Messe Frankfurt expects over 4,600 exhibitors and around 160,000 trade visitors to attend the 20th Automechanika being held from September 16 to 21. Since making its debut in 1971, Automechanika has developed into one of the most important meeting places for decision makers from the automobile sector. The main theme of this year’s fair is: “Global warming and its impact on the automotive aftermarket”. What is the significance of the latest innovations in the fields of emissions protection and CO2 reduction for the parts market? What recommendations does the sector have for workshops, filling stations and their service offers? Answers to these sessions will be available at the fair.Visitors will find, for example, a ‘Green Directory’ that draws attention to products distinguished by energy and material efficiency or advances in emissions protection. At the Automechanika Academy, too, experts will discuss the reaction of the trade to demands for CO2 reductions.
Held every two years, Automechanika offers trade visitors a unique range of products in the automobile parts, car washes, workshop and filling-station equipment, accessories and tuning sectors. The fair is unparalleled in terms of size and internationality with around 40 per cent of trade visitors and 80 per cent of exhibitors at the last event coming from outside Germany.Covering nearly 300,000 square metres of exhibition space (gross), Automechanika occupies almost the whole of the Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre, including, for the first time this year, the new Southwest Outdoor Area where exhibitors from the car-wash business like WashTec Cleaning Technology GmbH, Otto Christ AG, Holz Autowaschtechnik GmbH, Alfred Kärcher Vertriebs-GmbH and Istobal S.A., will make their presentations.
It was a good 10 years ago that Messe Frankfurt launched the first Automechanika fair outside Germany. Today, Automechanika has developed into a potent trademark or ‘brand’ with 12 events in 10 countries on three continents. Two new events were held last year alone: Automechanika Moscow from May 13 to 16, 2007, and Automechanika Canada from September 26 to 28, 2007, in Toronto.
A very special debut follows early this year: the first Automechanika in Southern Europe, Automechanika Roma from January 31 to February 3. Over 200 exhibitors from more than 14 countries have registered for the première, which is the first event to be held by Messe Frankfurt in Italy since founding its subsidiary there in 1999.Detlef Braun, member of the Board of Management of Messe Frankfurt, said: “We will continue observing and analysing the world’s markets in the future so that international manufacturers and buyers have the chance to make contact with national companies and business partners. Our events outside Germany represent launching pads into emerging markets, especially for small to medium-size companies. Naturally, we will organise additional events for the automotive sector should the conditions for the industry prove to be favourable”.
Today, the name Automechanika is a seal of quality when it comes to trade fairs for automobile parts, workshop and filling-station equipment and for accessories and tuning parts. The broad range of products to be seen is unparalleled.
The basis of this success is the leading Automechanika fair in Frankfurt with its high degree of internationality on both the exhibitor and visitor sides and its international reputation. The Frankfurt event is a pointer for questions of strategy and puts the focus on the right subjects and the right time. And this has been rewarded by an increase in the number of visitors from outside Germany. Moreover, more people travel to Frankfurt from those countries where Messe Frankfurt holds subsidiary fairs than ever before.
