked out very well Also catching up with Joseph Norton was a really great surprise. He came to our store last year. He is now working with
Focal and I attended his training session” Parrott added.

Business is strong at 5150 Audio. Open for just over 2 years 5150 Audio is already known within a 100 mile range as the place for mobile aftermarket products and custom installation…pickup trucks are hot. 5150 Audio also participates in consumer events in the area like REV Alaska. REV Alaska is in Wasilla which is 200 miles from the store. At the event the 5150 Audio team made sales and booked installs at their store.

It is terrific to see proactive 12volt retailers driving business in their communities. 5150 Audio is ‘Driving Sound To The Next Level’ in Alaska. Stay tuned for more!

For more see 5150audio.com

SHREVEPORT, LA (05.26.2026) – Memorial Day is the Federal Holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died in the performance of their military duties while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

The exact origins are uncertain, but it came out of Civil War traditions of decorating the graves of soldiers with flowers. Many cities and individuals claimed to have been the first to celebrate the event. In 1868 General John A Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic called for a Decoration Day, which was widely celebrated. By 1890 every Northern state had adopted it as a Holiday. The World Wars turned it into a generalized day of remembrance, instead of just for the Civil War. In 1971, Congress standardized the holiday as Memorial Day and changed its observance.

This Holiday is observed on the last Monday in May. Memorial Day is also considered the unofficial beginning of the Summer in the United States.

We trust all across the 12volt industry who have lost a loved one in conflict will remember those lost on this Memorial Day 2026.

STILLWATER, OK (05.22.26) – The KICKER SQ@HQ was back and KICKER welcomed the return of the SQ Competition and Car Show 2026. Attendees experienced some of the best sounding cars around, had an opportunity to explore the KICKER Museum and enjoyed great food from local food trucks… All in one place.

The second annual SQ competition got underway on Sunday, May 17 as competitors put their builds to the test in judged SQ events hosted in partnership with IASCA, MASQ, EMMA and MCA. Spectators and cars were welcomed with free admission. Attendees heard some of the cleanest systems around and spent a great day with fellow Car Audio enthusiast right at the KICKER HQ in Stillwater OK. During the competitions SPL demos were at the top of the hour for five minutes.

“After the success of our first SQ@HQ last year we realized partnering with Sound Competition organizations makes sense for KICKER and the 12volt industry as a whole. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved” KICKER Brand Promoter Ernie Ficklin commented. “Adding, this years event proved that to be true.”

Peter Ashby, East Coast Brand Ambassador for KICKER, rolled his #Nemesis custom-build Award wining Toyota Supra and ground-shaking custom-built LITENLOUD Toyota LiteAce into the event from North Carolina. “The KICKER SQ@HQ is such an amazing event to bring car audio and enthusiasts together and connect with everyday consumers. Everyone on site, including Steve Irby, were amazed with our builds. We had the same reaction at the Shiflet Dickson Distributor show” Ashby stated.

Travis Chin, IASCA President, returned again this year, and was so pleased to see the high level of competitors in the lanes. Travis related he saw several old time competitors who were returning to compete again.   

“Team SQ KICKER made its debut the this year’s SQ@HQ and brought home some hardware to prove it. We congratulate Brandon Laielli, Scott Williams, Jacob Luckey, Joe Hobart and John Myers” Ernie Ficklin added.

Stay tuned for more from SQ@HQ.

More @kicker.com.