The 23rd Automechanika Frankfurt, to be held September 16 to 20 in Frankfurt, Germany, already has sold 90 percent of exhibit space, according to Philipp von Westerholt, sales manager for Messe Frankfurt, which owns the Automechanika brand.
Speaking during a press conference May 19 in Chicago, von Westerholt said he expects all 3.2 million square feet of the show to be booked by the time the show starts. The 2012 Automechanika Frankfurt attracted 4,597 exhibitors from 74 countries and almost 148,000 visitors from 176 countries.
This year’s show will feature a paint sector for the first time in 12 years. It also will feature approximately 140 U.S. exhibitors covering about 31,000 square feet of space, he said. U.S. pavilions include parts and components (light and heavy duty) repair and maintenance, and accessories and tuning.
The show will feature 11 workshops covering training in the auto body and paint sector. The sponsors include Robert Bosch, Beissbarth, BASF Coatings/Glasurit, Carbon, Henkel, Audatex, Car-O-Liner, BMW, Vosschemie GmbH and Wielander + Schill.
The workshops will cover the accident repair process, including computer-aided cost calculations, dent repairs, bench work, joining methods, painting and body repairs. For the firs time, the workshops will also be held in English.
One hall will be dedicated to vehicles with alternative propulsion systems, von Westerholt said. Exhibitors will address storage technology, energy supply and charging infrastructure, mobility concepts, lightweight construction, motors, electronics, and basic and advanced training and repairs.
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