Around 140,000 trade visitors from 173 countries
The 23rd Automechanika held from September 16 to 20 was once again an outstanding showcase for innovations from the international aftermarket. This year, around 140,000 trade visitors from 173 countries, one in four of them from the workshop sector, took advantage of this opportunity to observe the latest automotive products and technologies. On the exhibitor side, the fair set a new record with 4,631 companies from 71 countries.
Detlef Braun, Member of the Board of Management of Messe Frankfurt, said: “The ratings given by exhibitors have been outstanding with a significant impetus coming from outside Germany. However, German companies also see the current economic situation in a more positive light than in 2012.”
The number of international visitors rose by five percentage points to 60 per cent. Particular interest was shown by visitors in subjects such as alternative power trains, fully automatic digital reception processes, energy efficiency, lightweight construction solutions with previously impossible loading capacities, accessories, customizing, car media and 3D printing.
Detlef Braun said: “More than ever before, Automechanika in Frankfurt has shown itself to be a platform for the presentation of important, future-oriented technologies as the key to tomorrow’s developments throughout the entire automotive aftermarket.”
The fair also presented the latest products and developments from the world market in the commercial-vehicle field. Visitors were delighted by the great potential of exhibitors in the commercial-vehicle sector, which was to be seen under the ‘Truck Competence’ label on over 1,000 exhibition stands, and by the associated special shows revolving around ‘Truck Competence’.
About this, Alexandra Sommer, Specialist Aftermarket Marketing, Knorr-Bremse Systeme für Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH, said: “Our concept for the fair was given a very warm reception and resulted in a significant increase in the number of visitors to our stand compared to the previous fair. Our simulator fits perfectly in the ‘Truck Competence’ segment at Automechanika Frankfurt. We are already looking forward to the next edition of the fair in 2016.”
Particularly popular was the ‘Collision Damage Talk’, the best attended event in the Automechanika Academy programme with 600 participants. Key players from the insurance business, including HUK Coburg and the newly-founded German Partner Workshop Association and Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT) also made presentations. The event was sponsored by paint manufacturers who returned to Automechanika after an absence of 12 years. “We have regained our confidence in fairs as a marketing tool and meet the world in Frankfurt am Main”, said Cromax Sales Manager Frank Forst.
Another magnet for visitors was the Galleria with a wide-ranging choice of basic and advanced training choices. For example, over 650 trade visitors from 36 countries attended the practice-oriented workshops on collision-damage management. A participant reported: “The workshops exceeded expectations! Messe Frankfurt has created a platform that not only provides specific information on topical issues but also enables visitors interested in these subjects to familiarise themselves with practical aspects of new technologies in a very short time.”
That social commitment can also be demonstrated at a trade fair was shown by an initiative of the ‘TEILEn e.V.’ (parts / share) association. Over 50 renowned companies from the independent spare-parts market have joined forces for a good cause and donated €250,000 to the Peter Maffay Stiftung, a charity for deprived children. The popular German rock musician accepted the donation personally at the fair and proved to be another magnet for visitors from German workshops.
On two days, visitors from the workshop sector made good use of the ‘Automechanika Workshop Days’ programme, which included a variety of technological presentations, workshop exhibitions and competitions organised, inter alia, by members of the Independent After Market Association. Discussing the programme, VREI Chairman Thomas Fischer said, “together with our members, we succeeded in arousing particular interest on the part of workshop visitors.”
The next Automechanika Frankfurt will be held during September 13 to 17, 2016.
Manatec products evoke good response at Automechanika
Manatec participated in Automechanika Frankfurt for the third consecutive year. The response from global customers who had come from Europe, Latin American countries, Middle East, Africa and Asia was overwhelming. The company displayed its full range of HCV and LCV garage equipments, including Fox 3D wheel aligner and Jumbo 9000 wheel aligner, thereby becoming the first company from India to showcase such products. Launching of its truck wheel aligner and truck wheel balancer designed and developed indigenously in India was one of the highlights at the expo. |
