Messe Frankfurt has announced new record figures for the 25th edition of Automechanika, taking place from Sept. 11 to 15. At a trade-press conference on May 24, the organizers described how Automechanika developed into the successful tradeshow brand and provided insights into this year’s complementary program of events.
“Even today, we still feel the boost given to the automotive aftermarket by the founding of Frankfurt Automechanika in 1971”, said Detlef Braun, member of the executive board of Messe Frankfurt. “In close cooperation with all important associations, institutes and players from the automotive aftermarket, we succeeded in introducing new subjects that power the market. This is how we keep in step with the times and ensure the event concept is fully up to date. And this applies not only to Automechanika Frankfurt but also to our other Automechanika fairs around the globe.”
Held every two years, Automechanika Frankfurt has been the leading platform for the automotive aftermarket for around 50 years. Even at this early stage, it is already evident that the 25th anniversary edition will be the biggest show in the history of the trade fair, according to the organizers. All renowned suppliers and parts manufacturers from all over the world have registered to make presentations in the eastern section of the Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre.
For the first time, Messe Frankfurt expects to welcome more than 5,000 exhibitors from more than 70 countries. As always, trade visitors from the industry, workshops and trade can look forward to an unrivalled spectrum of products and solutions along the entire automobile value chain – equipment, parts, accessories, management and services. A glance into the future will be offered in the Festhalle, where manufacturers of ultra-modern repair technologies for workshops present, for example, robot repairs, 3-D printing and augmented reality. New this year is the Classic Cars product segment in the new Hall 12, which is making its debut at Automechanika 2018.
Business with a Future: Classic Cars
Automechanika is the first B2B platform to bring workshop professionals together with players and experts from the classic car scene. Discussing the reasons for this, Automechanika Director Olaf Musshoff said, “Classic vehicles have a market volume of around €16 billion. We want to bring insiders and newcomers together from all over the world. Repairing old and young classic cars could be a profitable business for many workshops in Germany. However, it is important to know how to go about it.”
Among the exhibitors taking part are specialist parts companies, such as Volkswagen Classic Parts, Ferdinand Bilstein, Mazda Motors Deutschland and Scandix, as well as paint manufacturers, such as BASF Coatings, and suppliers of lubricants, repair and care products, vehicle technical and mechanical parts. Naturally, visitors also will find startups, such as retromotion.com, as well as assessors, testing organizations, insurance companies and financial-services providers. Anyone wanting to begin straight away with a course of professional development is invited to take advantage of the program offered by the German Federation of Body and Automotive Engineering (Zentralverband Karosserie- und Fahrzeugtechnik e.V. – ZKF) and the Federation of the German Motor Vehicle Trade (Zentralverband Deutsches Kraftfahrzeuggewerbe – ZDK).
International Tire Manufacturers in Frankfurt
The tire sector is in a state of flux. On the one hand, more and more tire dealers are offering automobile services. On the other hand, car dealers are expanding their tire services. Against this background, the new trade-fair duo of Automechanika and REIFEN promise a host of interesting synergistic effects. Leading international tire manufacturers, including the Al Dobowi Group, Balkrishna Industries Limited (BKT), Delticom AG, Linglong Tire, Kyoto Japan Tire, Martins Industries and Petlas, are taking part together with many companies from the logistics and warehouse sector. Visitors will find the REIFEN trade fair in the immediate vicinity of the paint and bodywork, classic cars, vehicle care and workshop segments. The latter occupies Halls 8, 9 and 11 with around 70,000 square metres of exhibition space and all important national and international players in the field of workshop services and equipment. The exhibitors include Bosch, Texa, Snap-on, MAHA, Otto Nussbaum, AutopStenhoj, Blitz Rotary, Corghi, Giuliano, Werther, Consul, Hunter, Theo Förch, Hazet, KS Tools, Stahlwille, SW-Stahl, Autel and Jonnesway, as well as Hella AG, which is making a joint presentation for the first time with Hella Gutmann Solutions in Hall 9. On this scale, the array of tire services and workshop equipment is unparalleled anywhere in the world, says the organizers.
Automechanika visitors can obtain valuable insights into the world of tire services in a special show in Hall 12.1, which is being organized by the Federal Association of Manufacturers and Importers of Automobile Service Equipment (Bundesverband der Hersteller und Importeure von Automobil-Service Ausrüstungen ASA e.V.) together with leading companies such as Rema Tip Top, Otto Nussbaum, Corghi, Robert Bosch, Snap-on Equipment, Hunter Deutschland, AVL Ditest, Hella Gutmann Solutions, Werbas and Consul. In a workshop scenario with three different working areas, professionals present processes relating to modern wheel and tire services, e.g., programming tire-pressure control systems, wheel alignment, play detection, headlight adjustment and tire storage. Moreover, ultra-modern workshop equipment will be shown in networked operation to demonstrate optimum processes. The special show will be rounded off by daily live tire-repair demonstrations by professionals.
For the first time, manufacturers from the field of car washes and care will be positioned together, on the ground floor of the new Hall 12. More than 100 companies will be making product presentations, including market leaders such as Washtec, Istobal, Otto Christ and Ehrle. Also on the program: expert lectures and panel discussions organized by Messe Frankfurt in cooperation with the EUnited Vehicle Cleaning Association.
Collision Talk 2018
Where is the collision-damage repair market heading? Collision-damage controllers are planning changes to collision-damage management. Testing services and automobile insurance companies are expanding their controlling activities: Deductions from invoices are putting increasing pressure on workshops. In addition, insurance companies are moving more and more into the automobile-service business. But will they succeed in this? At the Collision Talk in the “Portalhaus” building on Sept. 13, the focus of the disputatious discussion will be on topical issues of this nature. Renowned automobile insurance companies, such as HUK-Coburg, and collision-damage controllers, such as the Innovation Group, will answer urgent questions and talk about their plans.
Two years ago, the Collision Talk was the best-attended event of the Automechanika Academy with more than 1,000 participants. In the adjoining exhibition area, the Collision Repair Street, companies such as Axalta, Spies Hecker, Cromax, Audatex AUTOonline, Coparts Global Automotive Service (G.A.S.), DAT, EMM, ETL Kanzlei Voigt, SATA and Herkules Hedson will be making presentations. The aim of the Collision Repair Street is to promote networking between decision makers from the sector, workshop equipment specialists and bodywork and paint shops. The focus of the exhibition is on improving repair processes and new repair methods in automobile damage control and the further development of bodywork and paint shops in the direction of mechanical service.
Following the success of its première in 2016, the Collision Repair Street will be open this year on two days, from Sept. 12-13.
