To find out more about what to expect from 2018’s show, CVW speaks to Olaf Musshoff, the Automechanika Frankfurt Director.
Q. What’s new for Automechanika Frankfurt in 2018?
A. Automechanika Frankfurt is set to be the biggest ever in 2018 and, for the first time, we are looking forward to welcoming over 5,000 exhibitors. The 25th edition of the fair will be distinguished by lots of new features, such as REIFEN, the co-located show for the tyre business, and the Classic Cars product segment. Both are in the new Hall 12, which is being used for the first time during Automechanika and, with its architecture, is a highlight in itself. Hall 12 is also the new home for the ‘Car Wash, Care and Reconditioning’ product segment, which now moves indoors from the outdoor exhibition area. Throughout the fair, there will be a fascinating programme of events for workshops with certified courses of training and the ‘Mechanic Games’. And, in the truck sector, we are expanding the spectrum, covered with a new workshop section and the Truck Competence Symposium.
Q. How are you celebrating the show’s 25th anniversary?
A. We are celebrating the 25th Automechanika Frankfurt with even more on offer for our customers. The show’s programme begins at 10am on the first day, with the presentation of the renowned Automechanika Innovation Awards. In the truck sector, we are holding the first Truck Competence Symposium and will be showing pairs of trucks, as well as cars and motorcycles, from different epochs on the outdoor exhibition area.
Q. Is the ‘Truck Competence’ area dedicated towards commercial vehicles? What’s it all about?
A. ‘Truck Competence’ is our umbrella term for companies offering products and solutions for commercial vehicles at Automechanika Frankfurt. Altogether, there are more than 1,000 of these exhibitors spread over the entire Exhibition Centre. To ensure that their exhibition stands are found quickly and easily by relevant trade visitors, we began marking their stands with ‘Truck Competence’ signs in 2012. The orange ‘Truck Competence’ pictograph decorates the exhibition stands at the fair and acts as a filter option in the online exhibitor search engine. During the fair, there will once again be visitor guides to companies with ‘Truck Competence’ available at the information stands. In 2018, we are expanding the range of services and facilities for commercial vehicles to include the Truck Competence Symposium on ‘Truck Service Trends’.
Q. What will be on show for workshops?
A. The workshop segment at Automechanika Frankfurt is unrivalled worldwide in terms of size and diversity. International players in the fields of workshop services and equipment present their latest products on around 70,000 square metres of exhibition space. They are joined by segments, such as parts and components, which account for the largest area at Automechanika. Anyone wanting to find out about the latest products and solutions should come to Frankfurt am Main. Moreover, we offer our workshop visitors an outstanding complementary programme of lectures, seminars and practical training courses. The certified professional development events are free of charge after advance registration at www.training.automechanika.com
Q. Why should fleet managers attend?
A. Fleet managers wanting to discover the latest products and trends need look no further than Automechanika Frankfurt, where they have an unrivalled overview of solutions for use. However, their aim is not only to cut costs but also to find answers to a wide range of questions. For example, which drive systems will come into use in the future? How will fleets be organised and interconnected? And how will stops in the workshop for servicing and repairs be managed? When it comes to tomorrow’s mobility, the ‘Festhalle’ of the Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre is the place to go. There, the focus is on subjects such as connectivity, alternative drive systems and new mobility services. Particularly interesting for fleet managers are also products and services for predictive maintenance, for both wearing parts and tyres.
