Automechanika: more room, new exhibitors, improved structure

For its 2016 edition, Automechanika Frankfurt has altered the layout of the show, to enable visitors to navigate the exhibition centre more easily.

In the eastern section of Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre (Halls 1-6) during Automechanika 2016, visitors will find everything they can fit into or onto motor vehicles. The exhibitors in the western section of the Exhibition Centre (Halls 8 – 11) supply everything needed to fit the products from the eastern section professionally. This rough grouping helps with the initial orientation and, to ensure trade visitors can negotiate their way better and more quickly around the huge range of products offered by suppliers at this year’s fair, the Automechanika Team has further optimised the arrangement and layout of companies exhibiting in the eastern section of the Exhibition Centre.

Traditionally, the Parts & Components section accounts for around half of total exhibition space at Automechanika Frankfurt. There, all renowned suppliers from all over the world present their latest products and technical innovations for repairing and servicing vehicles of every kind. The range of products offered by parts manufacturers will also be dominated by the subjects of networking and digitalisation. To show their technical innovations in the right light, many exhibitors use high-quality, fully functional models, as well as animated graphics and live presentations designed to give the audience of trade visitors a better appreciation of how the new technology works.

In terms of layout, the parts manufacturers are traditionally concentrated in the eastern section of the Exhibition Centre, i.e., Halls 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6, and the Agora outdoor area. With the introduction of the ‘Tomorrow´s Service & Mobility’ theme, it has been necessary for a number of exhibitors to move to a new exhibition hall.

Because many exhibitors have expressed a wish for more stand space, the Automechanika Team has revised the layout of the fair in the eastern section of the Exhibition Centre and improved the thematic focal points. For visitors, this means shorter walking distances, more time for the individual exhibitors and the opportunity to directly compare products and services.

Almost all exhibitors who used to be in the ‘Festhalle’ have taken advantage of the move to increase the size of their exhibition stand, e.g., shock-absorber specialist KYB Europe GmbH, which will be exhibiting in Hall 4.0 this year. Also in Hall 4.0, visitors will find rolling-bearing manufacturer NTN-SNR. Tenneco with the Walker (exhaust system) and Monroe (shock absorber) brands has increased its presentation space by more than 40 percent compared to its previous location in the ‘Festhalle’ (Hall 2.0). The exhibitor will also use the additional space to mark the 100th anniversary of the venerable Monroe brand in a suitable fashion. Also moving from the ‘Festhalle’ to Hall 4.0 are Delphi Diesel Systems and FTE Automotive GmbH. The takeover of clutch and brake-hydraulic systems company by the French Valeo Group at the beginning of June has no impact on the independent trade-fair presentation in Frankfurt.

This year, Hall 4.0 is also the new setting for Denso, gasket specialist ElringKlinger, MS Motorservice, Honeywell and filter specialists Sogefi/Filtrauto and Hengst Filter. All of these exhibitors have increased the size of their exhibition stands compared to the last event in 2014. Taking part for the first time at this year’s Automechanika is NSK Deutschland GmbH, which will have its own exhibition stand in Hall 4.0. NSK makes roller bearings for a variety of industrial applications and can boast a corporate history stretching back over 100 years.

Hall 4.1 will be very much ‘under tension’ this year. There, visitors will find all renowned battery manufacturers including Johnson Controls, which exhibited in Hall 3.1 two years ago. Around half of Hall 4.1 is occupied by companies from the Electronics & Systems product segment. Visitors will find more exhibitors from the electronic, lighting, intelligent traffic systems, etc., on the Agora outdoor area, around half of which is occupied by the Accessories & Customizing product segment. And products and services revolving around accessories, technical and visual customisation and special vehicles and bodywork in Hall 4.2.

Incidentally, the Mechanic Games will be held on the Agora on the Friday and Saturday of the fair. This ‘Olympiad for mechanics’ is being organised by Messe Frankfurt in cooperation with the Association of the Independent Parts Market (Verein Freier Ersatzteilemarkt e.V. – VREI) and is open to all visitors with a sporting bent.

A floor below, in Hall 3.0, the biggest stand has been taken this year by ZF Services. The need for additional space is the result of a merger with ZF and TRW taking part jointly for the first time. Thus, ZF will present its concentrated aftermarket expertise with the SACHS, LEMFÖRDER, TRW, BOGE and openmatics product brands. Visitors can also look forward to a special attraction at the ZF Services stand: in addition to numerous functional and animated models, as well as professional-development courses, they can discover the world of ZF in a completely new way at a 7D cinema. According to the company, visitors will be able to experience the main aspects of ZF products and services with all their senses. In addition to the exhibition stand in Hall 3.0, ZF will also present a concept vehicle in the ‘Festhalle’ and, in live demonstrations, illustrate the potential offered by networking a variety of the vehicle’s systems.

ZF is one of over 1,000 exhibitors with special products and services for the commercial vehicle / truck sector. These exhibitors can be identified quickly and easily thanks to the supplementary orange ‘Truck Competence’ signs. Many of the truck specialists can be found in Halls 3, 5.0 and 5.1. BPW Bergische Achsen has been one of the foremost exhibitors in Hall 5.0 for many years. Now, following the takeover of PE Automotive, BPW has increased the size of its exhibition stand at this year’s Automechanika. Making its debut in Hall 5 this year is Wabco Vertriebs GmbH, a supplier of technologies and control systems for truck safety and efficiency.

One of the core themes in Hall 5.1 is turbocharger manufacturing and repairs. Spare parts for both cars and trucks will be shown as usual in Hall 5.1 by Wulf Gaertner Autoparts AG (Meyle), Hamburg.

There is a double anniversary to be celebrated in the Forum that, as at the last Automechanika two years ago, is occupied by the affiliated Continental and Schaeffler groups. This year, the Schaeffler Group celebrates its 70th anniversary while Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket was founded 40 years ago. Under the motto ‘discover more’, Schaeffler will not only present its LuK, INA, FAG and Ruville brands in conjunction with live demonstrations of various products but also take advantage of virtual-reality technology and, with the aid of smartglasses, send visitors as passengers on board a mini-spaceship on a journey through the workings of an internal-combustion engine. Another focal point of the presentation will be new repair methods for trucks.

Working in tomorrow’s workshop is the leitmotif of the Automechanika presentation by Continental AG. In Frankfurt, the supplier will emphasise its expertise as a provider of holistic solutions and present workshops for all segments, from the drive chain and suspension, via diagnosis, services and tools, to truck competence and digitally linked applications for individually adaptable repair solutions.

Additionally, the two companies will show future-oriented techniques for tomorrow’s mobility solutions on a special stand as part of the ‘Tomorrow’s Service and Mobility’ theme in the ‘Festhalle’ throughout the fair.

Further information about Automechanika can be found on the internet at www.automechanika.com, at www.facebook.com/automechanika, www.twitter.com/automechanika_ and www.automechanika.com/gplus.

Messe Frankfurt is one of the world’s leading trade fair organisers, generating around €648 million in sales and employing 2,244 people. The Messe Frankfurt Group has a global network of 30 subsidiaries and 55 international Sales Partners, allowing it to serve its customers on location in 175 countries. Messe Frankfurt events take place at approx. 50 locations around the globe. In 2015, Messe Frankfurt organised a total of 133 trade fairs, of which more than half took place outside Germany.

Comprising an area of 592,127 square metres, Messe Frankfurt’s exhibition grounds are home to ten exhibition halls. The company also operates two congress centres.The historic Festhalle, one of the most popular venues in Germany, plays host to events of all kinds.Messe Frankfurt is publicly owned, with the City of Frankfurt holding 60 percent and the State of Hesse 40 percent.

Further information on the company can be found at http://m-es.se/Fj86